Aid Request for Haiti
President Obama requested $2.8 billion in a FY 2010 supplemental aid package for Haiti yesterday, a week before international donors meet at the United Nations to decide on the financing of a reconstruction effort estimated to be $11.5 billion. The package includes money to reimburse U.S. agencies for some of the funds that already have been spent for relief efforts, as well as money to help Haiti rebuild its crippled government infrastructure. $1.5 billion is requested for the State Department and USAID, most of which will focus on reconstruction activities. Congressional action on the supplemental funding package is likely to get underway next month, when Members return from a two-week recess. Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said yesterday that “this emergency funding for Haiti is a must.” But don’t expect the Hill to simply rubber-stamp the Administration’s proposal.
