Citing insufficient federal recovery funds to protect against future natural disasters, the governors of six states called on the Trump Administration on Tuesday to allow equal competition for $12 billion in Community Development Block Grants for infrastructure projects.
The Administration has requested $12 billion in competitive infrastructure funding for states that have experienced one or more flood event in the last four years. Eight states would qualify for funds: Arkansas, Alaska, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, Texas, and Vermont.
In light of reports that infrastructure funding availability or amounts could be limited for all states but Florida and Texas, governors from the other six states called on the government to allow equal competition for the infrastructure funds in a letter sent on Tuesday.
“We understand the huge impacts that Harvey and Irma had on these states, and do not wish to minimize their experiences,” the letter stated. “We also understand, though, that our communities suffered immensely from recent disasters and are still in great need of funding to protect the recovery investments that have been made in response to those disasters.”
Without needed infrastructure investments protect against future storm events, the letter continues, the governors “risk experiencing repetitive losses and wasting precious public and private resources.”
The governors requested that the entire pool of funding that Congress appropriates for infrastructure be made fully available to eligible states so that “we may all compete on an equal footing for the funds we so desperately need to protect our communities and the public funds invested to date.”