Johnson on Texas floods: 'We feel just as helpless as everyone else does'

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said on Sunday that there’s not much more Congress can do to help victims of the Texas floods until the supplemental funding requests come in.

In an interview on Fox News’s “Fox News Sunday,” anchor Shannon Bream noted that state and federal resources “have just poured into that area” to help with the flooding and asked whether “there’s anything more than can be done,” from a legislative perspective to help.

“In a moment like this, we feel just as helpless as everyone else does,” Johnson responded.

He noted that he has spoken with Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), whose district was affected by the floods, and Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas), whose daughters were attending a camp that was flooded. Johnson also noted that Rep. Buddy Carter's (R-Ga.) granddaughters were attending that same camp. 

“It touches so many families, and all we know to do at this moment is pray,” Johnson said.

Johnson said Congress will “handle” requests for additional funding once he receives them.

“Every available resource has been deployed. The president, of course, is dialed in and watching this develop moment by moment, as we are,” he said.

“We will handle supplemental funding requests as they come in, but right now they're still trying to do rescue and recovery, and our hearts go out to all of them,” Johnson added.

The death toll from flash floods that rampaged through Central Texas rose to nearly 70 on Sunday after searchers found more bodies in the hardest-hit Kerr County, according to the Associated Press.