
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden greet first responders as they visit areas devastated by the Maui wildfires, Aug. 21, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
The White House is making a request for approximately $56 billion in emergency funding to address domestic priorities, even as Congress considers allocating billions for international conflicts. This supplemental funding request, sent to Capitol Hill, includes over $23 billion for disaster relief, aimed at assisting communities in the United States grappling with the aftermath of wildfires, floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes. The package also allocates $16 billion to support child care centers for another year and $6 billion to extend free and discounted internet services through December 2024.
In addition to these provisions, the $56 billion request covers various other needs, such as international food aid, energy assistance for low-income households, and support for federal wildland firefighters. This request is separate from the nearly $106 billion request made by the Biden administration last week, which focused on aid to Ukraine and Israel, as well as other national security priorities.
The additional disaster relief funding is distributed among different federal agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which plays a crucial role in immediate response and recovery efforts following natural disasters. This funding accounts for needs identified by communities affected by disasters this year, including wildfires in Hawaii, hurricanes in Florida, and flooding in California and Vermont.
President Joe Biden has emphasized his commitment to aiding disaster-stricken areas and rebuilding communities, frequently visiting affected regions to offer support and reassurance to the victims.
The largest portion of the disaster request, approximately $9 billion, is designated to bolster FEMA’s disaster relief fund, which is used for rapid response and recovery following natural disasters. Another $2.8 billion is allocated for housing needs through the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and a similar amount is earmarked for assistance via the Department of Agriculture to aid farmers and ranchers suffering from crop losses. The funding also covers repairing damaged roads, assisting schools in disaster-affected areas, and providing loans to small businesses in these communities.
Regarding child care, the $16 billion request aims to prevent the closure of child care centers and increase wages for workers who experienced pay cuts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ensuring sufficient child care is a crucial aspect of the administration’s efforts to encourage greater female workforce participation.
Sen. Patty Murray of Washington and Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, both leading Democrats overseeing government spending, have been actively advocating for increased federal funding for child care. They are concerned about the impact of the “child care cliff,” referring to the expiration of billions in federal aid approved during the early months of Biden’s presidency. This funding had supported child care providers, benefiting over 220,000 providers and up to 10 million children.
The $6 billion allocated for broadband support would extend the Affordable Connectivity Program established through Biden’s infrastructure law, ensuring millions of Americans continue to have access to high-speed internet.
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