Hagan Pushes for FEMA Funding and Lowering US Debt

U.S. Senator Kay R. Hagan (NC), and other Senators in disaster ravaged states, last week led efforts to pass a $7 billion bill to ensure Americans devastated by natural disasters receive necessary aid. The bill, which passed the Senate by a vote of 62-37, must now pass the House of Representatives.   The bill provides $500 million in immediate, emergency funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to make sure FEMA won't have to cut off help for victims of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee at the end of the month.   Hagan spoke on the Senate floor about the urgent need to pass this supplemental funding bill to ensure the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has the resources to assist storm-ravaged communities in North Carolina.   Also last week, U.S. Senator Kay R. Hagan (D-N.C.) joined a bipartisan coalition of 36 U.S. Senators to encourage and support the members of the congressional “super committee” in efforts to seek the broadest possible bipartisan agreement to address the nation’s deficits and debt.  As part of the August compromise on raising the debt ceiling, a bipartisan 12-member panel was appointed to identify $1.5 trillion in budget savings over ten years.  Others have concluded that any meaningful and comprehensive solution should achieve at least $4 trillion in debt reduction if it is to reassure the financial markets, restore public confidence, and create the foundation for long-term economic growth.