HR3761SEP23

TheWeekInCongress.com

Week Ending September 23, 2005

HR 3761 to provide special rules for disaster relief employment under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 for individuals displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

BRIEF

The bill aims to address employing victims of disasters on publicly funded projects.

Grants would be provided to States under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 for disaster and other relief in the wake of Hurricane Katrina but on projects outside the disaster area. The recipients of the employment would have to be victims of the storm including those who relocated due to Katrina, were unemployed at the time of the hurricane and those without an employment history. Qualified workers would also be included.

Other workers could be employed by the public sector for no longer than six months.

Priority would first go to States having suffered major disasters especially those impacted by Katrina.

Some funds could be used for need-related payments to individuals who do not qualify for the work or who cease to qualify for the work. Those payments would be akin to unemployment compensation.

States would be urged to open ‘One-stop employment centers in areas affected by the hurricane and expand operation hours and extend services to temporary housing locations.

Sponsor: Representative Charles W. Boustany, Jr. (R-LA-7^th)

Vote: Passed House 400 to 0 (RC 476) September 20, 2005.

Cost to the taxpayers: No cost data was given with the bill.