FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 24, 1997
CONTACT: Dana Hagerty 202/225-2165
WASHINGTON, DC -- Congressman Collin C. Peterson (DFL-7th District) announced today that an amendment that provides funding for the flood disaster in Minnesota and North Dakota was passed in the House Committee on Appropriations. The amendment will be included in the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill that is headed to the House floor.
"This amendment is good news in that it provides $200 million more dollars in response to the flood disaster," Peterson said. "However, I am concerned because the money doesn't go directly to the people, who need it most.
"We need more flexibility to get this money to the individuals, not to agencies," Peterson continued. "I have been assured by Congressman Sabo, (Ranking Minority Member on the Committee), that he will do all he can to make sure this money gets to the people."
The amendment also authorizes a temporary reduction of 15 days for the effective date of new flood insurance.
"This is good news for those people that bought flood insurance in anticipation of the flood, but were surprised when the flood happened earlier than expected," Peterson said. "Unfortunately, this doesn't affect as many people as I would have liked. In East Grand Forks, a town of about 9,000, less than 500 of those people had flood insurance. We need to make sure that people who didn't have flood insurance are taken care of.
"There is a chance this bill will bring with it some controversy -- people trying to add non-emergency spending to the bill. I don't want the people out there to worry about that -- there will be an emergency appropriations bill. This is not the time to be playing around with a bill, and I will do all I can to make sure everyone else in Washington knows that."