In his first stop on Tuesday, the US president claimed that present series of extreme weather events requires immediate intervention and urged Congress to approve his infrastructure plan, which includes environmental protection measures.

We don’t have more time, we are at a tipping point and if we don’t act there will be serious consequences, said Biden, who will then head to Queens, New York, to meet with families hit by past Wednesday’s flash floods, first responders and local officials.

Joe Biden assured that federal funds will be available to support reconstruction efforts in both states.

Given last week’s rainfall and flooding in the northeast of the country, much of the New York subway network had to shut, airports were closed and thousands of residents were left with no power.

Tuesday’s trip marks President Biden’s second tour in a week to check damage caused by Hurricane Ida, as he visited Louisiana on Friday, where nearly half a million businesses and houses still remain with no power, according to PowerOutage.US.

pgh/Pll/oda / avr