For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 5, 2004
Fact Sheet: Providing Needed Relief to Hurricane Ravaged Areas
Today's Presidential Action
- Today, President Bush submitted to the Congress a supplemental budget request totaling $691.2 million, which builds upon his on-going commitment to provide emergency assistance to areas
affected by Hurricane Jeanne.
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The funds requested will go primarily to additional emergency
resources for the Departments of Agriculture, Defense, the
Interior, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs. Funds are also being
sought for the Corps of Engineers, the Environmental Protection Agency,
and international assistance programs. These funds will
provide for a variety of disaster-relief efforts and the
repair and restoration of Federal government facilities.
-
With this request, the total supplemental budget request for Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne is approximately $12.9 billion.
Presidential Action: Funding Response, Recovery, and Repairs
The $691.2 million request will be divided among several Federal agencies (all funds are in addition to amounts already requested or approved by Congress):
- $200 million for the Federal Highway Administration's Emergency Relief Program for emergency repairs to eligible highways and roads affected by Hurricane Jeanne.
- $145 million for the U.S. Department of Agriculture:
- $130 million for the Natural Resources Conservation Service and
the Farm Service Agency to provide cost-share assistance for
emergency measures to retard runoff and prevent soil erosion in
damaged watersheds, as well as to clean-up and repair farmland and
rangelands.
- $15 million for the Forest Service for erosion control and
restoration of fisheries and endangered species habitat, and
for clean-up and repairs needed for roads, trails and facilities in
national forests in areas affected by Hurricanes Ivan and Jeanne.
- $116.2 million for the Department of Defense for costs associated
with evacuation, base preparation, base recovery, and
damage to structure and equipment at various military facilities caused
by Hurricane Jeanne.
- $95 million is requested for the Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) for hurricane response and relief. Uses include, but
are not limited to, repairing hospitals and outpatient clinics, as well
as reimbursing VA for assistance to local communities, and contracting
with medical providers for care.
- $50 million is requested for international disaster and famine
assistance funds for additional relief and rehabilitation
requirements stemming from the damage caused by recent hurricanes and
tropical storms in Grenada, Jamaica, Haiti, and other nations.
- $46 million is requested for the Corps of Engineers to restore
navigation channels, repair and rehabilitate coastal areas
and beaches, and address other projects in areas affected by Hurricane
Jeanne.
- $25 million is requested for the Federal Aviation Administration to repair or replace the multiple public use airport facilities
that were damaged in the recent storms.
- $11 million is requested for the Department of the Interior for
clean-up and facility repair at national wildlife refuges and
national park units in the affected areas.
- $3 million is requested for the Environmental Protection Agency to
restore buildings and facilities that were damaged by
Hurricane Jeanne.
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