Braley $20 million flood aid measure goes to Senate

An amendment adding $20 million in Community Development Block Grants for Midwest Flood Recovery to the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill was approved Thursday night.

The measure now goes to the Senate, which has passed a Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill out of committee. The full Senate has yet to vote on the measure.

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District Rep. Bruce Braley offered the amendment after visiting Eastern Iowa communities devastated by record flooding last weekend.

The CDBG funds offer more flexible than other federal funding streams “and, hopefully, will provide critical assistance to homeowners and small businesses in the 1st District,” said Braley, a Waterloo Democrat.

Rep. Tom Latham, and Ames Republican, chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee, spoke in support of Braley's amendment during floor debate.

Braley's amendment provides a $20 million increase in CDBG funding to assist communities in the Midwest affected by the flooding. It will be offset by decreasing funds for non-personnel expenses within the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The measure now goes to the Senate, which has passed a Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill out of committee. The full Senate has yet to vote on the measure.