Braley votes to refresh fund critical to flood recovery

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) voted today to provide an additional $5.1 billion to replenish the U.S. Disaster Relief Fund administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as part of H.R. 4899, the Supplemental Appropriations Act for FY 2010. Passage of the bill today sends the bill to President Obama’s desk for his signature.

“Iowa’s most recent round of record-breaking floods underscores the desperate need to replenish these disaster funds,” Braley said. “Without this funding, the federal government’s ability to respond to this disaster, and others like it across the country, would be severely limited. Rebuilding the homes, small businesses and community centers that have been devastated is a process that takes years, not weeks or even months. But these funds are a critical step to give Iowans the security they need to know their government will not leave them behind.”

Over the course of the weekend, Braley visited more than a dozen communities affected by record-setting floods to meet with local officials, survey the damage and talk with residents about the assistance they need. On Monday, Braley unveiled a new website, http://braley.house.gov/disasterrelief,  that will be updated in real time as information about flood recovery assistance becomes available.

The $5.1 billion is necessary to pay for known costs of past disasters, including the Floods of 2008, as well as to address the needs that arise from new disasters.  The $5.1 billion is necessary to pay for known costs of past disasters, including the Floods of 2008, as well as to address the needs that arise from new disasters.  Without this emergency funding, FEMA estimates that the Fund will be exhausted before September, and would be unable to pay claims in the event of an emergency or for either old or new Presidentially-designated disasters.

Additionally, this bill includes a provision that directs FEMA to create an interagency taskforce between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Office of Management and Budget to track, address, and where possible, resolve concerns stemming from FEMA flood insurance mapping efforts in communities with issues related to flood control infrastructure protection.  The provision establishes quarterly reporting requirements to relevant congressional committees.