Gillibrand Adds Disaster-Relief Funding To Spending Bills

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — In an effort to provide additional disaster relief from the catastrophic flooding that occurred recently in the Hudson Valley, United States Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, is adding amendments to upcoming spending bills.

During a news conference Wednesday, Gillibrand said the legislation would provide funding to rebuild roads, bridges and public transportation, streamline food assistance in the wake of disasters and make sure that New York is prepared to respond to future natural disasters.

She said severe weather in recent months has devastated homes and businesses across the state, and she was determined to make sure New York families have what they need to recover.

“This legislation will provide billions in federal funding to help homeowners rebuild, get small business owners back on their feet and repair public infrastructure,” Gillibrand said.

“And as severe weather events become more common,” she said, “it will ensure that we are prepared for future storms by making commonsense reforms to disaster recovery programs to get aid to those in need faster.”

The five amendments to the “minibus” appropriations bill are:

• General Disaster Relief Funding to provide about $26 billion in emergency funding for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, HUD’s Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program and SBA’s disaster loan program.
• Reforming Disaster Recovery Act would permanently authorize the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program and make a number of reforms to slash red tape and release funding to affected communities faster
• Disaster Relief Funding for Highways, Roads and Bridges would provide $484 million for the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief programs which provides funding to repair and restore roads and bridges damaged as a result of a natural disaster.
• Disaster Relief Funding for Public Transportation would provide $100 million in funding for public transit systems affected by major disasters.
• Reducing SNAP Delays for Disaster Survivors would require the USDA to coordinate with FEMA to reduce delays for disaster survivors to receive food benefit assistance under the Disaster-SNAP program.