Louisiana lawmakers plan to push for more federal aid to speed flood recovery efforts when they return to Congress next week, The Advertiser reports.
Congressional, state and local officials are still assessing damage from last month’s flooding that killed 13 people and destroyed tens of thousands of homes and businesses. But congressional lawmakers say they’re working on legislation and met Monday with Gov. John Bel Edwards to discuss early needs.
“It’s going to require a tailored response,” says Republican Rep. Garret Graves, whose district includes hard-hit Baton Rouge. “The needs are pretty extraordinary.”
With less than five weeks before Congress breaks for elections, Louisiana lawmakers vow to step up pressure to get colleagues to act.
“I’ll tell you there’s no doubt that these funds are needed yesterday,” Graves says.
The legislative wish-list will likely include Community Development Block Grant disaster recovery aid, he says, adding that lawmakers hope to create a task force of state, federal and local officials to coordinate and track recovery efforts.
To bolster their case, Louisiana members of Congress will invite colleagues in key positions to tour damaged communities. Rep. John Mica, R-Florida, who chairs a subcommittee with jurisdiction over the Federal Emergency Management Agency, toured Monday with Graves. California Rep. Maxine Waters, top Democrat on the Financial Services Committee, visited last Friday.
Last week, Democratic Rep. Cedric Richmond, who also represents parts of Baton Rouge, and Waters called for a field hearing in the city. Republican Sen. David Vitter, chairman of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, will hold a hearing Sept. 15 in Washington.
Lawmakers are also looking to tap economic aid and housing-repair programs and explore U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects to stabilize the Amite and Comite rivers.
Steve Ellis, vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense, predicts there will be bipartisan support.
