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graphic perimeter of the West Bank and Vicinity and Lake
Pontchartrain and Vicinity projects to provide for interior
drainage of runoff from rainfall with a 10 percent annual
exceedance probability: Provided further, That none of this
$4,362,000,000 shall become available for obligation until
October 1, 2008: Provided further, That non-Federal cost
allocations for these projects shall be consistent with the
cost-sharing provisions under which the projects were origi-
nally 
constructed: 
Provided 
further, 
That 
the
$1,315,000,000 non-Federal cost share for these projects
shall be repaid in accordance with provisions of section
103(k) of Public Law 99–662 over a period of 30 years:
Provided further, That the expenditure of funds as provided
above may be made without regard to individual amounts
or purposes except that any reallocation of funds that are
necessary to accomplish the established goals are authorized,
subject to the approval of the House and Senate Committees
on Appropriations: Provided further, That the Secretary of
the Army is directed to use $604,745,000 of the funds ap-
propriated under this heading to provide hurricane and
storm damage reduction, flood damage reduction and eco-
system restoration along the Gulf Coast of Mississippi and
surrounding areas generally as described in the Mobile Dis-
trict Engineer’s Mississippi Coastal Improvements Pro-
gram Comprehensive Plan Report; $173,615,000 shall be
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used for ecosystem restoration projects; $4,550,000 shall be
used for the Moss Point Municipal Relocation project;
$5,000,000 shall be used for the Waveland Floodproofing
project; $150,000 shall be used for the Mississippi Sound
Sub Aquatic Vegetation project; $15,430,000 shall be used
for the Coast-wide Dune Restoration project; $397,000,000
shall be used for the Homeowners Assistance and Relocation
project; and $9,000,000 shall be used for the Forrest Heights
Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction project: Provided
further, That none of this $604,745,000 shall become avail-
able for obligation until October 1, 2008: Provided further,
That these projects shall be initiated only after non-Federal
interests have entered into binding agreements with the Sec-
retary requiring the non-Federal interests to pay 100 per-
cent of the operation, maintenance, repair, replacement,
and rehabilitation costs of the project and to hold and save
the United States free from damages due to the construction
or operation and maintenance of the project, except for
damages due to the fault or negligence of the United States
or its contractors: Provided further, That the $211,661,000
non-Federal cost share for these projects shall be repaid in
accordance with the provisions of section 103(k) of Public
Law 99–662 over a period of 30 years: Provided further,
That the expenditure of funds as provided above may be
made without regard to individual amounts or purposes ex-
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cept that any reallocation of funds that are necessary to
accomplish the established goals are authorized, subject to
the approval of the House and Senate Committees on Ap-
propriations: Provided further, That the Secretary of the
Army is directed to use $66,600,000 of the funds appro-
priated under this heading to address emergency situations
at Corps of Engineers projects and rehabilitate and repair
damages to Corps projects caused by recent natural disas-
ters: Provided further, That the Chief of Engineers, acting
through the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil
Works, shall provide a monthly report to the House and
Senate Committees on Appropriations detailing the alloca-
tion and obligation of these funds, beginning not later than
60 days after enactment of this Act.
MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES
For an additional amount for ‘‘Mississippi River and
Tributaries’’ 
for 
recovery 
from 
natural 
disasters,
$17,700,000, to remain available until expended to repair
damages to Federal projects caused by recent natural disas-
ters.
OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE
For an additional amount for ‘‘Operations and Main-
tenance’’ to dredge navigation channels and repair other
Corps projects related to natural disasters, $338,800,000,
to remain available until expended: Provided, That the
Chief of Engineers, acting through the Assistant Secretary
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of the Army for Civil Works, shall provide a monthly report
to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations de-
tailing the allocation and obligation of these funds, begin-
ning not later than 60 days after enactment of this Act.
