Senators Durbin, Obama Ask Bush Administration to Support Emergency Funding

June 17, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Barack Obama (D-IL) today sent a letter to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Jim Nussle, asking his support for the inclusion of emergency funds in the 2008 Supplemental Appropriations bill to ensure critical relief is provided to the areas affected by the recent storms and subsequent flooding of the Mississippi River and its tributaries.

“We are already experiencing a backlog of critical infrastructure needs from previous disasters in the area. The recent and ongoing flooding in the Midwest will only compound the need for Federal assistance to rebuild,” the Illinois members wrote. “In 1993, Congress passed, and the President signed, $4.7 billion in emergency disaster funding. We need to ensure the Federal Emergency Management Agency; the United States Army Corps of Engineers and other Federal departments and agencies have the necessary resources to respond to disasters as they happen."

Text of the letter appears below:

Dear Director Nussle:

The recent storms and subsequent flooding of the Mississippi and its tributaries have devastated many communities in the Midwest. Local emergency management teams, state National Guard units, and countless volunteers have put forth heroic efforts to prepare for the worst and minimize the damage. But despite these outstanding efforts, floodwaters have overtaken entire communities and many more stand in the water’s path downstream.

The storms and flooding have already destroyed millions of acres of farmland, breached levees, crippled land and water shipping routes, and evacuated thousands from their homes and businesses. The disastrous effects of the flooding will continue and many more cities and towns are preparing for the record or near-record waters to come their way.

The magnitude of this disaster cannot be determined until the floodwaters have receded. As you remember from your time in the House of Representatives during the great flood of 1993, the cleanup and rebuilding effort will require action from the Federal Government. As you experienced first-hand then, when a region of our country is affected by a major disaster we come together to make sure states do not face disasters alone. In 1993, Congress passed, and the President signed, $6.3 billion in emergency disaster funding.

We need to ensure the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the United States Army Corps of Engineers and other Federal departments and agencies have the necessary resources to respond to disasters as they happen. It is critical that these agencies have the resources to help rebuild devastated communities and regions afterwards.

We are already experiencing a backlog of critical infrastructure needs from previous disasters in the area. The recent and ongoing flooding in the Midwest will only compound the need for Federal assistance to rebuild.

We urge the Administration to support the inclusion of sufficient emergency funds in the fiscal year 2008 Supplemental Appropriations bill to ensure critical relief is provided to the areas affected by this disaster. We look forward to working with you through this process, and appreciate your attention to this important matter.

Source: Senator Dick Durbin

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