“I pledged to do everything in my power to assist the victims of Hurricane Floyd as we continue our recovery process,” Rep. Jones said.  “After working closely with House Leadership as well as House and Senate conferees, I am proud to say that Eastern North Carolina will have additional funds to help those who are still suffering the effects of this devastating storm.”

 The House passed additional Hurricane Floyd aid in March as part of the Fiscal Year 2000 budget supplemental.  After the legislation failed to gain needed support in the Senate, Rep. Jones lobbied House and Senate Leadership to ensure that the relief language was included in the Military Construction spending bill for FY 2001. The proposal will provide North Carolina with more than $230 million in hurricane assistance, in addition to the almost $2 billion that North Carolina has and will receive in federal funds to aid recovery efforts from Hurricane Floyd.  

 Among other things the bill includes funding for federal agencies and activities, which include:
 

• United States Department of Agriculture: $81 million in market assistance payments to aid Eastern North Carolina tobacco, peanut, and cotton farmers

• FEMA: $50 million to fund eligible buyouts of damaged homes in the 100-year flood plain ($215 million was appropriated last year)

• Small Business Administration: $41 million in loan subsidies for storm-damaged homeowners and businesses

• Department of Housing and Urban Development: $25 million for HOME Investment Partnerships program to provide resources to address Eastern North Carolina’s housing needs following the storms

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: $6 million for commercial fishermen 

• Department of Defense: $12.4 million to build an Armed Services Reserve Center in Greenville, to replace structures that were destroyed in the storm

• Economic Development Agency (EDA): $25 million to help development districts and states plan for long-term economic development and recovery in Floyd-affected areas

 “I hope that President Clinton will recognize the importance of these funds to storm-ravaged Eastern North Carolina and will sign this bill into law.  If he does, I would urge Governor Hunt to avoid the recent delays that have occurred at the state level and act quickly to distribute these funds to our families in need,” Jones said.

The House passed the FY2001 Military Construction Appropriations bill by a vote of 309 - 110.