Gov. John Bel Edwards spent Wednesday in Washington, D.C., lobbying for what he says is a more than $2 billion immediate need back home to help jump start the recovery process in flood-wracked communities.
Edwards spokesman Richard Carbo said that the governor on Wednesday night was waiting for legislation to be finalized, including an official dollar amount that the state could see, but the latest round of meetings, including with U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, were positive.
"As far as the delegation is concerned I think everyone is very committed to getting something as quickly as possible," Carbo said. "There are still hurdles to climb but we are working through them."
President Barack Obama's administration has requested $2.6 billion in flood relief for Louisiana that could be used for housing repair or replacement that won't be covered by insurance; additional individual assistance awards through FEMA; small business repair needs; infrastructure improvements and other programs to benefit flood victims, including affordable housing and community development projects.
"The administration urges the Congress to provide additional funding to address Louisiana's unmet housing and infrastructure needs as soon as possible," White House Budget Director Shaun Donovan wrote in the letter formally requesting aid for the state's recovery Tuesday.
Edwards this week announced a 21-member task force that will help lead the state's recovery, including coordinating resources for the rebuilding and redevelopment of flood-wracked areas to "maximize their impact, improve efficiency and avoid duplication of efforts." That group would likely help direct how the federal aid makes its way to communities.
U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, said he's confident that Louisiana will receive federal assistance.
"Everybody's on board and everybody's doing their part," he said. "I'm confident that we will have more relief. The question is whether it will happen in September or December."
The U.S. House and Senate are scheduled to recess by the end of the month and won't return until after the November elections.
The continuing resolution that would be a vehicle to carry the flood aid is needed to keep government funded past the end of the month.
"There is a chance, and we've been working with others to line things up, so at least a portion of it can come out now," Cassidy said. "Aid will be most impactful if it comes out earlier, and not later."
One of the concerns for Louisiana's leaders has been over whether other projects might also get tacked onto the continuing resolution, derailing the flood aid.
Cassidy said that's a concern for him as well, but he sees things generally tilting toward Louisiana's favor at this point.
"I'm the kind of guy that until it's signed into law, I'm going to keep working at it and working for it and not take anything for granted," he said. "We do receive positive feedback as we're working on this."
"We continue to have things lining up," he said.
Representatives from the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry were in Washington on Wednesday for an unrelated meeting with the state's congressional delegation. It's by coincidence that a major issue affecting Louisiana is also going on at the same time, LABI President Stephen Waguespack said.
But the business leaders quickly shifted into unofficial flood ambassador mode -- spreading the word about just how badly aid is needed back home.
"They can't wait until December," Waguespack said. "For some of these areas, if there's not an immediate investment of some sort, you just won't have recovery there. We're trying to stay on that message."
Waguespack said that representatives from LABI had met with Edwards and Louisiana's delegation throughout the day. He said they had also been working to stress to lawmakers from other states.
"At this point, I think everyone understands that something has to be done," he said. "It sounds promising that they'll get something done."
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