The next is a transcript of an interview with Home Speaker Mike Johnson, Republican of Louisiana, on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” that aired on Oct. 13, 2024.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And we go now to Home Speaker Mike Johnson, who joins us from Benton, Louisiana. Good morning to you, Mr. Speaker.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE MIKE JOHNSON: Hey Margaret, nice to see you.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sir, we all know there have been these two devastating hurricanes simply previously 16 days. You’ve gotten visited a few of these catastrophe zones your self. And Punchbowl Information quotes you as saying that Congress could ultimately must cross an assist bundle that might attain as excessive as $100 billion. Final Sunday on this program, Thom Tillis, the senator from North Carolina, stated to us he’d like for Congress to supply some certainty by voting now on assist after which come again after the election to do extra. Lawmakers aren’t scheduled to come back again for one more month. Why do you assume it could wait?
SPEAKER JOHNSON: Properly, it could wait as a result of bear in mind, the day earlier than Hurricane Helene hit, made landfall in Florida, after which went up by the states and wound up in Senator Tillis’s state of North Carolina, Congress appropriated $20 billion extra to FEMA in order that they might have the required sources to deal with speedy wants, and so we put that into the coffers. I simply checked Margaret as of this morning, lower than 2% of that funding has really been distributed, proper round 2% of it, so we’d like FEMA to do its job. That- these funds, that cash is offered in order that storm victims can have the speedy requirements met. After which what occurs after each storm is that the states must assess and calculate the precise wants, after which they undergo Congress that request. As quickly as that’s achieved, Congress will meet and in bipartisan trend, we’ll tackle these wants. We’ll present the extra sources. However it might be untimely to name everybody again now, as a result of these storms are so massive of their scope and magnitude, it is going to take a bit of little bit of time to make these calculations. In North Carolina, I used to be there within the worst hit areas round Asheville with Senator Tillis and Senator Budd, Chuck Edwards, the congressman that represents that space, the devastation is broad, and other people had been nonetheless being rescued 13 days out from the storm. That was just some days again. So that they nonetheless have so much to do. It’ll take a very long time to make these calculations, however Congress is able to act, and we’ll.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, the FEMA Director says there’s solely $11 billion left from that $20 billion that was allotted. In order that’s a distinct accounting than this 2% you say was distributed.
SPEAKER JOHNSON: Yeah. So that they’ve obligated some funds, however they’ve solely distributed 2%, and once I was there on the bottom, and it’s best to go, I imply, deliver the cameras and discuss to the folks there, they will let you know, don’t- do not take politicians phrases for this or the administration’s phrase, discuss to the folks there on the bottom they’d not been offered the sources nearly two weeks out from the storm that they desperately wanted. And once I was there 13 days, post- you realize, submit the storm hitting that state, individuals are nonetheless being rescued. They’re caught within the increased elevations within the mountains as a result of the roads are down and all the remainder. So that they want every- each obtainable useful resource and all fingers on deck. The rescue and restoration efforts are nonetheless happening, after which we tackle the remainder of it. However FEMA was gradual to reply. They didn’t do the job that all of us anticipate and hope that they may do, and there is going to be lots of evaluation about that as effectively within the days forward.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However hurricane season, as you realize, final by the top of November, you are from Louisiana. You’ve got handled this earlier than. NOAA, the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is forecasting this could possibly be one of many busiest seasons on report. So why not get forward of this? Is not it a little bit of a chance to attend?
SPEAKER JOHNSON: No, it is not. Margaret, as I simply stated, Congress cannot meet and simply ship cash on a guess or an estimate of what the damages are. The way in which supplemental catastrophe funding is offered is that, you realize, the state sends in precise wants. It is assessed by Congress after which handed out that approach. However once more, bear in mind, they’ve billions, tens of billions of {dollars} that had been already despatched to FEMA, sooner or later earlier than Helene made landfall. So that they have loads of sources. And in reality, the administration Secretary Mark- Mayorkas stated himself, DHS, FEMA is division- division of Homeland Safety. He stated just some days in the past on his telecast to the media that they’ve what they want proper now. Everybody understands and is aware of extra shall be obligatory. But when we meet in a number of weeks, proper after the election, when Congress is ready to return, that’s about the correct amount of time the place we’ll be capable of deal with these wants.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And that $100 billion is an accurate evaluation that you just made?
