President Joe Biden called eastern Kentucky on Monday and engaged the federal government’s full backing as the commonwealth began reconstructing following flooding that destroyed more than three dozen people and caused destructive damage.
The President was bound by Kentucky Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear and obtained a briefing on the ongoing reaction to the flood.
“It’s going to take time to get over this, but I promise you we’re not departing. The federal government and all its aids — we’re not departing; as long as it takes, we’re going to be here.”
First lady Jill Biden also journeyed to Kentucky with the President. Along with Beshear, Biden was attended by several Kentucky elected officials during his voyage, including Kentucky Republican Rep. Hal Rogers. Biden said he had requested Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to Kentucky, but McConnell arrived he wanted the Kentucky senator had joined him.
Biden’s reaction: “No, I don’t think so. I don’t think he has to. He’s got a Senate to run.” Thousands of people remain scattered after the flooding swept away many houses. Many also remain abandoned without access to clean water, electricity and crucial supplies, as some communities stay impossible to access because of heavily impaired infrastructure. High temperatures, thunderstorms and humidity have been facing challenges to comeback efforts.
After observing the impairment and discussion with families impacted by the flooding, the President applauded the local community for their “bravery” and “dynamism”.
“We’re the only territory in the world that has come up with every major destruction more powerful than we went into it. We got destroyed going in, but we came out more effective. That’s the purpose here,” Biden stated
He persisted, telling the group as they were wrapped by destruction from the flood, We never give up, we never quit, we never bend, we never bow — we go forward. And that’s what we’re going to do here.”
Biden on Sunday discussed further on disaster assistance available to Kentucky after initially supporting a disaster proclamation on July 29 to increase local recovery struggles with federal funding.
Monday’s trip occurred shortly after Biden was officially liberated to emerge from separateness after retrieving from a rebound case of Covid-19. The President had devoured 18 days at the White House because of two back-to-back chances of Covid-19 but then journeyed to Rehoboth, Delaware, on Sunday. He tested negative on Saturday but stayed in isolation until sampling negative again on Sunday.
Until Sunday, Biden had not abandoned the White House until initially testing positive for Covid-19 on July 21. After taking a five-day course in medicine.
The massive bill — named the Inflation Reduction Act — would represent the most significant climate buy in US history and make major transformations to health policy by giving Medicare the authority for the first time to bargain the prices of certain prescription drugs and extend expiring health care subsidies for three years. The legislation would decrease the deficit, be paid for through new taxes — including a 15% minimum tax on large enterprises and a 1% tax on stock buybacks — and boost the Internal Revenue Service’s ability to compose. The legislation is still required to pass the House of Representatives.