SUMMARY: FISCAL YEAR 2013 DISASTER ASSISTANCE SUPPLEMENTAL Overview
The Disaster Assistance Supplemental provides $60.4
billion in discretionary funding. The emergency spending contained in
this bill is equal to the President’s request, and contains no earmarks.
A summary of the legislation is provided below.
AGRICULTURE CHAPTER:
Department of Agriculture: $224 million
Emergency Conservation: $25.090 million
The Emergency Conservation Program provides emergency
funding and technical assistance for farmers and ranchers to
rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters and for carrying out
emergency water conservation measures.
Emergency Forest Restoration: $58.855 million
The Emergency Forest Restoration Program provides
funding to carry out emergency measures to restore nonindustrial private
forest land damaged by a natural disaster.
Emergency Watershed Protection: $125.055 million
The Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program
provides financial and technical assistance to undertake emergency
measures to safeguard lives and property from floods, drought, and the
products of erosion on any watershed whenever fire, flood or any other
natural occurrence is causing or has caused a sudden impairment of the
watershed.
Emergency Food Assistance: $15 million
The Emergency Food Assistance Program provides USDA
commodities to food banks throughout the country in order to provide
nutrition assistance to low-income individuals and communities in need.
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE CHAPTER: $513 million
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): $482 million
$57 million for NOAA to locate, map, identify, track and clean up marine debris.
$63 million to repair and improve hurricane and severe weather forecasting capabilities.
$15 million to repair NOAA facilities and ocean observing and coastal monitoring equipment damaged by Hurricane Sandy.
$150 million for fishery disasters declared by the Secretary of Commerce in 2012.
$197 million to evaluate, stabilize, restore, and protect coastal ecosystems and habitat impacted by Hurricane Sandy.
Department of Justice (DOJ): $15.25 million
$15.25 million to repair DOJ facilities and replace
equipment damaged by Hurricane Sandy. These funds include: $4 million
for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), $1 million for the Drug
Enforcement Administration, $230,000 for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives, and $20,000 for the DOJ Inspector General.
National Aeronautics and Space Admin. (NASA): $15 million
Funds are provided to repair NASA facilities damaged by Hurricane Sandy.
Legal Services Corporation (LSC): $1 million
Funds are provided for technology and disaster
coordinators to assist low-income clients eligible for legal aid in
areas affected by Hurricane Sandy.
DEFENSE CHAPTER:
Department of Defense: $88.3 million
The recommendation funds 362 projects to repair
damaged facilities and utilities, replace lost equipment, and remove
debris in Department of Defense locations directly impacted by Hurricane
Sandy. The projects range in size from $22 million to restore the pier
complex at Naval Weapons Station Earle in New Jersey to multiple
projects under $10,000 to repair damages sustained from water and high
winds.
ENERGY AND WATER CHAPTER:
Corps of Engineers: $5.350 billion
Disaster Recovery: $1.838 billion.
$1.008 billion for Flood Control and Coastal
Emergency needs to restore projects to their design profiles rather than
the pre-storm condition.
$821 million for Operation & Maintenance needs.
$9 million in Construction to repair damages to projects that were under construction at the time of Sandy.
Mitigation: $3.512 billion
$3.452 billion for Construction needs.
$50 million for Investigations to conduct studies.
$10 million for general expenses for the Corps to manage the work.
FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT CHAPTER:
Small Business Administration: $812 million
$812 million is included to support the Small
Business Administration’s response to Hurricane Sandy. Of the total
amount for SBA, $760 million is provided for the disaster loan program
to support lending to individuals suffering residential physical damage,
to businesses of all sizes suffering physical damage, and to small
businesses suffering economic injury.
An additional $5 million is provided for the Office
of Inspector General to conduct oversight on the disaster loan program.
For business redevelopment, $20 million is provided for grants to SBA’s
partners (such as Small Business Development Centers) to provide
immediate technical assistance for restarting businesses and for
longer-term redevelopment counseling, and $20 million is provided for
grants to states and local economic development entities for long-term
redevelopment initiatives, including for regional business “clusters.”
