[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 111 (Thursday, September 8, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H7766-H7773]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            TANF EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND RECOVERY ACT OF 2005

  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3672) to provide assistance to families affected by 
Hurricane Katrina, through the program of block grants to States for 
temporary assistance for needy families, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3672

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``TANF Emergency Response and 
     Recovery Act of 2005''.

     SEC. 2. ADVANCE PAYMENT OF TANF BLOCK GRANTS FOR THE FIRST 
                   QUARTER OF FISCAL YEAR 2006.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 405 of the Social 
     Security Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
     shall pay each grant payable under section 403 of such Act 
     for the first quarter of fiscal year 2006, as soon as 
     practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (b) Extension of the Temporary Assistance for Needy 
     Families Block Grant Program Through December 31, 2005.--
       (1) In general.--Activities authorized by part A of title 
     IV of the Social Security Act, and by section 1108(b) of such 
     Act, shall continue through December 31, 2005, in the manner 
     authorized for fiscal year 2005, and out of any money in the 
     Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, 
     there are hereby appropriated such sums as may be necessary 
     for such purpose. Grants and payments may be made pursuant to 
     this authority through the first quarter of fiscal year 2006 
     at the level provided for such activities through the first 
     quarter of fiscal year 2005.
       (2) Conforming amendments.--
       (A) Supplemental grants for population increases in certain 
     states.--Section 403(a)(3)(H)(ii) of the Social Security Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(3)(H)(ii)) is amended by striking 
     ``September 30'' and inserting ``December 31''.
       (B) Contingency fund.--Section 403(b)(3)(C)(ii) of such Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 603(b)(3)(C)(ii)) is amended by striking ``2005'' 
     and inserting ``2006''.
       (C) Maintenance of effort.--Section 409(a)(7) of such Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 609(a)(7)) is amended--
       (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``or 2006'' and 
     inserting ``2006, or 2007''; and
       (ii) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking ``2005'' and 
     inserting ``2006''.
       (c) Extension of the National Random Sample Study of Child 
     Welfare and Child Welfare Waiver Authority Through December 
     31, 2005.--Activities authorized by sections 429A and 1130(a) 
     of the Social Security Act shall continue through December 
     31, 2005, in the manner authorized for fiscal year 2005, and 
     out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not 
     otherwise appropriated, there are hereby appropriated such 
     sums as may be necessary for such purpose. Grants and 
     payments may be made pursuant to this authority through the 
     first quarter of fiscal year 2006 at the level provided for 
     such activities through the first quarter of fiscal year 
     2005.

[[Page H7767]]

     SEC. 3. REIMBURSEMENT OF STATES FOR TANF BENEFITS PROVIDED TO 
                   ASSIST FAMILIES FROM OTHER STATES AFFECTED BY 
                   HURRICANE KATRINA.

       (a) Eligibility for Payments From the Contingency Fund.--
     Beginning with the date of the enactment of this Act and 
     ending with August 31, 2006, a State shall be considered a 
     needy State for purposes of section 403(b) of the Social 
     Security Act if--
       (1) cash benefits under the State program funded under part 
     A of title IV of the Social Security Act have been provided 
     on a short-term, nonrecurring basis, to a family which--
       (A) has resided in another State that includes an area for 
     which a major disaster has been declared under the Robert T. 
     Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
     U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) as a result of Hurricane Katrina; and
       (B) has travelled (not necessarily directly) to the State 
     from such other State as a result of the hurricane; and
       (2) the State has determined that the family is not 
     receiving cash benefits from any program funded under such 
     part of any other State.
       (b) Limitation on Funding.--Subject to section 
     403(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Social Security Act, the total amount 
     paid under section 403(b)(3)(A) of such Act to a State which 
     is a needy State for purposes of section 403(b) of such Act 
     by reason of subsection (a) of this section shall not exceed 
     the total amount of cash benefits provided as described in 
     subsection (a)(1) of this section, to the extent that the 
     condition of subsection (a)(2) of this section has been met 
     with respect to the families involved.
       (c) No State Match Required.--Sections 403(b)(6) and 
     409(a)(10) of the Social Security Act shall not apply with 
     respect to a payment made to a State by reason of this 
     section.

     SEC. 4. AVAILABILITY OF ADDITIONAL TANF FUNDS FOR HURRICANE-
                   DAMAGED STATES.

       (a) Certain States Made Eligible for Loans.--Beginning with 
     the date of the enactment of this Act and ending with the end 
     of fiscal year 2006:
       (1) The States of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama shall 
     be considered loan-eligible States for purposes of section 
     406 of the Social Security Act.
       (2) Notwithstanding section 406(d) of the Social Security 
     Act, the cumulative dollar amount of all loans made to such a 
     State under such section by reason of this section shall not 
     exceed 20 percent of the State family assistance grant 
     payable to the State under section 403 of such Act for fiscal 
     year 2006.
       (b) Forgiveness of Loans.--Notwithstanding section 406 of 
     the Social Security Act, a penalty may not be imposed against 
     any of the States of Louisiana, Mississippi, or Alabama for 
     failure to--
       (1) repay a loan made to the State under such section on or 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act and before 
     October 1, 2007; or
       (2) make any interest payment on such a loan.

