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House could vote on Iowa disaster aid today |
| Updated: November 12, 2008 |
By E. Michael Myers
News correspondent
emmva@aol.com
WASHINGTON -
The legislative gridlock between the Democrat-majority Congress and
President Bush over domestic spending in the final days of the 2008
session broke apart Tuesday, with flood-stricken Iowa the immediate
beneficiary.
Rep.
David Obey, D-Wis., chairman of the House Appropriations Committee,
last night asked the Democratic leadership to approve a giant catchall
spending bill to run the federal government into March 2009. Obey
agreed to pull increased spending bills that Bush had threatened to
veto, clearing the way for a House vote as early as today.
The
bill includes billions in block grants and the full $182 million for a
new federal courthouse in Cedar Rapids to replace the flood-damaged one
at First Avenue and First Street SE.
The bill Obey said he would
bring to the House floor today includes spending for the Defense
Department until March 6 — a mandatory appropriation that places the
bill on the must-pass fast-track. It includes an estimated $24 billion
for disaster relief nationwide.
After passage in the House, the bill must go to the Senate, where it could be revised.
The
office of Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, a member of the Appropriations
Committee, said last night the overall aid package includes $6.5
billion for Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block
Grants, flexible funds that can be used for home repairs and buyouts,
assistance to businesses, repair of damaged facilities, preventing
future flooding and economic revitalization.
The Iowa delegation
is asking for up to $5 billion of that total. HUD is required, under an
amendment sponsored by Harkin, to spend at least one-third of the
disaster money within 60 days of enactment.
The bill also
includes $7.9 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to
help individuals in Iowa and other states impacted by natural disasters
and $600 million for Social Services Block Grants for food, shelter,
clothing and health care and mental health services.
It also includes $182 million for construction of a new federal courthouse in Cedar Rapids.
The
Iowa delegation successfully argued it would be a waste of money to
repair the flood-damaged courthouse that already was a priority
replacement project.
“This is welcome news to Iowans who are
hurting,” Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said last night. “It’s a big
boost to a state that has seen more than its share of natural disasters
this year. I’m especially pleased that the Cedar Rapids federal
courthouse was included. I look forward to working with Senator Harkin
and the state and local communities as they continue to assess their
ongoing needs to rebuild their lives, homes and businesses.”
Harkin
promised to continue working with Grassley and senators on the
Appropriations Committee “to assure passage of this measure and begin
crafting the next chunk of funding that we will likely see in March.”
Congress,
also facing the proposed $700 billion Wall Street rescue package, is
rushing toward adjournment this weekend to go on the campaign trail
full-time.
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