North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein signed into law the latest Hurricane Helene relief spending bill, House Bill 1012, sending an additional $575 million to Western North Carolina. It now brings the total to more than $1.5 billion to the region in Helene aid.
On Thursday, the N.C. General Assembly came to a compromise on Helene relief proposals by unanimously approving its latest round of Helene relief aid but not without some contention.
The House of Representatives sent the State Senate its updated Helene relief package in May but it sat idle for weeks. As WUNC reported, Senate Democrats threatened last week to file a discharge petition in a move to get the bill onto the Senate floor.
Joined by local and state officials at the grand re-opening of Chimney Rock State Park Friday afternoon, Stein thanked the legislature for passing the bill but did not hesitate to say more money was needed.
“ I asked for $890 million, they provided $575 million,” Stein said. “It's good. Do not get me wrong. There are important elements to this appropriations bill that will help us accelerate the recovery of Western North Carolina, but we need more.”
According to Stein, the law provides $75 million for private roads and bridges, money to fight wildfires, prevent landslides, repair dams, and support schools and local governments. The legislation also extends the state of emergency to Oct. 1.
READ MORE HERE: The NC General Assembly has approved a last-moment Helene relief bill
He also called on Congress to not forget about WNC.
“I have an $11.5 billion dollar appropriation request sitting before Congress and the administration as we speak every day,” Stein said. “We have a lot of work to do, but it's also good to take stock and recognize that today is a good day.”
