Delay in Action on Hurricane Disaster Relief Funding Unprecedented
Congressional Action By the Numbers
“I would hope that the people in Congress could get their act together for about fifteen minutes and help people who are suffering. …If the Congress can’t even help Americans who have had their homes and their lives destroyed by a natural disaster then they might as well just board the place up and close it down.”
-Governor Chris Christie, December 21, 2012
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Hurricane Sandy made landfall on October 29, 2012
39 days later…
21 days later…
66 days later…
The House of Representatives “Fails to Take Up Sandy Aid Bill” (Andrew Grossman, “House Fails to Take Up Sandy Aid Bill, Wall Street Journal, 1/2/13)
From landfall to signing of a relief package: Still Waiting
Unprecedented Refusal to Act in Comparison to Other Severe and Devastating Disasters
Hurricane Katrina made landfall on August 29, 2005
4 days later…
Congress approves and President Bush signs $10.5 billion in emergency relief. (The Associated Press, 9/2/05; HR 3645)
5 days later…
1 day later…
Congress passes and President Bush signs $51.8 billion relief package. (The Associated Press, 9/8/05; HR 3673)
From landfall to signing of a relief package: 10 days
Hurricane Gustav made landfall on September 1, 2008 and Hurricane Ike 12 days later
11 days later…
The House of Representatives passes H.R.2638 (Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009) which includes over $20 billion in Hurricane Gustav and Ike relief funding.(www.govtrack.us, Accessed: December 31, 2012)
3 days later…
3 days later…
President Bush signs the "Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009" which includes over $20 billion in relief funding. (Press Release, “Statement by the President on H.R. 2638, the "Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009", The White House, September 30, 2008, Accessed: December 31, 2012
From landfall to signing of an initial relief package: 17 days
Hurricane Andrew made landfall on August 24, 1992
25 days later…
A federal aid package was approved by both the House and Senate (Congressional Record, Daily Digest, Accessed: January 2, 2013)
5 days later…
The aid package was signed by President George H. W. Bush (www.govtrack.us, Accessed: January 2, 2013)
From landfall to signing of an initial relief package: 31 days
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