Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 16, 1995 TAG: 9503160072
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
A Senate report released Wednesday showed the costs to taxpayers of earthquakes, fires, floods and hurricanes have steadily spiraled as more and more places are declared presidential disaster areas.
``In the budget climate we face, we must address these escalating costs to ensure the billions we are spending are being spent wisely,'' said Sen. Christopher Bond, R-Mo.
Bond and Sen. John Glenn, D-Ohio, were co-chairmen of a Senate task force created in February when Congress approved an $8.4 billion supplemental disaster relief bill for the California earthquake, Midwest floods and other acts of nature.
As recently as 1988, only 17 disasters were given federal designation by the president, which unleashes a barrage of government aid. The number of declarations has risen since then to 58 in 1993, which cost taxpayers $6.6 billion.
Those costs are running headlong into Republican efforts to reduce spending and move toward balancing the federal budget. The House on Tuesday passed a nonbinding resolution calling for reform of national disaster policy.
``Our current policy of opening wide the federal checkbook to any and all comers each time disaster strikes cannot and should not continue,'' said Rep. Bill Emerson, R-Mo., in a letter to House colleagues.
About 73 percent of the total spent since 1977 has gone to help people, businesses and cities recover from disasters, including $55 billion in loans. Billions more has been paid to farmers for crop losses, to reduce potential future losses and to help local governments rebuild roads, utilities and the like.
Only about 3 percent of the relief has gone to immediate needs of disaster victims, such as shelter, food and clothing, the task force found.
by CNB