[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 20]
[House]
[Pages 28565-28569]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA RECOVERY FACILITATION ACT OF 2007

  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3247) to improve the provision of disaster assistance for 
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3247

       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 ``Hurricanes Katrina and Rita 
     Recovery Facilitation Act of 2007''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act, the following definitions apply:
       (1) Covered hurricane damages.--The term ``covered 
     hurricane damages'' means damages suffered in the States of 
     Louisiana and Mississippi as a result of Hurricanes Katrina 
     and Rita.
       (2) President.--The term ``President'' means the President 
     acting through the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
     Management Agency.
       (3) Stafford act.--The term ``Stafford Act'' means the 
     Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.).

     SEC. 3. SPECIAL RULES FOR COVERED HURRICANE DAMAGES.

       (a) In Lieu Contributions.--In providing contributions 
     under section 406(c) of the Stafford Act (42 U.S.C. 5172(c)) 
     for covered hurricane damages, the President shall substitute 
     90 percent for the otherwise applicable percentage specified 
     in paragraphs (1)(A) and (2)(A) of such section.
       (b) Participation in Pilot Projects.--The States of 
     Louisiana and Mississippi and local governments in such 
     States shall be eligible to participate in the pilot program 
     established by section 689j of the Department of Homeland 
     Security Appropriations Act, 2007 (6 U.S.C. 777) with respect 
     to covered hurricane damages.
       (c) Alternative Dispute Resolution Procedures.--
       (1) In general.--Notwithstanding section 423 of the 
     Stafford Act (42 U.S.C. 5189a) or any regulation, the 
     President is authorized and encouraged to use alternative 
     dispute resolution procedures for appeals of decisions made 
     under sections 403, 406, and 407 of the Stafford Act (42 
     U.S.C. 5179b, 5172, and 5173) regarding the award or denial 
     of assistance, or the amount of assistance, provided to a 
     State, local government, or owner or operator of a private 
     facility for covered hurricane damages.
       (2) Denials of requests.--
       (A) Written notice.--If a State, local government, or owner 
     or operator of a private facility requests the use of 
     alternative dispute resolution procedures for an appeal 
     pursuant to paragraph (1) and the President denies the 
     request, the President shall provide to the State, local 
     government, or owner or operator written notice of the 
     denial, including the reasons for the denial.
       (B) Quarterly reports.--The President shall submit to the 
     Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
     of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
     Governmental Affairs of the Senate, on at least a quarterly 
     basis, a report containing information on any denial 
     described in subparagraph (A) made by the President during 
     the period covered by the report, including the reasons for 
     the denial.
       (3) Applicability.--Paragraph (1) shall apply to an appeal 
     made by a State, local government, or owner or operator of a 
     private facility within 60 days after the date on which the 
     State, local government, or owner or operator is notified of 
     the decision that is the subject of the appeal.
       (4) Report to congress.--Not later than one year after the 
     date of enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to 
     the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
     House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland 
     Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report 
     containing a description of how alternative dispute 
     resolution procedures are being used pursuant to this 
     subsection and recommendations on whether the President 
     should be given the authority to use such procedures under 
     the Stafford Act on a permanent basis.
       (d) Essential Assistance.--In providing assistance under 
     section 403 of the Stafford Act for covered hurricane 
     damages, the President may provide assistance for the re-
     interment of human remains at a privately-owned or private 
     nonprofit cemetery.
       (e) Use of Simplified Procedures.--For covered hurricane 
     damages, the President may use, if requested by a State or 
     local government or the owner or operator of a private 
     nonprofit facility, section 422 of the Stafford Act (42 
     U.S.C. 5189) for a project for which the Federal estimate of 
     the cost is less than $100,000.
       (f) Use of Temporary Housing Units To Provide Housing to 
     Volunteers.--
       (1) In general.--In providing assistance under title IV of 
     the Stafford Act (42 U.S.C. 5170 et seq.) for covered 
     hurricane damages, the President may provide temporary 
     housing units purchased under section 408 of the Stafford Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 5174) to State and local governments and 
     appropriate private nonprofit entities for the purpose of 
     providing housing to volunteers assisting in the recovery 
     from such damages.
       (2) Feasibility determination.--The President may provide 
     temporary housing units for the purposes described in 
     paragraph (1) only if the President determines that such 
     assistance is appropriate, cost effective, and would not 
     unduly interfere with the ability of the Federal Emergency 
     Management Agency to provide housing for individuals and 
     households with respect to other major disasters.
       (g) Contributions for Public Facilities Used To Host Public 
     Events.--
       (1) In general.--Notwithstanding sections 403 and 406 of 
     the Stafford Act (42 U.S.C. 5170b and 5172), the President 
     may make contributions to the State of Louisiana for--
       (A) costs incurred for the repair or restoration of a 
     public facility used to host public events if the facility 
     was damaged as a result of use in conducting response 
     activities for Hurricane Katrina or Rita;
       (B) costs incurred because response activities for 
     Hurricane Katrina or Rita precluded the normal use of a 
     public facility used to host public events;
       (C) costs incurred for necessary materials provided to 
     evacuees of Hurricane Katrina or Rita in a public facility 
     used to host public events; and
       (D) the reasonable costs of renting or leasing a public 
     facility used to host public events that was used for 
     conducting response activities for Hurricane Katrina or Rita.
       (2) Limitations.--
       (A) Contributions for repair and restoration costs.--
     Contributions made under paragraph (1)(A) shall be limited to 
     repair and restoration costs associated with damages 
     described in paragraph (1)(A) that occurred--
       (i) in the case of damages related to Hurricane Katrina, on 
     or before October 27, 2005; and
       (ii) in the case of damages related to Hurricane Rita, on 
     or before November 23, 2005.
       (B) Contributions for costs incurred for cancelled 
     events.--
       (i) Event requirements.--Contributions made under paragraph 
     (1)(B) shall be limited to costs that are documented for an 
     event--

