House Passes Super Storm Sandy Aid Package

The House of Representatives passed H.R. 152, a bill to provide aid to communities impacted by Super Storm Sandy, on January 15 by a vote of 241 to 180. The House initially considered a more limited measure that would only provide $17 billion in emergency spending, but voted to add $33.7 billion in additional spending to the measure before final passage. The measure as amended includes $16 billion in disaster Community Development Block Grant (d-CDBG) funding. Communities impacted by disasters in 2011, 2012 or 2013 would be eligible to use the d-CDBG funds if the measure is enacted. It is expected that the Senate will vote on H.R. 152 as soon as week of January 21. The bill does not include any funding offsets.

The Administration had requested $60.4 billion in emergency aid for Super Storm Sandy-related needs in 2012, including $17 billion for d-CDBG. While the Senate passed a spending package mirroring the Administration’s request, the House failed to act on the measure before the end of the 112th Congress (see Memo, 1/2). Due to pressure from lawmakers from Sandy-impacted states, lawmakers have acted quickly on Sandy legislation in the new 113th Congress. Congress has already approved, and the President has signed into law, a measure providing an additional $9.7 billion in borrowing authority for the National Flood Insurance Program (see Memo, 1/4). If the Senate approves H.R. 152 as is expected, Congress will have come close to having matched the Administration’s full request for emergency appropriations for Super Storm Sandy needs.

Click here for the full text of H.R. 152.