As part of the ongoing spending plan for hurricane-relief efforts, US President George W. Bush will seek approval from the Congress on an additional funding of 40 billion US dollars, a US Senator said Tuesday.

Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid disclosed the information on the reconvening day of the Congress from a month-long summer recess, saying the president will make his request within 24 hours.

He also said the total funding for relief efforts could be as much as 150 billion dollars in the end.

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay also noted that recovery needs will be the Congress' number one priority.

Later in the day, congressional leaders were invited to the White House to meet Bush on issues about the ongoing relief efforts in the region devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

Last Friday, the Congress rushed to approve a 10.5-billion-dollar bill to support relief efforts ahead of its reconvening day.

Congressional leaders promised more relief bills will follow up, noting that Friday's bill is just a first move toward a "comprehensive and long-term response" to the disaster.

Hurricane Katrina, which hit the US Gulf Coast last week, is one of the worst natural disasters throughout the American history, displacing over 1 million people and probably killing some 10,000.

Source: Xinhua