News

Stopgap funding bill contains $110 billion for disaster relief

By Lightning Reports, Published: December 21, 2024

 U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards Friday night touted the passage of a stopgap funding bill that contains $110 billion in  supplemental disaster funding that he vowed would directly help Western North Carolina communities devastated by Hurricane Helene recover and rebuild.

“As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, my priority upon returning to Washington following Hurricane Helene was to draft a framework for disaster funding to help Western North Carolinians recover from the worst natural disaster to hit our mountains," he said in a statement. “The citizens of Western North Carolina pulled together in such monumental ways to help one another, and now these additional funds will help folks across North Carolina’s 11th District rebuild communities and put our lives back together. Just as I have helped funding for disaster relief pass the U.S. House to aid folks in our mountains, I will continue to advocate for the needs of our district in the long road to recovery ahead.”

The bill that passed Friday by a vote of 366 to 34 was on the way to the Senate late Friday and would have to be signed by President Biden prevent a government shutdown at 12:01 a.m. Saturday. Republicans cast all 34 no votes.