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Skriven 2005-09-07 23:32:56 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0509077) for Wed, 2005 Sep 7
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Fact Sheet: President Bush Submits Second Request for Hurricane Recovery
Funds
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 7, 2005

Fact Sheet: President Bush Submits Second Request for Hurricane Recovery
Funds



President Bush Submits Second Request For Hurricane Recovery Funds

Today's Presidential Action:

Today, President Bush Submitted To Congress A $51.8 Billion Emergency
Supplemental Appropriations Request To Support Ongoing Hurricane Katrina
Disaster Relief Efforts. The emergency funds would support the immediate
needs of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Department of
Defense (DoD), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other Federal
government agencies in their relief and recovery missions. These additional
funds will ensure that life-saving, life-sustaining, and recovery
activities continue unhindered.

FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund Would Receive $50 Billion For Ongoing Disaster
Relief

Supplemental Funds Would Support Disaster Relief Activities Carried Out
Directly By FEMA And Other Federal Agencies. These activities respond to
the immediate needs of evacuees, continue response and recovery, and begin
repairs urgently needed by local government facilities such as schools and
other public buildings and utilities. Specific actions and services to be
funded by this request include ongoing food, shelter, and medical care for
evacuees.

  þ Meeting The Needs Of Americans
    Shelter: Evacuees in need will be provided temporary housing or funds
    for hotels or apartments.
    Health Care: Emergency and urgent care, including up to $100 million
    for short-term hospital care is being provided.
    Income: Unemployment insurance payments will be provided to workers
    made jobless by the hurricane.
    Relief: FEMA individual disaster assistance payments are being provided
    to hurricane victims, and the assessment of private property damage has
    begun.

  þ Continuing The Response
    Logistics: DoD is working with FEMA to save lives through rescue and
    evacuation and is assisting in procuring equipment, supplies,
    transportation, and communications.
    Debris Removal: Debris removal will be ongoing and is necessary for
    continued rescue and evacuation, the delivery of relief, the repair of
    critical infrastructure, and the effective movement of law enforcement.
    FEMA operations: Funds will support continued direct action by FEMA
    including search and rescue, communications, and equipment.

  þ The Department Of Defense Continues To Play A Critical Role In Relief
    And Recovery. The supplemental would provide $1.4 billion for military
    personnel currently on the ground and saving lives, assisting
    communities, and providing relief supplies. DoD's near-term
    crisis-response needs include urgent repairs to DoD facilities,
    evacuated personnel costs, debris clean-up, and transportation costs.

  þ Making Immediate Repairs To Critical Infrastructure. The Army Corps of
    Engineers would receive $400 million to restore navigation locks and
    channels impacted by Katrina in the Gulf States and to continue repairs
    to pump stations and levees.

  þ Other Provisions: Streamlined procurement authority for emergency
    officials to cut through red tape and make immediate purchases of up to
    $250,000 in support of relief efforts.

The President Has Directed All Agencies Of The Federal Government To Assist
In Relief And Recovery

  þ The President Signed Into Law A $10.5 Billion Supplemental
    Appropriations Bill To Aid Victims Of Katrina. This initial down
    payment by the Federal government to fund search and rescue operations
    and provide food, drinking water, shelter, medical care, and temporary
    housing for tens of thousands of displaced citizens, as well as
    emergency protective and security measures, individual direct financial
    assistance, and logistics for relief supplies and equipment. DoD
    received $500 million to deploy military personnel to assist
    communities, save lives, and provide relief supplies, evacuate DoD
    personnel and their families, and secure and repair facilities.

  þ The President Issued Emergency Declarations To Other States Assisting
    In The Care Of Evacuees. Following Hurricane Katrina, the President
    issued emergency declarations for many additional states, permitting
    them to obtain Federal funding from FEMA for reimbursement for the cost
    of housing, feeding, and caring for thousands of citizens relocated
    from their home states as the result of the hurricane.

  þ The President Waived State Matching Fund Requirements For FEMA
    Activities In Louisiana, Mississippi, And Alabama. This action
    increases the Federal share of disaster relief from the current 75
    percent to 100 percent for a period of 60 days, retroactive from the
    date of the major disaster declaration. The President's directive
    recognizes the unprecedented scope and impact of this disaster. These
    extra funds will allow the Federal government, through FEMA, to pay for
    100 percent of the cost of debris removal and emergency protective
    measures taken by local first responders under the public assistance
    program.

  þ The President's Emergency Declarations Prepared FEMA Relief Operations.
    On August 28th and 29th, the President issued emergency declarations
    for Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi before Hurricane Katrina made
    landfall, which allowed FEMA to identify and mobilize the equipment and
    resources necessary to alleviate the impact of the emergency.

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