SENATE PANEL APPROVES RELIEF BILL AND OTHER LEGISLATIVE CHANGES ADDRESSING HURRICANE KATRINA
While Capital Hill began to question how federal spending for Katrina would be offset, legislative changes to expand benefits to impacted states and victims continue in Committee consideration.  Congress is moving at a fast pace in hearings on Katrina related issues.  Further, legislation is moving very fast and being introduced by the minute.  The Senate Homeland and Governmental Affairs approved legislation that had yet to be introduced to provide for Katrina relief that was being finalized as the mark-up began.  The bill is specific to Hurricane Katrina and would waive the limitations in the Stafford Act for the cap on individual assistance, home repair and replacement; expand the number of weeks for disaster unemployment benefits from 26 to 39 weeks; allow communities (impacted and those assisting the evacuated to be reimbursed for the purchase of bulk supplies for victims; and rescinds the increase to $250,000 for micro purchasing for federal employees related to the disaster back to $2500.  The bill also contains a provision to allow the President to waive the state match for individual assistance to 90 percent federal state by state for Hurricane Katrina, instead of the current 75 percent federal match.  The changes in the Katrina relief bill would not be permanent and are limited to Hurricane Katrina.   

Senator Frank Lautenberg (NJ) introduced an amendment similar to the Clinton bill to create an independent commission to look at Katrina response similar to the 9/11 Commission.  The amendment failed in a party-line vote.  Lautenberg also introduced an amendment to require all federally appointed FEMA officials to have at least five yeas experience in consequence management, and that amendment was withdrawn.   

Additionally, the Committee approved legislation to create a Chief Financial Officer to oversee Hurricane Katrina relief spending (S. 1700) and another bill to create an inspector general position specific to Hurricane Katrina spending.  The panel also approved S. 1725 to provide for increased interoperability through the creation of an Office for Emergency Communication and Coordination within DHS.  S. 1625 would authorize a $3.3 billion grant program over five years for states, localities, and regions on interoperability projects.  The bill also contains provisions to create a pilot project for testing of communications systems.  Senator George Voinovich (OH) attached his Disaster Area Health and Environmental Monitoring Act to the bill, which contains provisions to create a program for protection, assessment and monitoring of the health and safety of emergency personnel, volunteers and workers.  Voinovich's legislation also contains a provision to reauthorize the Predisaster Mitigation Grant Program (PDM) for another two years.  NEMA supported Voinovich's bill when introduced in 2003.  Also attached to this bill was a provision submitted by Senator Carl Levin (MI) that calls for DHS to mandate that states must gave detailed plans to address evacuation needs for special needs populations including senior citizens, disabled citizens, homeless, and poor populations.  The provision initially came from legislation drafted by Senator Barack Obama (IL).

The panel also approved S. 939, as introduced by Senator Mel Martinez (FL) that would require FEMA to pay out claims faster and to also cover expenses related to debris removal from private property.

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON KATRINA MEETS
The House voted to create a Select Committee on Katrina Response, however Democratic members of the House opposed the plan and refused to participate, claiming the panel would not provide an independent review of the disaster and that it was too soon.  The panel members were named including Chairman Tom Davis (VA),  Jim Sensenbrenner (WI), Hal Rogers (KY), Sue Myrick (NC), Chris Shays (CT), Mac Thornberry (TX), Chip Pickering (MS), Bill Shuster (PA), Henry Bonilla (TX), and Steve Buyer (IN). Despite the pledge to not participate, two Democrats, Reps. Gene Taylor (MS) and Charlie Melancon (LA), from the impacted states attended and participated in the first meeting of the panel.  The Committee heard testimony from Max Mayfield from the National Hurricane Center.  The Committee is expected to hear testimony and question former FEMA Director Mike Brown on September 27, 2005.  The Senate has said that the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee would serve in the oversight capacity over Katrina. 

JINDAL BILL INTRODUCED AND NEMA SUPPORTS KEY PROVISIONS ADDRESSING PRIORITIES
Rep. Bobby Jindal (LA), a freshman member from Louisiana, worked closely with NEMA to introduce the Disaster Recovery Act of 2005 (H.R. 3747).  The bill includes three provisions supported by NEMA including a fix of the repair cap for individuals, a change to the formula for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to 15 percent, and a provision calling for FEMA to follow the law on administrative costs.  The bill has been referred to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and that Committee is writing their own legislation at this time and may include some of these provisions as well.   

NO WORD ON DHS APPROPRIATIONS, SEPTEMBER 30^th DEADLINE APPROACHES
With most of Congress' attention focused on hurricane response, activity has come to a halt on the DHS Appropriations bill for FY 2006.   While the federal fiscal year ends on September 30, 2005, Congress will have to act to keep funding moving to DHS.  Congressional staff report that changes in priority related to Hurricane Katrina and the Second Stage Review for DHS are issues that are complicating matters.  If resolution is not reached by the end of the fiscal year, a continuing resolution is likely. 

