Pending Legislation Includes $6 Billion in FEMA Aid

The pending Homeland Security Appropriations Bill will include $6 billion in funding that may help flood victims in some of the state's municipalities, such as Cranford, that were hardest hist by Hurricane Irene.

U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), vice chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, said the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill includes $6 billion for Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster relief. On Tuesday, the subcommittee approved the funding, which will be made available for families, homes and businesses that are in the process of rebuilding in the wake of last week's hurricane.

A press release from Lautenberg's office today indicated that "the funding was secured without requiring offsets from other important  programs, as House Republicans have demanded.  Compared to the Senate bill’s $6 billion, the House version of the FY2012 Homeland Security Appropriations bill contains $3.6 billion for FEMA disaster relief."  

“Last week as communities across New Jersey were devastated by flooding from Hurricane Irene, I vowed to secure emergency relief for our state. On the first day back in Washington, we have taken an important step to help New Jersey recover from this disaster,” Lautenberg said in a press release. “This is just the first infusion of funding for FEMA, and I will continue fighting to secure whatever is needed to fully respond to disasters in New Jersey and across our country. This bill firmly rejects the threats of House Tea Party Republicans to hold up emergency relief over ideological demands for spending cuts. With such devastation in my state and others, Republicans must put politics aside and make sure the first priority is helping people and businesses that are struggling.”   

Last week, after flood waters receded, along with Rep. Leonard Lance, R-Hunterdon County and Sen. Tom Kean Jr. The legislators toured the township's flood-ravaged neighborhoods in an effort to asses the . Though Union County suffered substantial flooding during the storm, the Federal Disaster Declaration neded for residents to apply for aid through FEMA was not issued until Sept. 4.

The Homeland Security Appropriations Bill will be considered by the full Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday.

Cranford Patch will bring you and update to the story as more information about the pending legislation and how it will affect the township becomes available.