Stop Playing Politics With Helene Relief

Too Many People Either Don't Know How Government Works or Want to Play Politics With a Disaster to Benefit Their Political Tribe

Election years tend to bring out the worst in people, even when there’s a tragedy involved. For those of us who are politically homeless but engaged and informed in politics, this can be frustrating.

I’ve seen several posts in the past few days about Vice President Harris’s comments regarding the $750 payments to those impacted by Helene. Unsurprisingly, because we’re in the middle of an election season that can’t end quickly enough, the posts come from partisans for the “red team” who believe they have an opening to criticize the “blue team.”

First, FEMA provides these the $750 direct payments through the Individuals and Household Program. It’s not the end of relief to the affected areas. Remember, governors of the affected states have said they’ve gotten what they need for now through the coordinated response from FEMA. Harris did note that this is “immediate assistance” for those affected to help provide basic needs of those impacted.

Second, Congress appropriates the money for FEMA and its various programs. As of the end of September, the Disaster Relief Fund had a balance of $2.7 billion. Including projected spending because of recovery efforts, the Disaster Relief Fund is projected to go into the red by nearly $6.8 billion. Helene is projected to cost as much as $34 billion, which will be split between the federal government and insurance companies. Obviously, Congress relief have to replenish the Disaster Relief Fund.

The White House can ask the Appropriations committees to sign off the reprogramming of funds, but this ability is limited. The administration can’t spend billions of dollars that Congress hasn’t appropriated. See the Antideficency Act. Congress could’ve passed more funding before it left for October, but it didn’t. In fact, Congress left town two days early, even as Helene was a known threat to the United States.

Third, as mentioned, more money is almost certainly coming, but Congress is in recess until the week of November 12, a month and a half after the storm hit. Nothing is stopping Congress from coming back to pass an emergency disaster relief package. Appropriations bills have to start in the House, but the Senate could use a bill already passed by the House as a vehicle. However, coming back would interrupt campaigns as Republicans try to keep control of the House and Democrats try to keep control of the Senate. I’m not defending that. I’m just pointing it out.

President Biden has said that he expects that he will have to ask Congress to come back, but he has no power to make that happen. However, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) suggested on Sunday that he doesn’t plan to bring the House back.

Fourth, you’re parroting Russian propaganda by bitching about Ukraine aid or funding for migrants while complaining about the $750 payments for Helene victims. Most Americans are completely ignorant about how funding is provided and how government works. The Kremlin plays on this lack of knowledge.

Ukraine aid is a separate appropriation, and it has nothing to do with FEMA. It has nothing to do with anything. The federal response to disaster relief takes time. The federal government isn’t a first responder. The first responders in these situations are state and local agencies.

The allegation related to migrants is that FEMA spent all its money on migrants at the border. This is false. FEMA has the Shelter and Services Program, which is funded through the Homeland Security appropriations bill. That was funded to the tune of $650 million in FY 2024, which is almost double the $320 million for FY 2023.

Because we're operating on a CR until at least December 20, the funding level is the same for FY 2025. This is less than 1 percent of the appropriation for Homeland Security. The point being is that this funding has a dedicated purpose. Congress didn't just hand Homeland Security $83.7 billion and to go have fun. It doesn't work like that.

More than 200 people have died because of Helene. Entire towns wiped off the map. Stop. Playing. Politics. With. This. If you want to help, donate. If you can’t donate, call your representative and senators and ask them to go back to DC to pass a disaster relief bill. Disinformation doesn’t help anyone, particularly those who are dealing with the aftermath of Helene.