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9/24/2008 Boswell Supports Bill Including Nearly $24 Billion in Federal Assistance for Iowa and Other States Hit by Disaster For Immediate Release Also Includes $800,000 for Drake University’s Language Acquisition Program Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Leonard Boswell supported H.R. 2638 , The Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009 which overwhelming passed the House today by a vote of 370 to 58. The bill funds the federal government through March 6th 2009, and includes nearly $24 billion in disaster relief for Iowa and other states. “I’m very grateful that the appropriators included funding for Iowa and other states hit by natural disasters,” said Boswell. “The funding will be of tremendous assistance to communities in Iowa and other states, particularly the $6.5 billion in Community Development Block Grants. These flexible grants and can be used to provide temporary housing, and to repair and replace damaged homes and public infrastructure.” The funding bill also included $800,000 for Drake University in Des Moines, to develop online curriculum for the Drake University Language Acquisition Program, with particular emphasis on languages that are less commonly taught in an academic setting but are utilized by intelligence professionals. Below is a summary of the Disaster Assistance Package included in H.R. 2638: Disaster Relief Fund: $7.9 billion, to ensure that the Federal Emergency Management Agency can continue its work helping communities recover from recent disasters and to ensure that they have the resources necessary to respond to future disasters. Community Development Block Grants: $6.5 billion, providing communities with flexible grants to help communities recover from disasters for efforts including providing temporary housing, repairing and replacing damaged homes and public infrastructure, and for economic development activities. Emergency Highway Relief: $850 million, to the Federal Highway Administration to help states repair roads and bridges damaged by disasters. Economic Development Assistance Programs: $400 million, to help communities hit by disasters create strategies for economic recovery. International Disasters: $465 million, to provide $365 million to help Georgia recover from the economic impact of the recent conflict, and $100 million to help Haiti recover from Ike and other hurricanes, through the Economic Support Fund. |
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