       (I) for which there was a binding commitment for use of the 
     facility in effect prior to August 29, 2005; and
       (II) that was scheduled to be held on or before December 
     31, 2005, at the facility.

       (ii) Lost revenues.--Contributions under paragraph (1)(B) 
     shall not be made for any lost revenues.
       (C) Contributions for reasonable costs of renting or 
     leasing.--Contributions made under paragraph (1)(D) shall be 
     limited to the reasonable costs of renting or leasing the 
     facility during the period beginning on August 29, 2005, and 
     ending on January 6, 2006.
       (3) Costs recoverable from other sources.--Costs that may 
     be recovered by

[[Page 28566]]

     the State of Louisiana from any other program or from 
     insurance or another source shall not be eligible for 
     assistance under this subsection.
       (4) Limitation on statutory construction.--Nothing in this 
     section shall be construed to affect eligibility for 
     assistance under section 403 or 406 of the Stafford Act (42 
     U.S.C. 5170b or 5172), except to the extent that such 
     assistance would result in a duplication of benefits.
       (5) Federal share.--The Federal share of assistance under 
     this subsection shall be 100 percent of the eligible costs.
       (6) Funding.--Amounts appropriated to carry out sections 
     403 and 406 of the Stafford Act (42 U.S.C. 5170b and 5172) 
     shall be available to carry out this section, including 
     amounts appropriated before the date of enactment of this 
     Act.
       (h) Status Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
     of enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the 
     Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
     of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
     Government Affairs of the Senate a report regarding the 
     status of recovery for the States of Louisiana and 
     Mississippi from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
       (i) Hazard Mitigation Projects.--
       (1) In general.--A project for covered hurricane damages 
     initiated by the State of Louisiana or Mississippi in the 
     period beginning on August 29, 2005, and ending on the date 
     of enactment of this Act may contribute toward the non-
     Federal share of assistance under section 404 of the Stafford 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 5170c) if the project--
       (A) complies with all applicable Federal laws governing 
     assistance under such section, and
       (B) otherwise is eligible to contribute to the non-Federal 
     share of assistance under such section,

     notwithstanding any requirement for approval of the 
     eligibility and compliance of a project by the President 
     prior to the initiation of the project contributing toward 
     the non-Federal share.
       (2) Applications.--The States of Louisiana and Mississippi 
     may submit an application to the President under section 404 
     of the Stafford Act with respect to any project described in 
     paragraph (1).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) and the gentleman from Louisiana 
(Mr. Boustany) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia.


