Congress Returns Tomorrow: Additional FEMA Funding Could Be A Tug-a-War

August 5, 2011--

Congressman Billy Long Representative from Missouri says he’s not too concerned about FEMA money being diverted from his state to the states that suffered from Hurricane Irene.

Senators Roy Blunt and Claire McCaskill of Missouri state they are requesting the FEMA funds be restored to their state’s tornado victims.

With 640 million in the FEMA coffers as of September 2, 2011, there is going to have to be additional funds allocated to serve both disasters fairly.

The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security will vote Tuesday on a spending bill drafted by Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, the subcommittee's chairwoman, that would give the Federal Emergency Management Agency more money for its disaster fund.

Even before Irene struck estimates revealed that FEMA disaster funds would be short $4.8 billion for 2012.

Senator Landrieu hasn't said exactly how much she wants to add because her office is still getting figures on damage from Irene.

Heritage Foundation has taken a less compassionate approach to disaster relief. Appearing on CBS, Heritage’s Jim Carafano chided those seeking additional FEMA funding calling relief “a blank check” for Disaster Relief Funds. Further he states funding should be for truly catastrophic events. He views FEMA relief as the federal government bailing out the states calling disaster relief the “federalization of disasters.” He supports Eric Cantor’s demand for spending cuts to off set FEMA allocations.

The Montgomery Advertiser in Alabama reports, “It would be irresponsible for Congress to allow new funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to get caught up in another budget tug-of-war, possibly further delaying rebuilding projects in Alabama and in Joplin, Mo., following disastrous tornadoes in April and May.