Texas given $20 million Katrina aid

[TexasStooge]

DALLAS, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded $20.55 million in grants to Texas to reimburse the Dallas Housing Authority for expenses related to interim housing of Hurricane Katrina evacuees.

The funds reimburse the Dallas Housing Authority for costs of renting housing units, paying utilities, providing furnishings and paying moving costs for evacuees.

"Dallas residents extended a helping hand in a time of crisis," said FEMA's Sandy Coachman. "We are pleased to offer this reimbursement."

"The Dallas Housing Authority provides critical housing assistance for Dallas residents," said Frank Cantu of the Governor's Division of Emergency Management. "The agency met a real need for the victims of the Katrina disaster."

The federal funds are made available under FEMA's Public Assistance program. The State of Texas administers the program. Eligible disaster-related costs are reimbursed to state and local governments.

[TSmith274]

Texas deserves it. But, I find it odd that while many states and cities accross this nation are being reimbursed, Louisiana is being forced to pay back 3.7 billion to FEMA. The state that needs the help the most is being forced to pay up, and the state is devastated and broke. Just doesn't make sense to me to make one of our own states, and our fellow Americans, pay back all that money when we give out billions in international aid with no expectations of being paid back.