Congress approves recovery funding
Bill to increase hurricane funding passes
Dana Lizik
Issue date: 10/6/08 Section: News
The bill to increase Hurricane Ike funding passed Congress Sept. 27, but the exact amount to be given to the victims in Texas remains undetermined.
Houston Mayor Bill White, along with Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas and Lt. Governor David Dewhurst went to Washington to propose expanded federal funding.
"They wanted the FEMA money up front," Frank Michel, Mayor White's communications director, said, "Instead of waiting behind red tape for months."
White requested $2 billion for the City of Houston to cover the cost of the emergency response in the first 14 days alone, and Harris County had a similar bill, Michel said. The money has yet to be disbursed.
The spending bill that was approved by Congress extends into the spring of 2009 and secured $22.8 billion for Texas, Louisiana and the areas affected by flooding in the Midwest, without limiting oil production.
However, the exact amount to be given to the Texas areas affected by Ike remains undecided.
"It is my goal to ensure that Texas gets all the help needed for recovery of the huge economic losses from Hurricanes Ike and Dolly," Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison said in a press release.
Another bill that is geared toward helping Ike victims is the Tax Extenders bill, passed in a separate legislation Sept. 23.
Hutchinson said, "As further damage estimates come in from the state, I will continue to fight for additional funding for the recovery when the new Congress convenes next year."
Houston Mayor Bill White, along with Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas and Lt. Governor David Dewhurst went to Washington to propose expanded federal funding.
"They wanted the FEMA money up front," Frank Michel, Mayor White's communications director, said, "Instead of waiting behind red tape for months."
White requested $2 billion for the City of Houston to cover the cost of the emergency response in the first 14 days alone, and Harris County had a similar bill, Michel said. The money has yet to be disbursed.
The spending bill that was approved by Congress extends into the spring of 2009 and secured $22.8 billion for Texas, Louisiana and the areas affected by flooding in the Midwest, without limiting oil production.
However, the exact amount to be given to the Texas areas affected by Ike remains undecided.
"It is my goal to ensure that Texas gets all the help needed for recovery of the huge economic losses from Hurricanes Ike and Dolly," Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison said in a press release.
Another bill that is geared toward helping Ike victims is the Tax Extenders bill, passed in a separate legislation Sept. 23.
Hutchinson said, "As further damage estimates come in from the state, I will continue to fight for additional funding for the recovery when the new Congress convenes next year."
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