Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-New Jersey), chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, has introduced a bill that would authorize $7.9 billion in emergency funds for Hurricane Harvey response and recovery operations.The proposed legislation includes $7.4 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency‘s Disaster Relief Fund and provides the full amount requested by the Trump administration, according to a press release posted Sunday on Frelinghuysen’s website.
The disaster relief package also contains $450 million for the Small Business Administration‘s disaster loan program to help small businesses and homeowners rebuild destroyed property.
“These funds will be used to continue life-saving response and recovery missions, help start housing repair, and provide speedy and low-interest loans to businesses and homeowners to start the rebuilding process,” said Frelinghuysen.
He added that ongoing recovery efforts will require additional support and the House Appropriations Committee will continue to work with the administration to provide funds in the future.
