North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper signed a second Helene relief bill this week. Cooper has urged lawmakers to allocate more recovery funds for western North Carolina. (Photo by Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline)
Gov. Roy Cooper signed North Carolina lawmakers’ second Hurricane Helene aid package into law Friday, calling it a “small step” and urging them to invest further in the mountains’ recovery.
The Republican-led bill, passed Thursday, allocates an additional $604 million into relief efforts. It will qualify the state for billions of additional federal dollars and sends money to local governments, schools and families in western North Carolina.
Cooper had called on lawmakers to pass a significantly larger bundle of money for aid — $3.9 billion in total.
“Western North Carolina needs significant investments to recover fully from the worst storm our state has ever seen,” Cooper said in a statement. “Legislators have taken a small step here and should follow it with a more comprehensive package to help families, businesses and communities build back stronger.”
The second aid bill passed both chambers unanimously. Combined with the first package, lawmakers have now approved $877 million in spending post-Helene — not including federal money.
North Carolina Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) and House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland), surrounded by state lawmakers, address reporters ahead of a vote on a first round of Hurricane Helene relief money. (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline)
Republican leaders said they were confident in the bill as a next step in recovery. Sen. Ralph Hise (R-Mitchell) said they were “meeting the current needs on the ground.” And House Speaker Tim Moore said it would cover “anything that could possibly be needed between now and really, almost through the end of the year.”
Cooper’s call for further spending echoed that of several Democratic lawmakers, who said Thursday that the bill was much needed but still insufficient.
“This bill does not do enough. It falls short,” said Sen. Julie Mayfield (D-Buncombe). “The best way I can say it right now is that speed matters. Speed matters. The people and the economy of our region hang in the balance in this moment.”
Lawmakers are scheduled to return to session again on Nov. 19. They will likely look into further hurricane relief, as well as consider overrides on Cooper’s vetoes. Moore said he “suspects there could be more money” in a November relief package, but it will depend on how recovery efforts continue.