The subsequent is a transcript of an interview with House Speaker Mike Johnson, Republican of Louisiana, on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” that aired on Oct. 13, 2024.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And we proceed now to House 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 ruinous hurricanes simply in the previous 16 days. You have visited a few of these catastrophe zones your self. And Punchbowl News quotes you as saying that Congress might finally should go an support bundle that might attain as excessive as $100 billion. Last Sunday on this program, Thom Tillis, the senator from North Carolina, mentioned to us he'd like for Congress to offer some certainty by voting now on support after which come again after the election to do extra. Lawmakers aren't scheduled to come back again for an additional month. Why do you suppose it may well wait?
SPEAKER JOHNSON: Well, it may well wait as a result of keep in mind, the day earlier than Hurricane Helene hit, made landfall in Florida, after which went up via the states and wound up in Senator Tillis's state of North Carolina, Congress appropriated $20 billion further to FEMA in order that they might have the obligatory assets to handle quick wants, and so we put that into the coffers. I simply checked Margaret as of this morning, lower than 2% of that funding has truly been distributed, proper round 2% of it, so we want FEMA to do its job. That- these funds, that cash is offered in order that storm victims can have the quick requirements met. And then what occurs after each storm is that the states should assess and calculate the precise wants, after which they undergo Congress that request. As quickly as that's carried out, Congress will meet and in bipartisan style, we are going to handle these wants. We'll present the further assets. But it might be untimely to name everybody again now, as a result of these storms are so giant of their scope and magnitude, it may take a little bit little bit of time to make these calculations. In North Carolina, I used to be there in 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 folks have been nonetheless being rescued 13 days out from the storm. That was only a few days again. So they nonetheless have quite a bit to do. It's going to take a very long time to make these calculations, however Congress is able to act, and we are going to.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, the FEMA Director says there's solely $11 billion left from that $20 billion that was allotted. So that is a special accounting than this 2% you say was distributed.
SPEAKER JOHNSON: Yeah. So they've obligated some funds, however they've solely distributed 2%, and after I was there on the floor, and it is best to go, I imply, carry the cameras and discuss to the individuals there, they're going to inform you, don't- do not take politicians phrases for this or the administration's phrase, discuss to the individuals there on the floor they'd not been offered the assets nearly two weeks out from the storm that they desperately wanted. And after I was there 13 days, post- you realize, publish the storm hitting that state, persons are nonetheless being rescued. They're caught in the increased elevations in the mountains as a result of the roads are down and all the relaxation. So they want every- each out there useful resource and all palms on deck. The rescue and restoration efforts are nonetheless going on, after which we handle the remainder of it. But 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 a variety of evaluation about that as nicely in the days forward.
MARGARET BRENNAN: But hurricane season, as you realize, final via the finish of November, you are from Louisiana. You've dealt with this earlier than. NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is forecasting this may very well be certainly one of the busiest seasons on report. So why not get forward of this? Isn't it a little bit of a raffle to attend?
SPEAKER JOHNSON: No, it isn't. Margaret, as I simply mentioned, Congress cannot meet and simply ship cash on a guess or an estimate of what the damages are. The manner supplemental catastrophe funding is offered is that, you realize, the state sends in precise wants. It's assessed by Congress after which handed out that manner. But once more, keep in mind, they've billions, tens of billions of {dollars} that have been already despatched to FEMA, someday earlier than Helene made landfall. So they've loads of assets. And in reality, the administration Secretary Mark- Mayorkas mentioned himself, DHS, FEMA is division- division of Homeland Security. He mentioned only a few days in the past on his telecast to the media that they've what they want proper now. Everyone understands and is aware of extra can be obligatory. But if we meet in just a few weeks, proper after the election, when Congress is ready to return, that's about the proper period of time the place we'll have the ability to deal with these wants.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And that $100 billion is an accurate evaluation that you simply made?
SPEAKER JOHNSON: Well, look, that is my guesstimate. You know, I used to be on the floor in the worst hit areas in Florida. I went the place Helene made landfall. Whole communities are wiped on the market. It's devastating. It goes all the manner inland. The agricultural areas are devastated by it as nicely. And then you definitely go as much as the Carolinas, Tennessee, Georgia, it's a broad scope. As Governor Kemp mentioned, in Georgia, it was as if a 250 mile extensive twister ripped via his state. So that is going to take a while to get better from. You talked about, I'm from Louisiana. We're nonetheless dealing with the after results of Katrina nearly 20 years later. So these are massive ones.
