[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1846 Introduced in Senate (IS)]








109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1846

 To provide assistance to rebuild communities, schools, and hospitals 
damaged by Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 6, 2005

 Ms. Landrieu introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To provide assistance to rebuild communities, schools, and hospitals 
damaged by Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. COMMUNITY DISASTER LOANS; PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ALLOWABLE COSTS.

    (a) Definition of Local Government.--In this section:
            (1) In general.--The term ``local government'' means a 
        local government (as defined in section 102 of the Robert T. 
        Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
        U.S.C. 5122)), that has suffered a loss of tax or other revenue 
        as a result of a major disaster described in subsection (b).
            (2) Inclusion.--The term ``local government'' includes a 
        sheriff department in the State of Louisiana that has suffered 
        a loss of tax or other revenue as a result of a major disaster 
        described in subsection (b).
    (b) Waiver.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no 
limitation on the amount or percentage of assistance that may be 
provided in the form of a community disaster loan under section 417(b) 
of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
(42 U.S.C. 5184(b)) shall apply to any community disaster loan made 
under section 417 of that Act to assist any local government having 
jurisdiction over an area in which a major disaster relating to 
Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita was declared to exist by the 
President in accordance with section 401 of that Act (42 U.S.C. 5170).
    (c) Public Assistance Allowable Costs.--Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, no prohibition or limitation on reimbursement of 
salaries (including section 206.228(a)(4) of title 44, Code of Federal 
Regulations (or a successor regulation)) shall apply with respect to 
reimbursement of straight- and regular-time salaries of public 
personnel that provide, on or after August 29, 2005, essential public 
services in the State of Louisiana on behalf of that State.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $1,500,000,000 for fiscal year 
2006.

SEC. 2. FUNDING.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, of the 
amounts made available to the Department of Homeland Security under the 
heading ``Disaster Relief'' under the heading ``EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS 
AND RESPONSE'' of Public Law 109-62 (119 Stat. 1991), not less than 
$1,500,000,000 shall be available to the heads of the appropriate 
departments or agencies of the Federal Government to carry out the 
programs and activities authorized under this Act.
    (b) Available Until Expended.--The amounts appropriated under 
subsection (a) shall remain available until expended.
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