[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 9 (Monday, January 25, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S202-S203]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EMERGENCY AID TO AMERICAN SURVIVORS OF THE HAITI EARTHQUAKE ACT
Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, on behalf of the leader, I ask unanimous
consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. 2949, which
was introduced earlier today.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The clerk will state the bill by title.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 2949) to amend section 1113 of the Social
Security Act to provide authority for increased fiscal year
2010 payments for temporary assistance to United States
citizens returned from foreign countries, to provide
necessary funding to avoid shortfalls in the Medicare cost-
sharing program for low-income qualifying individuals, and
for other purposes.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I join in today with my colleagues
Senators Bill Nelson, Bob Menendez, George LeMieux, and Chuck Grassley
in support of the Emergency Aid to American Survivors of the Haiti
Earthquake Act. This bill will provide much-needed resources to the
United States Repatriation Program, which is currently assisting U.S.
citizens who are returning home from Haiti.
The United States Repatriation Program was established by title XI,
section 1113 of the Social Security Act to provide temporary assistance
to U.S. citizens and their dependents who have been identified by the
Department of State as having returned, or been brought from a foreign
country to the U.S. because of destitution, illness, war, threat of
war, or a similar crisis.
The Department of Health and Human Services works with State and
local governments to administer the Repatriation Program and provide
vital services such as immediate medical care, temporary lodging and
travel, and food assistance to returning Americans in need. The Federal
Government reimburses States for the full cost of providing these
services and individuals who receive aid are expected to repay it
except in the case of extreme hardship.
The Repatriation Program is currently being used by the Department of
Health and Human Services to provide assistance to citizens returning
from Haiti as a result of last week's devastating earthquake.
But, funding for this important program is capped at $1 million per
year, which will not cover the cost states have already incurred to
provide support for the more than 14,000 Americans who have already
returned from Haiti. And the State Department expects between 600 and
2,000 more Americans will continue to return from Haiti each day in the
coming months. They too will need the vital services this program
provides.
As a result, we have been asked by the Department of Health and Human
Services to increase the cap for this fiscal year so that the program
can continue to provide these vital services to Americans returning
home from Haiti.
This bill will answer the Department's call for help by raising the
cap for fiscal year 2010 to $25 million.
In the past Congress has passed similar measures to aid Americans
returning home from abroad during times of crisis. In 2006, for
example, Congress raised the $1 million annual limit to accommodate
Americans returning home from the devastation in Lebanon. During the
gulf war, the annual limit was waived entirely. These measures proved
to be simple and successful solutions to help bring Americans home
safely and give them the support they need to get back on their feet.
This bill is modeled closely off those measures and we have worked
with the Department of Health and Human Services and other government
agencies in creating this bill.
Additionally, this legislation will provide additional funding for
the Qualified Individual Program, which pays the Medicare Part B
premium costs for low-income seniors here at home.
Like the Repatriation Program, the Qualified Individual Program is
also subject to annual spending caps. Without additional funding for
2010, this program will see shortfalls in approximately two dozen
States.
This legislation will provide $65 million in additional funding for
the Qualified Individual Program to ensure all States are able to
provide this critical assistance to seniors this year.
The entire cost of this legislation, $60 million, is fully paid for
through the Medicaid improvement fund.
This legislation is a reasonable and fiscally responsible solution
that will allow these programs to meet their obligations to Americans
in need. We urge the Senate to pass this bill and send it to the House
for immediate consideration.
[[Page S203]]
We should not allow these important resources to be denied or
needlessly delayed.
Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be
read the third time, passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the
table, and that any statements relating thereto be printed in the
Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The bill (S. 2949) was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading,
was read the third time, and passed, as follows:
S. 2949
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 ``Emergency Aid to American
Survivors of the Haiti Earthquake Act''.
SEC. 2. INCREASE IN AGGREGATE PAYMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010
FOR TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE TO UNITED STATES
CITIZENS RETURNED FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
Section 1113(d) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1313(d)) is amended by striking ``September, 30, 2003'' and
all that follows and inserting ``September 30, 2009, except
that, in the case of fiscal year 2010, the total amount of
such assistance provided during that fiscal year shall not
exceed $25,000,000.''.
SEC. 3. QI PROGRAM FUNDING.
Section 1933(g)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1396u-3(g)(2)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (M), by striking ``$412,500,000'' and
inserting ``$462,500,000''; and
(2) in subparagraph (N), by striking ``$150,000,000'' and
inserting ``$165,000,000''.
SEC. 4. APPLICATION OF MEDICAID IMPROVEMENT FUND.
Section 1941(b)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1396w-1(b)(1)(A)) is amended by striking ``$100,000,000'' and
inserting ``$10,000,000''.
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