Delivering Results for the Gulf Coast

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Delivering Results for the Gulf Coast | Continuing A New Direction

WASHINGTON, DC-House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn today concluded a congressional delegation tour to the Gulf Coast which included House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, and Democratic Caucus Vice-Chair John Larson. The delegation of 22 members traveled to the Gulf Coast from July 19-22 to mark the third anniversary of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. On their trip, the lawmakers visited several sites in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and coastal Mississippi to determine where the region stands on the issues of health care, housing, education, infrastructure, criminal justice and insurance reform. Following are Clyburn's remarks upon conclusion of the tour, and a list of results delivered to the Gulf Coast.

"I would like to thank our friends in Louisiana and Mississippi for their warm hospitality. On this trip, we visited some old friends, and made some new ones. It's clear that the spirit and resiliency of the people of the Gulf Coast is as strong as the Mighty Mississippi, and I see the future of the region is bright.

"We've heard about the needs in housing, health care, infrastructure, education, small business, criminal justice and insurance reform. And once again, we're committed to providing additional federal assistance in these areas. We're committed to relieving any excessive financial burden on Gulf Coast recovery like state cost-share and federal regulatory responsibilities. And we will work on legislation to investigate the failure of the federal government to respond to this disaster.

"As I've said before, disaster can strike in anyone's back yard. We have an obligation to reach out to our fellow Americans. We stand here today to recommit ourselves to this partnership."

Following is a list of legislation that has been signed into law and that has passed the house relating to Gulf Coast recovery since Clyburn's last CODEL in August 2007.

DELIVERING RESULTS - BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW SINCE AUGUST 2007

Provided $73 million to address public housing and homeless needs in the southeastern region of New Orleans. [PL: 110-252, June 30, 2008]

Provided $5.8 billion protect the Gulf Coast and rebuild hurricane barriers [PL: 110-252, June, 30, 2008]

Provided $4 million to protect and prepare children from all hazards resulting from major disasters and emergencies. [PL: 110-161, December 26, 2008]

Provided $3billion for the Road Home Program [PL: 110-161, December 26, 2008]

Provided $2 billion towards the non-Federal cost-share of all studies or projects central to rebuilding the coastal Louisiana ecosystem. [PL: 110-114, November 19, 2008]

Enhanced federal Head Start education programs to improve readiness to respond to an emergency. [PL: 110-134, December 12, 2008]

Provided grants to facilitate the deployment of the National Emergency Child Locator Center to assist in reuniting missing children with their families during periods of national disasters. [PL: 110-240, June 3, 2008]

Provided $100 million for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Southern University of New Orleans, Dillard University and Xavier University were receipts of these funds, and also received $3 million in additional funding which can be used for a variety things such as teaching improvement facilities, construction, maintenance and teacher education. [PL: 110-084, September 27, 2008]

Relieved Gulf Coast homeowners from indebtedness on their principal residence if they declared bankruptcy. [PL: 110-142, December 20, 2008]

Imposed new fines and prison terms of up to 30 years for committing fraud in connection with a major disaster or emergency declaration. [PL: 110-179, January 7, 2008]

Provided disaster victims increased SBA's Disaster Assistance benefits, including immediate access to loans of up to $14,000 without collateral and a $500,000 increase in the disaster loan cap to businesses. [PL: 110-234, May 22, 2008]

Increased SBA's Disaster Assistance Loan Limits from $10,000 to $14,000. [PL: 110-234, May 22, 2008]

Increased SBA's Disaster Assistance Disaster Loan Amounts from $1.5 million to $2 million. [PL: 110-234, May 22, 2008]

Extended Economic Injury Disaster Loans to Nonprofits. [PL: 110-234, May 22, 2008]


CONTINUING THE PROMISE - PASSED THE HOUSE AND PENDING

H.R.6049 : Energy and Tax Extenders Act of 2008 [Passed the House on May 21, 2008]

Provides for homeowners who sustained hurricane related casualty losses on a principal residence to receive additional tax relief that allows homeowners to put more funds into rebuilding their principal residences.

Extends the placed-in-service deadline for specified GO Zone property. This will assist many taxpayers who have been unable to begin the construction of property in the Gulf Opportunity Zone due to the lack of electricity, clean water, and other circumstances beyond their control.

Extends the Hurricane Katrina work opportunity tax credit until August 28, 2008 to create jobs in the core disaster area.

H.R. 4137 : To amend and extend the Higher Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes. [Passed House 2/25/08]

Provides assistance to certain HBCU institutions, allowing them to continue to receive pre-hurricane funding levels despite large decreases in enrollment.

Creates the Education Disaster and Emergency Relief Loan Program, which will provide loans to colleges or universities that have been and may be impacted by a federally declared major disaster or emergency.

Requires the Secretary of Education to develop and maintain a disaster relief plan to address the safety and well-being of students, faculty and staff in institutions of higher education in the event of a natural or man-made disaster declared.

HR 5819 : SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act [Passed the House April 23, 2008].

Authorizes an increase the amount of funds available to small businesses conducting research and development of new technologies by more than $500,000,000.

Increases competition within the small business community with a special focus on small firms owned by veterans, women, minorities and those located in rural areas.

HR 3121 : Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act of 2007 [Passed the House May 13, 2008].

Reauthorizes the National Flood Insurance Program (`NFIP'), provides for reforms to the NFIP, improves flood mapping, and expands the NFIP to provide for multiple peril coverage.

Additional optional policy coverage is added, allowing business owners to purchase business interruption coverage at actuarial rates to better prepare them to meet payroll and other obligations during the next storm. To encourage participation, the bill provides for a new community outreach program, and a study on increasing participation of low-income families.

Requires the national flood insurance program to enable the purchase of optional (multiperil) insurance against damage to or loss of real or personal property resulting from any flood or windstorm (hurricane, tornado, cyclone, typhoon, etc.).

HR 3021 : 21ST Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act [Passed the House June 4, 2008].

The bill authorizes $100 million for each of fiscal year from 2009 through 2013 for public schools in the Gulf region in response to damages from Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita. This will provide school districts funds for much needed public school modernization, renovation, and repair projects

Requires local education agencies to ensure that the bid process includes the maximum number of qualified bidders, including local, small, minority, women- and veteran-owned businesses, through full and open competition.

H.R.6276 Public Housing Disaster Relief Act of 2008 [Passed the House June 18, 2008].

Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to provide assistance for emergencies and other disasters, and housing needs resulting from any litigation settlement.

Provides a specified allocation to the Operation Safe Home program for law enforcement efforts to combat violent crime on or near the premises of public and federally assisted housing.