HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 HJM 4041

                      As Passed House:

                      February 21, 1996

Brief Description:  Requesting funding authorizations to repair roadways, bridges, and rail lines damaged by floods.

Sponsors:  Representatives Foreman, K. Schmidt, Lisk, Clements, Grant, Mastin, Veloria, Sheahan, Honeyford, Conway, Robertson, Linville, Chappell, Hatfield, Benton, Regala, Morris, Keiser, Mulliken, Ogden, Scheuerman, Hankins, McMahan, Pelesky, L. Thomas, B. Thomas, Stevens, Koster, Sheldon, Delvin, Johnson, Campbell, Hymes, Smith, Thompson, Dyer and Brumsickle.

Brief History:

  Floor Activity:

Passed House:  2/21/96, 94-0.

Staff:  Rick Anderson (786-7114)

Background:  Nearly every county in the state has had one or more federally declared disasters in the past 20 years.  The three flood events of 1990 caused  damages to public and private structures in excess of $160 million.  The flood event in February of 1996 caused damages estimated at $300 million dollars.

The federal government provides disaster relief funding to Presidentially declared disaster areas.  Federal funding is predicated on a 25 percent match from the state and/or local government.

Summary of Bill:  The Memorial makes findings on the importance of the state's transportation infrastructure and on the devastation brought by the recent flood event in this state.  The Memorial requests that Congress promptly enact funding authorizations to repair damages caused by the most recent flood event.