Sandy relief as approved by the House
On Tuesday evening the House of Representatives sent to the Senate a bill to fund a variety of measures related to the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.
The funding was authorized through an original $17 billion measure ( HR-152) presented by Mr. Rogers, Chairman of the Appropriations Committee .
An additional $33 billion was provided via amendment by Mr. Frelinghuysen. The Frelinghuysen amendment sometimes substituted amounts specified in what Mr. Rogers has presented, but most often added new funding.
With smaller amendments and adjustments the bill appropriates $50.5 billion in supplemental funding.
Following are specific amounts. The legislation often includes further detail on how and when the funding must be expended.
HR-152 as originally proposed by Mr. Rogers, Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee:
Department of Agriculture,Emergency Food Assistance: $6 million.
Army Corps of Engineers Investigations: $20 million
Army Corps of Engineers Construction: $9 million
Army Corps of Engineers Dredging and Repair: $742 million
Army Corps of Engineers Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies: $582 million
Small Business Administration salaries and expenses: $10 million
SBA Office of the Inspector General: $1 million
SBA Disaster Loans: $100 million
SBA Administrative and Servicing Costs: $50 million
Coast Guard Acquisition, Construction, and Improvement: $143, 899,000
FEMA Disaster Relief Fund: $5.379 billion
DHS Science and Technology $585,000
DHS Domestic Nuclear Detection Office Systems Acquisition: $3,869,000
Fish and Wildlife Service: $49, 875, 000
National Park Service: $234 million
Department of Interior, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement: $3 million
Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund: $100 million
Social Security Administration Administrative Expenses: $2 million
DOD, Army National Guard, Military Construction: $24,235,000
Department of Veterans Affairs, Medical Services $21 million
Veterans Medical Facilities: $6 million
National Cemetery Administration $1.1 million
DVA Information Technology Systems $531,000
DVA Construction and Major Projects: $207 million
DOT, FFA Facilities and Equipment: $14,600,000
National Railroad Passenger Corporation (AMTRAK): $32 million
Federal Transit Administration Transportation Emergency Relief Program: $5.4 billion
HUD Community Development Fund: $3.85 billion
Frelinghausen Amendment’s Additional Funding
Several other amendments were offered, usually aimed at reducing a proposed appropriation or seeking cuts in other federal appropriations equal to the new appropriations. But as far as I can tell — remember I’m only a blogger — the following is accurate as to what was finally appropriated.
Agriculture Department, Emergency Conservation Program: $218 million
Department of Commerce, NOAA: $290 million ($150 million of this was not approved via an amendment to this amendment) mostly on related to debris mapping, improved weather forecasting, and related research.
NOAA Construction and Repairs: $186 million
FBI salaries and expenses: $10,020,000
DEA salaries and expenses: $1 million
ATFE salaries and expenses $230, 000
Federal Prison System: $10 million
NASA Repairs: $15 million
Legal Services Corporation: $1 million
DOD Army Operations and Maintenance: $5,370,000
DOD Navy Operations and Maintenance: $40,015,000
DOD Air Force Operations and Maintenance: $8.5 million
Army National Guard Operations and Maintenance: $3,165,000
Air National Guard Operations and Maintenance: $5,775,000
Army Ammunition Procurement: $1,310,000
Defense Working Capital Fund $24,200,000
Army Corps of Engineers Investigations: $50 million
Army Corps of Engineers Construction: $3.461 billion
Army Corps of Engineers Operation and Maintenance (mostly dredging): $821 million
Army Corps of Engineers Flood Control and Coast Emergencies (mostly repairs): $1,008,000,000
Army Corps of Engineers Expenses: $10 million
General Services Administration (owner/operator of federal facilities): $7 million
SBA, added $10 million to original amount for salaries and expenses.
SBA Inspector General, added $5 million to original amount.
SBA Disaster Loan Program Account: $520 million
DHS Customs and Border Control Salaries and Expenses: $1,667,000
DHS, ICE Salaries and Expenses: $855,000
DHS, US Secret Service Salaries and Expenses: $300,000
Coast Guard Acquisition, Construction, and Improvements, substituted $274,233,000 for original $143, 899,000
FEMA Disaster Relief Fund plus up of $11, 487,735,000.
DHS S&T: Replaced $585,000 with $3,249,000
Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service: Replaced $49,875,000 with $78 million.
National Park Service Historic Preservation Fund: $50 million
National Park Service Construction: $348 million instead of $234 million.
Department of Interior Operations: $360 million
EPA programs and management $725,000
Hazardous Substance Superfund: $2 million
Leaking Underground Storage Tank Fund: $5 million
EPA State and Tribal Assistance Grants: $600 million
Forest Service Capital Improvement and Maintenance: $4.4 million
Smithsonian Institution Salaries and Expenses: $2 million
Department of Labor Training and Employment Services: $25 million
HHS Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund: $800 million
DOT, FFA Facilities and Equipment: $30 million
Federal Highway Administration, Emergency Relief Program: $2.011 billion
AMTRAK: $86 million
Federal Transit Administration , Emergency Relief Program: $10.9 billion
HUD, Community Development Fund: $16 billion
As Senator Dirksen is regularly quoted as saying, “A billion here a billion there and pretty soon you’re talking about real money.”
The House approved the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, H.R. 152, in a 241-180 vote. Among Republicans, 179 voted against it, and just 49 voted for it. According to The Hill, the nay votes “were a protest against a bill that many conservatives say is too big and provides funding for things other than immediate relief for New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.”
