Bush asks Congress for $691 million more for hurricane victims

WASHINGTON – President Bush asked Congress Tuesday for an additional $691 million to aid victims of hurricanes as the election-year price tag for recent emergencies surged toward $13 billion.

Bush’s latest request included damage caused by Hurricane Jeanne, the last of four major hurricanes that lashed Florida and other states in the South and East over several months.

Congress has already approved $2 billion for hurricane victims, but had yet to act on two other requests totaling $10.2 billion that Bush made last month.

Leaders believe lawmakers will approve the remaining $10.9 billion – including Tuesday’s request – before they adjourn for the November elections later this week.

Bush’s latest hurricane request seeks extra money for damaged farmland, Defense Department facilities, highways, veterans hospitals and river channels.

It also included another $50 million to help hurricane victims in Haiti, Grenada, Jamaica and other Caribbean nations – on top of $50 million Bush already proposed for those countries.