WASHINGTON (September 11) – Congressman Spencer Bachus (AL-6) issued the following statement on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Department’s approval of disaster recovery plans that will free up $55.6 million in federal assistance to help the State of Alabama rebuild from the tornadoes of April 27, 2011.

Bachus is Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, which oversees HUD’s programs.

“It’s time to put this disaster recovery funding to work in our communities and state. Alabama has already come a long way back from the devastating tornadoes of April 27, 2011, but much remains to be done. Approval of these recovery plans will help speed up the restoration of housing and infrastructure and promote economic revitalization. It’s my hope this will enable our many severely impacted communities in Alabama to achieve a successful recovery.”

HUD will provide community development block grant funding to Tuscaloosa County in the amount of $16.634 million, to Jefferson County in the amount of $7.84 million, and to the City of Birmingham in the amount of $6.386 million. The State of Alabama was allocated $24.697 million for use throughout the state.

Congressman Bachus announced HUD’s intention to provide the grant assistance on January 19, 2012. The use of the funding is determined by disaster recovery plans submitted by the affected recipients to HUD. A bill passed by Congress provided the department with $400 million in CDBG funding for communities and states impacted by natural disasters in 2011.