[StBernard] House Financial Services Committee passes Gulf Coast Hurricane Recovery Act of 2007; Momentum contin

[Westley Annis]

House Financial Services Committee passes Gulf Coast Hurricane Recovery Act of 2007; Momentum continues on Governor Blanco's Federal Recovery Agenda




Baton Rouge, LA - One month after Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco urged leaders of the new Congress to champion the Gulf Coast recovery effort, legislation tackling a key component of her federal recovery agenda cleared its first hurdle in the House of Representatives. Today members of the House Financial Services Committee approved the Gulf Coast Hurricane Recovery Act of 2007, by Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), which addresses critical federal housing needs for those affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. 

"This bill breaks through federal barriers that are holding our recovery back, specifically freeing up Road Home money from federal red tape," Governor Blanco said. The Gulf Coast Hurricane Recovery Act of 2007 provides for a number of housing needs, including Gov. Blanco's request to convert $1.175 billion in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding for the Road Home program to Community Development Block Grant funds, freeing up federal money from the federal red tape that held it from addressing the state's vital housing needs.

"My thanks to Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA), Congresswoman Waters, and the Committee - especially Louisiana Congressman Richard Baker (R-LA) - and Congressional leaders for making this issue a priority, and I will continue working with Louisiana's delegation, Donald Powell and the Administration to keep this recovery moving."

Today's action comes as the full House of Representatives is poised to debate another recovery bill advancing Gov. Blanco's agenda - the Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Federal Match Relief Act of 2007, introduced by Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC). The Clyburn bill, approved by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee last week, helps Louisiana communities in two ways. First, this legislation waives a provision of the Stafford Act which requires a 25 percent non-federal cost share for certain disaster assistance. Second, the legislation allows for cancellation of the required repayment of the Community Disaster Loans, granting Louisiana's cities and parishes an opportunity for the same forgiveness that other states received after 9/11, Hurricane Andrew, Hurricane Iniki and other major disasters.

Click here <http://www.gov.state.la.us/assets/docs/02.05.07%20LA%20Federal%20Recovery%20Agenda-Final.pdf>  for Gov. Blanco's federal recovery agenda. 

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The Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation
Louisiana's Fund for Louisiana's People
www.louisianahelp.org