[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 116 (Thursday, September 15, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10149-S10150]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF) RELIEF FOR STATES 
                     AFFECTED BY HURRICANE KATRINA

  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I rise today to raise some concerns 
about H.R. 3672, the TANF Emergency Response and Recovery Act of 2005 
passed recently by the House of Representatives.
  I regret that the House Ways and Means Committee did not have the 
benefit of the insights of those in Louisiana responsible for 
administrating this critical Federal program. Because if they did, I 
think that the bill might have been drafted very differently. I very 
much appreciate the leadership allowing me this opportunity to state 
these concerns for the record and am hoping that we can work together 
in the days and weeks ahead from this point on to be certain that these 
concerns are addressed.
  Hurricane Katrina has left the Southeastern part of Louisiana in a 
state of emergency which, by all accounts will have significant and 
wide spread impact on our State and local economy. As a result, larger 
than expected numbers of individuals will be left without employment 
and in need of the services and support provided by the TANF program. 
It is precisely to address these circumstances, although I am not sure 
Members anticipated a disaster of this magnitude that compelled 
Congress to create a contingency fund in the 1996 Act. The purpose of 
the contingency fund was for States to be able to access additional 
funds in a time of need. But instead of availing ourselves of the funds 
contained in the contingency fund to carry us through this unexpected 
downturn, the House bill limits the use of these funds for 
nonrecurring, short term benefits to persons displaced by this 
disaster. I am afraid that this narrow definition of eligibility will 
stand in the way of people in need getting the support they deserve. I 
am pleased that the Grassley-Baucus proposal would allow Louisiana 
access to these funds and allow my State to direct these funds to 
families in need.
  In addition, it should be noted that while the House bill 
contemplates that some families affected by Hurricane Katrina will need 
some short term benefit that should be considered differently from 
regular welfare, it does not extend eligibility for these emergency 
benefits to all families in the affected States. I believe that we 
should extend this benefit to all families in need. I am pleased to 
note that the Grassley-Baucus welfare proposal would extend eligibility 
of ``Hurricane Katrina Emergency TANF Benefits'' for over a year to 
affected families in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama regardless of 
their circumstances prior to this disaster.
  I will raise my final point in the form of a question to my good 
friend, the Senator from Iowa, Chairman Grassley. The House bill 
includes a provision that provides that no penalty may be imposed 
against any of the States of Louisiana, Mississippi or Alabama for 
failure to repay a loan made to a State before October 1, 2007. Given 
the current financial conditions, our Governor is concerned about the 
State's long term ability to pay a loan of this size back in such a 
short time. They have been assured that the intent was for this 
provision to serve as a grant and that there is no penalty should they 
be unable to fully reimburse the Federal Government. Is that the 
Senator's understanding?
  Mr. GRASSLEY. I understand that the Senator would like assurances 
that her State would not be penalized for failure to reimburse the 
Federal Government for funds to the State from the Federal Loans for 
State Welfare Program. I would point out that the House bill includes a 
provision that provides that no penalty may be imposed against the 
States of Louisiana, Mississippi or Alabama for failure to repay a loan 
made to a State before October 1, 2007. This provision provides that 
there will be no penalty for loans made during that time.
  Furthermore, I appreciate the other comments from the Senator from 
Louisiana. While I think that the House passed bill represents a good 
faith effort on behalf of the House, I agree that it does not go far 
enough and that the delegations of the affected States should have been 
consulted as this bill was assembled. The collaborative process that we 
relied on with Senators from States directly affected by Hurricane 
Katrina has been invaluable as we have worked to assemble the disaster 
relief package that Senator Baucus and I announced yesterday.
  I also recognize that my colleagues are concerned that the Senate's 
position on this issue be appropriately represented in a conference 
with the House.
  I want to assure my colleagues these welfare provisions will be 
addressed during a conference with the House and that the Senate's 
position on these welfare provisions will be vigorously represented.
  Mr. FRIST. I appreciate the comments from my colleagues. I support 
the chairman, and I too assure colleagues that these welfare provisions 
will be fully litigated in a conference with the House on a health and 
welfare disaster relief package.
  I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and 
passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any 
statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.

[[Page S10150]]

  The bill (H.R. 3672) was read the third time and passed.

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