US Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) has requested Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to reconvene the Senate to pass relief legislation for Hurricane Helene.
Senator Scott’s request anticipates federal agencies’ damage assessments to determine Helene’s impact and the appropriate amount of federal funds needed to help recovery efforts.
Helene slammed into Florida’s gulf coast late last week before dragging its high speed winds and torrential downpour into Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, and other southern states.
There have been 121 confirmed deaths from the storm and its effects, according to NBC News.
Scott claimed reconvening the Senate to pass relief measures was of utmost importance.
“Floridians are resilient, but the response and recovery from this storm demands the full and immediate support of government at every level to get families and businesses back to normal,” said Scott. “I am today urging Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to immediately reconvene the U.S. Senate when those assessments are completed so that we can pass the clean supplemental disaster funding bill and other disaster relief legislation, like my Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act, needed to ensure the full recovery of families in all impacted communities.”
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for using Hurricane response to speciously portray herself as a leader.
President Trump shared a picture of Vice President Harris seemingly speaking with emergency federal agencies while using headphones that were not plugged into her phone.
“Another FAKE and STAGED photo from someone who has no clue what she is doing. You have to plug the cord into the phone for it to work,” said Trump. “They sacrificed Americans to an Open Border, and now, they have left Americans to drown in North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and elsewhere in the South. Under this Administration, Americans always come last, because we have “leaders” who have no idea how to lead.”
Another FAKE and STAGED photo from someone who has no clue what she is doing. You have to plug the cord into the phone for it to work! Biden and Harris abandoned Americans in Afghanistan. They sacrificed Americans to an Open Border, and now, they have left Americans to drown in… https://t.co/HzDpJO6XOa
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2024
Harris fired back, citing reports from Republican state governors thanking the Biden-Harris administration for their Hurricane recovery support.
While speaking at FEMA headquarters, Harris further reassured impacted Americans that “our nation is with you, and our Administration will continue to do everything we can to help you recover and rebuild — no matter how long it takes.”