                             General Leave

  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of H.R. 3247, the 
Katrina and Rita Recovery Facilitation Act of 2007. This bill has been 
a top priority of our leadership and has received excellent cooperation 
and support from the minority and its Members as well. It was reported 
by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on August 1, 2007. 
On May 10, 2007, our subcommittee on Economic Development, Public 
Buildings and Emergency Management held a hearing entitled, 
``Legislative Fixes for Lingering Problems that Hinder Katrina 
Recovery,'' where Members from Louisiana and Mississippi testified on 
issues that were still delaying the recovery from these extraordinarily 
destructive storms, particularly in the Public Assistance Program.
  These were problems that, and I stress, could not have been 
envisioned by the Stafford Act because of the unprecedented nature of 
the gulf coast disaster. Therefore, it was felt that there was a need 
for amendments to the act since FEMA often felt it could not move 
without specific authority.
  This bill addresses issues specifically identified by these Members 
who represent the gulf coast area in testimony before our committee, 
testimony that was evaluated by our subcommittee and found to be 
compatible with the mission of the Stafford Act and the unique nature 
of the Katrina and Rita disasters.
  For example, the bill allows FEMA to apply its so-called ``simplified 
procedures'' for ``small projects'' from the current threshold of 
$55,000 to $100,000, and authorizes FEMA to use alternative dispute 
resolution to resolve appeals in the Public Assistance Program. There 
have been many appeals. These need to be handled expeditiously if 
recovery is to occur expeditiously.
  Madam Speaker, the bill also increases the Federal contribution for 
large ``in-lieu'' projects, also known as alternate projects, to 90 
percent for both public and private nonprofit facilities. These are 
examples of remedies that will bring significant results, according to 
our own investigation and testimony from the region.
  Hurricane Katrina made landfall nearly 2 years ago and proved to be 
the costliest natural disaster in American history. The storms had a 
massive physical impact on the land, affecting 90,000 square miles, 
which is an area the size of Great Britain. More than 80 percent of the 
City of New Orleans flooded, which is an area seven times the size of 
Manhattan. Untold consequences to the residents of the region were 
visited upon individuals and families.
  Our subcommittee will hold a hearing in New Orleans soon to look 
further into the status of recovery from these storms. We certainly did 
not want to go to the region without passage of this act, which is so 
urgent to recovery. I am pleased that we will be able to report to the 
citizens of the gulf that our committee and hopefully the House has 
taken further steps to facilitate the recovery of the entire gulf 
coast.
  I urge the support of all Members.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOUSTANY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, H.R. 3247, introduced by Subcommittee Chairwoman 
Norton, will improve the provision of disaster assistance for 
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. This bill was created through an open and 
inclusive process. I want to thank Chairman Oberstar and Chairwoman 
Norton for working with our Republican Members to include our 
provisions to this bill. Additionally, I want to thank my good friend 
and colleague from Louisiana, Ranking Member Baker, for his steadfast 
support of Louisiana in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. 
Congressman Baker has been a great advocate for our State, and I thank 
him for helping the committee to draft this bill.
  Madam Speaker, earlier this year the Subcommittee on Economic 
Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management held a hearing 
on the recovery in the gulf coast following Hurricanes Katrina and 
Rita. The bill includes a number of provisions recommended by Members 
of Congress from both parties who testified at this hearing. These 
provisions are designed to alleviate specific problems with the 
recovery in the gulf coast.
  H.R. 3247 authorizes changes to the Stafford Act programs exclusively 
for the recovery from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and applies these 
changes retroactively. The Congressional Budget Office does not expect 
these proposed changes to have a significant effect on the pace or 
amount of Federal expenditures from the disaster relief fund and has 
estimated that enacting H.R. 3247 would have no significant effect on 
direct spending. I support this legislation, and I encourage my 
colleagues to do the same.
  I also want to thank Chairman Oberstar and Chairwoman Norton 
specifically for working with our gulf coast delegations on this 
important legislation. The T&I committee has really been very helpful 
and a strong advocate throughout this process, as my home State of 
Louisiana and the rest of the gulf coast have tried to recover. I am 
pleased that the tradition continues today with the work on this bill.
  I also want to mention that while much of the Nation's focus remains 
on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, I want to remind my colleagues 
that there were two storms of similar magnitude that hit the gulf coast 
in 2005. The second storm, Hurricane Rita, brought high winds in excess 
of 120 miles an hour and a storm surge equivalent to that of a category 
5 storm.

