Congress is facing increasing pressure to return to Washington to address the depletion of the U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loan fund due to the costs associated with Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Members of Congress from hurricane-ravaged states, such as North Carolina and Florida, are calling for action as communities struggle to recover and businesses are in desperate need of support to rebuild. The U.S. Small Business Administration has exhausted the funds in its disaster loan program, prompting calls for Congress to appropriate additional funds to provide assistance to those affected by natural disasters.
The urgency for Congressional action is heightened by the fact that Congress is currently in recess until the middle of November, with many members facing reelection races. While Congressional leaders have resisted calls for action on the loan funds before the election, the need for additional funding is critical as the Small Business Administration has paused new loan offers until Congress appropriates more money. Senator Rick Scott of Florida, among others, has urged Senate leaders to reconvene as soon as possible to address the needs of those affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The delay in Congressional action has drawn criticism from lawmakers who argue that Congress should have been proactive in addressing the funding shortfall before going on recess.
Congress faces mounting pressure to return to Washington and address the funding shortfall at the U.S. Small Business Administration in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Lawmakers, including Rep. Jared Moskowitz of Florida, have criticized Congress for failing to take action before recess and waiting until mid-November to reconvene. Calls for an early return to D.C. to address the funding issue have increased, with concerns raised about the impact on small businesses and homeowners affected by the natural disasters. Speaker Mike Johnson’s office has not yet commented on the possibility of Congress returning early to address the Small Business Administration funding crisis.
In response to questions about whether Congress should return early to address calls to bolster funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized the need for accurate assessments of damages before providing supplemental disaster funding. While he acknowledged the concerns about the funding shortfall at the Small Business Administration, Johnson pointed out that FEMA already received billions of dollars in funding before Hurricane Helene made landfall. The ongoing debate over Congressional action to address the funding crisis highlights the challenges in responding to natural disasters and the need for timely and effective support for those affected. Lawmakers continue to push for Congress to reconvene and provide the necessary funding to assist communities in the recovery process.
Overall, the urgency for Congressional action in response to the funding crisis at the Small Business Administration underscores the importance of providing support to those affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Lawmakers from affected states are calling for swift action to address the depletion of funds in the disaster loan program and provide assistance to small businesses and homeowners in need. The delay in Congressional action has drawn criticism from both Democrats and Republicans, highlighting the bipartisan concern over the impact on recovery efforts. As Congress faces increasing pressure to reconvene and address the funding crisis, the focus remains on providing timely and effective support to communities struggling to recover from the devastation of recent hurricanes.
