Rep. Adams’ Statement on Consequences of Failure to Pass Continuing Resolution
North Carolina to Lose Significant Disaster Relief
WASHINGTON – Earlier today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12) delivered remarks in a press conference to reporters regarding the collapse in support for a Bipartisan Continuing Resolution to fund the government. Her prepared remarks are below.
"Good afternoon, everyone.
Thank you for being here on short notice. I wanted to share with you what we’re facing here in Washington as Congress closes out this year and this session and acts on the bipartisan spending bill.
The Congress has an opportunity to vote on a “continuing resolution” bill (CR) that would keep the government funded for another three months and prevent a shutdown that would have dire consequences for the economy, federal employees, veterans, and families, and anyone who would like to travel safely as we go into the holidays. This is an extension of the common sense, bipartisan budget bills we passed earlier this year in March. The CR would also include disaster relief funding and extend the most recent Farm Bill which has expired.
Our state is recovering from the most devastating natural disaster in modern history- Hurricane Helene. Almost $9 billion – that's billion, with a “B” – in disaster relief funding for North Carolina is in this bill, which we need desperately for rebuilding in the wake of Helene.
A few of the items that we stand to lose out on if we don’t pass this bill are:
Over $1.6 billion for disaster recovery through Housing and Urban Development to assist with long-term housing, infrastructure, and economic recovery needs for hardest-hit communities
$674 million in disaster payments and economic assistance for the farmers who feed us from across the state
Over $1 billion for the National Park Service to rebuild and preserve the Blue Ridge Parkway, and $429 million more for other NC parks projects
$2.2 billion dollars for the Small Business Administration to help fund the $172 million in requested loans from over 2,000 North Carolina small businesses
Millions of dollars in defense repairs to North Carolina military installations affected by Helene
Millions of dollars for rebuilding destroyed and damaged child care facilities and services affected by Helene – because child care is infrastructure
That’s just a fraction of what is at stake for North Carolina with this bill.
This CR includes an extension of the Farm Bill, which supports our farmers and keeps folks fed – including more than 1.5 million people in North Carolina who utilize SNAP benefits. This bill would keep families fed. If we don’t pass it, we lose out on these investments and the government will shut down at 12:01 am on Saturday morning.
We all remember the horrific scenes of entire towns wiped out. Aid organizations and the U.S. government have been working around the clock to assess and address the damage. Since then – for over two months – Congressional leadership in both parties have worked in good faith on how to keep our government running while caring for those who have suffered worst from Helene and other disasters.
As we head into the holiday travel season, our TSA agents should not be working without pay as a result of the shutdown. North Carolina deserves better, and that is why I am ready to vote for this Continuing Resolution and disaster relief funding today.
I call on the Speaker to bring it back to the floor.”
More information on the consequences and risks of failing to pass the Continuing Resolution can be found here.