The Obama administration is asking Congress to allocate more money to help thousands of Americans impacted this year by devastating natural disasters in Louisiana and in other states.
Shaun Donovan, director of the Office of Management and Budget, penned a letter to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi saying the $438 million “down payment” allotted for Louisiana for flood relief in September is appreciated but not enough. Daily Report obtained a copy of the letter from Gov. John Bel Edwards’ office.
“While these resources enabled the administration to help impacted communities begin their long recovery process, this funding is insufficient to adequately address the needs in Louisiana, where 150,000 people have registered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for support for temporary rental assistance, essential home repairs and general support to restore their lives as quickly as possible,” Donovan writes.
Edwards has made several visits to Washington, D.C., seeking federal flood relief for Louisiana, which sustained widespread damage this year from floods in the spring and summer. The governor is seeking $4 billion in assistance.
Donovan’s letter also addresses the need to provide federal aid for states recovering from Hurricane Matthew, such as North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida.
“Like the flooding in Louisiana and elsewhere, Hurricane Matthew has upended the lives of residents and damaged tens of thousands of homes across these states,” he writes.
He adds that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates that $3.15 million in Community Development Block Grants is needed to fund recovery in those states.
“As the Congress works to finalize action on the end of the year spending bill, I urge the Congress to include the resources needed to support rebuilding efforts in the communities that have experienced natural disasters,” he says.
