II 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1846 

To provide assistance to rebuild communities, schools, and hospitals damaged 

by Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

OCTOBER 6, 2005 

Ms. LANDRIEU introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 

referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 

A BILL 

To provide assistance to rebuild communities, schools, and 

hospitals damaged by Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane 

Rita, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. COMMUNITY DISASTER LOANS; PUBLIC ASSIST4 ANCE ALLOWABLE COSTS. 

5 (a) DEFINITION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.—In this 

6 section: 

7 (1) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘local govern8 ment’’ means a local government (as defined in sec9 tion 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 

10 and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122)), 
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•S 1846 IS

1 that has suffered a loss of tax or other revenue as 

2 a result of a major disaster described in subsection 

3 (b). 

4 (2) INCLUSION.—The term ‘‘local government’’ 

5 includes a sheriff department in the State of Lou6 isiana that has suffered a loss of tax or other rev7 enue as a result of a major disaster described in 

8 subsection (b). 

9 (b) WAIVER.—Notwithstanding any other provision 

10 of law, no limitation on the amount or percentage of as11 sistance that may be provided in the form of a community 

12 disaster loan under section 417(b) of the Robert T. Staf13 ford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 

14 U.S.C. 5184(b)) shall apply to any community disaster 

15 loan made under section 417 of that Act to assist any local 

16 government having jurisdiction over an area in which a 

17 major disaster relating to Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane 

18 Rita was declared to exist by the President in accordance 

19 with section 401 of that Act (42 U.S.C. 5170). 

20 (c) PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ALLOWABLE COSTS.—Not21 withstanding any other provision of law, no prohibition or 

22 limitation on reimbursement of salaries (including section 

23 206.228(a)(4) of title 44, Code of Federal Regulations (or 

24 a successor regulation)) shall apply with respect to reim25 bursement of straight- and regular-time salaries of public 
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•S 1846 IS

1 personnel that provide, on or after August 29, 2005, es2 sential public services in the State of Louisiana on behalf 

3 of that State. 

4 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

5 are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 

6 $1,500,000,000 for fiscal year 2006. 

7 SEC. 2. FUNDING. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi9 sion of law, of the amounts made available to the Depart10 ment of Homeland Security under the heading ‘‘DISASTER

11 RELIEF’’ under the heading ‘‘EMERGENCY PRE12 PAREDNESS AND RESPONSE’’ of Public Law 109– 

13 62 (119 Stat. 1991), not less than $1,500,000,000 shall 

14 be available to the heads of the appropriate departments 

15 or agencies of the Federal Government to carry out the 

16 programs and activities authorized under this Act. 

17 (b) AVAILABLE UNTIL EXPENDED.—The amounts 

18 appropriated under subsection (a) shall remain available 

19 until expended. 

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