Republicans propose stripping $300 million from Sandy relief bills

House Republicans have offered up more amendments to next week's Sandy aid package, including several from Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.) that would strip out more than $300 million in aid.

The House will take up $17 billion Sandy relief bill, as well as a $33.7 billion amendment from Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-N.J.), on Tuesday.

As of noon Friday, Broun had proposed eight amendments, and other House members had submitted various other proposals. Two of Broun's amendments would affect the main bill, by removing $19.5 million to study future flood risks and removing $3 million for oil spill research.

Broun's other amendments would remove millions more in funding from the Frelinghuysen amendment. Among other things, Broun proposes eliminating $111 million in funding for a "weather satellite data mitigation gap reserve fund."

Others would remove $86 million to advance capital projects in the northeast corridor, $50 million for "sustained weather research programs," and $25 million for improving weather forecasting.

Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.) has proposed language to take out $1 million in funding for the Legal Services Corp. And Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) has proposed language suspending the Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements from all spending associated with the main bill and the Frelinghuysen amendment.

The GOP proposals to remove funding from the Sandy package are in addition to amendments file on Thursday from Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.), which would require spending cuts to offset the cost of the main $17 billion bill.

The House Rules Committee meets Monday to decide which amendments can be considered on the House floor.

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