Rogers Praises House Passage of Emergency Legislation to Aid Victims of Hurricane Sandy
Bill Approved Today Provides $50.5 Billion for Recovery and Relief for Families, Businesses, and Communities Affected by October Disaster
Washington,
Jan 15 -
House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers today praised the passage of H.R. 152, the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act. The bill, sponsored by Chairman Rogers, will provide a total of $50.5 billion in aid for Hurricane Sandy victims and their communities.
The funding in this legislation will go toward both immediate and longer-term needs in the wake of the storm, including the FEMA Disaster Relief Fund, which provides the most direct source of individual and community assistance throughout the affected region. The legislation will also finance critical housing and infrastructure needs, ensure repairs to damaged veterans medical facilities, and fund necessary transit repairs, small business loans, and recovery aid for businesses of all sizes.
Included in the legislation is an amendment– offered by Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) – to provide an additional $33 billion for longer-term recovery efforts and infrastructure improvements, and for programs and projects that will help guard against damage and losses in future disasters.
Chairman Rogers applauded the passage of the bill:
“Today, the House has done its duty to provide victims of this terrible storm with the resources they need to get back on their feet,” he said. “We have seen the havoc and devastation that Hurricane Sandy brought down on the Northeast region, and we know this critical funding will go a long way toward repairing vital infrastructure, aiding troubled businesses, and getting victims back in their homes and back to work.
“While providing this much-needed assistance, we have ensured that this funding will be spent responsibly and properly, providing carefully targeted funding levels and firm measures for conscientious oversight.
“I urge the Senate to pass this legislation as soon as possible so our people in the Northeast can swiftly get the support required to continue on the road to recovery,” Rogers said.
For the text of the base Rogers legislation, please visit:
http://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20130114/RogersSubHR152.pdf
For the text of the $33 billion Frelinghuysen amendment, please visit:
http://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20130114/AMNT-113-HR152-F000372-2R.pdf
For a full list of additional House-adopted amendments to the legislation, please visit:
http://appropriations.house.gov/UploadedFiles/01.15.13_HR_152_Adopted_Amendments.pdf