     SEC. 5. AVAILABILITY OF UNSPENT TANF FUNDS TO PROVIDE 
                   BENEFITS AND SERVICES TO SUPPORT NEEDY FAMILIES 
                   AFFECTED BY HURRICANE KATRINA.

       A State or tribe may use a grant made to the State or tribe 
     under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act for any 
     fiscal year to provide, without fiscal year limitation, any 
     benefit or service that may be provided under the State or 
     tribal program funded under such part to support needy 
     families affected by Hurricane Katrina.

     SEC. 6. WORK REQUIREMENTS AND TIME LIMITS UNDER TANF PROGRAM 
                   NOT TRIGGERED BY RECEIPT OF TEMPORARY TANF 
                   BENEFITS BY FAMILIES AFFECTED BY HURRICANE 
                   KATRINA.

       Benefits provided on a short-term, nonrecurring basis under 
     a State program funded under part A of title IV of the Social 
     Security Act, during the period that begins with the date of 
     the enactment of this Act and ends with the end of fiscal 
     year 2006, to meet a subsistence need of a family resulting 
     from Hurricane Katrina shall not be considered assistance for 
     purposes of sections 407 and 408(a)(7) of the Social Security 
     Act.

     SEC. 7. WAIVER OF TANF PENALTIES IN HURRICANE-DAMAGED STATES.

       The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall not impose 
     a penalty on any of the States of Louisiana, Mississippi, or 
     Alabama under any of paragraphs (2) through (6), or (8) 
     through (14) of section 409(a) of the Social Security Act 
     with respect to a failure to comply with a provision of part 
     A of title IV of such Act during the period that begins with 
     the date of the enactment of this Act and ends with the end 
     of fiscal year 2006, if the Secretary determines that the 
     failure resulted from Hurricane Katrina or reasonable conduct 
     of the State in addressing needs of victims of Hurricane 
     Katrina.

     SEC. 8. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION.

       Each amount provided in this Act (other than in section 2) 
     is designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 
     402 of H. Con. Res. 95 (109th Congress).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Thomas) and the gentleman from Washington (Mr. 
McDermott) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas).
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. 
McCrery) and the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Jefferson), the 
committee members of the Committee on Ways and Means who are obviously 
dealing with that very difficult situation in their districts, for 
their input on this emergency legislation.
  This is the first response from the Committee on Ways and Means, and 
it is designed to deal with immediate relief. We will have additional 
pieces of legislation that we will work with our colleagues on the 
other side of the aisle dealing with recovery and reconstruction, and 
these will come in a timely fashion over the next several weeks.
  The reason we want to move this legislation as quickly as we can is 
because it will provide immediate payment of TANF's funds. We have 
included the extension of TANF to the first quarter of 2006, which 
immediately frees up $4.2 billion in flexible funds to assist those 
families affected by the hurricane. In addition, it makes additional 
TANF funds available to the States devastated by the hurricane. We have 
a de facto contingency fund, and we have a loan fund. This turns the 
loan fund into, in essence, a contingency fund to provide even 
additional money.
  Also, we do not want anyone worried about costs that are incurred as 
States adjacent to the disaster areas are providing assistance, and we 
are going to hold States harmless for costs incurred to immediately 
assist evacuees.
  There are additional funds that are unused, and we make sure we 
maximize the flexibility available to States for providing assistance 
to families impacted by the hurricane.

                              {time}  1300

  In addition to that, although there are specific rules for receiving 
the funds, we want to make sure that during this assistance period that 
those rules do not become a barrier and that we will waive program 
rules for hurricane victims receiving the short-term TANF assistance.
  Especially, for those States who do provide various supports, we want 
to make sure that where there may have been penalties triggered by 
decisions made, those certainly would not be applicable either.
  We believe that with expeditious movement by the Senate and not 
extended debate on what we do or do not do, this will free up literally 
billions of dollars available to assist those people directly affected 
by the hurricane and those States and others who are assisting them 
with funds otherwise unavailable to them.
  As I said, this is the first step. We will look at the recovery and 
the reconstruction phases, which will entail a more detailed 
examination of the Tax Code and assistance in a timely fashion.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, let me set the stage of this discussion. When it comes 
to Hurricane Katrina, its impact and aftermath, especially on the poor, 
disadvantaged and the children, our most vulnerable population, let me 
sum it up. We do not know what we do not know.
  Before us today is the TANF Emergency Response and Recovery Act. It 
is a marker, modest at best, meant to buy some time. I hope that is 
what it is.
  We certainly stand with Representatives McCrery and Jefferson, two 
friends and colleagues who are at ground zero at this tragedy. We want 
to be as helpful as possible. I know that Mr. Jefferson is working on a 
comprehensive program for what is necessary in his district, and I 
think that will come forward as we go down the road a little bit.
  It is going to be overwhelming, but in the process, we cannot act 
like we have done enough. The American people have had their fill of 
that kind of false rhetoric since this tragedy first roared on shore. 
As ranking member of the Human Resources Subcommittee, as a medical 
doctor and child psychiatrist, let me say we had better use the 
precious few months we are buying today to find out what we do not know 
and then address the real needs of real people. Band-Aids alone will 
not heal this wound.

