Scalise to Meet with FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Washington, DC -- Congressman Steve Scalise will meet with the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate tomorrow, Wednesday, October 28, in Scalise’s Washington D.C. office. Scalise will ask Fugate about the thousands of outstanding Public Assistance projects, clarification on Hurricane Katrina Community Disaster Loan (CDL) forgiveness, and for support of the Disaster Recovery Improvement Act, H.R. 3453.

“There are far too many outstanding FEMA Public Assistance projects in Southeast Louisiana and we have yet to receive the final rules for Community Disaster Loan forgiveness,” Scalise said. “These are extremely important issues that I’ll address with Administrator Fugate. I will also ask for his support of my legislation that makes reforms to the Stafford Act so we can improve disaster recovery.”

There are current estimates of more than 4,000 outstanding Project Worksheets for Public Assistance. Local governments, fire departments, universities, and hospitals have also been waiting for CDL forgiveness for more than two years. Many of these public organizations continue to face large debts and continue to struggle with their recovery from Hurricane Katrina as a result.

    Scalise added, “Our local and state governments need clear answers on CDL forgiveness so they can work through their annual budgets and eliminate debt they may still be carrying from Hurricane Katrina. FEMA has taken too long to issue CDL forgiveness rules and I hope this meeting will help Administrator Fugate understand the need to act swiftly.”

Scalise plans to solicit Fugate’s support for his legislation the Disaster Recovery Improvement Act, H.R. 3453. For more information about Scalise’s bill click here.

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Contact: Luke Bolar
202-226-4309