North Charlotte Today

Senator Thom Tillis convened a meeting in Washington, D.C., with Governor Roy Cooper, Governor-elect Josh Stein, and representatives from the North Carolina Congressional Delegation and General Assembly. The purpose was to discuss federal aid for those affected by Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina.

Senator Tillis emphasized his commitment to securing disaster relief swiftly, stating, “While the national media may have already stopped covering the devastation left behind by Hurricane Helene, I will keep doing everything in my power to ensure Congress passes disaster relief as soon as possible so Western North Carolina can begin the long-term recovery process.” He described the meeting as productive, with leaders sharing ideas on expediting aid delivery and reinforcing their bipartisan commitment to recovery efforts.

Since Hurricane Helene made landfall, Senator Tillis has advocated for federal assistance. On October 1, 2024, he led a bipartisan letter urging Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray and Vice Chair Susan Collins to support an appropriations package for those affected by the storm. Further efforts included leading a group of senators on October 16, 2024, calling on the White House to submit a funding request for hurricane recovery costs.

In an op-ed published on October 23, 2024, Senator Tillis urged Congress to proactively engage in long-term disaster recovery assistance. On October 29, 2024, he announced plans to introduce legislation aimed at replenishing the Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Program.

Despite facing obstacles such as a blocked unanimous consent request on November 14, 2024, Senator Tillis continued his advocacy by leading another bipartisan letter requesting supplemental appropriation from the Office of Management and Budget. This request was sent to Congress shortly after.

On November 18, 2024, he introduced the RELIEF Act targeting small businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene. A day later during his testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee on November 20th, he reiterated his call for swift passage of hurricane relief measures.

Beyond legislative efforts in Washington D.C., Senator Tillis engaged with local leaders and residents across several communities in Western North Carolina including Asheville and Waynesville among others.