General Services Administration: $7 million
$7 million is included to fund emergency repairs to
federal buildings in New York and New Jersey impacted by Hurricane
Sandy. The request consists of 24 projects at 12 facilities, including
window replacement, roof repair, addressing water intrusion and drainage
issues, build-out of space for displaced tenants, and repair of damage
to mechanical and electrical building systems.
HOMELAND SECURITY CHAPTER:
Department of Homeland Security: $21.8 billion
Federal Emergency Management Agency:
$11.5 billion for the FEMA Disaster Relief Fund to support disaster response and recovery needs;
$300 million to subsidize Community Disaster Loans
for local government operating expenses to prevent a cash flow problem
for disaster response and recovery; and
An increase of $9.7 billion in National Flood
Insurance Program (NFIP) borrowing authority (FEMA is expected to
exhaust current borrowing authority by January 7, 2013)
United States Coast Guard: $274.2 million
Rebuilds and restores facilities and property damaged
by Hurricane Sandy. Of the 38 shore facility locations in the states of
Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, New York, Connecticut, Rhode
Island and Massachusetts, 23 sustained damage.
Customs and Border Protection: $1.7 million
Replaces 18 law enforcement vehicles damaged by
Hurricane Sandy, including 4 mobile x-ray machines, and replenishes
supplies (including generators) and damaged information technology
equipment
Immigration and Customs Enforcement: $855,000
Replaces 40 law enforcement vehicles that were damaged by Hurricane Sandy at various locations in New York and New Jersey
United States Secret Service: $300,000
Replaces 8 damaged law enforcement vehicles and the radio communications equipment in each vehicle
Science and Technology: $3.3 million
Repairs work to the Plum Island Animal Disease
Center. The Center’s support facilities sustained damage from Hurricane
Sandy, including: beach erosion and a major undersea power cable.
Domestic Nuclear Detection Office: $3.9 million
Replaces radiation detection equipment destroyed or damaged by Hurricane Sandy
Language Issues:
Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Louisiana,
Mississippi, and other states struggled with the many cumbersome
disaster recovery laws and regulations that simply are inadequate in
dealing with a catastrophic disaster. In general, the Stafford Act only
allows FEMA to build back the infrastructure that was in place before a
disaster or deters communities from building to a higher standard that
will mitigate the next disaster. This often creates needless
bureaucratic hurdles to state and local governments as they rebuild
after a disaster. Senators Landrieu and Cochran were successful in the
months and years following Katrina/Rita to enact reforms but those
reforms were limited to the Federal response to Katrina/Rita. Consistent
with Chairman Landrieu’s statement at the December 5, 2012, Homeland
Security Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, the bill provides similar
reforms for Hurricane Sandy and future catastrophic disasters. These
reforms are drawn from the Landrieu/Cochran disaster reform bill.
Reforms would:
improve FEMA’s Public Assistance programs to
expedite rebuilding that has been well planned and includes mitigation
measures for future disasters;
relieve administrative burdens for very small projects;
provide a cost effect alternative to contracting services when the local community can provide the service;
expedite recovery by streamlining federal agency processes that ensure compliance with historic and environmental reviews;
continue a third party dispute resolution process for major projects;
require transparency on determinations to provide individual assistance by FEMA;
allow for coverage of child care costs related to disaster recovery through FEMA individual assistance;
allow FEMA to complete repair on rental properties as a cost-effective alternative to mobile homes;
make Tribal governments directly eligible for FEMA assistance instead of assistance being provided through States;
require a report on the sufficiency of the Community Disaster Loan program.
INTERIOR AND ENVIRONMENT CHAPTER:
Department of Interior:
National Park Service, Construction: $348 million
The bill provides $348 million in immediate
reconstruction and recovery needs for Park Service units along the
Eastern Seaboard that were damaged during the storm. Funds will be used
for emergency stabilization needs and to replace or reconstruct
facilities, roads and trails. The amount provides needed funding for
iconic properties that were damaged during the storm including the
Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island.
National Park Service, Historic Preservation Fund: $50 million
The bill provides $50 million to fund grants to
States that received Presidential major disaster declarations for
Hurricane Sandy to fund rehabilitation and restoration of historic
properties.
