Washington, D.C. – Congressman Al Green (TX-09) today announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released $1.6 million in federal disaster aid for projects related to Hurricane Katrina.  The funds, which will be provided through FEMA’s Public Assistance Program, will be allocated for police overtime and supplies for the temporary sheltering of Hurricane Katrina evacuees at the Houston Astrodome and the George R. Brown Convention Center.

“I am very pleased that FEMA has released these funds to help reimburse the expenses the City of Houston incurred in their assistance of Hurricane Katrina evacuees last year,” stated Congressman Green.  “Congress must continue to work with FEMA to ensure municipalities like Houston are fully reimbursed for the essential relief they provided victims in the aftermath of the catastrophe.”

The Public Assistance Program reimburses eligible costs incurred by state and local governments and nonprofit organizations as a result of addressing the effects of natural disasters.  These reimbursement grants allow government and organizations to respond to disasters, to recover from the impact of disasters, and to mitigate impact from future disasters.

Congressman Green represents the southern portion of Houston, including the Astrodome, which incurred great expense in helping Katrina evacuees.  As their Representative in Congress and as a member of the Congressional Task Force on Hurricane Katrina,  Green has been active in seeking opportunities to secure reimbursement from the federal government.