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THE WHITE HOUSE has prepared a request to Congress for an initial $5.9 billion (€4.95 billion) package in Harvey recovery aid, as a first down payment to make sure recovery efforts over the next few weeks are adequately funded.
The Trump proposal, which is being finalised pending White House consultations with key Republicans, promises to represent just a fraction of an eventual Harvey recovery package that could rival the $100-billion-plus in taxpayer-financed help for victims of 2005′s Hurricane Katrina.
A senior administration official said the plan will be sent to Congress today and House and Senate votes appear likely next week. The official was not authorised to release the information publicly before a final decision is made and spoke on condition of anonymity.
House Republican leaders have signalled they are aiming to act fast on Harvey aid.
Much larger future installments will be required but the initial package, to replenish Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster coffers through 30 September, shouldn’t be controversial.
FEMA is spending existing disaster aid reserves — just $2.1 billion (€1.76 billion) as of yesterday — at a high rate.
The initial aid money would be a down payment for immediate recovery efforts, to be followed by larger packages later, said White House homeland security adviser Tom Bossert. It will take weeks or months to assess the full extent of the damage and need.
“We’ll go up to Congress and give them a sound supplemental request number. We’ll add to it,” Bossert said.
And when we can get a better handle on the damage we can come back with a responsible last, so to speak, supplemental request.
FEMA pays for immediate shelter costs and can finance home repairs up to $33,000 (€27,600) or so, but other costs such as flood insurance payments, larger housing damage, and state, local, and government buildings promise a major price tag.
“I told you so”
Houston Democratic Representative Sheila Jackson Lee has already said it could take an aid package of $150 billion (€125 billion) to handle the disaster.
Hurricane Katrina in 2005 is the largest disaster the nation has faced, with recovery costs of $110 billion (€92 billion), according to the Congressional Budget Office. Superstorm Sandy in 2012 was followed by a $54 billion (€45 billion) federal relief effort.
Katrina aid started with a non-controversial infusion, followed by considerable wrangling between lawmakers from affected states and more budget-conscious lawmakers.
Sandy involved a more public battle between lawmakers from Democratic-leaning New York and New Jersey and GOP conservatives, and north-east lawmakers have taken to social media sites such as Twitter to say “I told you so”.
Another aid installment seems sure to be added to a temporary government funding bill.
Another concern is that the government’s cash reserves are running low since the nation’s debt limit has been reached and the Treasury Department is using accounting measures to cover expenses.
Billions of dollars in Harvey aid are an unexpected cost that at least raises the potential that Congress will have to act earlier than expected to increase the government’s borrowing authority.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, however, said on CNBC yesterday that the debt limit deadline probably won’t change by more than a couple of days, if at all.
A catch-all domestic spending bill facing a House vote next week includes, for now, an $876 million (€735 million) cut from FEMA disaster accounts that helps balance the cost of Trump’s $1.6 billion (€1.3 billion) request for the US-Mexico border wall.
Republicans say that will change before a vote next week.
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That’s one big league disaster relief fund. Well done POTUS 45, way to step up.
@Tommy Duke: 5 Billion will just about cover the expense so far. Even Trump said at the Press Conference in Corpus Christi that this Storm will be the most expensive in US history. Now we know Katrina cost 120 Billion so far and that was over a decade ago. This Storm is going to be far more expensive. So I wouldn’t be whooping to loudly just yet.
@Mick Jordan:
The actual direct cost of Hurricane Katrina was closer to $108 billion. Of that insurance companies covered over $80 billion and the rest was paid by local, state and federal government as well as charity from external sources.
The rest of the ‘cost’ was economic activity that was disrupted due to the storm and it’s aftermath.
@Thought for Food: And who pays the Insurance Companies? They are not charitable foundations. Joe Blogs is paying for it be it via Government or Higher Premiums on insurance.
@Mick Jordan:
True Mick, but you can look at that $80 billion as being ‘pre-paid’ so to speak. Individuals and businesses have already paid insurance premiums to these insurance companies to protect them from events like this.
The government only has to budget for the amount that insurance companies will not cover.
@Tommy Duke:
True, but hopefully pro Sharia and fake feminist, Linda Sarsour, doesn’t get her greedy mits on it.
–
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/anti-trump-resistance-hero-linda-sarsour-steers-harvey-relief-funds-to-political-activist-group/article/2632988
@Tommy Duke:
Now if he just step up and thank mexico for their help he would be going someway to becoming a reasonable person
@Mick Jordan: we must also consider the considerable difference in terms of organisation, capability and efficiency of state officials in Texas vs their disorganised, inefficient counterparts in New Orleans.
