[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 168 (Thursday, November 1, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2302-E2303]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA RECOVERY FACILITATION ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 29, 2007

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 
3247, the Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Recovery Facilitation Act of 
2007. This bill directs the President to increase to 90 percent the 
amount of Federal contributions for replacing any State or local 
government property damaged by the hurricanes. Enactment of this bill 
is critical if we are going to finally rebuild the historic and vital 
infrastructure in Mississippi and Louisiana.
  This bill also addresses a variety of other issues of importance 
toward rebuilding communities in Mississippi and Louisiana including 
temporary housing for volunteers, debris removal program eligibility 
for Mississippi and Louisiana, providing for respectful care and 
interment of human remains damaged during the hurricanes, restoring 
certain public facilities and providing incentives for certain hazard 
mitigation projects. All of these are important steps toward rebuilding 
our vibrant Gulf Coast communities.
  Madam Speaker, this bill is welcomed, as both Louisiana and 
Mississippi are still rebuilding from the damages caused by the storms. 
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported in August that some 
communities are still without basic needs--such as schools, hospitals, 
and other infrastructure. In addition to these basic community needs, 
many are still without jobs because the doors of many businesses remain 
closed. Estimates from the Congressional Budget Office put, capital 
losses resulting from both hurricanes in the range of $70 to $130 
billion. The GAO report further found that a substantial portion of the 
billions of dollars in assistance to the Gulf Coast was directed to 
short-term needs, leaving a smaller portion for long-term rebuilding. 
To date, the Federal government has provided most long-term rebuilding 
assistance to the Gulf Coast states through two key programs: FEMA's 
Public Assistance Program and the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development's Community Development Block Grant program (CDBG). Both 
States allocated a bulk of their CDBG funds to homeowner assistance, 
thus, creating a need for supplemental public assistance funds to focus 
on rebuilding and restoring critical infrastructure, such as government 
facilities, which funding this bill provides.
  The increased assistance from the Federal government to Louisiana and 
Mississippi to rebuild their infrastructure through FEMA's public 
assistance program will help with the financial burden they face and 
will allow the process, which has thus far been daunting, to proceed 
more rapidly. This legislation is a step forward because it increases 
Federal assistance toward the rebuilding process and provides needed 
changes to the Stafford Act.
  And, as we focus on rebuilding infrastructure in Louisiana and 
Mississippi, we must not forget that many of the child care facilities 
were damaged and even destroyed, while parents struggled to find a safe 
place to leave

[[Page E2303]]

their children while regrouping. Many child care facility owners are 
still waiting to hear from FEMA about financial assistance. Because I 
recognize the importance of emergency child care after a disaster, I 
introduced H.R. 2479, the Emergency Child Care Services Act, which was 
referred to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. This bill 
would amend the Stafford Act to designate emergency child care as a 
``critical service'' that is eligible to receive disaster assistance 
from FEMA. Recently, I have received calls from colleagues who 
represent areas affected by the California wildfires, inquiring about 
the bill's status. I am disappointed that the Emergency Child Care bill 
was not included in the bill debated on the floor today. It is my hope 
that my bill will be successfully passed out of Committee in the near 
future.
  As Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee with oversight of the 
Department of Homeland Security (DHS), of which FEMA is a part, our 
Committee works diligently to ensure that DHS and all of its components 
are prepared to respond to acts of terrorism, natural disasters and 
other emergencies. This bill will help rebuild our communities in both 
Louisiana and Mississippi and help with preparedness efforts for future 
incidents.
  In closing, let me thank my colleagues on the Transportation and 
Infrastructure Committee for their leadership on this legislation, and 
in particular, Ms. Norton, who is also a member of the Committee on 
Homeland Security, for spearheading this effort. I look forward to 
working with Chairman Oberstar, Ms. Norton and others on the 
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to assure that our Federal 
disaster and post-terrorism response capabilities are at the level that 
the American people deserve. I encourage my colleagues to support this 
legislation.

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