[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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