The House Freedom Caucus is urging Republican leaders to reject President Biden's $98.4 billion disaster aid proposal. The group is advocating for a more focused aid package that addresses only the most urgent needs, with spending offsets to counter the cost.
The Freedom Caucus argues against passing such a large, unfunded bill, especially as control of the White House and Congress shifts to Republicans. They believe the Democrats might use the bill to push unrelated priorities. The caucus suggests providing essential aid to hurricane victims and farmers now, offset by cuts to wasteful government spending, and then collaborating with the incoming Trump administration on a more comprehensive disaster relief strategy.
This stance comes as House and Senate members debate the appropriate size and scope of the disaster aid package and whether it should be linked to the year-end funding bill necessary to prevent a government shutdown during the holidays.
Hurricane Helene, which devastated the Southeastern U.S. in late September, caused significant loss of life, with over 100 fatalities in North Carolina alone. Hurricane Milton further compounded the damage a week later, impacting Florida and Georgia.
While Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) has indicated that a $100 billion package might be necessary due to the estimated $50 billion in damages in North Carolina, fiscal conservatives express concerns about the impact on the national debt. They believe such a substantial expenditure should be accompanied by corresponding spending cuts.
Representative Chip Roy (R-TX), Policy Chair of the Freedom Caucus, has firmly stated his opposition to any unfunded disaster aid. Representative Chuck Edwards (R-NC), whose district was severely affected by Helene, is working with House leaders on a disaster aid bill, though the specifics are still under development. It remains uncertain whether the aid package will be attached to the continuing resolution (CR) or handled separately.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) acknowledges the significant damage caused by the hurricanes but emphasizes the House's responsibility to carefully scrutinize the aid request and ensure that all funds are directly related to disaster relief.