And it may take a variety of work, however the excellent news is, you realize, the heartening factor about this Margaret, while you're there on the floor, you discuss to the individuals, you are reminded of the American spirit, and folks pull collectively, communities, pulling collectively, church buildings, nonprofits, Samaritan's Purse, all the relaxation, they're doing extraordinary work there, and it it makes you inspired to be amongst the individuals, 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 have some new CBS polling out this morning, and it reveals a majority of voters do belief their state's election system. Only 1 / 4 of voters suppose there can be widespread fraud on this upcoming 2024 election, however half of Donald Trump voters need him to problem the election outcomes. If Harris wins, most of the Vice President's backers need her to just accept the outcomes regardless of who wins.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You are the Speaker of the House, which implies you're certainly one of the officers with some say about the safety state of affairs main as much as January sixth and election certification. Can you guarantee the nation, we won't see the violence that this nation skilled in 2021? What are you doing to cease it?
SPEAKER JOHNSON: Yes, I do not suppose we'll see something like that. I definitely pray and hope that is true. There's a variety of nice work that is been carried out at the federal, state and native stage to forestall the chaos that ensued after 2020. The Covid election 12 months, when all the states have been altering their legal guidelines and laws with out the legislatures approving that. That introduced up constitutional questions. There have been all types of issues about fraud and irregularity and all these issues. The good factor is, and I feel everyone must be inspired, that since that point, most of the state legislatures went to work to shore up their programs to make sure that these sorts of issues did not occur in the future. And I feel that that is going to offer us a excessive diploma of certainty, and definitely hope that this can be a free and honest and authorized election. I feel everyone on each side must 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 Constitution, our legal guidelines require us to get this carried out on a sure timetable, and we are going to. Congress will observe the Constitution. I assure you that I've made a profession of that. You know, I've demonstrated it time and again and over all through my life, and as Speaker of the House. And we are going to deal with this so everyone can can have a way of certainty about that. Now look, there are members on each side of the aisle who might object to slates of electors. That is commonplace now. In truth, 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 individuals say that they have to look at it intently, they're saying that they will do their job. So–
MARGARET BRENNAN: however again in–
SPEAKER JOHNSON: We're going to have the peaceable transition of energy. Yeah, I consider President Trump's going to win, and this can be taken care of.
MARGARET BRENNAN: But again in 2020 you supported a authorized problem to the end result of the election. The Supreme Court rejected that try and problem it. Since then, the Electoral Count Reform Act has been handed. Are you sure that at 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 inform you that we'll observe the regulation, and we are going to be sure that our colleagues observe the regulation. The Electoral Count Act and the Constitution itself requires. The motive for the objection in, you realize, the final election cycle in 2020 was what I referenced earlier, is that we had all types of modifications to election legal guidelines in the states and selecting electors the mechanism by doing that underneath 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 by no means addressed it, as a result of, keep in mind, they only rejected all that on standing. But we're not re-litigating–
[CROSSTALK]
MARGARET BRENNAN: But 62, no I'm not
SPEAKER JOHNSON: We're speaking about 2024-
MARGARET BRENNAN: Exactly, 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 feel, objectively confirmed to be true. Obviously, everybody is aware of the legislatures weren't assembly in 2020 due to Covid. So it is article two, part one, clause two, everyone google it and skim it says solely the legislatures could make these guidelines. But look, I'm comfy to inform you that this 12 months–
MARGARET BRENNAN: – But on the safety image
SPEAKER JOHNSON: That's not a problem, proper?
MARGARET BRENNAN: On the safety image at the nation's capital, what measures are you taking?
