WASHINGTON — Congressional leaders conveyed a bipartisan sense of urgency Thursday amid mounting criticism over relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Katrina, announcing they were cutting short their summer recess to act on a Bush administration request for $10.5 billion to cover immediate needs.
Amid reports of an increasingly desperate situation along the ravaged Gulf Coast, Congress was expected today to give the funds final approval. The Senate approved the funding by voice vote Thursday night.
Democrats and Republicans also began to assess how the calamity had scrambled the political landscape and their legislative agendas.
"Beyond the immediate humanitarian disaster we have got to face, there are countless long-term issues that are going to arise, from the country's fuel supply to rebuilding the city to public health issues and flood control," said Tim Barry, chief of staff for House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas). "It's going to be a massive ripple effect across just about every part of government."
The movement toward a storm-response package came after President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and other senior officials conferred with congressional leaders Thursday on the relief effort and the need for a quick infusion of cash for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
One Democratic leadership aide said there was no discussion during the phone call between Bush and the congressional leaders of what the ultimate cost of reconstruction might be. Congressional aides familiar with the appropriations process said there would probably be another injection of funds for immediate relief efforts in two or three weeks, followed by a massive reconstruction aid package once the damage is calculated.
The initial $10.5 billion will go largely to FEMA, but some money is earmarked for the Pentagon, which has deployed troops, ships and equipment in the relief effort, said Jim Manley, a spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).
"FEMA is spending money at a rate of $500 million a day and will soon run out of funds," Manley said. "The $10 billion will keep the relief effort going for the next 20 days" while detailed assessments of the damage are conducted.
As in previous national emergencies, both political parties stressed the need to put politics aside and address urgent humanitarian needs. But committee chairmen also planned hearings on the preparations that state and federal agencies made before the hurricane and how they handled its aftermath.
