WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) delivered a letter today to House and Senate appropriators, again urging them to include additional disaster funding for South Louisiana ahead of the upcoming budget deadline. The communication is a follow-up to a Louisiana delegation letter dated February 18, 2022, requesting additional long-term hurricane recovery resources.
“Hurricanes Laura, Delta, Zeta, and Ida dealt devastating blows to South Louisiana, all within an 18-month period. Layered on top of those disasters were a severe winter storm and historic flood event that further damaged homes and public infrastructure,” wrote Congressman Higgins. “These are unprecedented circumstances, which warrant long-term recovery resources beyond what has already been appropriated through Congress.”
“While I appreciate the opportunity to work with appropriators to secure $5 billion for the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program in the September Continuing Resolution, Louisiana’s share is insufficient to meet long-term recovery needs. Of the $2 billion presently allocated through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Louisiana received $600,131,000 for areas impacted by Hurricanes Laura and Delta to use for housing, infrastructure, and disaster mitigation needs,” continued Congressman Higgins. “However, the State of Louisiana estimates a $300 million shortfall for housing needs alone. The total unmet need, including public infrastructure and disaster mitigation, is even greater.”
“The Louisiana congressional delegation addressed these concerns and outlined unmet needs in a similar letter dated February 18, 2022. As we approach the upcoming deadline, I again urge you to include additional CDBG-DR funding for 2020 and 2021 natural disasters in any spending measure that moves forward. For many months, we have advocated for increased funding in support of South Louisiana’s long-term recovery mission. I humbly ask for your assistance in fulfilling these urgent needs,” Congressman Higgins continued.
The full text of the letter is available below or as a pdf here.
Read the Louisiana delegation’s letter from last month here.
A timeline of Congressman Higgins’ actions on hurricane recovery is available here.
