(09-07) 11:49 PDT WASHINGTON, (AP) -- A top House Republican is promising that there will be no holdup in replenishing disaster aid accounts.
Majority Leader Eric Cantor says that new disaster aid money doesn't have to be paid for with spending cuts elsewhere in the budget.
The Virginia Republican told reporters that he supports a provision in last month's budget pact with President Barack Obama that permits lawmakers to add money for disaster aid to the budget as long as it doesn't exceed historical averages.
In previous comments Cantor had said there would be a need to "offset" disaster aid. He's clarified his stand and says that disaster aid would only have to be paid for if lawmakers hadn't adequately budgeted for it and had instead tapped disaster accounts to pay for other programs.