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Senate Passes Package Of Flood Recovery Bills
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The Senate Wednesday gave final approval to a package of eight bills designed to help individuals, businesses and communities recovery from the damage caused by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee in September. "I am proud of the bipartisan effort that resulted in this series of bills that would advance a State Disaster Relief Package to supplement Federal Relief programs and maximize assistance available to PA flood victims," Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne), Minority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, said. "Many families in PA are today facing an uncertain future. Federal and State programs must be targeted to lift families, businesses and communities out of the flood waters that ripped from them both their property and financial security."
"Regardless of political party or municipal boundaries, the flooding affected our entire region, and we steadily worked together to bring these bills to votes in a responsible manner so that we can provide financial assistance, infrastructure funding and tax breaks to those who were impacted by this disaster," said Sen. John Gordner (R-Columbia).
"As the flood clean-up continues, it is evident that existing programs are not enough to help individuals, families and businesses who lost everything," said Sen. Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne). "In the business district of Shickshinny, only two of 26 businesses are fully operational weeks after the flooding. These bills will help close the gap left after private insurance and federal aid have been exhausted, and support flood-damaged communities, families and businesses as they struggle to rebuild after the double-hit of two historic natural disasters."
"The devastation caused by Irene and Lee are still being felt today and will be for a very long time," said Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Bradford). "These bills, if approved by the House and signed by the Governor, will go a long way to aiding in the recovery effort, but more will need to be done, including a change in policy on the state level for the dredging and cleaning of streams and permitting procedures."
"I'm pleased to see the Senate work together in a bipartisan manner to help our families and businesses who have experienced this horrible tragedy with flooding," said Sen. David Argall (R-Schuylkill). "After touring numerous homes and businesses in Schuylkill County that were hit the hardest, these bills represent the state's commitment to helping local residents rebuild their lives."
Among the bills approved were:
-- Senate Bill 1264 (Baker-R-Luzerne) enacting the Flood Relief Act for September 2011 making an appropriation of $20 million for individual assistance;
-- Senate Bill 1266 (Gordner-R-Columbia) authorizing the incurring of $150 million in debt to fund flood damage recovery projects;
-- Senate Bill 1267 (Blake-D-Lackawanna) authorizing real estate tax abatement as a result of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee;
-- Senate Bill 1268 (Gordner-R-Columbia) authorizing the incurring of debt to repair flood damaged highways;
-- Senate Bill 1269 (Yaw-R-Bradford) adoption of capital projects to repair or replace flood damaged highways and bridges;
-- Senate Bill 1271 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne) an itemized list of flood damaged highway and bridge repair projects;
-- Senate Bill 1297 (Baker-R-Luzerne) establishing a $10 million Small Business Flood Relief Program of 2011; and
-- Senate Bill 1323 (Yaw-R-Bradford) establishing the Agriculture Disaster Recovery Program to provide disaster assistance to agricultural operations.
Sen. Yudichak worked with Senators John Gordner, (R-Columbia), Lisa Baker, (R-Luzerne), Gene Yaw, (R-Bradford) and John Blake, (D-Lackawanna) on the legislative package that was first announced in September shortly after the floods caused by Tropical Storm Lee.
The legislative package is in addition to The Luzerne County Small Business Loan Fund announced last week. The $4 million low-interest loan program will be available to all business impacted by recent flooding at a 1 percent interest rate.
The fund will then continue as a market-driven revolving loan fund, once the needs of flood impacted businesses are satisfied, to foster continued business development and job creation throughout Luzerne County.
The loan program will be funded through an allocation from the Luzerne County Local Share Account. The allocation was approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority. The Local Share Account is funded through gaming dollars generated by Mohegan Sun Casino.
Senate Approves Flood Relief PackageCrisis Counseling Available To Midstate Flood Victims |
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11/21/2011 |
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