Senator Landrieu: Sandy Supplemental Bill Good for Louisiana (USA)

U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., yesterday praised passage of legislation that will provide $60.4 billion to help recover from Hurricane Sandy and other disasters in 2012 such as Hurricane Isaac. Areas in Louisiana affected by Hurricane Isaac will greatly benefit from increased funding to FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, the Corps of Engineers and USDA programs.

The legislation also includes critical reforms to federal policies on disaster recovery based on lessons learned after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, including allowing disaster-affected communities in Louisiana to use streamlined procedures for FEMA Public Assistance, and draw down up to 25 percent of its hazard mitigation funding from Hurricane Isaac to expedite mitigation planning and project formulation. Today’s bill will help strengthen Louisiana’s recovery from Hurricane Isaac, while supporting communities in the Northeast.

“We owe it to everyone affected by a disaster to work together to fully fund a recovery. Today’s legislation provides the robust investments needed for a strong recovery, including critical funds for the Corps of Engineers to advance flood protection projects that will benefit communities in Louisiana affected by Hurricane Isaac,” Sen. Landrieu said. “Those of us who lived through Hurricanes Rita and Katrina learned painful lessons about the many needless bureaucratic hurdles that communities and families recovering from disasters face. Today’s legislation provides necessary tools to help improve federal response to disasters so that survivors of Hurricanes Sandy and Isaac – as well as all disasters – will have a faster and more efficient recovery.”

Army Corps of Engineers

– General Investigations: Provides $29.5 million to expedite and complete ongoing flood and storm damage reduction studies in areas impacted by Hurricanes Sandy and Isaac in the Corps of Engineers North Atlantic and Mississippi Valley Division.

– Construction:

o Provides $2.902 billion for flood protection projects to reduce future flood risk in areas impacted by Hurricanes Sandy and Isaac in the Corps of Engineers North Atlantic and Mississippi Valley Divisions.

o Provides $499 million to address damages from previous natural disasters following normal policies and cost sharing.

– O&M: Provides $821 million to dredge Federal navigation channels and repair damage to Corps projects nationwide as a result of natural disasters

– Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies: Provides $578 million in the Flood Control and Costal Emergencies account to prepare for future floods, hurricanes and other natural disasters.

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Press Release, December 31, 2012