Helping Illinois and America Recover from Severe Weather
September 13, 2011

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on members of Congress to support a supplemental appropriations bill for the Disaster Relief Fund as requested by President Obama. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin described the need for federal aid in a year that has seen a blizzard and two severe floods affect communities throughout Illinois as well as record breaking hurricanes and wildfires in other parts of the country. The disaster relief fund gives families and businesses a helping hand working to rebuild their homes, businesses and communities. Recently, there have been nearly unprecedented calls in Congress for offsetting disaster relief funding with funds from other parts of the budget. Durbin explained that while he believes fiscal responsibility should be shared by all, it should not come at the expense of federal disaster aid.