Vice President JD Vance made a visit to Virginia on Monday to assess the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and assured the people of the federal government’s dedicated support in accelerating the recovery process. Speaking to residents and local officials, Vance vowed to overcome bureaucratic hurdles and provide the necessary resources to aid communities in their rebuilding efforts.
“We must return to Washington and determine the cause of the delay, then push through it,” exclaimed Vance in his speech. “Every day that we wait is too long for those who have already been waiting for four months since the storm. People cannot afford to wait any longer.”
The administration’s main priority, as emphasized by the vice president, is to streamline processes and collaborate closely with state and local governments to expedite the distribution of funding. The vice president stressed the urgency of taking immediate action and revealed a budget amendment of $127 million to supplement the existing federal appropriations designated for disaster recovery.
“We heard from business leaders today who’ve seen more movement in the past week than they’ve seen in months,” Vance said. “This is an opportunity for us to cut through the bureaucracy and ensure that people can rebuild their lives and their communities.”
Vance made it clear that no region would be left out in the recovery efforts, including East Tennessee. He acknowledged the significant devastation in Virginia and East Tennessee, emphasizing that the focus was on ensuring that no American would be overlooked.
Earlier in the day, Vance had a meeting with a congresswoman from East Tennessee and emphasized the administration’s dedication to addressing the needs of affected communities across state lines.
As recovery efforts continue, Vance’s travel to Virginia marked his second journey to Hurricane Helene-affected areas since assuming office a week ago. The administration has stated that disaster relief and recovery will be a top priority on its domestic agenda.
Residents and business leaders expressed gratitude for the federal government’s attention and the vice president’s visit to the region. They also emphasized the importance of bringing finance and resources to the ground.
With the administration’s commitment to “power through the bureaucracy” and focus on rebuilding, towns ravaged by Hurricane Helene are confident that aid is finally on the way.