Office of the Secretary, Departmental Operations: $150 million
The bill provides $150 million in flexible funding
for the Office of the Secretary for restoration, recovery and mitigation
priorities to protect against future storms and natural disasters.
Funds provided within this appropriation can be transferred by the
Secretary to any departmental program and may be used to fund activities
such as restoration and habitat improvement grants to States and
coastal restoration projects for national parks and refuges.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Construction: $78 million
The bill provides $78 million for immediate
reconstruction and recovery needs for national wildlife refuges on the
Eastern Seaboard. Funds will be used for emergency stabilization needs,
to replace or reconstruct facilities, roads and trails, and to implement
facilities improvements needed to mitigate anticipated damage from
future storms.
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Oil Spill Research: $3 million
The bill provides $3 million to the Bureau of Safety
and Environmental Enforcement for necessary repairs to the bureau’s oil
spill response testing facility in New Jersey.
Environmental Protection Agency:
Clean and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Programs: $810 million
The bill provides $810 million in the EPA State and
Tribal Assistance Grants appropriation for clean water and drinking
water state revolving funds in states affected by Hurricane Sandy,
including $700 million for clean water needs and $110 million for
drinking water needs. Funds will flow through the Clean and Drinking
Water State Revolving Funds programs and will be used in conjunction
with other FEMA and Community Development Block Grant funds to provide
targeted funding to upgrade water infrastructure to protect against
future flooding, storm damage and other natural disasters.
Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund: $5 million
The bill provides $5 million to the EPA leaking
underground storage tank cleanup program to address contaminant releases
from federally regulated underground storage tanks.
Hazardous Substance Superfund: $2 million
The bill provides $2 million to the EPA Superfund
program to assess, stabilize, and repair the damage at several Superfund
National Priority List sites.
Environmental Programs and Management: $725,000
The bill provides $725,000 to assess water quality
impact from partially treated or raw sewage and contaminated runoff and
fund necessary repairs to damaged EPA facilities.
U.S. Forest Service:
Capital Improvement and Maintenance: $4,400,000
The bill provides $4.4 million for the Service to
fund immediate reconstruction and recovery needs for affected national
forests.
Smithsonian Institution:
Salaries and Expenses: $2,000,000
The bill includes $2 million for the Smithsonian
Institution to address repairs to facilities damaged during Hurricane
Sandy. Roof repairs will be needed at the National Museum of Natural
History, the National Museum of American History, the National Air and
Space Museum and its Udvar-Hazy Center, the National Zoo, the Museum
Support Center and the Herndon Data Center.
LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES CHAPTER: $852 million
Department of Health and Human Services: $800 million
Administration for Children and Families, Social Services Block Grant (SSBG): $500 million
SSBG can be used for a wide range of social services.
The primary uses of these funds are expected to be child care,
including construction for damaged facilities; child and adult health
and mental health services; and other human services.
Administration for Children and Families, Children and Families Services (Head Start): $100 million
This funding will pay for repairing approximately 265
Head Start centers that were damaged in the hurricane and other
supplemental costs associated with continuing services to affected
children
Office of the Secretary, Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund:
$200 million
Most of this funding will be used to support NIH research grant programs that suffered major damage.
Department of Labor: $50 million
Employment and Training Administration, Training and Employment Services:
$50 million
This funding will go to the Workforce Investment Act
Dislocated Worker National Reserve, which will fund the temporary
expansion of training and employment programs to help dislocated workers
and worker protection activities.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION & VETERANS AFFAIRS CHAPTER: $259.8 million
Military Construction: $24.2 million
Army National Guard: $24.2 million
to replace eight damaged facilities at Sea Girt National Guard Training
Center in New Jersey. The buildings experienced significant structural
damage as a result of the storm surge and must be demolished and
replaced.
Department of Veterans Affairs: $235.6 million
Major Construction: $207 million for
the renovation and repair of key departments and systems at the VA
Manhattan Medical Center. The facility experienced severe flooding and
remains closed.
Medical Services: $21 million to replace damaged or destroyed medical equipment at the Manhattan Medical Center.
