House Passed Emergency Supplemental Includes $2.65 Billion for Midwest Flood Recovery

Press Release

Congressman Phil Hare (D-IL) today voted in favor of an amendment to the Iraq/Afghanistan Supplemental Appropriations Act which included $2.65 billion for flood recovery efforts in the Midwest at his request.

"It is absolutely critical that we provide flood-ravaged communities in the 17th District all the federal assistance they need," Hare said. "Homes, businesses, and local infrastructure will have to be rebuilt. I am committed to helping all Illinoisans get back on their feet."

Yesterday, Hare wrote a letter to House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-WI) requesting that the supplemental include significant funding for flood recovery.

That letter is copied below and attached.

June 18, 2008

The Honorable David R. Obey
Chairman
House Appropriations Committee
H-218 U.S. Capitol
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Chairman Obey:

As you finalize the Fiscal Year 2008 Supplemental Appropriations Act, I urge you to include additional funding in the bill to meet the emergency needs of disaster victims in the state of Illinois.

To date, Governor Blagojevich has declared 19 counties in Illinois a disaster area. The flooding is expected to displace thousands of families and damages to homes, farms, business and critical infrastructure are projected to cost several billion dollars.

While first responders and volunteers have worked diligently to assist communities in flood-fighting efforts, the predicted impact of flood waters is greater than the capacity of state or local agencies to recover from a disaster of this size.

Additionally, immediate federal disaster assistance is necessary to avoid any long term disruption to the global food market. Midwest floods have already halted movement of critical grain exports and destroyed thousands of acres of crops. Without federal aid disaster recovery will be slow, contributing to rising food prices.

In light of the above, I respectfully request that you provide additional funding for disaster assistance in the emergency supplemental appropriations bill to support relief efforts in flood-affected areas in Illinois.

Thank you for your attention to this request and I look forward to working with you.

Sincerely,

PHIL HARE
Member of Congress

Source