January 25, 2013

H.R. 152 – Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013

Noteworthy

Floor Situation: The Senate will consider H.R. 152 on January 28. Debate is limited to one hour. The Senate will then proceed to two votes: the first on a Lee amendment regarding offsets; and the second on passage of H.R. 152. Both are subject to a 60-vote threshold.

Background: Hurricane Sandy hit the U.S. in late October 2012. On December 7, the Obama Administration requested $60.4 billion in supplemental appropriations. On December 28, the Senate passed its version of the disaster relief bill, H.R. 1, by a vote of 62-32. The Senate bill provided $60.4 billion, approximately equal to the request. The House did not act on this bill by the conclusion of the 112^th Congress. On January 4, the House passed H.R. 41, providing a portion of the disaster relief requested – a $9.7 billion increase in borrowing authority for the National Flood Insurance Program. The President signed this bill into law on January 6. On January 15, the House passed H.R. 152, providing an additional $50.5 billion in funding. The funding was approved in two separate votes: one for $17 billion of assistance, by a vote of 327-91 (Republicans voted 135 yea, 91 nay), and another for an additional $33.7 billion of assistance by a vote of 228-192 (Republicans voted 38 yea, 190 nay). The vote on the total bill was 241-180 (Republicans voted 49 yea, 179 nay). The House bill designates all spending as disaster or emergency requirements except for funding provided for the Army Corps’ Construction account. This agrees with the Senate’s vote to remove the emergency designation from this account during Senate consideration of H.R. 1.

A table detailing funding provided in the Administration request, the Senate-passed 112^th Congress bill, and H.R. 152 is available here.