[[Page 28567]]

Total damage in southwest Louisiana was estimated at approximately $10 
billion, making Rita, the forgotten storm, the third most costly 
natural disaster in U.S. history.
  Two years later our recovery remains slow, but progress is being made 
and the people of southwest Louisiana are resilient and we will 
rebuild. This bill will help fix some of the roadblocks to recovery 
that we have encountered along the way. Notably, I want to mention one 
particularly. The bill addresses one of the bigger problems still 
lingering in my own district, which is the reimbursement to the sports 
arena called the Cajundome for use of the facility in sheltering both 
Katrina and Rita evacuees. The Cajundome acted as a shelter from August 
30 through October 28, 2005, and processed an estimated 18,000 evacuees 
within that 60-day period. The facility was subsequently closed until 
January 2006 for recovery and repair from the sheltering operations. 
FEMA initially approved and then sought reimbursement for funds paid to 
the Cajundome for use of the facility while conducting response 
activities.
  At issue is whether or not a government entity can be reimbursed for 
fees for sheltering evacuees after a disaster. The Cajundome, however, 
operates autonomously from city government, does not have a sustaining 
tax base, and instead relies on the fees it generates from events 
during its peak season to maintain operations year-round. H.R. 3247 
will allow FEMA to pay for the reasonable cost of renting or leasing a 
public facility that was used for conducting response activities for 
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Facilities like the Cajundome are integral 
to our disaster recovery and response. We shouldn't punish them for 
opening their doors and providing shelter during a national crisis.
  Again, I want to thank the committee staff as well, especially Mike 
Herman and Jennifer Hall, for working with my legislative director, 
Terri Fish, to develop language that will address this problem. Again, 
I thank Chairman Oberstar, Chairwoman Norton, and Ranking Members Mica 
and Graves for including it in the bill. Again, I urge my colleagues to 
support H.R. 3247.
  Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my colleague 
from Louisiana (Mr. Baker).
  Mr. BAKER. I thank the gentleman for yielding time and certainly want 
to express appreciation to Chairwoman Norton, as well as Chairman 
Oberstar, for their continuing attention, courtesy and problem-solving 
for those of us along coastal States suffering yet from the aftermath 
of storms Katrina and Rita. Particularly, I want to speak to the great 
work of Congressman Boustany representing his community. As he 
expressed here this afternoon, the second storm of the season which 
followed Katrina, Hurricane Rita, was just as devastating to his 
community, as was Katrina to coastal portions of eastern Louisiana. He 
has been the singular outspoken voice for the victims of that disaster 
in seeking relief and remedies that are appropriate.
  Madam Speaker, contained in this resolution before us today is a 
unique resolution, as the Stafford Act never contemplated disasters of 
the magnitude and scope that affected our State. The duration was 
unexpected, as well as the intensity of the damage. A few would have 
thought an inconvenience of a few days for a public facility would be 
cause for reimbursement from the Stafford Act.

