CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Senator Tom Harkin says more than $10 billion in disaster aid, including $182 million for a new federal courthouse in Cedar Rapids, has the backing of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Washington, D.C. – Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Ia., said today that he will seek two more disaster assistance bills to help Iowa and the Midwest bounce back from this spring’s devastating floods and tornadoes.

“Iowa is still in the early stages of recovery,” Harkin told Iowa reporters in a conference call.

He said he is pushing Iowa Gov. Chet Culver and local officials to come up with more precise assessments of damage so that a dollar amount can be determined for a flood aid bill that Harkin said he plans to introduce around July 22.

U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Ia., said Tuesday he has spurred Congress to commit $3 million toward the cost to rebuild levees that protect the Birdland Park and Central Place areas on Des Moines’ north side.

City leaders welcomed the money, even though the amount represents roughly a quarter of the estimated $12 million it will cost to replace the levees, which failed in 1993 and again last month.

“It’s just great news,” said Rick Clark, city manager. “The Birdland and Central Place levees are absolutely our top priorities for the levee system in Des Moines.”