(ii) to eliminate an immediate threat, 
as determined by the Secretary, of signifi-
cant damage to public or private property; 
(iii) to ensure the economic recovery 
of the community affected by the emer-
gency or major disaster to the benefit of 
the community and any other community, 
as determined by the Secretary; or 
(iv) to ensure the provision of tem-
porary public transportation service in the 
community affected by the emergency or 
major disaster pursuant to section 419 of 
the Robert T. Stafford Disaster and Emer-
gency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5186); 
(B) an action taken by an applicant before, 
during, or after an emergency or major disaster 
that is necessary— 
(i) to eliminate or reduce an imme-
diate threat, as determined by the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security, to human 
life, public health, or safety; or 
(ii) to eliminate or reduce an imme-
diate hazard, as determined by the Sec-
retary, that threatens significant damage 
to public or private property; or
(C) any other claim that the Secretary of 
Homeland Security determines to be appro-
priate. 
(3) EMERGENCY.—The term ‘‘emergency’’ has 
the meaning given the term in section 102 of the 
Robert T. Stafford Disaster and Emergency Assist-
ance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122). 
(4) MAJOR DISASTER.—The term ‘‘major dis-
aster’’ has the meaning given the term in section 
102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster and Emer-
gency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122). 
(b) EXPEDITED PAYMENTS AUTHORIZED.—Notwith-
standing the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) (in-
cluding any regulation promulgated pursuant to that Act), 
the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the 
Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 
shall pay to an eligible applicant, in accordance with sub-
section (c), 50 percent of the Federal share of assistance 
that the applicant is eligible to receive under section 
403(b), 407(d), or 503 of that Act (42 U.S.C. 5170b(b), 
5173(d), 5193). 
(c) DATE OF PAYMENT.—A claim described in sub-
section (b) shall be paid not later than 60 days after the
date on which the applicant files an eligible claim for as-
sistance. 
SEC. 207. REQUIREMENT TO ENSURE DEBRIS CLEARANCE, 
REMOVAL, AND DISPOSAL FROM EMERGENCY 
ACCESS ROADS. 
(a) DEFINITION OF EMERGENCY ACCESS ROAD.—In 
this section, the term ‘‘emergency access road’’ means a 
road that requires access by emergency personnel, includ-
ing firefighters, police, emergency medical personnel, or 
any other entity identified by the Secretary of Homeland 
Security that provides an emergency service after a dec-
laration of an emergency or major disaster (as defined in 
section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122)). 
(b) REQUIREMENT.—Any reimbursement authorized 
under section 407 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Re-
lief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5173) for 
clearing and removing debris shall include reimbursement 
for clearing, removing, and disposing of debris from any 
emergency access road.
SEC. 208. INCLUSION OF DEBRIS REMOVAL FROM PRIVATE 
LAND AS ELIGIBLE CLAIM FOR FEDERAL AS-
SISTANCE. 
Section 408(c)(2)(A) of the Robert T. Stafford Dis-
aster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5174(c)(2)(A)) is amended— 
(1) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(2) in clause (ii), by striking the period at the 
end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by inserting after clause (ii) the following: 
‘‘(iii) the removal, clearance, and dis-
posal of debris from private property that 
is the result of an emergency or major dis-
aster.’’. 
SEC. 209. STAFFORD ACT WAIVER. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting 
through the Director of the Federal Emergency Manage-
ment Agency (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Sec-
retary’’), shall directly reimburse, on an ongoing basis, all 
costs associated with the restoration, reconstruction, reha-
bilitation, or installation of privately-owned utility infra-
structure damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, in-
cluding— 
(1) electric transmission, distribution, genera-
tion, and related electric infrastructure facilities in
the State of Louisiana (including the city of New 
Orleans); and 
(2) natural gas distribution facilities in Lou-
isiana. 
(b) DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.— 
(1) DOCUMENTATION.—The Secretary shall 
provide reimbursement under this section directly to 
the affected, privately-owned utilities upon receipt of 
reasonable documentation of costs and expenses in-
curred by the utilities. 
(2) PRESUMPTION AND DISTRIBUTION.—In the 
absence of a finding of good cause, the Secretary 
shall— 
(A) presume documentation received under 
paragraph (1) not later than December 1, 
2005, to be valid; and 
(B) distribute funds in accordance with 
this section not later than December 31, 2005. 
(3) LATE RECEIPT OF DOCUMENTATION.—To 
the extent that documentation is received by the 
Secretary under paragraph (1) after December 1, 
2005, in the absence of a finding of good cause, the 
Secretary shall— 
(A) presume the documentation to be valid; 
and
(B) distribute funds in accordance with 
this section not later than 60 days after the 
date of receipt of the documentation. 
