Grassley, Baucus Work on Finance Committee Hurricane Relief Package

Grassley, Baucus Work on Finance Committee Hurricane Relief Package

Statement of Chairman Chuck Grassley and Ranking Member Max Baucus

United States Senate Committee on Finance

We are working together to develop initiatives within the jurisdiction of the Finance Committee to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. We're interested in measures that provide both short- and long-term assistance. That includes making sure the Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP programs are available to help in every way possible. It includes making sure the states have the flexibility they may need with unemployment benefits. It includes making sure our ports operate as needed for U.S. exports and imports. And it includes possible tax law changes to help individual victims and the rebuilding of businesses and infrastructure in the hurricane-affected areas. Our goal is to see action by the full Senate on a relief package as quickly as possible, and ideally that would be early next week.