Central Louisiana News

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy has announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will provide $117,946,000 in relief to Louisiana following the devastation caused by Hurricane Francine. The funding will be distributed through Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) grants.

"We had a rough hurricane season. Hurricane Francine devastated a lot of families, but Louisianans and Americans are resilient," stated Dr. Cassidy. "This is one of the first steps in helping communities recover, small businesses reopen, and families get back on their feet."

The announcement follows efforts by Cassidy and the entire Louisiana Congressional delegation to urge President Biden to approve Governor Landry’s request for an expedited major disaster declaration due to Hurricane Francine's impact.

Previously, at the conclusion of the last Congress, a bill sponsored by Cassidy was passed by the Senate to offer tax relief for those affected by Hurricane Francine. This legislation is currently awaiting presidential approval. Additionally, Cassidy introduced the Restoring an Economic Lifeline with Immediate Emergency Funding (RELIEF) Act aimed at replenishing funds for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Program after it depleted its resources in mid-October.

In response to the hurricane's aftermath, Cassidy also called for a swift federal response on the U.S. Senate floor and advocated for reforms to make the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) more affordable. A comprehensive report on NFIP's challenges was released by Cassidy late last year.