Senator Bill Cassidy told WWL that he expects a Congressional Ida relief bill to come up within the next “month or so”. That’s in large part due to how widespread the damage was to regions controlled by both parties.
“I’m sorry for the Northeast, but it helps Louisiana that the Northeast was so terribly effected by Ida because it gives us two parties and two regions with more senators who are working to find a solution,” said Cassidy.
This comes as Hurricane Laura victims in Southwest Louisiana just received word this month that they would be receiving a supplemental Congressional aid package a year after the storm made landfall.
Cassidy said the region can’t wait for that package to be approved and then for the money to make its way to the Bayou State. He called for federal agencies to cut the red tape to allow for housing to be quickly rebuilt in the devastated Bayou and River Parishes.
“We learned that once we have federal dollars involved there has to be an environmental sign off before you rebuild, even if it is on the person’s slab,” said Cassidy. “They did this on the Road Home Program after Katrina, spent 30 million dollars, and never rejected a permit.”
Cassidy said housing must be a priority, and both short and long-term options must be expedited.
“We are not waiting until the package is approved to begin to work on the preliminary issues regarding housing,” said Cassidy. “We have got to cut through the red tape to allow that preliminary work to occur so that when the money that we know is coming happens, then we can execute.”