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Managing America: Disaster Relief

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Week Ending November 2, 2007

H.R.3247 To improve the provision of disaster assistance for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and for other purposes.

The President is directed to increase the amount of Federal in-lieu contributions for relief and emergency assistance to Louisiana and Mississippi residents who were victims of Hurricane Katrina. The increase would take Federal assistance from 75% to 90% of the cost of repairing and state or local government controlled property that will be replaced and relocated rather than repaired. The bill would raise amount defining a small project from $55,000 to $100,000.

The increase would also cover a larger share of the cost of debris removal and financial incentives to expedite recovery projects.

To expedite award, denial or the amount of assistance for covered hurricane damages, the President is encouraged to use alternate dispute resolution procedures for appeals of decisions already made. The President can deny that requests for alternative procedures but must do so in writing including reasons for the denial.

The President is also authorized to provide assistance for the re-interment of human remains at privately-owned, for-profit and non-profit cemeteries and to provide temporary housing units to state and local governments and private non-profit entities for volunteers assisting in the recovery effort and make contributions to Louisiana for the cost of public facilities used to host public events. Arenas and other public buildings that house victims of Katrina have not yet received reimbursement for the cost, including restoration and repair. The facilities include the Baton Rouge River Center, facilities of the Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge, the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Ascension Parish, and the Cajundome in Lafayette. Also to be reimbursed would be necessary materials provided to evacuees that included backpacks, water bottles and lunch bags, school supplies, recreation materials and art supplies for children.

FEMA would have more flexibility in administration of program regulations to expedite providing assistance to the States.

Sponsor:  Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)

Vote: Passed House by voice vote October 29, 2007

Cost to the taxpayers: “Funding for the assistance authorized by H.R. 3247 would come from the $43.5 billion appropriated thus far to the DRF for Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. CBO estimates that about $13.5 billion of such funding remains unspent as of July 2007. We expect that enacting H.R. 3247 could lead to some reallocation of those existing funds, but that the rate of spending such balances would not change significantly under the bill.”

Earmark Certification:   Not applicable to this bill.

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