On December 20, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 10545, known as the American Relief Act of 2024. This legislation includes $110 billion in disaster supplemental funding aimed at assisting states affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, along with other disasters since late 2022.
Congressman Chuck Edwards played a pivotal role in crafting this bill as a member of the House Appropriations Committee. Although it is customary for the committee’s chairman to be the lead sponsor of such bills, Edwards was named as the only co-sponsor.
Speaker Mike Johnson commented on Edwards’ involvement: “From the moment Hurricane Helene made landfall, Representative Chuck Edwards has been hard at work ensuring that Western North Carolinians are not forgotten… Rep. Edwards was key to getting that critical disaster relief aid across the finish line.”
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole also praised Edwards: “Congressman Chuck Edwards set a precedent of being the singular cosponsor on a disaster relief package that aids multiple states… His leadership and steadfast advocacy secured critical disaster aid for his constituents and Americans across this nation.”
Edwards’ experience from nine weeks on the front lines of disaster response contributed to his effective drafting of the supplemental package. As a lifelong resident of Western North Carolina, he has firsthand knowledge of local challenges following Hurricane Helene.
Despite challenges during legislative proceedings, Congressman Edwards expressed satisfaction with bipartisan support for maintaining the funding package intact. The American Relief Act will channel billions from federal agencies into Western North Carolina, including Small Business Administration loans, highway repair funds, Economic Adjustment Assistance for recovery efforts, agriculture assistance, and support for the U.S. Forest Service.
Edwards remarked on future recovery efforts: “The road to recovery will be long… But the people of Western North Carolina are resilient fighters.”