[CROSSTALK ENDS]
SPEAKER JOHNSON: Yeah. Look, we've got an all palms on deck method on this. The Capitol Police and the Architect of the Capitol and everybody have carried out extraordinary measures. They've hardened the services round the constructing to forestall something in the future from international terrorists or anybody else who would possibly need to, you realize, attempt to invade the Capitol, okay. That's taken care of. But I feel the better challenge and the larger story is that you've got had actually nice work carried out in most of the states to shore up their programs and to ensure that that we've got a free and honest election. Now look, as President Trump says all the time and I agree, our facet, what we are saying at the rallies you've got heard is we have to make it too massive to rig. I feel that is actually essential. I feel there may be going to be some dishonest on this election. I feel noncitizens are going to vote. Look, working example–
[CROSSTALK]
MARGARET BRENNAN: You know 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: Of course it's, after all it's, however after all it's. But this is the drawback, there's a variety of states that aren't requiring proof of citizenship when illegals are noncitizens register to vote. We know that is occurring. Look, Glenn Youngkin in Virginia, I used to be going to say he issued an govt order to scrub up their voting guidelines heading into the election. Less than 30 days out, a few days in the past, the Obama, I imply, the Biden administration, Department of Justice, Biden Harris administration, sued the governor and the state, the Commonwealth of Virginia, to attempt to forestall them from cleansing up their voter rolls. Their voter rolls. See, that type of factor creates a variety of doubt and concern in the minds of a variety of the American individuals. Why would they do this?
MARGARET BRENNAN: But respectfully, Speaker –
SPEAKER JOHNSON: Everybody ought to need the regulation to be adopted
MARGARET BRENNAN: Absolutely. respectfully, Speaker, you each, in the course of this interview, mentioned that you simply do consider that states have taken measures that can assist the integrity of this election
SPEAKER JOHNSON: That's true-
MARGARET BRENNAN: – and then you definitely simply additionally appear to undermine confidence in the integrity of the state elections–
SPEAKER JOHNSON: No, no. Margaret. Hold on. Wait a minute. It's not me undermining it. It's the actions of the Biden-Harris administration and a few of these states. Noncitizens usually are not allowed to vote underneath federal regulation
MARGARET BRENNAN: Right
SPEAKER JOHNSON: But the states have prohibited it. We handed the SAVE act. You know, 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 in the Senate. We might have prevented this, the questions that individuals have about that, however the Democrats selected to not. They opened the border extensive. Lots of people theorize that that was in order that they might have non residents to vote. These are realities, Margaret. I want it weren't true, however that is what's, that is the concern that individuals have. And Wisconsin–
[CROSSTALK]
MARGARET BRENNAN: – But, however. People can have numerous issues, however it's already regulation that noncitizens can't vote in federal elections.
SPEAKER JOHNSON: It is a regulation. That's right, however we've got to verify the regulation is adopted. And that's the entire level. That has all the time been the entire level of the SAVE Act and all the measures that we have tried to make sure. I consider, by my rely, we've got about 16 million unlawful aliens in the nation since Mayorkas and Harris and Biden opened the border extensive. And due to that, there's concern, as a result of these persons are distributed throughout the nation, as you realize, there's concern a few of these individuals will attempt to take part in the elections. Look, a few of our House races. I consider the Republicans are going to win the home, develop the home majority, win the Senate and the White House. But in a few of our House races, I imply, I've a colleague who was elected by six votes in 2020. Some of those are determined by a whole bunch or just a few 1000s of votes. So in case you have non residents collaborating in opposition to the regulation, and you haven't any mechanism in some states to cease it. That is the root of a lot of the concern. And after all, you realize, in California, they've poll harvesting proper? Ballot harvesting is infamous for opening the door for fraud in Wisconsin, they'll put—
MARGARET BRENNAN: — Mr. Speaker, you appear to be
SPEAKER JOHNSON: – In some counties unmanned poll packing containers in public parks, once more
MARGARET BRENNAN: Contradicting your self. The states are run by the state authorities–
SPEAKER JOHNSON: No. I'm stating the info, Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: – Not the federal authorities.
SPEAKER JOHNSON: That's proper. That's right. And that is yeah we hope and pray-
MARGARET BRENNAN: So in case your challenge is with sure governors, should not you be speaking to them?
SPEAKER JOHNSON: We have been- we've got been and the Republican governors have carried out heroic work. They've carried out their very own audits of the voter rolls to strive to make sure and do their finest responsibility to ensure that it is a free, honest and authorized election. We're calling on all the governors to do the similar factor, Democrat governors as nicely, and Democrat led states in the legislature, they should do the similar factor. Lots of good work has been carried out since 2020, however there's nonetheless questions on the market
