SE North Carolina News

Senator Ted Budd of North Carolina has collaborated with other lawmakers in a bipartisan effort to expedite the passage of disaster relief legislation following the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene. In a letter addressed to key Senate leaders, including Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senator Budd emphasized the urgent need for an appropriations package to aid millions affected by the hurricane.

The initiative was spearheaded by Senator Thom Tillis, also from North Carolina, and received support from several other senators: Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott from South Carolina; Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff from Georgia; Marco Rubio and Rick Scott from Florida; Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty from Tennessee; and Mark Warner and Tim Kaine from Virginia.

In their collective statement, the senators highlighted the severe impact of Hurricane Helene on the southeastern United States. They expressed concern over potential further tragedies due to disrupted communications and power outages, which hinder comprehensive damage assessments.

"Even preliminary damage assessments indicate that, at a minimum, the total damage and economic loss will be in the tens of billions of dollars," they stated. The group acknowledged that as recovery efforts progress, these figures are expected to rise significantly.

They urged Congress to act swiftly to address unmet needs in their states, suggesting that legislative sessions might need to extend into October to ensure timely enactment before year-end deadlines. "Tens of millions of Americans were impacted by Hurricane Helene," they noted, expressing readiness to collaborate on providing necessary relief.