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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 9, 2013 09:29 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Phyllis Mundy |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Reintroduction of Legislation: Bridge Loans to Communities and Individuals after a Natural Disaster (Formerly HB 1953 of the 2011-2012 Legislative Session) |
| I will soon reintroduce legislation to authorize the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) to distribute “bridge loans” to communities and individuals impacted by a natural disaster. Under my bill, communities and individuals who have been approved for federal aid but are still waiting to receive it would be eligible. Disastrous flooding caused by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee in 2011 brought to light many issues with Pennsylvania’s current system of assisting victims of natural disasters. I represent thousands of people whose lives were turned to chaos during that time. Homes, businesses, and personal belongings of those in my district were ruined by flood waters. While Pennsylvania was fortunate that Washington sent assistance to our victims relatively quickly, New York and New Jersey residents have recently not been so lucky. As you know, Hurricane Sandy ravaged large sections of New York and New Jersey late last year. However, more than 60 days passed until the U.S. Congress approved federal assistance for Hurricane Sandy victims. We must not allow Pennsylvanians to fall prey to Washington politics should another natural disaster occur in our state. Last year proved to be a tumultuous climatical year. We now know that Pennsylvania is not immune to earthquakes or tornadoes, and that a so-called “one hundred-year flood” can in fact occur much more frequently. We cannot wait for another natural disaster to occur in order for our state to be allowed certain powers in times of an emergency. We need a rapid response. My bill would provide loans to communities and individuals in the aftermath of a natural disaster while they wait to receive their federal assistance. For the first 60 days of the loan, the loan would be interest-free, and it would then be subject to a 1% interest rate thereafter. At no long-term cost to the Commonwealth, we could help Pennsylvanians to begin the process of putting their lives back together by allowing them to move ahead quickly with rebuilding their homes and businesses. PRIOR CO-SPONSORS: Pashinski, Carroll, Mullery, Bishop, Boback, Brennan, Briggs, V. Brown, Caltagirone, D. Costa, Curry, Davis, Donatucci, George, Goodman, Josephs, Kavulich, Kortz, Kotik, Kula, Murphy, Myers, M. O’Brien, Readshaw, Santoni, K. Smith, Staback, Wagner, Youngblood, and Fabrizio |
Introduced as HB697