Washington, D.C. — Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) released a statement after voting to support government funding legislation that provides tens of billions of dollars in disaster relief for the people of Western North Carolina.
Senator Budd said:
“At long last, the people of Western North Carolina will begin to receive the disaster aid they so desperately need and deserve. It is going to take years to fully recover after the devastation of Hurricane Helene. I will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the resilient citizens of the western mountains as they undertake the difficult job of rebuilding. They will never be forgotten as long as I have anything to say about it.”
Background on Senator Budd’s efforts:
On September 28, 2024, Senator Ted Budd received his first operational briefing from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), North Carolina Emergency Management, National Weather Service, and the American Red Cross.
On September 30, 2024, Senator Budd took an air tour of the storm damage alongside Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler and received an in-person operational review of the recovery effort.
On October 1, 2024, Senator Budd joined a letter to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray, and Senate Appropriations Vice Chair Susan Collins on the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene and the urgent need to pass an appropriations package to support the millions of Americans affected by the storm.
On October 8, 2024, Senator Budd joined a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell urging that the Greensboro Influx Care Facility (ICF) be operationalized to assist in Western North Carolina’s recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene.
On October 29, 2024, Senators Budd, Thom Tillis, alongside Senators Tim Scott, Bill Cassidy, M.D., and Rick Scott, announced plans to introduce legislation that would replenish the Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Program. On October 15th, the SBA announced the Disaster Loan Fund had run out of money.
On November 18, 2024, Senators Budd and Tillis, and Congressman Chuck Edwards led a bipartisan group of members of the Senate and House to send a letter to President Biden requesting that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), “immediately send a supplemental appropriation request to Congress to support the communities we represent, which were devastated after Hurricanes Helene and Milton.”
On November 20, 2024, Senators Budd and Tillis led a coalition of 18 U.S. Senators to send an oversight letter to FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell demanding answers over recent reports that a FEMA employee advised disaster assistance teams in Florida responding to Hurricane Milton to avoid homes that had yard signs supporting President-Elect Donald Trump.
On November 20, 2024, Senator Budd spoke passionately on the Senate floor to honor the heroic individuals in Western North Carolina who helped others during Hurricane Helene. Senator Budd also renewed his call for Congress to act on the supplemental funding bill for long-term recovery for the region.
On November 20, 2024, Senators Ted Budd, Tim Scott, Thom Tillis, and Marsha Blackburn introduced the SBA Disaster Transparency Act, which requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to make its monthly reporting requirements for the Disaster Loan Account available to the public.
On November 22, 2024, Senator Ted Budd, Senator Thom Tillis, Rep. Virginia Foxx and Rep. Chuck Edwards sent a letter to President Biden urging him to “ immediately direct the FEMA to deploy FEMA temporary housing resources – including travel trailers and manufactured homes” to Western North Carolina. As temperatures drop in the region, “this would give homeowners the ability to remain on their own property while repairs and reconstruction continue.”
On November 27, 2024, Senators Ted Budd, Thom Tillis, Jon Ossoff, Raphael Warnock, Mark Warner, and Tim Kaine sent a letter to Senate leadership urging both the Senate and House “to bring a robust supplemental appropriations bill to the floor”.
On December 10, 2024, Senators Budd and Tillis published an opinion piece for the Carolina Journal laying out the road ahead for Western North Carolina as they rebuild and recover from Hurricane Helene.
On December 10, 2024, Senators Budd and Tillis hosted N.C. Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, N.C. House of Representatives Speaker-elect Destin Hall, State Senators Bill Rabon and Ralph Hise, and State Representative Dudley Greene to discuss efforts to provide immediate assistance to North Carolinians affected by Hurricane Helene’s devastation.
On December 13, 2024, Senator Budd introduced two bills to cut government regulation and deliver relief to North Carolinians impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
The Disaster Assistance Fairness Act would provide relief to North Carolina homeowners who are still desperately trying to dig out from the storms by making it clear that debris removal from private roads is in the public interest and therefore eligible for reimbursement under the Stafford Act.
The Flexible Compliance for Emergencies and Natural Disasters (FinCEN) Act would help businesses in North Carolina who are currently facing operational challenges and have limited resources in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
On December 19, 2024, Senator Budd spoke at a press conference and laid out his demand that he would not support any continuing resolution to fund the government unless disaster aid for Western North Carolina is passed.
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