State’s lawmakers hold mixed views on disaster relief

WASHINGTON — Some members of the Arkansas congressional delegation are promising to go to the aid of Harvey victims, saying they’ll support legislation to help Texas and Louisiana rebuild.

Others aren’t making any commitments, saying they’ll weigh the merits of a federal aid proposal once it’s been introduced.

After Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc on the East Coast in 2012, Congress approved two disaster-relief bills — the first for $9.7 billion and the second for $51 billion.

The smaller bill, which was supported by Democrats and most Republicans, drew support from every Arkansas delegation member except then-U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton. (He said the additional disaster aid should be offset by cuts in other federal programs.)

The larger bill, known as the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, passed the Republican-controlled House and the Democrat-controlled Senate in January 2013 and was signed into law by President Barack Obama.

Most Republicans — and much of the Texas delegation — voted no.

Arkansans on Capitol Hill were divided on the second bill.

Then-U.S. Sen. Mark Pry-or, a Democrat, and Republican U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford voted for the measure.

U.S. Sen. John Boozman opposed the bill as did Cotton, then-U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin and U.S. Rep. Steve Womack.

Many Republicans argued that the second bill spent more than was necessary. Others said they’d support the aid only if it was coupled with cuts in federal spending elsewhere.

Nearly five years after the storm, some Republican congressmen from the Northeast are still rankled by the opposition.

“It was cruel, it was vicious, and something that I’ll never forget,” Rep. Peter King of New York told The Associated Press on Tuesday as flooding from Harvey continued unabated along the Texas and Louisiana coasts.

Fellow Republicans from the Lone Star state helped lead opposition to the aid package, he noted.

“Having said that,” King added, “I don’t want the people of Texas to suffer.”

Some Arkansas lawmakers also want to help.

U.S. Rep. French Hill, who lived in Houston decades ago, said the nation’s fourth-largest city can’t bear the burden alone.

“In my experience, these efforts require everyone collaborating: counties, states, federal government and our nonprofit organizations, particularly our faith-based organizations,” the Little Rock Republican said.

It’s unclear how much money the disaster-struck region will need, he said.

“I’m going to support what the House Appropriations Committee suggests,” he said, once federal agencies complete damage assessments “and see what’s appropriate to meet the federal government’s obligations.”

Crawford, a Republican from Jonesboro, wants to see the legislation before committing, but believes it’s appropriate to offer assistance, his spokesman said.

“He will take the same line of thinking for Texas that he did for Sandy,” said James Arnold. “His thinking is that you never know when your home state will experience a similar disaster.”

Boozman is predicting that Congress will move swiftly.

“Very shortly we’ll come up with a package,” the Republican from Rogers told Bloomberg, adding, “We’ll do whatever it takes.”

Boozman, who serves on the Senate appropriations committee, predicted it would approve a stopgap aid package next month and sign off on additional spending thereafter.

Cotton, now a senator, also is willing to provide assistance, a spokesman for the Dardanelle Republican said.

“Senator Cotton expects a package focused on immediate disaster relief in Houston and expects to support it, but will of course have to assess the final bill,” said Caroline Rabbitt.

“He will also want to ensure the disaster relief funding protects the interests of Arkansas flood victims from earlier this year.”

Womack, as a member of the appropriations committee, will help review any federal disaster-relief package.

The Republican from Rogers “understands the federal government’s limited, yet vital role during disasters such as this. As an appropriator, he stands ready to assess additional relief needs when called upon,” said his spokesman, Heather Neilson.

A spokesman for U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman said the Republican from Hot Springs hasn’t taken a position on additional disaster relief.

“The congressman will review the bill when it is introduced,” spokesman Ryan Saylor said.