[[Page H7768]]

  We have more questions than answers, and we must act actively and 
aggressively to find out what we need to comfort the afflicted, heal 
the sick and mend the tattered bodies and minds.
  First, we ought to add the word ``temporary'' to the title of this 
legislation. Here is why.
  The legislation extends TANF, Temporary Aid for Needy Families, for 3 
months. The 7th of December, it goes away. We are not sure we will even 
have a complete casualty count in the next 90 days.
  This bill increases TANF funding for Louisiana, Mississippi and 
Alabama by 20 percent in the next fiscal year. The truth is, we do not 
know what the real cost will be, and 20 percent may well become the 
proverbial drop in the bucket.
  This is a time when people and local governments expect leadership 
out of the Congress. Arbitrarily increasing funding by 20 percent had 
better be a sign of our initial commitment, not a cap on our already 
inadequate leadership.
  We are going to completely reimburse neighboring States that provide 
short-term TANF assistance. Not only is that the least we can do, we 
should not tell States in this legislation that the meter is running 
and will run out in 3 months. What about Arkansas, all the people that 
went up there? There is no mention in here about them. We do not need 
any more confusion and missed opportunities than we already have.
  This legislation waives some TANF requirements and penalties. Let me 
ask everyone something: Who in the world thinks this is the time to add 
more bureaucracy? We ought to be waiving every requirement and penalty 
for the indefinite future. We do not even know where the people are 
yet; this aid bill could end up hurting, not helping, people who need 
America more than ever.
  We ought to add another word to this legislation, ``incomplete.''
  There may be as many as 10,000 foster kids somewhere in the disaster 
region. Words like ``displaced,'' ``abandoned,'' and ``alone'' come to 
mind, and that ought to mobilize the conscience of the Nation. We do 
not know if these kids are safe, we do not know where they are, and we 
do not know if they are getting the services they need. We do know they 
have witnessed unspeakable horrors.
  As a child psychiatrist, I know something about what these children 
are going through.
  We ought to have a separate piece of legislation before us that 
focuses on these children. They will need grief counseling. They will 
need food, shelter, clothing and love. They will need guardians, and we 
do not even know today where they are.
  The sad fact is that the current child welfare program dramatically 
limits services, including mental health, that these children can 
receive once they are located. Does anyone think we need another 
bureaucracy for that?
  Early estimates from the Congressional Budget Office tell us that a 
half million workers will likely qualify for unemployment compensation 
as a result of the hurricane. The Federal program was short-sighted and 
underfunded before. What will we tell these people when their benefits 
run out, their communities have been washed away, what, go look for a 
job?
  This is not a time to wash away the Federal response. Benefits should 
be there as long as they need to be, period. How long is that? The 
answer to that is how long it will take to raise and restore these 
communities. Within 6 weeks, something like 11,000 people are due to 
lose their unemployment benefits. Let us not compound last week's 
disastrous Federal response by ignoring another human disaster which we 
know is on the horizon. Those 11,000 people are out there right now 
getting their last check in the near future.
  Mr. Speaker, we do not know what we do not know, but there is 
something we had better face up to. The poor, the disadvantaged, and 
children deserve an America of equal measure to the rest of the 
population.
  For 10 years, the burden of care and compassion has been shifted away 
from the Federal Government by the Republican majority who wanted to 
create an ownership society by disowning those who needed us most. 
Programs like TANF and a host of other Federal programs that address 
human needs were cut, blocked, and shifted by Republicans who believed 
it was someone else's responsibility.
  For 10 years, the burden of care and compassion has been shifted from 
the Federal Government by the Republican majority who wanted to create 
an ownership society by disowning those who need it most. And is owning 
something more valuable than going to work every day and playing by the 
rules?
  For 10 years, we have aimed to shift the lifeline for all Americans 
on the local institutions. Therefore, today there are different TANF 
and unemployment and foster care programs in each one of the 50 States 
and they provide varying levels of support that are too often 
inadequate.
  I heard from the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Berry) that children 
brought from Louisiana wind up in Arkansas needing health care because 
they were in an institution down there, and Medicaid in Louisiana says 
we will not pay for them when they are in Arkansas. So a Congressman 
has to intercede on the basis that he has to move the bureaucracy in 
the middle of this mess. That is what you get when you get 50 programs, 
all different.
  America's poor should be entitled to support no matter where they go 
in this country. They are an American. They are not a Mississippian or 
an Alabaman or a Louisianan. They are Americans, and we have got to get 
back to the principle that these should be national programs that reach 
the entire country.
  We do not know where the next tragedy will be, but for us to stand 
here and figure we are going to make these little minor adjustments 
here today, and we are going to vote for it, we will all be for this, 
but there is a lot more work that needs to be done out there.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, 
and I want to first of all take a deep breath before I begin addressing 
that diatribe.
  The gentleman well knows that Medicaid is a program within the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce, that it is not within our 
jurisdiction, and we obviously are working with other committees.
  The gentleman also knows that the program that he just denigrated was 
signed into law by President Clinton, and the vote in this House was 
more bipartisan than the vote on Medicare in 1965. In addition, we have 
an unemployment law that has been on the books since FDR that provides 
the 26 weeks.
  Mr. Speaker, I said in my opening statement that this was the first, 
immediate response and we will have additional legislation addressing 
unemployment. And the extension of unemployment is obviously going to 
be in the next piece of legislation.
  I do want to urge my colleague from Washington to join me at lunch so 
that he perhaps could have something other than sucking lemons for 
lunch prior to coming to the floor to address this House.
  I will also respond to his comment about the fact that Arkansas is 
not mentioned. In the legislation on page 4, line 14, it says ``a 
State,'' and it defines any State that responds to the needs. It does 
not name State by State. If in fact the circumstances are provided, 
given the facts, then that State receives the programmatic changes that 
we are offering in this legislation.
  I do appreciate the gentleman's last sentence in which he said he 
plans to vote for the legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Herger), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Human Resources of the 
Committee on Ways and Means.
  Mr. HERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3672. 
First, let me echo the sentiments of so many of my colleagues that have 
already been expressed here today to the victims of this terrible 
tragedy. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. 
You will continue to be in our prayers as you work to recover from the 
devastation this hurricane has wrought and to rebuild your communities. 
We hope the steps we take here today will provide a measure of help in 
that incredibly trying process.
  This legislation is designed to assist States provide for the 
immediate financial needs of thousands of families