(4) FINDING OF GOOD CAUSE.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—In carrying out this 
subsection, the Secretary shall— 
(i) have a 5-day period, beginning on 
the date of receipt of documentation under 
paragraph (2) or (3), to make a finding of 
good cause to withhold funds under this 
section with respect to the whole or partial 
adequacy of the documentation; and 
(ii) immediately provide notice of such 
a finding to the privately-owned utility that 
submitted the documentation. 
(B) CONTENTS OF NOTICE; WITHHOLDING 
OF FUNDS.—The Secretary— 
(i) shall include in a notice provided 
under subparagraph (A)(ii) a specific de-
scription of the supplemental documenta-
tion required to address the finding of 
good cause with respect to the documenta-
tion originally submitted; and 
(ii) shall not withhold distribution of 
funds under this section with respect to
any portion of a submission of documenta-
tion under paragraph (2) or (3) that is not 
subject to a finding of good cause by the 
Secretary. 
(C) PROVISION OF SUPPLEMENTAL DOCU-
MENTATION.—A privately-owned utility shall 
have a 5-day period, beginning on the date of 
receipt of notice of a finding of good cause 
under subparagraph (A)(ii), to provide supple-
mental documentation. 
(D) DISTRIBUTION AFTER RECEIPT.—The 
Secretary shall have a 15-day period, beginning 
on the date of receipt of appropriate supple-
mental documentation under subparagraph (C), 
to distribute funds under this section. 
(c) NO EFFECT ON OTHER ASSISTANCE.—No dis-
tribution of funds under this section shall reduce or other-
wise affect the amount of any other funds or assistance 
provided to the State of Louisiana (including the city of 
New Orleans) in connection with Hurricane Katrina under 
any other provision of law.
Subtitle B—Providing Information 
and Assistance to Hurricane 
Katrina Evacuees 
SEC. 211. USE OF DISASTER RELIEF AND EMERGENCY AS-
SISTANCE 
FUNDS 
BY 
INDIVIDUALS 
AND 
HOUSEHOLDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland 
Security shall establish a review system to ensure that 
Federal assistance to individuals and households for dis-
aster relief and emergency assistance under section 408 
of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174) or any other provision 
of law, is used by individuals and households only for pur-
poses authorized by that section or provision. 
(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE ON PROHIBITION OF 
USE.—It is the sense of the Senate that no Federal assist-
ance (including Federal funds) to individuals and house-
holds for disaster relief and emergency assistance under 
section 408 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174) or any other 
provision of law should be used for gambling purposes in 
any gambling establishment or for purchase of non-
essential items, including tobacco products or alcoholic 
beverages.
Subtitle C—Emergency 
Preparedness and Response 
SEC. 221. CREATION OF REGIONAL AND FIELD OFFICE FA-
CILITIES FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HOME-
LAND SECURITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 365 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland 
Security shall establish consolidated and co-located re-
gional offices for the Department of Homeland Security, 
in accordance with section 706 of the Homeland Security 
Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 346), that will— 
(1) enable a rapid, robust, and coordinated 
Federal response to threats and incidents; 
(2) enhance all-hazards preparedness across the 
United States with respect to terrorism, natural dis-
asters, and other emergencies; 
(3) provide integrated capabilities among the 
Department of Homeland Security, other Federal 
agencies, and State and local governments; 
(4) maximize cost savings and efficiencies 
through the establishment of regional offices at cur-
rent Department of Homeland Security agency re-
gional structures with contiguous multi-State oper-
ations; and
(5) give priority consideration to the New Orle-
ans Federal City for the placement of a regional 
headquarters. 
(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 120 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Homeland Security shall submit a report to Congress de-
tailing plans, locations, and cost estimates for the creation 
of a nationwide network of regional offices, in accordance 
with this section. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, 
$50,000,000, to remain available until expended. 
SEC. 222. APPROPRIATION FOR INTEROPERABLE COMMU-
NICATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—For an additional amount for 
interoperable communications, $600,000,000 to remain 
available until expended, for discretionary and formula- 
based grants for State and local programs administered 
by the State Homeland Security Grant Program in the 
Office of State and Local Government Coordination and 
Preparedness, for technical assistance and guidance to de-
sign, install, and operate comprehensive and effective 
interoperable communications systems: Provided, That of 
the sums made available under this heading, communica-
tions systems: $600,000,000 shall be available only to the
Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement for imple-
mentation of the Louisiana Totally Interoperable Environ-
ment (LATIE) plan. 
(b) GUIDANCE AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The 
Office for Interoperability and Compatibility of the De-
partment of Homeland Security shall provide guidance 
and technical assistance to grant recipients to best utilize 
grant funds under this section. 
SEC. 223. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE UNDER SECRETARY 
FOR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RE-
SPONSE. 
