Return to Parliament ‘can wait’ – Speaker of the House of Commons announces at 21:15 BST21:15 BST
House Speaker Mike Johnson told CBS News that Congress’s return to session “can wait” amid concerns about funding for hurricane relief.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “Before Hurricane Helen made landfall…Parliament allocated $20bn (£15.3bn) to FEMA to ensure funding was available to respond to immediate needs. ” he said.
“As I checked this morning, less than 2% of the funds had been distributed.”
There are concerns about whether Fema will be able to provide enough aid to the troubled southeastern United States after Hurricanes Helen and Milton hit the United States in rapid succession, killing hundreds of people.
The storm brought devastating winds and flooding to multiple states, including Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
Lawmakers have therefore called on Congress to return from its pre-election recess to approve additional funding, even as demand for Fema remains extremely high.
Johnson said Parliament will meet as scheduled and address any additional funding needs after states complete their reports assessing storm damage.
"We're talking to Congress to see if we can get funding quickly,” Biden said in Florida.
“That’s important.”