@Remy: are you up misleading people again? The link you posted disagrees with your assessment. “After Hurricane Ike hit Houston in 2008, the group lobbied the government to ensure that federal reconstruction funds would go toward helping repair the homes of low-income residents,” and “Together we will organize and advocate for our devastated communities, shining a spotlight on inequalities that emerge in the restoration of lives, livelihoods, and homes, amplifying the needs of hard-hit communities, and providing legal assistance for residents wrongfully denied government support,” reads the Texas Organizing Project Education Fund’s hurricane relief page, which allows user to donate anywhere between $20 and $10,000.”
@Dave O Keeffe:
Ahh Dave, you’d swallow a brick, you prob believe Sarsour is actually pro womens rights.
@Remy: I don’t care for her at all to be honest. All I did was read your link and quote from it. Based on the work they did during Ike there’s no reason to believe the money won’t be used to help those that slip through the cracks of bureaucracy.
@Remy: Here is a link if you feel like donating a few bucks
@Tommy Duke: it’s not his money ya clown. It’s tax payers money
And now this: have a look at the 12:05pm entry. https://www.apnews.com/83e6782d48e04993a741b834771c078b?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=AP_Politics
Great news for the Lone Star State.
The good folk of Texas know they’re not alone while Donald’s in the White House.
@Emmet Dillane:
“Texas can handle anything” — President Donald J. Trump.
Tough times don’t last – tough people do.
@Emmet Dillane: I’m borrowing that quote if you don’t mind!
@Emmet Dillane: Two people with the same account replying to each other. LOL!
@Philip Gerard:
*Paranoid.
@Peter Cavey:
Be my guest.
Hopefully this gets approved swiftly. Freedom Caucus might delay it though. They tend to want to know where the money will come from and how it fits into future tax plans. From a logistics point of view Trump has been very good in dealing with Harvey.
@Dave O Keeffe: I hope the senators from NJ vote against it. That’s what Ted Cruz did to them.
@Philip Gerard: looks like the house is thinking about taking money FROM FEMA to fund the wall! https://www.apnews.com/83e6782d48e04993a741b834771c078b?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=AP_Politics
It’s in times like these that the Americans will realise just how important the undocumented people are to their country..#cleanup
@The Dunes Of Inchy: you mean illegals?
@The Dunes Of Inchy: my concern is for any illegals that would not leave their homes when official help was offered for fear of deportation.
@Nick Drake : If I wanted to type illegals I would have typed illegals.Try to keep up.
Dave : It must be a horrific/terrifying situation for them to be in.Do they stay and remain in danger or come out and be deported.Just last Thursday,ICE,they went and gave deportation papers to a 67yr old grandmother, (bad hombre)who had been in the U.S.since 2001
@The Dunes Of Inchy: looks like the House is considering taking $1billion from FEMA to put towards the wall. Words fail me. https://www.apnews.com/83e6782d48e04993a741b834771c078b?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=AP_Politics
@Dave O Keeffe: Yup! I knew that they were considering the cut to FEMA to put towards the wall,but I had honestly thought that they had shelved that plan.Something tells me that that isn’t going to happen..And the thing is Dave,a good portion of that cut was going to be with the Coastguards,those same folks who have been doing sterling work saving lives in all of this…..And also,did they not think that undocumented (just for the Nick pick :) people also come in via the coast..Stupid is as stupid does..
@The Dunes Of Inchy: Scary thing is, that link is from yesterday! In the middle of a natural disaster their thinking of cuts to FEMA! I bet they’ll try to sneak something through o the relief bill
@Dave O Keeffe: I’d say that they had that decided before the hurricane hit, and they’re probably now wishing that it wasn’t down for discussion…..they should now be concentrating on releasing funds for the huge clean up…as that is only the start of what must be done..he’s best to forget about his ridiculous wall,for the time being anyway..
and that is also why I said that the undocumented would be needed now more than ever..to help in the massive clean up..just like they did after Katrina .
@The Dunes Of Inchy: if ICE will let them
Hurricane Irma is a Cat 3 and building out in the Atlantic. Heading towards the Caribbean and Florida. And there is still 2 months of Hurricane season to come.
In the context of what Trump is prepared to spend on a damn wall and $110 billion recovery costs for Katrina, it seems very inadequate.
@The_Prince_of_Fire:
Around $80 billion of the recovery costs for Katrina were covered by insurance companies. That leaves around $30 billion give or take that was covered by the rest.
@Thought for Food: That $80 billion becomes a tax write off, so the average Yank paid for it, Mr. New Troll Account.
Not hearing about the worst assassination attempt in history anywhere!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Yqa5PUViPo
That storm drain is kind of like a wall, no?
@Early Cuyler: eh, is that the official story or are you just interpreting?
@Dave O Keeffe: The Springfield Police Department commented on the issue on Twitter, saying: “No intent of harm or disruption to motorcade,” and that the driver simply had a problem with her brakes.
@Early Cuyler: If you’re not hearing about it… then why are you hearing about it?
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