Republicans agree to move quickly on emergency FEMA funds

Top Republican lawmakers say they will move quickly to pass President Obama’s request for emergency aid for victims of recent natural disasters like Hurricane Irene.

Eric Cantor, the majority leader of the House, said the president’s recent request for additional emergency funds will be approved within the next few weeks to ensure that residents hit hard by recent natural disasters can still have access to food and shelter.

Last Friday, President Obama requested $500 million for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) disaster fund, which will be depleted before the end of the month. In recent months, FEMA has had to dole out more money than it had expected as a result of the severe flooding through much of the north, midwest, and south as well as the unusually severe tornado season that devastated large portions of the country.