[[Page H7769]]

affected by Hurricane Katrina. I am honored to support this bipartisan 
bill introduced by my colleagues, the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. 
McCrery) and the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Jefferson). 
Unfortunately, the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. McCrery) cannot be 
with us here today since he is in Louisiana with the Vice President, 
helping coordinate the ongoing response to the hurricane.
  The purpose of this legislation is simple: to clear any obstacles 
that stand in the way of quickly getting money into the hands of the 
hurricane victims. The legislation before us now addresses the needs of 
families who either have been on welfare or might need to go on welfare 
as a result of the hurricane. It ensures that States have the resources 
to help them, and it removes the bureaucratic obstacles that might 
otherwise stand in the way.
  In terms of funding, this bill immediately makes available more than 
$4 billion in Federal welfare funds which States would otherwise have 
to wait until October to access. So States have that money to spend now 
when so many families are in need in the region.
  It provides additional Federal funds for the hard-hit States of 
Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, and it reimburses other States for 
the cost of providing emergency benefits to the many families that have 
left the States directly in the path of the hurricane.
  To ensure families can focus on getting their lives back together and 
States can focus on providing immediate help, this legislation also 
waives program rules that might otherwise tie States' hands in 
providing for the immediate needs of affected families.
  Mr. Speaker, these changes provide more State flexibility in meeting 
the needs of families, including for basic cash assistance right away. 
And as communities start to get back on their feet, this flexibility 
can and should be used to help parents find and keep new jobs to 
support their families.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge the House to support this important legislation.

                              {time}  1315

  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Cardin).
  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentleman from Washington 
(Mr. McDermott) for yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, when you have underfunded programs that have too many 
mandates on the States to use the funds with too many restrictions, 
what ends up is that people who are vulnerable, who are at risk are the 
most likely to get hurt by these underfunded programs. Hurricane 
Katrina showed us in graphic detail the people who were victimized 
because we did not adequately fund programs and government.
  I support this legislation, but much of what is in here should have 
been done prior to now. For example, this will be the 11th temporary 
extension of the TANF program. We should have reauthorized the TANF 
program well before this day. We talked about a 20 percent increase in 
funding in certain States. Well, just the cost-of-living changes since 
when this bill was first enacted in 1996 would have eaten up that 
amount. We should have adjusted the amounts well before this, not just 
for the affected States but for all the States in this Nation.
  I am pleased to hear the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means 
indicate that there will be other legislation, because I agree with the 
gentleman that the unemployment insurance issues, with 11,000 people 
running close to the exhaustion of benefits, need to be addressed; and 
I look forward to working with the chairman so we can deal with the 
unemployment insurance, which was not necessarily anticipated except by 
this storm.
  Let me say in regards to the foster care children, which are also 
under the jurisdiction of our committee, foster children are our 
responsibility. They are now being scattered to many States around the 
Nation. We have a responsibility to make it easier for these foster 
children to be cared for during this period. I say to the chairman, I 
hope we will be able to work on a bill related to foster care.
  Let me lastly mention child care, because there are not going to be 
enough funds available to our States to take care of the increased 
needs for child care in our communities. I hope our committee will also 
deal with that issue.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Shaw), a senior member of the Committee on 
Ways and Means and the chairman of the Subcommittee on Trade.
  Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to bring to the attention of the body an example 
that I think is citing a very fine example in my own congressional 
district. In the city of Palm Beach Gardens, they are putting out 
feelers in order to hire people out of these shelters, hire people out 
of the stricken areas, to bring into the city of Palm Beach Gardens, 
hire them and give them meaningful jobs. This is something that I think 
we should be looking at all across the country.
  These poor people in the stricken areas of the hurricane are going to 
go home to find there are no jobs to go home to. There are going to be 
business failures, small businesses. People are going to be losing 
property to mortgages because of the loss of income.
  So this is something where I think we can bring these stories back to 
our own hometowns all across this Nation, that there is a huge pool of 
talent out there which is just going to be idle. They are not going to 
have jobs, and I think that some recruiting going into this area would 
be very helpful, and it would certainly be in the great tradition of 
this country.
  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Neal).
  Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
Washington for yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to stand in support of this legislation for 
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, indeed, the neediest families.
  We are witnessing right now how the national principle in America 
plays out. If there is an earthquake in California, the rest of the 
American family comes to the assistance of those in need. If there is a 
hurricane in the gulf, the rest of the American family helps those in 
need. If there is a blizzard in New England, the rest of the American 
family comes to their assistance.
  In fact, this legislation makes good initial progress in adjusting 
the TANF program to the needs of families affected by Hurricane 
Katrina. But it does not get us all the way there, and we know that. It 
does make a respectable first step.
  It provides a 3-month extension of TANF funding for the entire 
country and allows States to receive advanced payments. It also 
includes a provision to increase fiscal year 2006 funds for Louisiana, 
Mississippi, and Alabama by 20 percent. It alleviates some of the 
strain on neighboring States. Let me say a good word about those 
citizens across the country who have reacted so favorably to those in 
need in other States. It also provides an opportunity to extend in the 
future a discussion at least about the whole notion of unemployment 
benefits. I think that is going to be terribly important as well.
  More broadly, we are going to have to examine the safety net programs 
to make sure they are poised to catch the families before they fall 
even more, especially in the areas of unemployment benefits, child care 
assistance, and foster care. This bill, while silent on those issues, I 
know will be addressed in coming days and weeks.
  Let me say something else as well. The reason we should have kept the 
surplus we had as a cushion was for three reasons: international 
conflict, in which we are engaged in two wars; a devastating natural 
disaster like this hurricane; and what is surely going to be the need 
in the near future to help those families who find themselves in a 
horrific situation through no fault of their own. That is the reason 
the surplus should have been maintained. That is the reason there 
should have been a cushion that was kept, rather than what we will do 
now by going off budget for many proposals down the road.
  So we all stand in support of our friends and family members in this 
stricken area of the country. It does, as I indicated a moment ago, 
highlight the national principle that makes America special.

