WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, North Carolina Senators Thom Tillis and Richard Burr announced that the Senate’s two-year budget agreement will allow North Carolina to be eligible for more than $125 million in additional federal assistance for North Carolina’s long-term Hurricane Matthew recovery efforts.
The budget agreement provides roughly $100 million in the form of Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding, which supports family and community needs, including housing, infrastructure, and jobs. The funding is critical for Eastern North Carolina’s long-term recovery efforts. The agreement also provides roughly $25.5 million in additional Federal Highway Administration funds for the repair and reconstruction of roads that were damaged by Hurricane Matthew and the subsequent flooding.
This additional CDBG-DR funding adds to the $236,500,000 that the NC Congressional Delegation has secured in past spending bills. Immediately following Hurricane Matthew, $198.5 million was allocated in the December 9, 2016 Continuing Resolution and the remaining $37.96 million was authorized in the May 5, 2017 Continuing Resolution and allocated in two separate tranches: $6,114,000 in May 2017 and $31,862,000 in July 2017.
“In 2016, North Carolina was devastated by Hurricane Matthew, causing billions of dollars of damages and forcing many families across Eastern North Carolina from their homes,” said Senator Thom Tillis. “Since then, Senator Burr and I have worked in lockstep with North Carolina’s Congressional delegation to ensure North Carolina was not forgotten. The additional $125 million will go a long way in helping our local communities recover from the destruction caused by Hurricane Matthew. We are grateful for Senate leaders and appropriators for recognizing that recovery efforts do not end when first responders leave and that a multi-year recovery process requires continued federal assistance.”
“This funding represents another step in our ongoing effort to rebuild parts of North Carolina devastated by Hurricane Matthew,” said Senator Richard Burr. “In addition to the money already provided for disaster relief, this budget agreement includes money that will allow the state and affected communities to not only rebuild, but undertake mitigation projects to take proactive steps to lessen the effects of future storms. I, along with Senator Tillis, remain committed to ensuring North Carolina has the resources it needs and I look forward to the President signing this legislation.”
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