Clinton Asks For Flood Relief Funds

President Clinton asked Congress for more than $900 million in new money Tuesday to help disaster victims across the United States, including flood victims in Washington state.

The disaster relief money, totaling $914.3 million, will help recovery efforts from winter flooding in the Pacific Northwest, from the blizzard and flooding in the Northeast and from hurricanes.

Estimates last week placed flood damage in Washington state in February at $319 million.

Clinton earlier declared that parts of Washington, Oregon and Idaho are disaster areas eligible for federal flood recovery aid.

He also said snow and flooding created disaster conditions in a swath of eastern and New England states.

The request for supplemental financing includes $168.6 million for the Department of Agriculture; $165 million for the Corps of Engineers; $100 million for the Interior Department; $267 million for the Transportation Department; $100 million for the Small Business Administration; $103.7 million for the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and $10 million for the Commerce Department.