Tussling ratcheted up between the White House and GOP leaders on Thursday over when Congress needs to return to take up emergency disaster relief for victims of the twin hurricanes that have battered southern states in recent days, including twice-hit Florida.
While there’s been substantial confusion and misinformation about the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster relief fund, there’s general agreement that FEMA has enough money to get past the elections after receiving $20 billion in the Dec. 20 stopgap law. The Small Business Administration’s disaster loan account, however, is another matter.
President Joe Biden has already called on Congress to come back into session early to refill the SBA’s coffers and reiterated that sentiment on Thursday. “I think in terms of the SBA it’s pretty right at the edge right now,” Biden said. “I think Congress should move as rapidly as they can, particularly on the most immediate need, which is small business.”
