WASHINGTON, DC – House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) today issued the following statement regarding the announcement that Louisiana will receive $1.25 billion in flood relief funds included in the year-end government funding bill:
“Earlier this year, our delegation worked in true bipartisan fashion to secure a half billion dollar down payment to help the victims of flooding. With this agreement, we’ve secured an additional $1.25 billion to help families in south Louisiana get back in their homes as they recover from the devastating floods.
Now we need to pass this bill so the president can sign it and the state can then begin the process of getting these relief dollars into the hands of the families who were flooded as quickly as possible.”
The government funding bill contains $4.1 billion in disaster relief funding to address damages caused by recent natural disasters, including Hurricane Matthew, floods, drought and other severe weather events. This includes:
- $1.8 billion for Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to states to support recovery and rebuilding efforts for individuals with homes damaged by severe weather events. Louisiana will receive $1.25 billion in CDBG funds;
- $1.025 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers for repairs to flood and coastal storm protection projects and dredging;
- $1 billion for the Federal Highway Emergency Relief program to repair damaged highways; and
- $206.1 million for emergency watershed protection and conservation.
Earlier this year, Congress appropriated $438 million in CDBG funds as a downpayment to allow individuals and families affected by flooding to begin rebuilding their homes and communities.