[[Page H7770]]

  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 3 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from Connecticut (Mrs. Johnson), a senior member of the 
Committee on Ways and Means and the chairman of the Subcommittee on 
Health.
  Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for 
yielding me time. I want to congratulate the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Thomas) of the Committee on Ways and Means and also the 
subcommittee chairman, the gentleman from California (Mr. Herger) for 
bringing a very important bill to the floor very promptly.
  In spite of the comments of my friend, the gentleman from Washington 
(Mr. McDermott), the ranking member of this subcommittee, TANF has 
reduced poverty among minority children in America more than any 
program ever adopted by Congress. It has been an enormous success in 
helping families get into the workforce, raise their incomes, and 
reduce the poverty level among children in our country.
  So now to open TANF for those families devastated, devastated, by 
this natural disaster, is extremely important, because these are 
families now, like so many of our own children, living paycheck to 
paycheck, who have no paycheck and no assets. And that is today's 
problem. By bringing them immediately into TANF, they can get a 
paycheck. They can get cash assistance.
  But, better than that, though nothing is better than that when you 
have no cash and you have a bunch of kids, but equally important is 
that it brings them into a system that is set up, that is structured, 
that is skilled, that is dedicated, that has people in it that know and 
understand it, who can help them with employment, who can help them 
with day care vouchers, who can give them transportation vouchers, who 
know what it takes to help a family get on its feet economically. And 
that is the challenge they face.
  So this is a very important component of responding to the immediate 
needs of the families wiped out by this unprecedented, devastating 
hurricane.
  Mr. Speaker, I am delighted that we are doing this right now. We are 
going to hold the States who open their TANF system to refugees 
harmless to the costs. We will be able to fund that from the 
contingency fund we have already put in place. We will be able to do 
this, meet immediate needs, and help those families to respond to 
opportunities like the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Shaw) just 
mentioned.
  This is exactly what we need right now. We cannot see the whole 
problem yet; and it would be irresponsible to do anything but use the 
resources already at our disposal, resources that are experienced, 
savvy, and directly meet the needs for both cash assistance and 
opportunity for these families to rebuild their lives and receive the 
services they need.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for this good piece of 
legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Woolsey).
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to express my sorrow for the tragedy 
that has struck the people of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama; but 
I also want to express my sorrow that we are not learning from this 
tragedy. Have we not seen firsthand this week just how much help is 
needed for the most vulnerable people in our Nation? We are seeing it 
as they are victims of Katrina: the elderly, the disabled, the poor, 
particularly children. Of course, we must do everything we can to help 
overcome the challenges in the short term. But we must also address the 
long-term needs of the most vulnerable in this Nation.
  This bill is short term. I will support it, but it leaves so very 
much undone. Of course, we need to give States immediate access to 
funds, funds that they otherwise would not have received until October 
1. We need to provide emergency funds for Louisiana, Mississippi, and 
Alabama; and we need to reimburse other States for emergency cash 
assistance that they are providing for evacuees. This bill does those 
things.
  But there are many things it does not do. For example, it does not 
address the pressing needs of children in foster care, the unemployed 
and parents who need child care, and it does not address child care 
needs that are even more critical than ever for parents of young 
children, parents who are trying to find jobs.
  As I said, I will support this bill, but I am concerned that we are 
responding to Katrina with this bill, and others, both literally and 
figuratively, by helping the victims bail out the water, but not fixing 
the holes in the infrastructure that lets the water in. We need to do 
both, Mr. Speaker.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. English), a member of the Committee on 
Ways and Means.
  Mr. ENGLISH of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the 
chairman for bringing to the floor so promptly this very important 
stop-gap legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the TANF Emergency Response 
and Recovery Act. This legislation provides immediate critical 
assistance to the families who have been gravely facing the 
overwhelming hardships in the aftermath of the worst natural disaster 
in our history. The States which have been affected under this bill 
would see a 20 percent boost in TANF funds through 2006. This is an 
increase of $83 million for Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. As a 
Pennsylvanian, I think that is only fair.
  In the last few days we have seen an outpouring of support from every 
region of the country. This legislation immediately releases $4.2 
billion in TANF funds for payments to all States, funds which would not 
normally be available until the first quarter of fiscal year 2006.
  The legislation waives current spending restrictions for all States 
when delegating unspent prior-year TANF funds. This means that the 
States affected by the hurricane and the States lending a helping hand 
will have the flexibility to spend their funds on what they need at 
this particular time. States will also have access to $2 billion in 
TANF contingency funds so that they can provide emergency cash 
assistance to evacuees.
  We are also providing that the affected areas would be available to 
adapt by waiving the work requirements and time limits for hurricane 
victims receiving short-term TANF assistance. By waiving these program 
rules, families will be able to focus on rebuilding their lives.
  We recognize that the number one priority for the families devastated 
by this hurricane is to make sure that their families are safe, that 
they have even the basic necessities of life. The number one priority 
for us in Congress is to provide the necessary relief to make this 
happen, and this legislation moves that process forward.
  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
New Orleans, Louisiana (Mr. Jefferson).
  Mr. JEFFERSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me 
time, and I thank the chairman and the members of our committee who 
have brought this legislation forward.