FLOOD CONTROL AND COASTAL EMERGENCIES
For an additional amount for ‘‘Flood Control and
Coastal Emergencies’’, as authorized by section 5 of the Act
of August 18, 1941 (33 U.S.C. 701n), for necessary expenses
relating to the consequences of Hurricane Katrina and other
hurricanes, and for recovery from other natural disasters,
$3,368,400,000, to remain available until expended: Pro-
vided, That the Secretary of the Army is directed to use
$2,926,000,000 of the funds appropriated under this head-
ing to modify, at full Federal expense, authorized projects
in southeast Louisiana to provide hurricane and storm
damage reduction and flood damage reduction in the great-
er New Orleans and surrounding areas; $704,000,000 shall
be used to modify the 17th Street, Orleans Avenue, and Lon-
don Avenue drainage canals and install pumps and closure
structures at or near the lakefront; $90,000,000 shall be used
for storm-proofing interior pump stations to ensure the
operability of the stations during hurricanes, storms, and
high water events; $459,000,000 shall be used for armoring
critical elements of the New Orleans hurricane and storm
damage reduction system; $53,000,000 shall be used to im-
prove protection at the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal;
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$456,000,000 shall be used to replace or modify certain non-
Federal levees in Plaquemines Parish to incorporate the lev-
ees into the existing New Orleans to Venice hurricane pro-
tection project; $412,000,000 shall be used for reinforcing
or replacing flood walls, as necessary, in the existing Lake
Pontchartrain and Vicinity project and the existing West
Bank and Vicinity project to improve the performance of
the systems; $393,000,000 shall be used for repair and res-
toration 
of 
authorized 
protections 
and 
floodwalls;
$359,000,000 shall be to complete the authorized protection
for the Lake Ponchartrain and Vicinity Project and for the
West Bank and Vicinity Project: Provided further, That
none of this $2,926,000,000 shall become available for obli-
gation until October 1, 2008: Provided further, That any
project using funds appropriated under this heading shall
be initiated only after non-Federal interests have entered
into binding agreements with the Secretary requiring the
non-Federal interests to pay 100 percent of the operation,
maintenance, repair, replacement, and rehabilitation costs
of the project and to hold and save the United States free
from damages due to the construction or operation and
maintenance of the project, except for damages due to the
fault or negligence of the United States or its contractors:
Provided further, That the Secretary of the Army, within
available funds, is directed to continue the NEPA alter-
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native evaluation of all options with particular attention
to Options 1, 2 and 2a of the report to Congress, dated Au-
gust 30, 2007, provided in response to the requirements of
chapter 3, section 4303 of Public Law 110–28, and within
90 days of enactment of this Act provide the House and
Senate Committees on Appropriations cost estimates to im-
plement Options 1, 2 and 2a of the above cited report: Pro-
vided further, That the expenditure of funds as provided
above may be made without regard to individual amounts
or purposes except that any reallocation of funds that are
necessary to accomplish the established goals are authorized,
subject to the approval of the House and Senate Committees
on Appropriations: Provided further, That $348,000,000 of
the amount provided under this heading shall be used for
barrier island restoration and ecosystem restoration to re-
store historic levels of storm damage reduction to the Mis-
sissippi Gulf Coast: Provided further, That none of this
$348,000,000 shall become available for obligation until Oc-
tober 1, 2008: Provided further, That this work shall be car-
ried out at full Federal expense: Provided further, That the
Secretary of the Army is directed to use $94,400,000 of the
funds appropriated under this heading to support emer-
gency operations, to repair eligible projects nationwide, and
for other activities in response to recent natural disasters:
Provided further, That the Chief of Engineers, acting
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through the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil
Works, shall provide a monthly report to the House and
Senate Committees on Appropriations detailing the alloca-
tion and obligation of these funds, beginning not later than
60 days after enactment of this Act.
GENERAL EXPENSES
For an additional amount for ‘‘General Expenses’’ for
increased efforts by the Mississippi Valley Division to over-
see emergency response and recovery activities related to the
consequences of hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico in 2005,
$1,500,000, to remain available until expended.