SPEAKER JOHNSON: Properly, look, that is my guesstimate. You understand, I used to be on the bottom within the worst hit areas in Florida. I went the place Helene made landfall. Complete communities are wiped on the market. It is devastating. It goes all the way in which inland. The agricultural areas are devastated by it as effectively. And then you definitely go as much as the Carolinas, Tennessee, Georgia, it’s a broad scope. As Governor Kemp stated, in Georgia, it was as if a 250 mile vast twister ripped by his state. So that is going to take a while to get well from. You talked about, I am from Louisiana. We’re nonetheless coping with the after results of Katrina nearly 20 years later. So these are massive ones.
And it is going to take lots of work, however the excellent news is, you realize, the heartening factor about this Margaret, whenever you’re there on the bottom, you discuss to the folks, you are reminded of the American spirit, and other people pull collectively, communities, pulling collectively, church buildings, nonprofits, Samaritan’s Purse, all the remainder, they’re doing extraordinary work there, and it it makes you inspired to be among the many folks, even in regardless of of that devastation, they’re pulling collectively, and that is that is the wonderful thing about all this.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We now have some new CBS polling out this morning, and it exhibits a majority of voters do belief their state’s election system. Solely 1 / 4 of voters assume there shall be widespread fraud on this upcoming 2024 election, however half of Donald Trump voters need him to problem the election outcomes. If Harris wins, many of the Vice President’s backers need her to simply accept the outcomes regardless of who wins.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You’re the Speaker of the Home, which implies you’re one of many officers with some say concerning the safety state of affairs main as much as January sixth and election certification. Are you able to guarantee the nation, we won’t see the violence that this nation skilled in 2021? What are you doing to cease it?
SPEAKER JOHNSON: Sure, I do not assume we’ll see something like that. I actually pray and hope that is true. There’s lots of nice work that is been achieved on the federal, state and native degree to forestall the chaos that ensued after 2020. The Covid election 12 months, when all of the states had been altering their legal guidelines and rules with out the legislatures approving that. That introduced up constitutional questions. There have been all types of considerations about fraud and irregularity and all these issues. The nice factor is, and I believe all people ought to be inspired, that since that point, many of the state legislatures went to work to shore up their programs to make sure that these sorts of issues did not occur sooner or later. And I believe that that is going to provide us a excessive diploma of certainty, and definitely hope that this shall be a free and honest and authorized election. I believe all people on either side ought to be praying and hoping for that, and that is what I hope and anticipate. And so once we get to January sixth, as you realize, the Structure, our legal guidelines require us to get this achieved on a sure timetable, and we’ll. Congress will observe the Structure. I assure you that I’ve made a profession of that. You understand, I’ve demonstrated it again and again and over all through my life, and as Speaker of the Home. And we’ll handle this so all people can can have a way of certainty about that. Now look, there are members on either side of the aisle who could object to slates of electors. That’s commonplace now. Actually, Democrats have objected to slates of electors after each single Republican presidential victory this century. So there’s nothing actually irregular about that. And when folks say that they have to look at it carefully, they’re saying that they will do their job. So–
MARGARET BRENNAN: however again in–
SPEAKER JOHNSON: We will have the peaceable transition of energy. Yeah, I consider President Trump’s going to win, and this shall be taken care of.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However again in 2020 you supported a authorized problem to the end result of the election. The Supreme Court docket rejected that try and problem it. Since then, the Electoral Depend Reform Act has been handed. Are you sure that on the nation’s capital, the lawmakers who you’re employed with, will not be difficult the end result?
