Thursday, July 10, 2008
Harkin Announces Second Infusion of Iowa Flood Relief Coming Soon
Harkin, a Senior Member of the Appropriations Committee, Receives Assurances that Funding Bill will Move in Next Two Weeks
Senator Tom Harkin announced today that the funding package designed to help Midwestern states ravaged by flooding and other severe weather will likely be considered by the Senate Appropriations Committee on July 22. The bill will include dollars to help individuals and communities recover and rebuild after historic disasters hit Iowa and other states last month.
Harkin brought together a coalition of senators from states recently hit by natural disasters to coordinate and expand the legislative response. Senators from Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Illinois, and Wisconsin agreed to work together to ensure the Midwestern communities hit by disasters received the federal funding they need to fully recover.
"As Iowa families and communities continue to pick up the pieces and rebuild, I am committed to securing the federal resources they need to make that happen," said Harkin. "I will continue to talk to my colleagues on the appropriations committee about Iowa’s needs and I am thankful that as a senior member of the committee I can deliver the dollars we need to rebuild Iowa communities."
Harkin and his staff have also been in constant contact with Iowa Governor Chet Culver and his staff to construct the most accurate picture of the flood and tornado damage in Iowa. Harkin believes that obtaining a full assessment of the damage in Iowa is essential to convincing his Senate colleagues that the federal government must be a full partner in the recovery and rebuilding effort.
