PBS
North Carolina received millions in disaster aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency the day after North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis publicly confronted the Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem in a hearing.
During the Tuesday hearing, Tillis lambasted Noem, referring to FEMA’s current leadership as “incompetent.” Tillis produced a chart during the hearing, saying that FEMA had failed North Carolina residents still reeling from a $60 billion disaster.
“Thousands of people are hurting in North Carolina, and you’re just barely catching up,” Tillis said, later adding, “You’ve failed at FEMA.”
A day after Tillis’ tirade, North Carolina Democratic Rep. Deborah Ross told news website NOTUS that the money was approved. Ross, who sits on the House Judiciary committee, got her chance to address Noem on Wednesday.
“In fact, Senator Tillis, as I’m sure you remember, lambasted you and the failure of your department in dispersing these funds,” Ross said. “And then magically, about $80 million got released today, for which we’re thankful. But we shouldn’t have to have a U.S. senator or a representative or another representative come to you directly to get you to do your job.”
A FEMA spokesperson told NOTUS the release of the funds had nothing to do with Tillis’ interaction with Noem at the hearing.
“For your reference, FEMA observes a standard three-day embargo period before announcing approved funding,” the spokesperson told NOTUS. “To be very clear, the release of these funds is not related to the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing or any remarks by Senator Tillis or others.”
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