FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 24, 2008
MEDIA CONTACT: Matt Mackowiak
Sen. Hutchison Announces $22.8 Billion Overall Disaster Package
Funding for Housing, Infrastructure in Package Expected to Pass Congress this Week
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Texas’s senior Senator, today announced that the end of year spending measure known as the Continuing Resolution (C.R.) includes $22.8 billion in disaster funding for Texas, Louisiana and the flooding in the Midwest.
The exact amount that the State of Texas and its affected communities will receive is unclear at this time and will not be known until the State of Texas provides damage estimates.
“It was very important that we secure funding for Hurricane Ike recovery this week before Congress adjourns,” said Sen. Hutchison. “Texas will receive major federal funding for the recovery from Hurricane Ike.”
Sen. Hutchison was able to secure over $600 million in tax benefits for Texas in separate legislation, the Tax Extenders bill, which passed the Senate Tuesday. In that bill, Texas will receive increased tax exempt bonding authority and low income housing tax credits. These tax benefits, worth over $600 million, will now be available to all of the 29 Texas counties in the Hurricane Ike disaster area. The package will also include enhanced depreciation deductions for businesses in the Hurricane Ike disaster area.
In the C.R., the Disaster Supplemental Division is divided into the following categories:
Agriculture – $518,000,000
(ARS Buildings/Facilities, Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service, FSA Emergency Conservation Program, Rural Development Assistance Fund)
Commerce, Justice, Science – $522,000,000
(Economic Development Assistance Program, NOAA Fisheries Disasters, NOAA Hurricane forecasting improvements, NASA Exploration Capabilities, hurricane damage)
Energy and Water – $2,776,800,000
(Corps Construction, Mississippi River and Tributaries, Corps Operations and Management, Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies)
Financial Services – $981,000,000
(SBA Disaster Loans, SBA Small Business Development Centers)
Homeland Security – $8,360,000,000
(FEMA Disaster Relief Fund, Coast Guard, American Red Cross grant, interoperable communications system)
Interior - $1,015,000,000
(BLM Wildlife Fire Management, FWS Construction, Forest Service Wildlife Fire Management, Forest Service Capital Improvement and Maintenance)
Labor-HHS-Education – $630,000,000
(ACF Social Services Block Grant, Aid for Displaced Students, Higher Education)
Military Construction-VA – $25,000,000
(Military Construction Army National Guard)
State-Foreign Operations – $511,500,000
(Special IG for Afghanistan, IBWC, Economic Support Funds for Georgia, Haiti)
Transportation-Housing and Urban Development – $7,520,000,000
(FHWA Emergency Relief, FRA Railroad Rehab and Repair, HUD Tenant-Based Section 8, HUD Project-Based Section 8, CDBG, Public Housing Capital Fund)
TOTAL – $22,859,300,000
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