SPEAKER JOHNSON: Look, we’ll see what occurs. I can simply let you know that we’ll observe the regulation, and we’ll make sure that our colleagues observe the regulation. The Electoral Depend Act and the Structure itself requires. The rationale for the objection in, you realize, the final election cycle in 2020 was what I referenced earlier, is that we had all types of adjustments to election legal guidelines within the states and selecting electors the mechanism by doing that beneath article two, part one, clause two says that solely the state legislatures can select these programs. So when elections officers and secretaries of state and a few state courtroom judges and whomever the governors, after they modified their guidelines due to Covid, they did it in an unconstitutional method. And that was an essential authorized query. The Supreme Court docket by no means addressed it, as a result of, bear in mind, they only rejected all that on standing. However we’re not re-litigating–
[CROSSTALK]
MARGARET BRENNAN: However 62, no I am not
SPEAKER JOHNSON: We’re speaking about 2024-
MARGARET BRENNAN: Precisely, and 62 authorized challenges, as you realize, failed with the Trump challenges to
SPEAKER JOHNSON: Yeah however not on that foundation, Margaret. Margaret, wait a minute. Wait a minute. Not on that foundation. That authorized query is, I believe, objectively confirmed to be true. Clearly, everybody is aware of the legislatures weren’t assembly in 2020 due to Covid. So it is article two, part one, clause two, all people google it and skim it says solely the legislatures could make these guidelines. However look, I am comfy to let you know that this 12 months–
MARGARET BRENNAN: – However on the safety image
SPEAKER JOHNSON: That is not a difficulty, proper?
MARGARET BRENNAN: On the safety image on the nation’s capital, what measures are you taking?
[CROSSTALK ENDS]
SPEAKER JOHNSON: Yeah. Look, we have now an all fingers on deck strategy on this. The Capitol Police and the Architect of the Capitol and everybody have achieved extraordinary measures. They’ve hardened the amenities across the constructing to forestall something sooner or later from international terrorists or anybody else who may need to, you realize, attempt to invade the Capitol, okay. That is taken care of. However I believe the higher concern and the larger story is that you’ve got had actually nice work achieved in many of the states to shore up their programs and to guarantee that that we have now a free and honest election. Now look, as President Trump says on a regular basis and I agree, our facet, what we are saying on the rallies you have heard is we have got to make it too massive to rig. I believe that is actually essential. I believe there may be going to be some dishonest on this election. I believe noncitizens are going to vote. Look, living proof–
[CROSSTALK]
MARGARET BRENNAN: You understand that it’s in opposition to–
SPEAKER JOHNSON: Glenn Youngkin, the governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia
MARGARET BRENNAN: The regulation for noncitizens to vote in federal elections that is established regulation.
SPEAKER JOHNSON: In fact it’s, after all it’s, however after all it’s. However this is the issue, there’s quite a lot of states that aren’t requiring proof of citizenship when illegals are noncitizens register to vote. We all know that is taking place. Look, Glenn Youngkin in Virginia, I used to be going to say he issued an government order to wash up their voting guidelines heading into the election. Lower than 30 days out, a few days in the past, the Obama, I imply, the Biden administration, Division of Justice, Biden Harris administration, sued the governor and the state, the Commonwealth of Virginia, to attempt to stop them from cleansing up their voter rolls. Their voter rolls. See, that type of factor creates lots of doubt and concern within the minds of lots of the American folks. Why would they do this?
