Reps. Crowley, LoBiondo Lead Bipartisan Tri-State Delegation Letter Urging Congressional Support for Hurricane Sandy Recovery Funding

(Queens, N.Y. and Mays Landing, N.J.) – Today, Reps. Joe Crowley (D-NY) and Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) led a bipartisan letter signed by members of Congress representing the Tri-State region to Speaker John Boehner and Leader Nancy Pelosi urging Congress to be prepared to provide disaster assistance to those affected by Hurricane Sandy.

The Tri-State area – New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut – faced unimaginable destruction as a result of Hurricane Sandy. The storm claimed nearly 100 lives and a search-and-rescue effort is underway for those still missing. Millions lost their homes and millions more are without power, food and water. The storm also wreaked havoc the region’s mass-transit systems and infrastructure, and entire communities have been destroyed. States, communities and residents are now left to pick up the pieces as an unprecedented recovery effort gets underway.

While the full extent of the damage caused by Sandy is still being quantified, it is clear that the recovery will be a long and costly challenge. Currently, FEMA has over $7 billion available for disaster assistance. However, should the recovery effort exceed this amount – as many experts believe will be the case – the lawmakers want to ensure Congress is prepared to deliver funding expeditiously.

“We understand FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] may have the resources it needs at this time, but as the full brunt of Hurricane Sandy is quantified, Congress must stand ready to provide the aid and assistance to the people and communities most devastated by this storm,” wrote the lawmakers in the letter.

To read the letter, please click below.