 HOUSE AND SENATE PASS KATRINA TAX RELIEF PACKAGES
The House passed a $5.28 billion package of tax breaks for victims of Hurricane Katrina, as the Senate passed its own, slightly different tax bill.  The House package would allow hurricane victims to borrow money tax-free from their retirement savings, as long as it was repaid within three years. The Senate package would apply that provision more broadly, to all those living in presidentially declared disaster zones.  The House bill would make the "work opportunity" tax credit, a tax break for employers of workers receiving welfare benefits or food stamps, available for two years to employers in disaster zones who hire workers displaced by Katrina. The bill is expected to be reconciled very quickly.

CONGRESS APPROVES TWO SUPPLEMENTAL PACKAGES, THIRD LIKELY
Congress returned to Washington, D.C. earlier than expected last week to approve a $10.5 billion emergency supplemental package related to Hurricane Katrina relief.  In the first package, $10 billion is dedicated to the disaster relief fund and $500 million is directed to the Department of Defense for emergency hurricane expenses.  The second supplemental was approved last night, and $51.8 billion in aid will likely be signed into law later today.  The second package includes: $1.4 billion for Department of Defense Military Operation and Maintenance emergency hurricane expenses, $200 million for the Department of Defense Corp of Engineers for repair of authorized projects, $200 million for flood control and hurricane shore projects related to Hurricane Katrina, and $50 billion for the Department of Homeland Security.  The DHS funding specifically marked $100 million for public health programs in EP&R and $15 million for the Office of the Inspector General investigation of response and recovery activities, with the remainder for the disaster relief fund.

A third package is likely to also be prepared by Congress to look at unmet needs across the scope of federal agencies and perhaps the needs of states aiding in sheltering evacuated victims.  Currently, the DHS Appropriations bill for FY 2006 is on hold until the crisis subsides.  (September 9, 2005)

CONGRESS CALLS FOR PANEL ON HURRICANE KATRINA RESPONSE OVERSIGHT
The Congressional leadership announced the formation of a Select Committee on Hurricane Katrina response this week.  The panel is intended to be bi-partisan and bi-cameral and would be lead by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME).  However, minority leaders in Congress called the Committee a "white wash" and pushed for a separate Commission on Katrina response, similar to the 9/11 Commission.  In the Senate, Senator Hilary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) introduced legislation (S. 1622) to create such a Commission this week.  The legislation has been referred to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. 

Next week, hearings will begin in the Senate.  The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Disaster Prevention and Prediction will be looking at the role of the National Weather Service and Emergency Management to provide warnings prior to an event.  The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will be looking at ideas for long-term recovery needs and Dr. Dick Andrews, former NEMA President and California State Emergency Management Director has been asked to testify about his experience with large disasters such as the California earthquakes.  The House will hold off on hearings until the immediate emergency response phase has ended.  (September 9, 1005)

CALLS FOR FEMA TO REORGANIZE ABUNDANT ON CAPITAL HILL, SOME BILLS MOVE TO ADDRESS FASTER AID
At least 5 bills were introduced this week calling for removing FEMA from DHS.  Additionally, legislation has also been introduced to set criteria for personnel at the Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate.  More bills are expected as well.  The Congressional leadership has given priority to bills that address disaster aid on the floor and the following bills have been approved:

?         In the Senate, H.R. 804, which would exclude mitigation grants in the inclusion of federal formulas for other federal assistance such as Medicaid and food stamps.  This bill will now be passed to the President for signature;

?         The House approved H.R. 3169, which would give the Secretary of Education with waiver authority for students who are eligible for Pell Grants who are adversely affected by a natural disaster.  The bill is headed to the Senate for consideration;

?         The House approved H.R. 3560, which would allow United States courts to conduct business during emergency conditions.  The bill was referred to the Senate;

?         The House also approved H.R.3668 and would give the Secretary of Education waiver authority for students who are eligible for Federal student grant assistance who are adversely affected by a major disaster;

?         The House approved H.R. 3669 to temporarily increase the borrowing authority of FEMA for carrying out the national flood insurance program.  The bill is now being considered by the Senate;

?         The House also approved H.R. 3672 to provide assistance to families affected by Hurricane Katrina through block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families.  This bill has also been sent to the Senate for consideration; and

?         The Senate's consideration of the Commerce, State, Justice, Judiciary bill yielded amendments adding $34 million in legal aid for victims of Katrina and increased funding for the National Hurricane Center.