According to various news reports, Congress will cut its summer recess short and return to Washington, DC either tonight or tomorrow to pass emergency relief legislation for the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. The aid package will be approximately $10 billion and cover the entire area of the Gulf Coast, including parts of Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. It is possible the legislation would be negotiated by a small group of congressional leaders and passed by unanimous consent - a procedure often used for bills with no opposition. The $10 billion amount will not begin to scratch the surface of what will be necessary. The Federal Emergency Management Agency - the federal agency charged with coordinating relief efforts after disasters such as this - is currently spending approximately $500 million per day in its relief efforts, which are not yet at full force.

Congress Weighs Emergency Session on Hurricane Aid

Congress Prepares $10 Billion Aid Package