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WASHINGTON, D.C.-Congressman Allen Boyd (D-North Florida) today voted in favor of a second emergency spending bill (HR 3673) to provide $51.8 billion for Hurricane Katrina relief. Congressman Boyd also supported legislation to relax student aid repayment rules (HR 3169 & HR 3668), hasten federal welfare funds to states (HR 3672), and increase the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) borrowing authority to pay federal flood insurance claims.
The emergency supplement bill (HR 3673) will provide federal funds for recovery efforts and disaster relief on the Gulf Coast, allocating $50 billion to FEMA, $1.4 billion to the Department of Defense and $400 million to Army Corps of Engineers. This is the second emergency supplemental bill of federal money for relief and recovery efforts. Last week, Congress passed a $10.5 billion emergency spending bill for Hurricane Katrina relief.
"This funding proves that Congress is committed to providing whatever is needed to help our Gulf Coast neighbors recover and rebuild in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina," said Congressman Boyd. "We are responding to what is certainly one of the largest disaster response efforts in our nation's history. At this time, we most focus on the people and not the process. This is an expensive and difficult task, but we will see it through. These funds will help with the rescue and clean-up efforts."
Congress also passed the Pell Grant Hurricane and Disaster Relief Act (HR 3169) and the Student Grant Hurricane and Disaster Relief Act (HR 3668) to allow the Education Department to waive the repayment requirements for Pell Grant recipients and other federal student grant assistance for those students whose attendance is interrupted due to a major disaster such as Hurricane Katrina. In order to qualify for these waivers, students must have lived, worked or attended schools in an area designated by the President as a major disaster.
In addition, the House passed legislation that makes a number of changes to current law in order to facilitate aid to families affected by Hurricane Katrina through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. The TANF Emergency Response & Recovery Act (HR 3672) will speed welfare funds to the states and reimburse states for the TANF benefits they provide to families who relocated as a result of Hurricane Katrina. This bill will also relax work rules and benefit time limits for recipients affected by the hurricane.
Congress addressed the anticipated shortfall in funds available to pay victims of Hurricane Katrina for damage to their homes with the passage of the National Flood Insurance Program Enhanced Borrowing Authority Act (HR 3669). This bill temporarily increases to $3.5 billion, from $1.5 billion, the amount of money that FEMA can borrow from the Treasury to pay flood insurance claims under the National Flood Insurance Program. The increased borrowing authority will remain in effect through Sept. 30, 2008.
"Hurricane Katrina not only destroyed homes and businesses, but it also uprooted the lives of so many people along the Gulf Coast," Boyd stated. "The legislation passed in Congress today not only provides funding for recovery efforts, but also helps the victims of Hurricane Katrina get back on the road to rebuilding their lives."
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