Pelosi Letter to Bush on Iowa's Cost Share Requirement

September 6, 2008
Press Release
Washington, D.C. - Speaker Nancy Pelosi sent the following letter to President Bush today to urge him to use his "full discretionary authority" to grant Iowa's request that the state's 25 percent cost-share requirement  for removing debris and rebuilding public infrastructure be reduced to 10 percent.  Speaker Pelosi will be in Iowa on Monday, September 8 to tour areas affected by the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding.  The Speaker has stated that Congress will pass additional disaster relief funding for Iowa and the Midwest in September.

Below is a text of the letter:

September 6, 2008

The Honorable George W. Bush

The President of the United States

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:

During the spring and summer of this year, the State of Iowa was devastated by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding. This was a disaster of massive proportions, leveling some Iowa communities to the ground and wreaking havoc in many others.  Iowa's families and communities have suffered devastating losses.  Iowans are strong and resilient, and they have stepped up to the difficult task of rebuilding their homes and communities, but they need and deserve additional assistance.

On May 27, recognizing the devastation underway, you declared a major disaster for the State of Iowa.  As the state took stock of the immense damage and recognized that additional assistance would be needed, Governor Chester Culver on July 16 requested that the 25 percent cost-share requirement for most categories of Public Assistance - for removing debris and rebuilding public infrastructure - be reduced to 10 percent.  In addition, Governor Culver sought 100 percent federal reimbursement for emergency protective measures.

On August 14, FEMA Administrator David Paulison denied the Governor's request to reduce the state's cost share to 10 percent because, at that time, the qualifying threshold - based on the amount of federal obligations in this disaster - had not yet been reached. However, FEMA has acknowledged that the amount of federal obligations continues to increase, and by now, may have met or exceeded the obligation threshold.

Notwithstanding the threshold, as a matter of law, the President has full discretionary authority to adjust the cost-share. Therefore, I urge you to exercise your authority under the Stafford Act to provide necessary relief for those continuing to struggle in the aftermath of this historic natural disaster.

In addition, I urge you to grant Iowa's request for 100 percent reimbursement for emergency protective measures and for 90 percent reimbursement for debris removal.  Thank you for your consideration of these urgent requests.

best regards,

NANCY PELOSI

Speaker of the House