CHAPTER 4
GENERAL PROVISIONS—THIS CHAPTER
SEC. 3401. Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, and not later than 30 days after the date of submission
of a request for a single payment, the Federal Emergency
Management Agency shall provide a single payment for any
eligible costs under section 406 of the Robert T. Stafford
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act for any po-
lice station, fire station, or criminal justice facility that
was damaged by Hurricane Katrina of 2005 or Hurricane
Rita of 2005: Provided, That nothing in this section may
be construed to alter the appeal or review process relating
to assistance provided under section 406 of the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act:
Provided further, That the Federal Emergency Management
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Agency shall not reduce the amount of assistance provided
under section 406(c)(1) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act for such facilities.
SEC. 3402. Until such time as the updating of flood
insurance rate maps under section 19 of the Flood Mod-
ernization Act of 2007 is completed (as determined by the
district engineer) for all areas located in the St. Louis Dis-
trict of the Mississippi Valley Division of the Corps of Engi-
neers, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Manage-
ment Agency shall not adjust the chargeable premium rate
for flood insurance under this section for any type or class
of property located in an area in that District nor require
the purchase of flood insurance for any type or class of
property located in an area in that District not subject to
such purchase requirement prior to the updating of such
national flood insurance program rate map: Provided, That
for purposes of this section, the term ‘‘area’’ does not include
any area (or subdivision thereof) that has chosen not to par-
ticipate in the flood insurance program under this section
as of the date of enactment of this Act.
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CHAPTER 5
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
For an additional amount for ‘‘Wildland Fire Man-
agement’’, $125,000,000, to remain available until ex-
pended, of which $100,000,000 is for emergency wildland
fire suppression activities, and of which $25,000,000 is for
rehabilitation and restoration of Federal lands: Provided,
That emergency wildland fire suppression funds are also
available for repayment to other appropriations accounts
from which funds were transferred for wildfire suppression.
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND
For an additional amount for the ‘‘Historic Preserva-
tion Fund’’, for expenses related to the consequences of Hur-
ricane Katrina, $15,000,000, to remain available until ex-
pended: Provided, That the funds provided under this head-
ing shall be provided to the Louisiana State Historic Pres-
ervation Officer, after consultation with the National Park
Service, for grants for restoration and rehabilitation at
Jackson Barracks: Provided further, That no more than 5
percent of funds provided under this heading for disaster
relief grants may be used for administrative expenses.
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
STATE AND TRIBAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS
For an additional amount for ‘‘State and Tribal As-
sistance Grants’’, for expenses related to the consequences
of Hurricane Katrina, $5,000,000, to remain available
until expended, for a grant to Cameron Parish, Louisiana,
for construction of drinking water, wastewater and storm
water infrastructure and for water quality protection: Pro-
vided, That for purposes of this grant, the grantee shall con-
tribute not less than 45 percent of the cost of the project
unless the grantee is approved for a waiver by the Agency.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
FOREST SERVICE
WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT
(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For an additional amount for ‘‘Wildland Fire Man-
agement’’, $325,000,000, to remain available until ex-
pended, of which $250,000,000 shall be available for emer-
gency wildfire suppression, and of which $75,000,000 shall
be available for rehabilitation and restoration of Federal
lands and may be transferred to other Forest Service ac-
counts as necessary: Provided, That emergency wildfire sup-
pression funds are also available for repayment to other ap-
propriations accounts from which funds were transferred
for wildfire suppression.
