President Joe Biden is set to visit Florida’s Gulf Coast to assess the damage caused by Hurricane Milton and to urge Congress to approve additional emergency disaster funding. Biden’s visit will also serve as an opportunity to push House Speaker Mike Johnson to secure more funding before the upcoming election. Despite Johnson’s stance that the issue will be addressed post-election, Biden emphasized the urgency of supporting small businesses affected by the hurricanes.
During his visit, Biden is expected to announce $612 million for Department of Energy projects in hurricane-affected areas to enhance the resilience of the electric grid. This funding includes $94 million for projects in Florida, specifically for Gainesville Regional Utilities and Switched Source partnering with Florida Power and Light.
Vice President Kamala Harris, meanwhile, visited Raleigh and is scheduled to spend time in Greenville as part of the campaign’s efforts to engage black churchgoers before Election Day. Harris will also discuss economic plans and highlight the start of early voting in the state.
In light of the devastation caused by the hurricanes, Biden is advocating for Congress to swiftly allocate funds to the Small Business Administration and FEMA. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has expressed concerns about FEMA’s funding levels, emphasizing the need for immediate support.
Despite assurances from Mayorkas, Johnson has asserted that current funding is adequate and that the issue will be addressed in the post-election period. Additionally, tensions between Harris and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have surfaced, with both parties accusing each other of politicizing the storm response.
Biden expressed hope for a meeting with Governor DeSantis during his visit to Florida, acknowledging the governor’s cooperation thus far. The president is scheduled to conduct an aerial tour of the affected areas, meet with officials and residents, and assess the impact of Hurricane Milton, which made landfall as a Category 3 storm.
With at least 10 casualties and widespread power outages, the aftermath of Hurricane Milton underscores the importance of proactive disaster response measures. The recent devastation caused by Hurricane Helene likely influenced evacuation decisions and emphasized the need for robust emergency preparedness.
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