Section 502 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 
(6 U.S.C. 312) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (6), by striking ‘‘and’’ after 
the semicolon; 
(2) in paragraph (7), by striking the period and 
inserting a colon; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(8) designing, developing, performing, and 
evaluating disaster preparedness exercises at the Na-
tional, State, territorial, regional, local, and tribal 
levels of government; and 
‘‘(9) ensuring that such exercises test the capa-
bility of the Nation to prevent, prepare for, respond 
to, and recover from natural disasters.’’.
SEC. 224. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE REPORT 
ON 
FEDERAL 
FUNDS 
FOR 
HURRICANE 
KATRINA RECOVERY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Every calendar quarter, the Gov-
ernment Accountability Office shall submit a report to 
Congress on the expenditure and obligation of funds made 
from appropriations Acts for Hurricane Katrina recovery 
activities. Each report shall include any fraud, abuse, 
waste, or mismanagement of such funds. 
(b) FIRST REPORT.—The first report under this sec-
tion shall be submitted for the first complete calendar 
quarter occurring after the date of enactment of this Act. 
TITLE III—INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS 
RELIEF AND RECOVERY 
Subtitle A—Housing Relief 
SEC. 301. HOUSING VOUCHERS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the 
‘‘Helping to House the Victims of Hurricane Katrina Act 
of 2005’’. 
(b) HURRICANE KATRINA EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE 
VOUCHERS.—Section 8(o) of the United States Housing 
Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(20) HURRICANE KATRINA
EMERGENCY
AS-
SISTANCE VOUCHERS.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—During the 6-month 
period beginning on the date of enactment of 
the Helping to House the Victims of Hurricane 
Katrina Act of 2005, the Secretary shall pro-
vide temporary rental assistance to any indi-
vidual or family, if— 
‘‘(i) the individual or family resides, 
or resided on August 29, 2005, in any area 
that is subject to a declaration by the 
President of a major disaster or emergency 
under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Re-
lief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) in connection with 
Hurricane Katrina; and 
‘‘(ii) the residence of the individual or 
family became uninhabitable or inaccessible 
as result of that major disaster or emer-
gency. 
‘‘(B) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 30 
days after the date of enactment of the Helping 
to House the Victims of Hurricane Katrina Act 
of 2005, the Secretary shall issue final rules to 
establish the procedures applicable to the 
issuance of assistance under subparagraph (A).
‘‘(C) NOTICE.—The Secretary, in consulta-
tion with the Director of the Federal Emer-
gency Management Agency and such other 
agencies as the Secretary determines appro-
priate, shall establish procedures for providing 
notice of the availability of assistance under 
this paragraph to individuals or families that 
may be eligible for such assistance. 
‘‘(D) AUTHORITY
TO
CONTRACT
WITH 
PHA’S AND OTHERS.—The Secretary may con-
tract with any State or local government agency 
or public housing agency, or in consultation 
with any State or local government agency, with 
any other entity, to ensure that assistance pay-
ments under this paragraph are provided in an 
efficient and expeditious manner. 
‘‘(E) WAIVER
OF
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIRE-
MENTS.—In providing assistance under this 
paragraph, the Secretary shall waive the re-
quirements under— 
‘‘(i) paragraph (2), relating to tenant 
contributions towards rent, except that any 
such waiver shall expire on an individual’s 
return to work;
100 
‘‘(ii) paragraph (4), relating to the eli-
gibility of individuals to receive assistance; 
‘‘(iii) subsection (k) and paragraph 
(5) 
of 
this 
subsection, 
relating 
to 
verification of income; 
‘‘(iv) paragraph (7)(A), relating to the 
requirement that leases shall be for a term 
of 1 year; 
‘‘(v) paragraph (8), relating to initial 
inspection of housing units by a public 
housing agency; and 
‘‘(vi) subsection (r)(1)(B), relating to 
restrictions on portability. 
‘‘(F) USE
OF
FUNDS.—Notwithstanding 
any other provision of law, funds available for 
assistance under this paragraph— 
‘‘(i) shall be made available by the 
Secretary to individuals to cover the cost 
of— 
‘‘(I) rent; 
‘‘(II) security and utility depos-
its; 
‘‘(III) relocation expenses, includ-
ing expenses incurred in relocating
101 
back to the major disaster area when 
such relocation is permitted; and 
‘‘(IV) such additional expenses as 
the Secretary determines necessary; 
and 
‘‘(ii) shall be used by the Secretary— 
‘‘(I) for payments to public hous-
ing agencies, State or local govern-
ment agencies, or other voucher ad-
ministrators for vouchers used to as-
sist individuals or families affected by 
the major disaster or emergency de-
scribed in this paragraph up to their 
authorized level of vouchers, if any 
such vouchers are not otherwise fund-
ed; and 
‘‘(II) to provide operating sub-
sidies to public housing agencies for 
public housing units provided to indi-
viduals or families affected by the 
major disaster or emergency described 
in this paragraph, if such a subsidy 
was not previously provided for those 
units.