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CHAPTER 6
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES
CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES
For grants to States, consistent with section
6201(a)(4) of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, to make
payments as defined by the Secretary in the methodology
used for the Provider Stabilization grants to those Medicare
participating general acute care hospitals, as defined in sec-
tion 1886(d) of the Social Security Act, and currently oper-
ating in Jackson, Forrest, Hancock, and Harrison Counties
of Mississippi and Orleans and Jefferson Parishes of Lou-
isiana which continue to experience severe financial exigen-
cies and other economic losses attributable to Hurricane
Katrina or its subsequent flooding, and are in need of sup-
plemental funding to relieve the financial pressures these
hospitals face resulting from increased wage rates in hiring
and retaining staff in order to stabilize access to patient
care, $350,000,000, to be made available until September
30, 2010.
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CHAPTER 7
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, ARMY NATIONAL GUARD
(INCLUDING RESCISSION OF FUNDS)
For an additional amount for ‘‘Military Construction,
Army National Guard’’, $11,503,000, to remain available
until September 30, 2012: Provided, That such funds may
be obligated or expended for planning and design and mili-
tary construction projects not otherwise authorized by law:
Provided further, That of the funds appropriated for ‘‘Mili-
tary Construction, Army National Guard’’ under Public
Law 109–234, $7,000,000 are hereby rescinded.
GENERAL PROVISION—THIS CHAPTER
SEC. 3701. Within the funds available in the Depart-
ment of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund as
credited in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 2883(c), $10,500,000
shall be available for use at the Naval Construction Bat-
talion Center, Gulfport, Mississippi, under the terms and
conditions specified by 10 U.S.C. 2883, to remain available
until expended.
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CHAPTER 8
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
FEDERAL-AID HIGHWAYS
EMERGENCY RELIEF PROGRAM
For an additional amount for the Emergency Relief
Program as authorized under section 125 of title 23, United
States Code, for eligible disasters occurring in fiscal years
2005 to the present, $451,126,383, to remain available until
expended.
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
For the provision of permanent supportive housing
units as identified in the plan of the Louisiana Recovery
Authority and approved by the Secretary of Housing and
Urban Development, $73,000,000 to remain available until
expended, of which not less than $20,000,000 shall be for
project-based vouchers under section 8(o)(13) of the United
States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(13)), not
less than $50,000,000 shall be for grants under the Shelter
Plus Care Program as authorized under subtitle F of title
IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42
U.S.C. 11403 et seq.), and not more than $3,000,000 shall
be for related administrative expenses of the State of Lou-
isiana or its designee or designees: Provided, That the Sec-
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retary of Housing and Urban Development shall, upon re-
quest, make funds available under this paragraph to the
State of Louisiana or its designee or designees: Provided
further, That notwithstanding any other provision of law,
for the purpose of administering the amounts provided
under this paragraph, the State of Louisiana or its designee
or designees may act in all respects as a public housing
agency as defined in section 3(b)(6) of the United States
Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(6)): Provided fur-
ther, That subparagraphs (B) and (D) of section 8(o)(13)
of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C.
1437f(o)(13)) shall not apply with respect to vouchers made
available under this paragraph.
PROJECT-BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE
For an additional amount to areas impacted by Hur-
ricane Katrina in the State of Mississippi for project-based
vouchers under section 8(o)(13) of the United States Hous-
ing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)13)), $20,000,000, to
remain available until expended.
HOUSING TRANSITION ASSISTANCE
For an additional amount to the State of Louisiana
for case management and housing transition services for
families in areas impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and
Rita of 2005, $3,000,000, to remain available until ex-
pended.