                              {time}  1615

  But in this case the damage went on not just for days and not just 
for weeks but literally for months. And income that was planned for 
many of these facilities was lost, as well as the operational expense 
to engage in the relief activities. As well, unfortunately, in the 
damage that occurred to the facilities as a result of this unusual and 
prolonged use.
  For example, the Lamar Dixon Center on the southern edge of the City 
of Baton Rouge acted as the staging point for many law enforcement 
search and rescue efforts which went on for many days. As a result of 
the sheriff, police, municipal police and others simply engaging in 
this activity without seeking preclearance, not having a contract with 
FEMA in order to save people, Lamar Dixon similarly engaged in the care 
and feeding of literally thousands of those engaged in daily rescue 
activities.
  We were surprised to learn that the Stafford Act provisions would not 
allow for the reimbursement of these highly appropriate and highly 
valuable services rendered during the height of the storm.
  Today, with the adoption of this bill, we cure these deficiencies. 
And although I hope such need would never arise in any other community 
in our country, if it does, these changes are meaningful not only to 
the people who engage in the service but to the communities who 
likewise support and help in this most dire of recovery circumstances. 
I join with my colleague, Mr. Boustany, to support this legislation.
  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield to the gentleman 
from Louisiana (Mr. Melancon) such time as he may consume.
  Mr. MELANCON. Thank you, Congresswoman Holmes Norton, for your 
leadership in moving this piece of legislation forward. I also commend 
my colleagues and friends from Louisiana who also understand that Ms. 
Holmes Norton and others have been a genuinely great help to the folks 
of Louisiana and Mississippi and the affected areas of Hurricanes 
Katrina and Rita.
  I am proud of what we have done in Congress to address the recovery 
and rebuilding needs along the gulf coast after these two unprecedented 
storms, Katrina and Rita, and our needs are still great. They have not 
gone away.
  From my experience over the last 2 years, I found that the Stafford 
Act was not written for disasters the size of Katrina and Rita, nor was 
FEMA prepared to respond, particularly in the long term, to events of 
this magnitude. H.R. 3247 would amend the Stafford Act to more 
accurately reflect the rebuilding and recovery needs of the gulf coast. 
St. Bernard Parish in my district only has a handful of buildings that 
were not damaged in the storms, and less than 40 percent of the 
population has returned to the parish.
  Through the alternate project penalty, the Stafford essentially 
penalizes the parish and its officials as they try to rebuild and 
reflect the returning population. H.R. 3247 would reduce this penalty 
from 25 percent to 10 percent of each of the project's costs, and this 
is enormous in the needs that follow and has been mentioned about the 
inadequacies of the Stafford Act.
  The bill would also instruct FEMA to use alternate dispute resolution 
in place of its completely inadequate project worksheet appeals 
process. Many project worksheets are still under review after 27 
months. Without a guarantee that the project will be fully funded, the 
State and local governments are apprehensive to even begin projects for 
fear that FEMA will ask for the money back. FEMA itself is preventing 
the rebuilding of the gulf coast. It is not their intention, but it is 
the reality, and this needs to change.
  I appreciate all of the work Congress has done to address the 
recovery and rebuilding needs of the gulf coast, and I ask that my 
colleagues again assist with easing the restrictions to allow for full 
recovery by supporting H.R. 3247. I thank you for the opportunity to 
speak on this issue, and I thank the gentlewoman from the District of 
Columbia for her efforts and the efforts of my friends and colleagues 
on the other side of the aisle for helping in this rebuilding effort in 
an effort to bring FEMA to a position of reality rather than 
bureaucracy.
  Mr. BOUSTANY. Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from 
Louisiana (Mr. Melancon). Together, he and I have all of coastal 
Louisiana, and we have dealt with this disaster firsthand. I know side 
by side along the coast, we were rolling up our sleeves and helping our 
friends and families back home through all of this. I want to thank him 
for his work in helping to come up with these revisions to the Stafford 
Act that were desperately needed.
  This is a good piece of legislation. It will not cure all of the 
problems we

[[Page 28568]]

