U.S. Gives State $15 Million More in Disaster Aid
The White House announced Thursday that the government is providing $15 million in temporary job relief for workers displaced by devastating flooding in California.
Labor Secretary Robert Reich said the money is in addition to a $10-million jobs grant announced earlier.
The Clinton Administration has poured hundreds of millions of dollars into California to help the state recover from a long series of disasters, including earthquakes, riots, fires and now floods and mudslides.
“Once more, the Clinton Administration has proved it really is California’s best friend,” Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) told reporters outside the White House.
Reich said the new money will create 2,500 six-month jobs for people who will help repair roads, bridges and other infrastructure damaged by floods in 49 counties.
“We want to give people jobs, and we also want to help clean up the mess,” Reich said.
He said the effort will help the long-term unemployed and those who lost jobs because of the floods. Reich added that the repair effort will benefit the state’s agriculture and tourism industries.
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