Medical Facilities: $6 million to
repair or replace medical equipment and building systems at VA
facilities throughout New York, including the Manhattan and Montrose VA
Medical Centers.
National Cemetery Administration: $1.1 million to repair storm-related damages at three national cemeteries: Beverly, NJ; Cypress Hills, NY; and Long Island, NY.
Information Technology (IT): $500,000 for the repair or replacement of damaged IT equipment at the Manhattan Medical Center.
TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER
Department of Transportation: $12.070 billion
Federal Aviation Administration Facilities and Equipment Program: $30 million
The funds will pay for the most urgently needed
repairs to facilities and equipment located at airports impacted by
Hurricane Sandy and owned by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Emergency Relief Program: $921 million
The Emergency Relief Program pays for the repair of roads and bridges damaged by disasters.
National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak): $336 million
The funding will pay for property damage, operating
losses, and improvements necessary to protect Amtrak’s tunnel system
against future flooding and increase capacity into New York City. These
enhancements will improve the resiliency of the rail and transit systems
that serve the nation’s largest metropolis and financial capital.
Emergency Relief for Public Transportation: $10.783 billion
The funding will be provided through the Public
Transportation Emergency Relief program to pay for the repair and
restoration of public transit systems in the areas most affected by
Hurricane Sandy, and to support mitigation projects that make transit
systems better able to resist future storms and the rise in sea levels.
Of the amount provided in the bill, up to $5,383 million may be
transferred to other agencies at the Department of Transportation to
support mitigation projects in other modes of transportation.
Department of Housing and Urban Development: $17 billion
Community Development Block Grants (CDBG): $17 billion
The funding provided in this account includes $15
billion for disaster relief, long-term recovery, restoration of
infrastructure and housing, and economic revitalization in areas
impacted by Hurricane Sandy. The bill includes an additional $2 billion
for mitigation to reduce future risk. The bill requires the Secretary to
establish a minimum award for all of the states impacted by Hurricane
Sandy.
The bill language provides flexibility so that funds can be awarded
and used quickly in impacted areas, while also ensuring accountability.
Recipients of disaster CDBG funding will be required to submit plans for
approval on how funding will be used to ensure funds are addressing the
most pressing needs of impacted areas. The bill includes $10 million
for HUD to conduct oversight and provide technical assistance to
grantees. Specifically, the bill requires HUD to ensure grantees are
placing appropriate performance requirements in contracts. In addition,
$10 million is provided for HUD’s Office of Inspector General to monitor
the use of these funds.
A few other government expenditures, just FYI:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ijreview.com/2012/12/25368-fox-news-cuts-off-dem-congresswoman-when-she-cant-name-a-cut-she-wants/
Moroccan pottery classes – (U.S. Agency for International Development) $27 million
Caviar Promotion – (USDA) $300,000
Robosquirrrel – (National Science Foundation) $325,000
Soccer Field for Guantanamo Bay inmates - $750,000
Penis Pumps – (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) $240 million
Research funding to determine if cocaine makes Japanese quail engage in sexually risky behavior - $175,587
Can I get a grant? I was thinking about the hurricane and now my house needs painting.
ReplyDeleteSure Lou, and they'll throw in a penis pump.
DeleteBirth control pills too?
DeleteThis is he bullshit we have to put up with while Obama's in charge.
DeleteThe real shame in all this is that FEMA has received over 200,000 claims already. The people in the path of the storm require help. This 60B will disappear down the DC toilet bowl and more will be demanded at a later date.
ReplyDeleteAmazing how they hammered Bush for the Katrina response yet the MSM is mysteriously MIA. For Obama, back to work, golf anyone?
DeleteI was in the war zone as I call it again yesterday in a town that rests between the Raritan river and the Atlantic. FEMA held another meeting on Thursday evening and the coastal flood elevation maps were issued over the weekend.
DeleteWhile many have taken steps to secure their properties, and the utilities are working hard to restore pipelines and service. The realization of what government can and cannot do is setting in. Many hard real life decisions will soon be made.
The people in DC have to stop playing money games.
Nothing in the news about Sandy anymore or the people in the area. Like Benghazi, forgotten.
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