Press Releases

WASHINGTON — This morning, Speaker Johnson joined CBS News’ Face the Nation and NBC News’ Meet the Press to discuss the ongoing federal response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The Speaker also discussed election security and the 2024 election process. 

Click here to watch the NBC interview, and here to watch the CBS interview

On the ongoing federal response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton:

Remember, the day before Hurricane Helene hit and made landfall in Florida, and then went up through the states and wound up in Senator Tillis' state of North Carolina, Congress appropriated $20 billion additional to FEMA so that they would have the necessary resources to address immediate needs, and so we put that into the coffers. I just checked Margaret, as of this morning, less than 2% of that funding has actually been distributed, right around 2% of it, so we need FEMA to do its job. Those funds, that money, is provided so that storm victims can have the immediate necessities met. And then what happens after every storm is that the states have to assess and calculate the actual needs, and then they submit to Congress that request. As soon as that is done, Congress will meet and in bipartisan fashion, we will address those needs. We'll provide the additional resources. 

But it would be premature to call everyone back now, because these storms are so large in their scope and magnitude, it's going to take a little bit of time to make those calculations. In North Carolina, I was there in the worst hit areas around Asheville with Senator Tillis and Senator Budd, Chuck Edwards, the congressman that represents that area. The devastation is broad, and people were still being rescued 13 days out from the storm. That was just a few days back. So, they still have a lot to do. It's going to take a long time to make those calculations, but Congress is ready to act, and we will.

On the SBA Loan program:

Congress will not leave small business owners wanting. I am a small business owner and I'm from a hurricane prone state, Louisiana. We're kind of experts in this disaster recovery. The SBA loan, as you indicated, is a small interest loan that helps people bridge the gap and get back on their feet. But importantly about that program, it is a supplement to private insurance and other disaster relief funding. And so, by definition and necessity, it takes a few weeks to calculate it. Now, Congress is expected to come back. We're already scheduled to come back right after the election. We're 23 days out from the election. That will coincide almost perfectly, I think with the time for most of these applications to even begin and many of them to be processed. Now, FEMA has received thousands of applications already, and they're going through that laborious process of affirming and confirming it.

But when the time is needed, we will cover the needs of small businesses. Congress is all on board. Remember, one day before Helene made landfall, we appropriated $20 billion additional dollars to FEMA so they would have the resources to address urgent needs. But I'll say this, it's very important to note. As of yesterday, roughly 2% of those funds had been distributed. We need the Biden-Harris administration to get about the business of distributing the funds that Congress has already set aside. That is a really important thing. People are hurting. I've been on the ground in the most affected disaster areas, Florida, North Carolina. They really need the help.

On 2024 election security: 

I'm a constitutional law attorney. I've dedicated my life, devoted my life and demonstrated every day that I will uphold the Constitution. We are going to do our job in Congress. A free and fair and legal election will be certified. And that is our hope and prayer across the board. Of course, I'm going to follow the constitution. I'm going to follow the law. That's my job. It's my duty. I took an oath to do that. And I'll fulfill my oath.

The point is the process works. We had the peaceful transfer of power, we did in 2020. We will in 2024. Everybody can sigh and take a deep breath. Our system is going to work. We have the greatest system in the history of the world because we live in the greatest country in the world. But that last part is in jeopardy right now. This is a decisive election, and everybody knows it. And that's why we're going to be given the chance to run this country again. We're going to turn it around and I can't wait.