FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 1, 1997
CONTACT: Dana Hagerty 202/225-2165
WASHINGTON, DC -- Congressman Collin C. Peterson (DFL-7th District) today thanked Speaker Gingrich for including his amendment for increased Federal flood relief funds in the Balanced Budget Act. The amendment now on it's way to the President's desk, will change the ratio of flood aid for Minnesota from a 75/25 split, to a 90/10 split for Kittson, Marshall, Polk, Norman, Clay, and Wilkin counties.
"The Speaker and his staff should be thanked for getting my amendment into the budget bill while it was in conference," Peterson said. "We didn't say anything earlier because the Speaker was concerned that the amendment could be taken out in the Senate because of possible violation of the Senate's Byrd rule."
The inclusion of the amendment means that the State of Minnesota and local governments won't have to carry so much of the financial burden for flood relief in those six counties listed in the amendment. Before this amendment was added, the Federal government was providing 75 percent of the share of flood relief, and the State and local governments were having to come up with the other 25 percent.
"Now, with this 90/10 split, the Minnesota communities damaged by the flood in Kittson, Marshall, Polk, Norman, Clay, and Wilkin counties will have a much better chance of being able to afford the cost of rebuilding.
"The Speaker asked me not to say anything about my amendment until we were sure it would be included," Peterson said. "I kept my word, and the Speaker kept his. He told me that he would do everything he could to see that Minnesota got the same Federal support that North Dakota received, and he made it happen."