still have in coastal Louisiana, but it is a good start. I urge my 
colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass this important 
legislation, H.R. 3247. Again, I thank Chairwoman Norton and Chairman 
Oberstar for their willingness to work with us to craft this 
legislation.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, once again I want to thank the gentleman 
and all of the Members from the gulf coast delegation who worked so 
cooperatively with us, really informing us what needed to be done, 
looking at the Stafford Act, understanding we are amending the act for 
Katrina and Rita purposes only, and the least Congress could do was to 
recognize in all of our rhetoric about this being an unprecedented 
disaster, that we responded with an unprecedented remedy. We do not 
expect the remedies available here to be necessary elsewhere. For 
example, we have just had a big disaster in California. That is of a 
different kind and will have a different effect on the entire region; 
very devastating, but very different. We intend to have a hearing with 
respect to that disaster and comparing that disaster and the responses 
to that disaster with the responses to the gulf coast because we need 
to do all we can to learn about that disaster.
  Moreover, the Katrina and Rita disasters have exposed other changes 
in the Stafford Act that we need. These are Rita and Katrina-specific 
changes, but we are learning from what happened to this extraordinary 
region of our country without which we cannot do. And every day you see 
oil prices go up, I hope you understand, we in the United States, how 
central this region is to the economy of this country. As a result, we 
will be holding hearings on the way in which the Stafford Act should be 
even further updated to the benefit not only of the disasters we hope 
never to see again, but to disasters that may occur in the future in 
our country.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3247, 
the ``Katrina and Rita Recovery Facilitation Act of 2007'', as amended. 
This bipartisan bill addresses lingering issues that continue to hinder 
the recovery from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The changes in this bill 
are both necessary and long overdue.
  Hurricane Katrina made landfall on August 29, 2005, and proved to be 
the costliest natural disaster in American history. The storm had a 
massive physical impact on the land, affecting 90,000 square miles, 
which is an area the size of Great Britain. More than 80 percent of the 
City of New Orleans flooded, an area comparable to seven times the size 
of Manhattan.
  Although more than two years have elapsed since Katrina and Rita, 
significant problems still exist in the recovery effort. This disaster 
and its aftermath have revealed that the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency (``FEMA'') may need additional authorities to deal effectively 
with catastrophes of such magnitude.
  H.R. 3247 provides additional relief for problems associated with 
recovery efforts from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, by authorizing 
retroactive changes to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (``Stafford Act'') programs. The Stafford Act 
authorizes disaster assistance that FEMA provides after a major 
disaster. While the authority of the Stafford Act is very broad and 
flexible, it does not anticipate every circumstance that can arise in 
disasters, especially catastrophic disasters such as Hurricanes Katrina 
and Rita.
  Historically, when catastrophic or unusual disasters struck, Congress 
would work cooperatively with FEMA to identify areas where FEMA 
required additional specific authority. When Hurricane Katrina struck, 
FEMA was not a flexible or independent government agency. Rather, FEMA 
was an organization within the Department of Homeland Security, a 
larger bureaucracy, and without direct access to the President and 
Congress. I believe that this structure prevented FEMA from engaging 
with Congress as they have in the past. This problem was further 
magnified by the unprecedented scope and magnitude of the disaster. As 
a result, Congress was forced to act in a unilateral manner.
  H.R. 3247 was developed in a bipartisan fashion, and draws on the 
recommendations of Members representing the Gulf Coast region from both 
sides of the aisle. The provisions in this bill were developed 
following a hearing held by the Subcommittee on Economic Development, 
Public Buildings, and Emergency Management on May 10, 2007, entitled 
``Legislative Fixes for Lingering Problems that Hinder Katrina 
Recovery''. At that hearing, Members from Louisiana and Mississippi 
testified on specific issues that are still hampering the recovery from 
these devastating catastrophes and proposed solutions. The provisions 
of this bill reflect the findings and recommendations that were 
presented at this hearing.
  Specifically, H.R. 3247, the ``Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Recovery 
Facilitation Act of 2007'', increases the Federal share from 75 percent 
to 90 percent for ``alternate projects'' for Hurricanes Katrina and 
Rita, to allow money designated for a specific facility to be used 
toward another facility for the same purposes. This provision will help 
communities, which have had multiple facilities destroyed by these 
hurricanes, rebuild facilities and reestablish services in a manner 
that will best suit their needs.
  The bill also permits the Administrator of FEMA to make public 
assistance programs under Hurricanes Katrina and Rita eligible under a 
public assistance pilot program authorized in section 689j of the Post-
Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act (P.L. 109-295), which will 
expedite the provision of assistance to States.
  This legislation further encourages alternative dispute resolution 
procedures for appeals of public assistance decisions by FEMA for 
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, to address concerns over the speed of 
implementation of the public assistance program in the Gulf Coast. The 
bill allows the use of temporary housing units for volunteers, 
authorizes reimbursement of expenses incurred for the re-interment of 
human remains at privately-owned or private non-profit cemeteries, and 
authorizes the reimbursement of certain facilities that housed evacuees 
after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
  The bill also allows in-kind projects initiated in the recovery 
efforts after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to contribute the non-Federal 
share in a Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (``HMGP'') application, if 
FEMA can determine that the project meets all eligibility and 
compliance requirements that apply to HMGP projects. This provision 
simply waives the requirement for pre-approval of a project.
  Madam Speaker, each of the provisions in H.R. 3247 is specifically 
tailored to solve an existing problem in the Gulf Coast, and will help 
provide immediate relief to those still suffering in the wake of these 
disasters.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 3247.
  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

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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 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.
  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3247, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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