Cash in $5 billion natural disaster fund barely spent, as money sits earning interest
2 years, 9 months ago

Cash in $5 billion natural disaster fund barely spent, as money sits earning interest

ABC  

Natural disasters are incredibly costly. That's why about four years ago the federal government set aside roughly $4 billion for the Emergency Response Fund. Emergency Management Minister Bridget McKenzie argues that given all the funding already available, there's no need to tap into the now nearly $5 billion Emergency Response Fund. "The Emergency Response Fund was set up as a future fund, to use when all other sources of funding have been exhausted," she said. "If these types of disasters don't qualify for funding under the Emergency Response Fund, I don't know what does."

Labor Disaster Emergency Money Funding Disasters Fund Billion Million Spent Set Response Queensland Mckenzie Erf  disasters  disaster  million  funding  set  spent  earning  cash  billion  response  natural  money  interest  sits  emergency  fund

History of this topic

Here’s a look at the $100 billion in disaster relief in the government spending bill
2 days, 3 hours ago

Here’s a look at the $100 billion in disaster relief in the government spending bill

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Congress is allocating more than $100 billion in emergency aid designed to address extensive damage caused by disasters after this week’s scramble to find consensus on a government spending bill. Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster relief fund is essentially the country’s checkbook for emergencies. …

Farmers, business owners, fire survivors face uncertainty after $100B in disaster relief flounders
3 days, 22 hours ago

Farmers, business owners, fire survivors face uncertainty after $100B in disaster relief flounders

Associated Press  

▶ Follow live updates on federal funding negotiations as a government shutdown looms. Do I leave?” While money from the Federal Emergency Management Administration has provided temporary relief, the disaster recovery funding was intended for long-term needs such as housing assistance and rebuilding infrastructure, he said. “I realize there are other distractions that are going on, but I would just …

Congress moves to keep government afloat, provides $100 billion in disaster aid
5 days, 15 hours ago

Congress moves to keep government afloat, provides $100 billion in disaster aid

Firstpost  

The measure would prevent a partial government shutdown set to begin after midnight Friday. It would kick final decisions on this budget year’s spending levels to a new Republican-led Congress and President-elect Donald Trump Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., pauses as he enters a closed-door strategy session with fellow Republicans as they work on a final version of …

FEMA head sounds the alarm over disaster funding after double hurricanes
1 month ago

FEMA head sounds the alarm over disaster funding after double hurricanes

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The money available to help communities hit by disasters has shrunk after back-to-back hurricanes Helene and Milton, and the funding problems might jeopardize the government’s ability to respond to new emergencies in the future, the Federal Emergency Management Agency chief said Wednesday. Deanne Criswell warned during a Senate hearing with other agency heads that FEMA’s disaster relief fund …

Biden seeks nearly $100 billion in emergency disaster aid after Hurricanes Helene and Milton
1 month ago

Biden seeks nearly $100 billion in emergency disaster aid after Hurricanes Helene and Milton

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is requesting nearly $100 billion in emergency disaster aid after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and other natural disasters, telling lawmakers that the money is “urgently needed.” The letter Monday to House Speaker Mike Johnson comes as lawmakers meet during a lame-duck session to finish key priorities before making way for a new Congress and the …

Biden administration requesting roughly $100 billion for disaster relief
1 month ago

Biden administration requesting roughly $100 billion for disaster relief

CNN  

Washington CNN — The Biden administration is sending a roughly $100 billion request to Congress to help Americans impacted by a series of major and record-breaking natural disasters in 2023 and 2024, including Hurricanes Helene and Milton, calling on lawmakers to pass the needed relief with “bipartisan and bicameral support.” It includes $40 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s …

Disaster loan program fully ‘exhausted’ with Congress still out of town
2 months, 1 week ago

Disaster loan program fully ‘exhausted’ with Congress still out of town

Politico  

“But the Biden-Harris Administration has the necessary disaster funding right now to address the immediate needs of American people in these hurricane affected areas,” the speaker continued. Without calling lawmakers back to the Capitol, congressional leaders could use their brief “pro forma” sessions to pass an emergency funding bill for the loan program. Rep. Jared Moskowitz has already introduced a …

Milton raises stakes for Congress to pass more disaster aid
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Milton raises stakes for Congress to pass more disaster aid

Politico  

“There’s absolutely going to be a resource issue,” he said. “As Americans struggle to recover from Hurricane Helene, another devastating hurricane this season, we write to urge you to bring a supplemental disaster funding bill to the floor as soon as possible,” a bipartisan group of 12 Texas lawmakers said in a letter to House leaders last week. Moskowitz introduced …

Biden wants an extra $4 billion for disaster relief, bringing the total request to $16 billion
1 year, 3 months ago

Biden wants an extra $4 billion for disaster relief, bringing the total request to $16 billion

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The White House will seek an additional $4 billion to address natural disasters as part of its supplemental funding request, bringing the total to $16 billion — a sign that wildfires, flooding and hurricanes that have intensified during a period of climate change are imposing ever higher costs on U.S. taxpayers. The Biden administration had initially requested $12 …

After recent disasters, the White House says FEMA needs more money
1 year, 3 months ago

After recent disasters, the White House says FEMA needs more money

NPR  

After recent disasters, the White House says FEMA needs more money Enlarge this image toggle caption Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images The White House is asking Congress for an additional $4 billion in emergency funding to help cover the costs of recent natural disasters in Hawaii, Florida and other parts of the country. Last month, …

Most disaster giving goes to relief efforts, not rebuilding
1 year, 10 months ago

Most disaster giving goes to relief efforts, not rebuilding

Associated Press  

The COVID-19 pandemic greatly accelerated a long-running pattern in giving by foundations and charities for health and natural disasters, a new Chronicle analysis of nine years of data show. The review of data from the Center for Disaster Philanthropy and Candid, a research organization that tracks giving of all kinds, shows that the sums flowing to disasters aren’t always going …

Federal government did not fund 'priority' request for Queensland flood warning system
2 years, 9 months ago

Federal government did not fund 'priority' request for Queensland flood warning system

ABC  

The federal government did not fund more than $150 million in flood mitigation projects sought by state and territory governments, including a "priority" upgrade to Queensland's early flood warning infrastructure. Key points: The federal government's first round of funding for the National Flood Mitigation Infrastructure project in 2020 was capped at $50 million Queensland applied for funding for 20 projects, …

Discover Related