PRESIDENT CLINTON ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL $1.5 MILLION IN USDA FUNDING
                                            Release No. 0096.98
                                                               
                                   Roger Salazar (202) 720-4623
                                         roger.salazar@usda.gov


PRESIDENT CLINTON ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL $1.5 MILLION IN USDA FUNDING FOR
CALIFORNIA FLOOD REPAIRS


     WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 1998--President Clinton and Agriculture Secretary
Dan Glickman today announced an additional $1.5 million in USDA emergency
watershed funding to repair flood damage in Santa Cruz and San Mateo
Counties in California.

     "When disaster strikes the Federal government must react quickly to
help people return to their normal lives," President Clinton said.  "This
help from the USDA will go a long way toward repairing the damage to many
levees and streambanks brought about by the deadly storms in California."

     These funds are in addition to the $1.5 million announced on Feb. 2
for nine flood repair projects in Alameda, Tehama, Santa Barbara, San
Benito, Yolo, Monterey, and Colusa Counties.  The funds for this program
were quickly depleted and more assistance was necessary to meet the demands
of six desperately needed repair projects in Santa Cruz and San Mateo
Counties.

     "In some places, houses are hanging over streambanks," said Secretary
Glickman.  "We will do everything we can to help with flood repairs in the
hardest hit areas of California."

     This makes a total of $3 million in USDA assistance for flood repairs
for California in the last three weeks.

     Funding comes from the Emergency Watershed Protection Program, a
program of  USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service.  Local counties
sponsor these projects and pay 25 percent of the cost; the remaining 75
percent is paid by NRCS.

     USDA is also providing nutritional assistance for disaster victims. In
affected areas of California, USDA's Food and Nutrition Service is providing
food to the American Red Cross for use in meal services for disaster victims
at shelters.  USDA food that is in stock from on-going nutrition assistance
programs, like the National School Lunch Program is used in disaster
situations to provide quick access to food for those in need.  The food used
is replaced by USDA when the need for emergency assistance has ended.

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