Frank Lautenberg: “this amendment increases funding for disaster relief grants at the Economic Development Administration. Forty-eight…”

“this amendment increases funding for disaster relief grants at the Economic Development Administration. Forty-eight States have received a Federal disaster declaration this year and may be eligible for this relief. EDA funds rebuild sewers and drinking water systems, coordinate response and recovery plans, and help businesses to recover. This year alone, we have experienced a record 10 natural disasters costing more than $1 billion each. Hurricane Irene caused more than $7 billion in damage alone. In 2008, we gave EDA $500 million to respond to disasters in the South and the Midwest. This amendment would give EDA the same amount this year. The amendment complies with the disaster relief provision in the Budget Control Act and is not offset with cuts from other programs. Senators Sanders, Menendez, Gillibrand, Blumenthal, and Leahy are cosponsors, and Chairman Mikulski supports it as well. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator has used 1 minute.”