COCHRAN:  DISASTER RELIEF FUNDING FORTHCOMING,
DISAPPOINTED IN POLITICAL GAMESMANSHIP ON ISSUE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) today confirmed his support for Congress acting soon to shore up funding for emergency relief for areas hit this year by floods, tornadoes and other natural disasters, but expressed disappointment that the issue is being politicized in the Senate.

The Senate on Thursday passed by unanimous consent a nearly $7.0 billion emergency disaster funding package (H.J.Res.66) crafted by Majority Leader Harry Reid.  The bill faces dim prospects in the House of Representatives as a stand-alone bill.

“I am disappointed at the manner in which funding for disaster relief has been handled in the Senate.  Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved funding for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund and other disaster relief activities on a bipartisan basis, consistent with the Budget Control Act.  I strongly supported that effort.  I thought we were on a positive track,” Cochran said.

“This week the Senate has taken successive votes on a disaster bill that that Majority Leader brought to the floor on his own without consultation with the minority, knowing that the bill has no chance of speedy enactment.  That course of action may have served a political purpose, but I fear may delay and diminish our ability to provide needed disaster response in a timely manner,” he said.  “I strongly support appropriate disaster relief, but there was really no need for the Senate to take up this issue in this manner.”

 The disaster relief package developed by Reid would provide $6.9 billion in emergency disaster relief funding to five federal agencies:  Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Army Corps of Engineers, Farm Service Agency, Economic Development Administration and Community Development Block Grant Program.

Last week in accordance with disaster relief adjustment guidelines set in the Budget Control Act (debt limit law), the Senate Appropriations Committee approved three appropriations bills that included $5.5 billion in emergency disaster relief funding, including $4.2 million for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund.  On Thursday, the Committee approved another $167 million in disaster relief for the Small Business Administration’s Disaster Loan Program.

The House of Representatives is expected to take up a continuing resolution next week to fund government past September 30 and provide stopgap funding for the FEMA Disaster Relief Fund.

“The continuing resolution to be passed next week will address the urgent need to replenish the Disaster Relief Fund, and we can then use the FY 2012 appropriations bills to enact additional disaster relief funding where justified.  In the interim, the Obama administration has suggested it would provide Congress a budget request detailing additional response needs outside the Disaster Relief Fund,” Cochran said.

“I will continue to work cooperatively with Chairman Inouye and others to ensure that this committee provides appropriate disaster relief where there is demonstrated need, consistent with the Budget Control Act,” he said.

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