Shreveport Reporter

Today, Speaker Johnson visited North Florida alongside Representatives Kat Cammack and Neal Dunn to meet with first responders and families affected by Hurricane Helene. The hurricane struck the Southeast last week, causing significant damage. The delegation conducted an aerial and on-the-ground tour of the impacted areas before holding a roundtable discussion with local stakeholders about ongoing recovery efforts.

During remarks to local media after the tour, Speaker Johnson emphasized that assistance is forthcoming for those affected by Hurricane Helene. "Right before we left on Wednesday, a week ago, Congress appropriated $20 billion to FEMA to cover the immediate aftermath of the storm," he stated. He reassured that "Congress is on the ground" and committed to ensuring Americans receive necessary support.

Representative Cammack expressed gratitude for Speaker Johnson's visit to some of Florida's hardest-hit communities. She noted the importance of seeing the damage firsthand and hearing from residents who are still awaiting federal disaster assistance following Hurricanes Idalia and Debby in recent months. "We’re going to continue our efforts to get our region back up and running," she said.

Representative Dunn praised the resilience shown by North Florida communities in response to Hurricane Helene. He acknowledged local leaders' dedication and expressed his commitment to advocating for aid throughout the recovery process.

Speaker Johnson also commented on recovery efforts: "I think this has been an extraordinary effort by Florida and state and local officials." He highlighted how communities have come together in response to devastation across several states including North Carolina and Georgia.

Discussing federal response measures, Johnson noted that while it will take time to assess damages fully, Congress is expected to address funding needs promptly upon returning from recess after elections. He assured bipartisan cooperation would be essential in prioritizing spending for disaster recovery despite national debt concerns.

Reflecting on their tour of hurricane damage, Speaker Johnson remarked on its severity: "It's devastating... whole communities washed away." Despite substantial property losses, he was inspired by community spirit noting minimal loss of life locally compared with other regions further north where fatalities occurred but could have been worse.