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Gold9472
02-07-2006, 06:55 PM
No New Katrina Aid in Bush Budget

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060206/ap_on_go_pr_wh/budget_hurricanes_1

By LARA JAKES JORDAN, Associated Press Writer Mon Feb 6, 6:44 PM ET

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration offered no new aid for Hurricane Katrina victims in the budget it released Monday, instead putting modest amounts of money into preparedness and response plans for future disasters.

A Republican senator from the still-reeling Gulf Coast said he doubted that those funds would be enough to overhaul federal programs that created a sluggish government response to the Aug. 29 storm. A House Democrat criticized the spending blueprint for cutting $15 million in state and local grants to, in part, help communities create evacuation plans.

In all, millions of dollars would be used to retool disaster response plans or better coordinate federal, state and local efforts during catastrophes. By contrast, more Gulf Coast aid will be provided in an upcoming $18 billion package that the administration announced last week — the last emergency funds planned for the region for at least a year.

"This budget really talks about what we're doing within the department itself, which is strengthening our leaning-forward in the face of preparing both for natural disasters and man-made disasters or terror attacks," said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.

"The whole issue of disaster recovery for the Gulf, I think, is an issue separate and apart from this budget," he said.

The $18 billion package will bring federal relief funds for Katrina and Hurricane Rita to over $100 billion. But Sen. David Vitter, R-La., said he was concerned about the dearth of relief aid in the 2007 fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.

"This is going to be a marathon, and not a sprint. And any suggestion that that's it for a couple of years would be disastrous to the recovery," Vitter said.

Bush's request also includes:

_More than $100 million in FEMA funds to help people move out of flood plains or better prepare properties to withstand disasters.

_$500 million to help federal disaster plans complement corresponding state and local programs, especially for helping elderly, sick and poor people.

_An $11 million increase for the Department of Homeland Security inspector general to continue looking into waste and fraud in Katrina relief spending.

Rep. Bennie Thompson (news, bio, voting record), D-Miss., criticized the department for proposing to cut a grant program that helps state and local authorities deal with evacuations, mass casualties, and managing catastrophes. The planned cut — from $185 million to $170 million — comes after President Bush ordered Homeland Security to review emergency response and evacuation plans for the nation's 50 largest cities.

"This $15 million cut places state and local governments in a precarious position," Thompson said in a statement.

Homeland Security officials said the deleted funds could be replaced with money from other state and local grants.

The Army Corps of Engineers budget calls for $25 million to restore some of Louisiana's coast. Another $20 million would create a national inventory and database of flood and storm-damage reduction projects, as well as to assess structural risks in the nation's levees.

"This would be just the start," said Lt. Gen. Carl Strock of the Army Corps, acknowledging the large scope of the project, which he said was prompted by the Katrina disaster.