Federal loans and grants to help victims of the Oct. 15 earthquakes centered off the Kohala Coast of the Big Island have topped $20 million, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced yesterday.

The financial assistance has been distributed to 2,447 families and individuals, according to federal officials and Hawai'i State Civil Defense.

As of Monday, nearly $8 million had been approved through the FEMA Housing Program to help renters find alternative housing, or to help homeowners make their homes livable or find other housing.

Almost $32,000 more was approved for 109 applicants under the FEMA/State Other Needs Assistance Program. Those grants cover transportation needs, personal property losses or medical and dental expenses.

The U.S. Small Business Administration also approved almost $13 million in low-interest disaster loans for 336 home owners, renters and business owners.

However, the U.S. Senate on Tuesday turned down an amendment that would have provided $19 million in aid to fix agricultural damage from the quake.

Democrats attempted to attach $4.8 billion in aid for struggling farmers to an agriculture spending bill on Tuesday. But Republicans objected to the provision as the White House issued a veto threat, saying it was too expensive.

Supporters were not able to get the 60 votes necessary to overcome the objection.

Most of the Hawai'i money was earmarked for the Big Island, with $6 million for repair of the Lower Hamakua Ditch and $4 million for the Waimea Irrigation System/Upper Hamakua Ditch, U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye's office said. An additional $3 million was for repairs to the Kohala Ditch system.

"The rejection was heartless and unconscionable," said Inouye, D-Hawai'i, in a news release.

Magnitude 6.7 and 6.0 earthquakes shook the Islands Oct. 15, causing power outages, bridge collapses and road closures. Those quakes caused an estimated $200 million in damages.

"We are nowhere close to declaring an end to the disaster period," Maj. Gen. Robert Lee, the state's adjutant general and director of state Civil Defense, said.

"I just want to thank the senators for trying," Lee said.

Inouye and fellow Democratic U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka said the matter would be addressed again next year, after Democrats assume control of the Senate and House.

State Civil Defense authorities and the Hawai'i National Guard will continue to work with farmers and volunteers on the Big Island to repair the irrigation systems and to get water where it's needed, Lee said.

But efforts have been hampered by strong aftershocks since the original earthquakes.