The Chairman’s bill adds $1.6 billion to the President’s request and fully offsets this increase.  The increase is justified by updated estimates the Committee has received from federal agencies and to cover backlogs in programs that exist because of unmet needs from previous disasters.  The following describes the additions Chairman Young’s bill makes to the President’s $11 billion supplemental request. 

Agriculture

The Chairman’s bill adds $509 million for additional assistance for agriculture and rural areas based on the most recent estimates of hurricane damage provided to the committee by USDA.  This includes an additional $255 million for the Emergency Watershed Protection Program and the Emergency Conservation Program.  These funds will be used make repairs to waterways, watersheds, and farmland nationwide due to damage caused by natural disasters. The bill also adds $68 million to repair damage by recent storms to water and waste disposal systems and to community facilities.  Housing repair and farm labor housing is funded at $13 million in grants and $17 million in loans for damages from recent storms.  These funds are offset by a corresponding limitation on the overall expenditures of the Conservation Security Program. 

Highways and Airports

Adds $750 million for the Federal Highway Administration’s emergency relief program.  This amount provides resources to fund repairs from previous disasters in 34 states and is available to cover revised estimates for damages to Florida infrastructure.  Also adds $30 million to repair damage to airports and general aviation facilities.  These funds are offset by rescinding highway contract authority by a corresponding amount.   All other additions listed below are also offset by the highway contract authority rescission. 

NASA

Adds $59 million to not only repair the damage at Kennedy Space Center but to also harden existing facilities to prevent further hurricane damage. 

Army Corps of Engineers

Adds $147 million to make emergency repairs to waterways and shore areas.  This includes dredging harbors and inlets and shore protection projects.

National Parks and Wildlife Refuges

Adds $108 million to repair facilities, trails and clear debris from damaged National Parks, forests and wildlife refuges based on the most recent estimates from federal agencies. 

Coast Guard

Adds $7 million to reflect the most current damage estimates to Coast Guard facilities.