National League of Cities Urges Congress to Honor Commitments and Replenish the Disaster Relief Fund

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Sep 22, 2011, 05:06 ET

WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National League of Cities (NLC) released the following statement today from Donald J. Borut, Executive Director of NLC.

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"Very little is more central to the federal government's role than helping communities rebuild after a devastating disaster. That's why we urge Congress to honor its commitments and replenish the Disaster Relief Fund without cutting from other key federal programs.

"The Disaster Relief Fund is the mechanism through which the federal government provides assistance to overwhelmed state and local governments after disasters. It helps get families back on their feet by providing the resources necessary to help communities remove debris, rebuild roads, reopen schools, and restore critical services.

"This has been one of the most difficult years on record for cities and towns. As a result of natural disasters across the country, the Fund is now at a dangerously low level, leaving the real possibility that the federal government will be unable to help areas fully recover. With 82 major disaster declarations in 48 states this year accounting for $10 billion in damage, our communities are reeling.

"The debt deal reached earlier this year made it clear that offsets were not necessary to help Americans recover from these natural disasters. That families should not have to sacrifice funding for programs that are just as crucial to restoring our economy.

"We agree. Americans should not have to choose between rebuilding their communities and rebuilding the American economy. NLC urges Congress to honor their promise and provide the nation's Disaster Relief Fund the money communities need to rebuild and restore lives."

About the National League of Cities
The National League of Cities is the nation's oldest and largest organization devoted to strengthening and promoting cities as centers of opportunity, leadership and governance. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans.

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SOURCE National League of Cities