ATLANTA (WJBF) – Georgia Governor Brian Kemp is pushing lawmakers to fund roads, bridges, transportation and infrastructure projects for this legislative session.

He wants more than $600 million to help the state recover from Hurricane Helene. Half of that is for the department of transportation to clean up debris, repair roads and fix signs.

There’s another $100 million budgeted for funds for financial relief for the agricultural and timber industries that suffered huge losses when the hurricane hit last September.

Two billion dollars is slated for water and transportation infrastructure across the state, which also includes funds to the DOT for freight projects to transport goods efficiently.

“That is a continuing thing and I don’t think there’s any disagreement on us and making sure that we adequately fund for ports and fund rural internet access because our children in those communities, businesses won’t have those opportunities and there will be agreement on those,” said House Minority Leader, Carolyn Hugley.

State Senator Derek Mallow said, “I mean those priorities are roads and bridges. The Georgia Finance Authority has enough money for cities and counties to make these projects happen. We have huge water needs. We are fighting climate change and sea level rise and what to do with storm water.”

State Senator Harold Jones said, “As far as Augusta is concerned, we have a lot of debris and trees. We are talking about major trees that are out there and that is the first we have to get done in our particular region.”

The governor is proposing $250 million dollars for local road grants, $250 million for the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority for water infrastructure grants and $500 million for surface water investments in the coastal region.

Governor Kemp said he wants $150 million dollars for the governor’s emergency fund for the state’s share of FEMA reimbursements, including direct aid and temporary shelter expenses.