"We're explaining the situation and we wish to be treated as other areas in the country have been treated in the past and we believe our case is excellent," Lance told CNN.

Asked about the chances both pieces would pass, Lance said "I'm hopeful, but I don't count chickens before the eggs are hatched."

House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers, who helped put both House packages together, told reporters he would vote against amendments put forth by other Republicans to require the disaster assistance bill be paid for by cuts to other programs, saying "This is a true emergency. This is a true catastrophe and to offset the size that they're talking about would devastate the regular agencies. It's just too big to handle except through an emergency process."