Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) led a group of 11 bipartisan lawmakers from North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, and Florida in urging the Trump administration to take immediate action to prevent disaster recovery funding from running out for communities across the Southeast still rebuilding after Hurricane Helene. Specifically, with another hurricane season on the horizon and only a month to go before federal disaster aid is projected to be fully exhausted, the Members called on Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought to submit an emergency supplemental funding request to Congress as soon as possible.
The Members wrote: “Hurricane Helene cut a devastating path of destruction across the Southeast, including in our home states of North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, and Florida. Unfortunately, more than 6 months later, communities in our states are still rebuilding. With federal funding for this purpose rapidly running out, we write to strongly urge you to submit an emergency supplemental funding request to Congress as soon as possible.”
The lawmakers warned that the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) is projected to be exhausted by late June. The DRF has not received any additional funding since the passage of the American Relief Act in December 2024, which provided $100 billion in disaster relief funding, including $29 billion for the DRF. Without increased resources, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be forced to begin pausing long-term recovery and mitigation projects.
The letter concludes: “We strongly urge you to submit an emergency supplemental funding request to Congress as soon as possible to avoid the exhaustion of the DRF before the end of Fiscal Year 2025.”
Congresswoman Ross was joined by Representatives Alma Adams (NC-12), Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Don Davis (NC-01), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Hank Johson (GA-04), Nikema Williams (GA-05), Lucy McBath (GA-06), and Eugene Vindman (VA-07).
The full letter is available here.