The U.S. Senate rejected an amendment from Senators John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy that would have appropriated two-point-five billion dollars in disaster aid to Louisiana for the hurricanes that hit the state in 2020 and 2021. Before the vote, Kennedy explained where the money will go.
“My amendment, and Sen. Cassidy’s amendment, would appropriate $2.5 billion in disaster aid to Louisiana. That would include $600 million for housing aid for Hurricanes Laura and Delta, $1.4 billion in housing aid for Hurricane Ida. The amendment would also provide for $500 million in funding to rebuild Louisiana ports,” said Kennedy.
Kennedy tried to attach the amendment to a 1.5 trillion-dollar government funding bill.
Cassidy says he’s frustrated the amendment did not pass because there are hurricane victims who are desperate for money to rebuild.
“If you fly over southwest Louisiana you see blue tarps, those tarps are there because the families have not had the money to replace their roofs,” said Cassidy. “If you get on the ground you see blighted neighborhoods.”
This could be the last chance for southwest Louisiana to receive disaster aid for Hurricanes Delta and Laura. Congress has appropriated 600-million in hurricane relief, but the money has yet to be released to the state. Cassidy says he’ll continue to do whatever he can to complete the process of recovery.
“We do so much in this country for those who have been injured and we appreciate in south Louisiana all that has already been done, but there is a little bit more needed to particularly benefit those who are less well off,” said Cassidy.
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