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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUND
For an additional amount for the ‘‘Community devel-
opment fund’’ for necessary expenses related to any uncom-
pensated housing damage directly related to the con-
sequences of Hurricane Katrina in the State of Alabama,
$50,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided,
That prior to the obligation of funds the State shall submit
a plan to the Secretary detailing the proposed use of all
funds, including criteria for eligibility and how the use of
these funds will address uncompensated housing damage:
Provided further, That such funds may not be used for ac-
tivities reimbursable by or for which funds are made avail-
able by the Federal Emergency Management Agency: Pro-
vided further, That the State may use up to 5 percent of
its allocation for administrative costs: Provided further,
That in administering the funds under this paragraph, the
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may waive,
or specify alternative requirements for, any provision of
any statute or regulation that the Secretary administers in
connection with the obligation by the Secretary or the use
by the recipient of these funds or guarantees (except for re-
quirements related to fair housing, nondiscrimination,
labor standards, and the environment), upon a request by
the State that such waiver is required to facilitate the use
of such funds or guarantees, and a finding by the Secretary
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that such waiver would not be inconsistent with the overall
purpose of the statute: Provided further, That the Secretary
may waive the requirement that activities benefit persons
of low and moderate income, except that at least 50 percent
of the funds made available under this heading must benefit
primarily persons of low and moderate income unless the
Secretary otherwise makes a finding of compelling need:
Provided further, That the Secretary shall publish in the
Federal Register any waiver of any statute or regulation
that the Secretary administers pursuant to title I of the
Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 no later
than 5 days before the effective date of such waiver.
(RESCISSION)
Of the unobligated balances remaining from funds ap-
propriated under this heading by section 159 of Public Law
110–116 for the Louisiana Road Home program,
$200,000,000 are rescinded.
TITLE IV—VETERANS
EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE
SEC. 4001. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Post-9/11 Veterans Edu-
cational Assistance Act of 2008’’.
SEC. 4002. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) On September 11, 2001, terrorists attacked
the United States, and the brave members of the
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Armed Forces of the United States were called to the
defense of the Nation.
(2) Service on active duty in the Armed Forces
has been especially arduous for the members of the
Armed Forces since September 11, 2001.
(3) The United States has a proud history of of-
fering educational assistance to millions of veterans,
as demonstrated by the many ‘‘G.I. Bills’’ enacted
since World War II. Educational assistance for vet-
erans helps reduce the costs of war, assist veterans in
readjusting to civilian life after wartime service, and
boost the United States economy, and has a positive
effect on recruitment for the Armed Forces.
(4) The current educational assistance program
for veterans is outmoded and designed for peacetime
service in the Armed Forces.
(5) The people of the United States greatly value
military service and recognize the difficult challenges
involved in readjusting to civilian life after wartime
service in the Armed Forces.
(6) It is in the national interest for the United
States to provide veterans who serve on active duty
in the Armed Forces after September 11, 2001, with
enhanced educational assistance benefits that are wor-
thy of such service and are commensurate with the
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educational assistance benefits provided by a grateful
Nation to veterans of World War II.
SEC. 4003. EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR MEMBERS OF
THE ARMED FORCES WHO SERVE AFTER SEP-
TEMBER 11, 2001.
(a) EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Part III of title 38, United
States Code, is amended by inserting after chapter 32
the following new chapter:
‘‘CHAPTER 33—POST–9/11 EDUCATIONAL
ASSISTANCE
‘‘SUBCHAPTER I—DEFINITIONS
‘‘Sec.
‘‘3301. Definitions.
‘‘SUBCHAPTER II—EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE
‘‘3311. Educational assistance for service in the Armed Forces commencing on or
after September 11, 2001: entitlement.
‘‘3312. Educational assistance: duration.
‘‘3313. Educational assistance: amount; payment.
‘‘3314. Tutorial assistance.
‘‘3315. Licensure and certification tests.
‘‘3316. Supplemental educational assistance: members with critical skills or spe-
cialty; members serving additional service.
‘‘3317. Public-private contributions for additional educational assistance.
‘‘3318. Additional assistance: relocation or travel assistance for individual relo-
cating or traveling significant distance for pursuit of a program
of education.
‘‘SUBCHAPTER III—ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
‘‘3321. Time limitation for use of and eligibility for entitlement.
‘‘3322. Bar to duplication of educational assistance benefits.
‘‘3323. Administration.
‘‘3324. Allocation of administration and costs.
‘‘SUBCHAPTER I—DEFINITIONS
‘‘§ 3301. Definitions
‘‘In this chapter: