SENATE BILL REPORT

                  HJM 4041

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

               Transportation, February 26, 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:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  2/26/96 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Owen, Chair; Heavey, Vice Chair; Goings, Morton, Oke, Prentice, Prince, Rasmussen, Schow, Sellar, Thibaudeau and Wood.

Staff:  Gary Lebow (786-7304)

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.

The federal government provides disaster relief funding to Presidentially declared disaster areas.  Federal funding from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) is predicated on a 25 percent match from state and/or local government.  Federal emergency relief (ER) funding from the Federal Highways Administration (FHWA)is 100 percent for the first 180 days and requires a 13.5 percent match thereafter.

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.

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  No one.