U.S. House Passes $50.6 Billion Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief Bill, Senate Vote Next Week

Updated on January 25, 2013 by Kyriaki (Sandy) Venetis

This week the U.S. House of Representatives finally passed a disaster relief package for Hurricane Sandy to the tune of $50.6 billion after months of pressure from everyone, and I mean everyone – from the states, to the Senate, and to President Obama.

Devastation to coastal properties caused by Hurricane Sandy. Photo courtesy of causecast.com.

U.S. House Appropriations Chairman Harold Rogers (R-KY), the package’s sole sponsor, said on its passing that, “The funding in this legislation will go toward both immediate and longer-term needs in the wake of the storm, including the FEMA Disaster Relief Fund, which provides the most direct source of individual and community assistance throughout the affected region.

“The legislation will also finance critical housing and infrastructure needs, ensure repairs to damaged veterans medical facilities, and fund necessary transit repairs, small business loans, and recovery aid for businesses of all sizes.”

Rogers added that, “Included in the legislation is an amendment – offered by Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) – to provide an additional $33 billion for longer-term recovery efforts and infrastructure improvements, and for programs and projects that will help guard against damage and losses in future disasters.”

Here’s a cataloging of some of the provisions of the relief package:

Food Related Programs

• $6 million to be allocated through the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture for additional foods and administrative costs to assist families and individuals displaced by Hurricane Sandy.

Public Health and Social Services

• $100 million to be allocated for the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund for disaster response and recovery, and other expenses directly related to Hurricane Sandy, with “not less than” $25 million being transferred to the Children and Families Services Program.

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