“This is great news,” Jones said.  “In times of natural disasters, our rural fire departments provide the first line of defense to our local communities and neighborhoods.  But when Hurricane Floyd hit Eastern North Carolina last year, our volunteer firefighters were not trained or equipped to perform floodwater rescues.  We cannot afford to face another hurricane season when one of our greatest emergency resources lacks the necessary means to help its communities in need.”

The draft Emergency Supplemental Budget includes the following additional Hurricane Floyd assistance:
 

• $500,000 for the Volunteer Firefighters Assistance program to aid volunteer fire departments in counties declared presidential disaster areas as a result of Hurricane Floyd.

•  $81 million in market assistance payments to aid Eastern North Carolina tobacco, peanut, and cotton farmers.

• Authorizes USDA to use Emergency Conservation Program funds to assist producers to restore farming operations.

• $27,925,000 for the Army Corps of Engineers for emergency dredging and debris removal ($8 million more than President Clinton’s request).

• $6 million for commercial fishermen and $2 million for Beaufort Lab.

• $33 million for Small Business Administration housing loans. ($2 million more than President Clinton’s request)

• $8 million for Rural Housing Assistance grants (not included in President Clinton’s request).

“I am pleased that House Appropriations Chairman Bill Young was able to honor my request for our local firefighters and I appreciate that he recognized the devastating impact Hurricane Floyd has had on Eastern North Carolina.  In response to requests that Congressman Robin Hayes and I made, the Committee went above and beyond the President’s own request to respond to our most dire agriculture, housing, coastal, and now, emergency rescue needs.  I appreciate the Committee’s support and I will continue fighting to see that any remaining unmet needs are addressed, specifically any shore protection projects along Eastern North Carolina’s coastline,” Jones said.