North Charlotte Today

The Senate has approved a bipartisan government funding bill that allocates over $100 billion for disaster relief, including support for North Carolina following Hurricane Helene. Senator Tillis expressed his satisfaction with the passage of the bill, stating, "I'm proud to have worked alongside my Senate colleagues to secure this critical funding for Western North Carolina." He emphasized his commitment to collaborating with both the outgoing Biden Administration and the incoming Trump Administration to ensure timely delivery of resources.

Senator Tillis played a key role in securing provisions within the legislation aimed at expediting federal assistance to Western North Carolina. Among these is a requirement for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to issue a Federal Register notice by January 15, 2025, for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds. This measure seeks to reduce delays that have previously ranged from 12 to 24 months.

North Carolina is set to receive at least $9 billion in aid, excluding potential additional FEMA assistance. The support will encompass CDBG-DR funding for community recovery and rebuilding efforts, economic assistance for farmers affected by Helene, infrastructure repairs, and investments in drinking water systems.

Nationally, the legislation provides significant allocations across various departments:

- The Department of Agriculture receives $33.5 billion, including $21 billion for disaster assistance to farmers.

- The Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration is allocated $1.5 billion.

- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration receives $1.04 billion.

- The Department of Homeland Security is granted $30.83 billion.

- The Environmental Protection Agency is provided with $3.3 billion.

- Other departments receiving funds include Health and Human Services ($500 million), Transportation ($8 billion), and Housing and Urban Development ($12 billion).

Senator Tillis has been advocating for federal aid since Hurricane Helene's landfall on October 1, 2024. His efforts included leading bipartisan initiatives urging swift congressional action on disaster relief appropriations.