Burns, other state House leaders seek federal disaster relief for hurricane damage

ATLANTA — State House speakers in six Southeastern states affected by three hurricanes in recent months — including Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns — sent a letter to congressional leaders Monday asking for disaster relief funds.

Significant portions of Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee sustained heavy damage from hurricanes Debbie, Helene and Milton, devastating communities and farms.

In a letter to U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.; House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.; Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.; and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the state legislative leaders suggested Congress send block grants to the affected states, as was done following Hurricane Michael in 2018.

“Timely delivery of disaster assistance is extremely important as farmers will be unable to secure financing for planting next year’s crop without this support,” the letter stated. “The groundwork Congress laid after Hurricane Michael was extremely beneficial through providing block grants to the affected states.”

The letter also asked Congress to provide a special supplemental appropriation through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that could be used to help states with long-term recovery, restoration of infrastructure, housing, and economic development.

A third request seeks funding through the Federal Highway Administration to rebuild roads and bridges destroyed along the paths of the hurricanes.

“These historic storms have left countless citizens, farmers, and businesses facing generational impacts on their way of life and the places they call home,” Burns, R-Newington, said. “This aid will be critical to ensuring the timely assistance of our most heavily impacted states.”