[StBernard] House unanimously passes evacuation facility reimbursement measure

[Westley Annis]

House unanimously passes evacuation facility reimbursement measure 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives today unanimously passed a bill that could provide additional FEMA reimbursements to the Baton Rouge River Center , BREC, the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center , and the Cajundome in Lafayette thanks to measures proposed by U.S. Rep. Richard H. Baker (R-Baton Rouge).  

H.R. 3247, the “Katrina and Rita Recovery Facilitation Act of 2007,” would allow for the reimbursement of certain costs accrued by facilities that housed evacuees after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Baker, a senior Member of the House Transportation Committee, which has jurisdiction over FEMA, has worked since the storms to address these issues with FEMA and has been a key negotiator on this bill with Members of Congress.  

“These facilities stepped up to help their neighbors in need, and two years later, it is unconscionable that FEMA has not provided adequate reimbursement for their services. FEMA’s assistance to those who rose to the occasion is long overdue,” Baker said. 

The measures proposed by Baker and included within the bill would allow reimbursement for: 1) costs incurred for the repair or restoration of a public facility used to host public events if the facility was damaged as a result of use in conducting response activities for Hurricane Katrina or Rita; 2) costs incurred because response activities for Hurricane Katrina or Rita precluded the normal use of the facility for public events; 3) costs incurred as a result of canceled ticketed events; and 4) reasonable costs incurred for necessary materials provided to evacuees in facilities.  Baker was also pleased the Committee listened to concerns that FEMA did not pay for the use of facilities as shelters and commends the inclusion of language to allow reimbursement for a reasonable rate of rent for their use. 

Other provisions in the bill supported by Baker would: 1) increase the federal contribution for large in-lieu projects, also known as alternate projects, to 90 percent; 2) allow third parties to help resolve disputes in Public Assistance appeals; 3) allow FEMA to provide trailers for volunteers assisting in recovery and reconstruction in the Gulf Coast; and 4) allow FEMA to use simplified procedures for projects up to $100,000 in value. 

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For more news about Congressman Baker, please visit 

www.baker.house.gov <http://www.baker.house.gov/>