WASHINGTON – The Biden administration has appealed to Congress for nearly $100 billion in emergency funds aimed at addressing several recent disasters that have stretched federal resources to their limits.

This request, made on Monday, includes $40 billion intended for FEMA to assist with recovery efforts following the severe damages inflicted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in Florida and other Southeastern states during September and October.

In addition, the funds will help respond to various other emergencies, including last year’s wildfires in Maui, tornadoes throughout the Midwest, and the March collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.

“This support is crucial,” stated White House budget director Shalanda Young during a press briefing. “Families, small businesses, and communities depend on their government for assistance in their times of need.”

FEMA currently has enough funds to handle recovery operations for Helene and Milton until the end of the year, according to FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell. However, she noted that the agency is depleting its resources and will struggle to maintain operations for the remainder of the fiscal year, which concludes next September, without additional financial support.

Now that Congress has reconvened following the recent presidential election, lawmakers face the decision of whether to address this funding request through separate legislation or include it in a larger end-of-year spending bill.

Both Young and Criswell expressed optimism on Monday that the funding package could gain bipartisan support.

“As President Biden has emphasized, this is not a matter of party lines; we all need to unite to provide this assistance,” Young remarked.

The funding proposal encompasses $24 billion for the Agriculture Department to support farmers afflicted by crop or livestock losses due to natural disasters, like hurricanes, wildfires, and droughts, as well as to aid communities with debris cleanup and recovery efforts.

Additionally, the administration is seeking $12 billion for the Department of Housing and Urban Development to repair damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton and to tackle recovery needs from the past two years. It also seeks $8 billion for the Transportation Department for rebuilding and repairing infrastructure such as highways, bridges, and roads across more than 40 states affected by disasters.

Lastly, $2 billion is earmarked for the Small Business Administration to provide low-interest loans to businesses, homeowners, renters, and nonprofit organizations impacted by disasters.

Overall, the administration’s funding request spans 16 different departments or agencies.