                              {time}  1330

  Louisiana and New Orleans, in particular, and the entire Gulf Coast 
region face a horrific set of challenges. They can all only be met by 
extraordinary action by this House and by its Members. The compassion 
that Members have shown, the prayers that have been extended, the 
helping hands across the country have been absolutely unheard of 
before; and the level of support that we are getting in New Orleans we 
are thankful for.
  This TANF program is going to provide some flexibility that we need 
now to help reach the needs of our people for cash assistance and for 
other assistance, for the flexibility that we will need to take care of 
our evacuees and some of the areas and families that have been so 
devastated by the hurricane.
  But as the President said, and as I think we all know, this effort, 
while it is good and while it is necessary and while it is timely, is a 
down payment of what we have to do here because the devastation has 
been so extensive.
  So everything now that we do we must think outside of the ordinary. 
We must think outside of the usual set of issues we face in disasters, 
and we must think differently, more deeply,

[[Page H7771]]

more broadly, more innovatively, and more compassionately than we ever 
have before to make these programs work for people who are living lives 
they never thought they would have to face, people displaced from home, 
having no connection to their home place at all. The psychological 
trauma, the mental stress that they are under, apart from the 
disconnection from families, all of these are matters which are deeply 
distressing and disturbing and unusual.
  So I thank the Congress for taking the steps it is taking today. I 
thank Members on this side. I thank the Republicans on the other side. 
I thank all, without regard to party, for stepping up to work on this 
matter today. And I look forward to all of us remaining engaged on 
these issues so that we can find a way to really address the needs of 
people, many of whom were very disadvantaged starting out and of course 
are simply disadvantaged beyond all belief now.
  So I thank them for what they are doing. We look forward to it, and I 
hope all will understand that we will have to come forward with a full 
recovery plan for our area that I hope this Congress will embrace.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Hayworth), member of the Committee on Ways and Means.
  (Mr. HAYWORTH asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, this morning's Arizona Republic carries 
encouraging news amidst the horrific challenges encountered by the 
colleague who preceded me on the floor and so many fellow Americans. It 
is the story of Doyle Smith and family. Doyle has six children, and 
yesterday he walked through and was given the keys to a five-bedroom 
home donated rent free to his family for the next 6 months. He says, 
``This is going to be the beginning of a beautiful start. It really 
is.'' And his 6-year-old daughter, Annalyce, walked from room to room 
saying, ``I love it. I haven't been in a big house like this.''
  Mr. Speaker, America has never encountered a natural disaster as big 
as this, but what has been reaffirmed from coast to coast is that 
Americans have big hearts and Americans step up to help other 
Americans. That has been demonstrated by the people of the Fifth 
Congressional District of Arizona who have called me personally, who 
have called our district office, who have called our Washington office 
saying, How can I help? I want to step forward. And it happened also to 
an Arizona couple, Jeff and Marie Whiting, who had purchased a guest 
house, saw a need, and decided to donate this house rent free to the 
Smith family. This is what Marie says: ``We are actually making a 
difference. If we reach across America and touch each other's hands, we 
can meet needs.''
  Mr. Speaker, as representatives of Americans here in the people's 
House, we stepped forward to meet the needs of those who are the 
neediest among us. This legislation, H.R. 3672, the TANF Emergency 
Response and Recovery Act of 2005, gives the States, States like my 
home State of Arizona, where we see people reaching out to their fellow 
citizens, the flexibility needed to get benefits into the hands of 
these who have suffered from the hurricane so that those needy families 
can get back on their feet without long delays because the State might 
fear it would not be reimbursed for the funds spent.
  We have put in place, or we will put in place, with this legislation 
even greater flexibility so that we step forward on a greater magnitude 
to take the actions that the people of our Nation demand as a 
compassionate society. This legislation puts the funds forward, has the 
flexibility there, and the accountability necessary.
  Is this an imperfect world? Yes. Has it been the goal of our Founders 
and now our generation to form a more perfect Union? Yes. Will this 
legislation help those who need the help? Yes.
  Support this important legislation.
  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
Ohio (Mrs. Jones).
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this 
legislation, but I would beg our committee to also give flexibility to 
the States for people who are not victims of the hurricane. And let me 
tell them why.
  I come from the State of Ohio where the city of Cleveland was deemed 
the city with the highest poverty rate in the Nation, and the State of 
Ohio has $1.14 billion left in their TANF fund as a surplus. There is 
something wrong here if we have the largest city with the highest 
poverty rate in a State with all this money. There is either something 
wrong with the administration by the Republican-led Governor's office 
or the stringencies of the requirements do not allow them to be 
flexible enough to take care of the poorest people in the State of 
Ohio.
