Congress Urged to Swiftly Replenish SBA Disaster Relief Funds Amid Hurricane Helene Recovery Efforts

President Biden has called on Congress to provide emergency funding for the Small Business Administration (SBA), warning that the agency's disaster relief program, which supports small business owners in recovering from Hurricane Helene, is critically low on funds and will run out in the coming weeks, before Congress is set to reconvene. The president's letter to congressional leaders underscores the urgent need for lawmakers to act to ensure that critical disaster assistance programs remain operational during the congressional recess period.

Restoring Vital Lifelines for Small Businesses Impacted by Hurricane Helene

Pressing Need for Immediate Congressional Action

In his letter to Congress, President Biden emphasized the critical importance of replenishing the SBA's disaster relief program, which provides essential support to small business owners in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The president warned that without prompt action from lawmakers, the program will be forced to halt its recovery efforts, leaving countless small businesses in devastated communities without the resources they need to rebuild and recover.The president's call for emergency funding comes just days after the Republican Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, suggested that there was no immediate need for Congress to return from its recess, stating that the existing resources of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other government agencies would be sufficient to address the short-term needs of those impacted by the hurricane.

Ensuring Continuity of Long-Term Recovery Efforts

However, President Biden challenged this assertion, arguing that while FEMA may have the resources to handle the immediate emergency response, the agency would be forced to forgo longer-term recovery activities in order to meet urgent needs without additional funding. The president emphasized that it is critical for Congress to ensure that no critical disaster programs, including the SBA's disaster loan program, run out of funding during the congressional recess period.The Biden administration has been pressing Congress for additional disaster relief funds for some time, having previously requested money to help communities recover from devastating fires in Maui and tornadoes in Mississippi, Iowa, and Oklahoma, as well as to assist in the rebuilding of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. However, Congress has yet to act on these requests, instead approving a short-term spending bill that extended current levels of funding until after the upcoming election.

Uniting in Support of Disaster-Affected Communities

In his letter, President Biden made it clear that he intends to continue pressing for these additional disaster relief requests once Congress returns to Washington. The president urged lawmakers to "assist those impacted by this hurricane and every other disaster since the Congress last passed a comprehensive disaster package in 2022," emphasizing the need to stand with these communities on their long road to recovery.As the nation grapples with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the president's call for swift congressional action underscores the critical importance of ensuring that the necessary resources and support are in place to help small businesses and communities rebuild and recover. With the SBA's disaster relief program on the brink of depletion, the stakes are high, and the president is calling on Congress to rise to the occasion and fulfill its responsibility to those in need.