Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) is leading a bipartisan letter that calls on congressional leadership to hold a vote on the disaster aid supplemental next week.
Last week, the Office of Management and Budget sent a $98 billion-plus supplemental disaster request to Congress. While Budd and a group of Senate colleagues are calling the move “an important first step,” they’re demanding immediate action from House and Senate leaders.
“Our constituents need immediate help as they work to rebuild their homes and communities. We have delayed too long already,” the senators wrote on Tuesday. “We stand ready to pass a supplemental disaster relief bill the first week of December.”
Joining Budd in the effort are Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.). The bipartisan group all represent states hard hit by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Budd, a first-term GOP senator, has become a prominent voice demanding disaster relief. We scooped an effort Budd marshaled earlier this month to pressure the Biden administration to hurry up with sending its supplemental request to the Hill.