  I am for helping all the people who are victims of the hurricane, but 
this is a clear example of how poverty in the United States runs 
rampant and there is money there to help them, but somebody is not 
using it right.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Becerra).
  Mr. BECERRA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a much needed piece of legislation; so let us 
pass this bill and then move on to the more pressing question of how to 
craft a long-term solution as part of a full recovery plan for all 
those affected in the gulf States. We need to do more to try to provide 
flexibility to the States so they can use these funds quickly, but at 
the same time we have to make sure that we are not hampering these 
States from doing what they believe is best for all of the victims that 
have suffered as a result of Hurricane Katrina.
  I hope that we are able to work in a bipartisan fashion to move 
forward legislation which will address the needs of people who are 
unemployed today, they were unemployed before the hurricane, and now 
will suffer even more difficult times trying to find work, along with 
those who have now been displaced as a result of the hurricane.
  I hope that we will deal with the fact that there are many legal 
immigrants in this country on their way to becoming citizens who, under 
the current law, would be constrained from being able to be assisted by 
these TANF dollars unless we provide the States with flexibility to do 
so.
  Everyone is a victim regardless of their color, regardless of where 
they came from. If they were there, they are a victim. And I hope that 
this Congress can move quickly not just to do what is needed now but 
into the future.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Waters).
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Committee on Ways 
and Means and all of those who helped to move this bill to the floor. 
This is very important, but it is but a beginning by our government in 
an attempt to meet the needs of this awesome disaster. More must be 
done, and I am hopeful that everybody understands that we have got to 
keep working.
  I have traveled to these shelters in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, 
Alexandria, Opelousas, and New Iberia; and I ran into many of these 
welfare recipients, who, of course, as the Members know, live day to 
day and did not have money at the end of the month oftentimes, and they 
are really frightened. They do not know what is going to happen to 
them. And this will help. This will help with some cash assistance.
  But I want the Members to know there are a lot of other questions 
about what is going to happen to them, for example, those who would be 
rolling off welfare because they are at the fifth year. That is not 
addressed here. Some other things are not addressed.
  Again, I am very grateful for this. I am going to support it. But I 
will certainly be here helping to provide another voice to say that 
there is more that must be done. Mr. Speaker, as we do this, let us all 
remember that they are in these shelters. Some people are living with 
5,000 other people. We have got to get them out, welfare recipients and 
other people who are there. This work is awesome, but we can do it.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, the chairman seems to think that if somebody is upset by 
this, they ate lemons for lunch. My belief is when we are dealing with 
the problems

[[Page H7772]]

in the three States with the lowest unemployment insurance rates, the 
three lowest TANF rates, with a city that had 38 percent of the 
children living in poverty when this started, we are dealing with a 
problem which we should have dealt with long ago.
  This Band-Aid today is nothing more than that. There should be a 
comprehensive dealing with this issue, and we should be all ashamed of 
the fact that that situation exists in this part of the country.
  The next issue we are going to have to face, and I have not heard a 
single person mention it, is the cost of gasoline. If we can give food 
stamps to people in this country, we ought to begin a gas stamp program 
so that poor people who have to drive to work can afford to fill the 
tank and get there.


                             General Leave

  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the subject of the bill we have 
under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Forbes). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I will say for the third time during this debate this is 
the first piece of legislation 2 days after we came back. We are 
responding with the maximum flexibility for money available on an 
immediate-relief basis. Clearly over the next several weeks as we 
examine the problems and are able to write legislation responsive to 
those problems, we will continue to bring legislation to the floor.
  I would urge my colleagues, as they express their concern about what 
has not been done, that they should urge their colleagues on the other 
side of the Capitol not to engage in an exchange of legislation in 
which, on this initial humanitarian relief provision, they want to try 
to outdo each other. The most important thing is to get this out of 
here and make it available as soon as possible.
  Over the next several weeks, we will be working with those Members 
and on this committee, principally the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. 
McCrery) and the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Jefferson), who have 
already provided invaluable assistance and who are very supportive of 
this legislation, with additional legislation. I look forward to 
working with colleagues on the other side of the aisle who are willing 
to come forward in constructive ways in making adjustments.
  I do want to underscore the fact that we are nearer to the beginning 
of the hurricane season than we are the end of the hurricane season.

