Senate boosts flood funding.: Money could help erase part of $10 million U.S. owes state

WASHINGTON - One billion dollars designated by Congress asemergency disaster relief will help erase some of the $10 million inback payments the federal government owes flood-plagued WestVirginia.

The Senate late Thursday approved the supplemental spendingrequest, which will shore up the nearly empty Federal EmergencyManagement disaster aid account.

Lack of funds already has delayed projects or forced states tofoot the bill in many of the 300 declared disaster areas across thecountry, said Sen. Robert Byrd, the top Democrat on the SenateAppropriations Committee.

Payments to West Virginia have not been made since February, Byrd,D-W.Va., said.

The state …