Bipartisan Coalition of Midwest Senators Requests Additional Funding

Washington, D.C. – Wisconsin's U.S. Senators Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl are part of a bipartisan coalition of Midwestern Senators pushing for additional assistance for victims of severe flooding last month.  In a letter to Senate appropriators, Feingold, Kohl and 16 Midwestern Senators are calling for the funding to be included in an additional emergency supplemental spending bill so all federal agencies tasked with rebuilding communities ravaged by severe weather have the resources they need to accomplish their mission.  Severe tornadoes, storms, and flooding have affected nine states across the Midwest.  The Senators specifically requested funding is provided through the Community Development Block Grant program to help with home repair or replacement, small businesses and community infrastructure.  

"I remain committed to ensuring Wisconsin gets the resources it needs to rebuild and repair homes, businesses and infrastructure that were so greatly damaged by the flooding," Feingold said.  "Wisconsinites are strong and resilient and I was fortunate enough to see the great efforts of Wisconsin's first responders personally.  With the necessary help from the federal government, our state can rebuild and make our communities even stronger in the wake of this devastating flooding."   

"Wisconsin was among the states hardest hit by severe weather that caused widespread devastation to homes, businesses, farms and infrastructure," Kohl said.  "It is absolutely essential Wisconsin residents, business owners, farmers and communities receive the federal aid needed to repair the vast damage left in the wake of the storms and flooding.  We will keep working to ensure that available funds are directed to Wisconsin, so our state can continue to recover."

Following the devastating flooding in Wisconsin in June, Feingold and Kohl toured areas greatest hit by the storms.  The Senators also worked to secure emergency supplemental funding for Wisconsin flood victims and urged the President to expand federal funding for all categories of public assistance.  As damage assessments continue, Wisconsin has already identified $725 million dollars worth of damage, over 30,000 residents have registered for individual assistance, 28 counties have been declared disaster areas, and over 4,000 wells have been contaminated.