                              {time}  1345

  No one wishes another hurricane to touch the United States, but no 
one knows for certain that that will not happen, that as we are 
assisting those individuals who have had a very tragic occurrence, we 
are laying the groundwork for the possibility that we have to repeat 
this more than once.
  I want to thank those colleagues who will help us move this 
expeditiously and in advance of the assistance on additional 
legislation dealing with more fundamental revisions in the Tax Code and 
extensions of various deadlines. I thank them for their cooperation, 
and I look forward to producing additional legislation that will be 
available for my colleagues' consideration.
  Let me underscore, we need the other body to move immediately and not 
engage in attempts on this very first effort to expand and explore more 
fundamental changes in programs. So I plead with my colleagues here and 
on the other side of the Capitol, we have had enough talk, let us show 
some action.
  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, which would 
provide assistance to the victims of Hurricane Katrina whose employment 
and training have been disrupted as a result of this tragedy.
  The level of devastation we are witnessing in the Gulf Coast region 
is truly staggering. Our prayers are with the residents of the region, 
as well as all those working on the relief and recovery effort. All of 
our colleagues from the region--including two of my own on the 
Education & the Workforce Committee, Mr. Jindal and Mr. Boustany, as 
well as Mr. McCrery, the author of the legislation we are considering 
today--should know our thoughts are with them and their communities as 
well.
  I commend the gentleman from Louisiana, Representative McCrery, for 
crafting this important legislation in short order. It will make a 
world of difference for many families in the region as they struggle to 
retain some sense of financial stability.
  In order to deliver the quickest possible economic assistance to 
families in need across the country, the measure before us provides all 
States immediate access to their next quarter's Temporary Aid to Needy 
Families (or TANF) funds. That means $4.2 billion in flexible funds 
would be distributed to all States right away, rather than waiting 
precious weeks until the start of the next quarter. This legislation 
also would provide welcome relief for affected states in the form of a 
20 percent TANF increase for the coming fiscal year.
  This bill also takes the prudent step of waiving work requirements 
and time limits for residents in need of short-term TANF benefits as a 
result of the hurricane. Or primary concern right now is ensuring that 
families in that region can focus on putting their lives back together, 
as well as allowing States to focus on providing immediate assistance 
to those in need. Scores of families in the Gulf Coast region have 
endured enough pain and worry already, and this measure will provide 
them the peace of mind that these important benefits will be available 
when they need it most--and without added burdens when they need them 
least.
  Mr. Speaker, we have made substantial progress over the past week, 
both in the recovery efforts in the South and in our own legislative 
efforts here in Washington. This bill marks another step in the long 
process that this Congress will undertake over the coming weeks and 
months to address the needs of all those impacted by the tragedy.
  Once again, I thank Mr. McCrery for his work and I urge my colleagues 
to join me in support of this bill.
  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 
3672, the TANF Emergency Response and Recovery Act. This bill is a 
modest first step towards assisting the states so severely effected by 
Hurricane Katrina and the many poor and underserved Americans who rely 
on the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.
  This bill will extend TANF in a number of ways that will aid those in 
need along the Gulf Coast and those states who have taken in the 
evacuees from this disaster. It will extend TANF funding for the entire 
Nation for the next 3 months and allow States to receive advance 
payments. Additionally, it will increase TANF funding for Louisiana, 
Mississippi, and Alabama by 20 percent. It will also provide 
flexibility to neighboring states for reporting requirements and in 
using TANF contingency funds and unspent prior year TANF funding for 
assisting disaster evacuees. Finally, it waives work requirements and 
time limits for hurricane victims in need of short-term assistance.
  While this legislation is a good first step, its focus is short-
sighted and fails to consider the months and years that will be 
required to return the Gulf Coast to normalcy. It fails to address the 
need for child care assistance for evacuees trying to find some form of 
employment to support their families. There are likely to be thousands 
of children in need of foster care or family support services and this 
bill fails to address that need. It also does nothing for the roughly 
11,000 jobless workers in the Gulf Coast region who are within 6 weeks 
of exhausting their regular unemployment benefits.
  The haunting images we have seen on the news should be a wake up call 
to Congress that millions of Americans are still stuck in a cycle of 
poverty. Just last week, the Census Bureau released data that showed 
income for the typical American family fell by $1,670, 5.4 million more 
people slipped into poverty, and 6 million more joined the ranks of the 
uninsured. These are the issues that should be at the top of our 
priority list in Congress.
  We are taking a positive step today to help the victims of Hurricane 
Katrina in the next few months. However, we need to think long term 
about the cost and efforts needed to lift up the people in the Gulf 
Coast. I hope to never see again the images of people too poor or too 
sick to evacuate their homes in times of an emergency. Nor do I wish to 
see a response so slow or inept that thousands lived in squalor for 
days. We should never forget those images and that memory should spur 
us to improve the TANF program to ensure that no American ever feels 
forgotten by the United States Government and the people it represents.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Forbes). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3672, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof)

[[Page H7773]]

the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________