White House preparing $5.9B request for Harvey recovery aid

WASHINGTON -- The White House has prepared a request to Congress for an initial $5.9 billion package in Harvey recovery aid, a first down payment to make sure recovery efforts over the next few weeks are funded adequately.

The Trump proposal, which is being finalized pending White House consultations with key Republicans, promises to represent just a fraction of an eventual Harvey recovery package that could rival the more than $100 billion in taxpayer-financed help for victims of 2005's Hurricane Katrina.

A senior administration official said the plan will be sent to Congress today, and House and Senate votes appear likely next week.

The official was not authorized to release the information publicly before a final decision is made and spoke on condition of anonymity.

House GOP leaders have signaled they are aiming to act fast on Harvey aid. Much larger future installments will be required, but the initial package, to replenish Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster coffers through Sept. 30, shouldn't be controversial.

FEMA is spending existing disaster-aid reserves -- just $2.1 billion as of Thursday -- at a high rate.

The initial aid money would be a down payment for immediate recovery efforts, to be followed by larger packages later, said White House homeland-security adviser Tom Bossert. It will take weeks or months to assess the full extent of the damage and need.

FEMA pays for immediate shelter costs and can finance home repairs up to $33,000 or so, but other costs such as flood-insurance payments, larger housing damage and state, local and government buildings promise a major price tag.