$51B in aid, but it's bottled up

Victims have not seen cash

By MICHAEL McAULIFF
DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU

WASHINGTON - Congress approved $51.8 billion in Katrina aid yesterday, but it won't get there soon enough for the people who tried - and failed - to get promised emergency payments.

President Bush signed the bill last night. Earlier, he went on TV to tell victims how to get help, saying more than 400,000 people already have signed up for benefits. He told tens of thousands more to apply but said they must be patient as they try to contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency.