WASHINGTON, D.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Prior to House lawmakers passing a third attempt at the budget bill, senators from the Carolinas were adamant they will not support any proposal that fails to provide adequate relief to Hurricane Helene victims.
“The people of North Carolina, the people of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, the list goes on, Tennessee, need relief today,” North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis told reporters on Capitol Hill.
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N.C. Junior Sen. Ted Budd said it was “ridiculous” that western North Carolina has waited 83 days for federal relief funding. During a press conference alongside Tillis and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, Budd said residents are still living in tents, waiting on delayed trailers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Two previously proposed budgets set aside more than $100 billion in relief. $9 billion of that is expected to go to North Carolina. Senators Tillis, Budd and Graham say they have President-elect Donald Trump’s assurances that he too wants a bill that provides relief to storm-impacted areas.