MARGARET BRENNAN: However respectfully, Speaker –
SPEAKER JOHNSON: Everyone ought to need the regulation to be adopted
MARGARET BRENNAN: Completely. respectfully, Speaker, you each, in the midst of this interview, stated that you just do consider that states have taken measures that can assist the integrity of this election
SPEAKER JOHNSON: That is true-
MARGARET BRENNAN: – and then you definitely simply additionally appear to undermine confidence within the integrity of the state elections–
SPEAKER JOHNSON: No, no. Margaret. Maintain on. Wait a minute. Wait, wait only a minute. It isn’t me undermining it. It is the actions of the Biden-Harris administration and a few of these states. Noncitizens are usually not allowed to vote beneath federal regulation
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper
SPEAKER JOHNSON: However the states have prohibited it. We handed the SAVE act. You understand, in the home, the SAVE Act says you gotta have proof of citizenship earlier than you register to vote. And Chuck Schumer and the Democrats blocked that within the Senate. We may have prevented this, the questions that folks have about that, however the Democrats selected to not. They opened the border vast. Lots of people theorize that that was in order that they may have non residents to vote. These are realities, Margaret. I want it weren’t true, however that is what’s, that is the priority that folks have. And Wisconsin–
[CROSSTALK]
MARGARET BRENNAN: – However, however. Folks can have numerous considerations, however it’s already regulation that noncitizens can not vote in federal elections.
SPEAKER JOHNSON: It’s a regulation. That is right, however we have now to ensure the regulation is adopted. And that’s the complete level. That has all the time been the entire level of the SAVE Act and all of the measures that we have tried to make sure. I consider, by my depend, we have now about 16 million unlawful aliens within the nation since Mayorkas and Harris and Biden opened the border vast. And due to that, there’s concern, as a result of these individuals are distributed throughout the nation, as you realize, there’s concern a few of these folks will attempt to take part within the elections. Look, a few of our Home races. I consider the Republicans are going to win the home, develop the home majority, win the Senate and the White Home. However in a few of our Home races, I imply, I’ve a colleague who was elected by six votes in 2020. A few of these are determined by tons of or a number of 1000s of votes. So you probably have non residents taking part in opposition to the regulation, and you haven’t any mechanism in some states to cease it. That’s the root of a lot of the priority. And naturally, you realize, in California, they’ve poll harvesting proper? Poll harvesting is infamous for opening the door for fraud in Wisconsin, they will put—
MARGARET BRENNAN: — Mr. Speaker, you appear to be
SPEAKER JOHNSON: – In some counties unmanned poll bins in public parks, once more
MARGARET BRENNAN: Contradicting your self. The states are run by the state authorities–
SPEAKER JOHNSON: No. I am stating the details, Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: – Not the federal authorities.
SPEAKER JOHNSON: That is proper. That is right. And that is yeah we hope and pray-
MARGARET BRENNAN: So in case your concern is with sure governors, should not you be speaking to them?
SPEAKER JOHNSON: We now have been- we have now been and the Republican governors have achieved heroic work. They’ve achieved their very own audits of the voter rolls to attempt to make sure and do their finest responsibility to guarantee that it is a free, honest and authorized election. We’re calling on all of the governors to do the identical factor, Democrat governors as effectively, and Democrat led states within the legislature, they should do the identical factor. Loads of good work has been achieved since 2020, however there’s nonetheless questions on the market. So what we have now to do, and we have now been on the congressional degree, is attempt to pressure as a lot as attainable, voter integrity measures. Attempt to encourage that that might be happening in each state. Since you’re proper, your level is effectively taken- these elections– are are dealt with by the person states–
MARGARET BRENNAN: – However you are not convening Congress till after the election, you stated, Sir, so you will not be capable of do any of what you’re speaking about in concept.
SPEAKER JOHNSON: Hey, Margaret, Margaret, we have been doing this for nearly 4 years for the reason that 2020 debacle, that is what’s been taking place. And the Republican led states and the Republican governors have achieved a unprecedented job. A number of the Democrats haven’t. It has not been seen as their prime precedence, and that is the rationale for the controversy and the priority. However once more, I’ll reiterate what I stated within the outset. Regardless of all that, I believe it is going to be too massive to rig. I believe we’ll have a free and honest and authorized election throughout the board. I actually hope and pray that is true. And I believe each member of Congress joins in that- that- that hope and concern.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Speaker of the Home Mike Johnson, thanks to your time. We’ll be proper again with much more Face the Nation. Stick with us.
