Federal Lawmakers Urge Quick Approval of Disaster Declaration
Thursday, April 10, 2008
BELLEVILLE NEWS-DEMOCRAT:
Federal lawmakers today urged President Bush to expedite Gov. Rod Blagojevich's request that Alexander, Franklin, Jackson, Perry, Pulaski, Randolph, Union, Williamson and seven other Illinois counties be declared a federal disaster area.
U.S. Reps. Jerry Costello, D-Belleville; John Shimkus, R-Collinsville; Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.; and Barack Obama, D-Ill., asked for the federal action.
The counties endured heavy rains and flooding the week of March 16.
"I have been waiting for the governor's announcement so we could work to speed this process at the federal level," Costello said.
"Other states have already received federal assistance, and a federal disaster declaration would greatly aid our recovery efforts, as residents and local governments have been dealing with the effects of the storms for weeks."