suffered in the States of Louisiana and Mississippi 
as a result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. 
(2) PRESIDENT.—The term ‘‘President’’ means 
the President acting through the Administrator of 
the Federal Emergency Management Agency. 
(3) STAFFORD ACT.—The term ‘‘Stafford Act’’ 
means the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.). 
SEC. 3. SPECIAL RULES FOR COVERED HURRICANE DAM-
AGES. 
(a) IN LIEU CONTRIBUTIONS.—In providing con-
tributions under section 406(c) of the Stafford Act (42 
U.S.C. 5172(c)) for covered hurricane damages, the Presi-
dent shall substitute 90 percent for the otherwise applica-
ble percentage specified in paragraphs (1)(A) and (2)(A) 
of such section. 
(b) PARTICIPATION
IN
PILOT
PROJECTS.—The 
States of Louisiana and Mississippi and local governments 
in such States shall be eligible to participate in the pilot 
program established by section 689j of the Department 
of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2007 (6 U.S.C. 
777) with respect to covered hurricane damages. 
(c) ALTERNATE
DISPUTE
RESOLUTION
PROCE-
DURES.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding section 423 
of the Stafford Act (42 U.S.C. 5189a) or any regu-
lation, the President is authorized and encouraged to 
use alternate dispute resolution procedures for ap-
peals of decisions made under sections 403, 406, 
and 407 of the Stafford Act (42 U.S.C. 5179b, 
5172, and 5173) regarding the award or denial of 
assistance, or the amount of assistance, provided to 
a State, local government, or owner or operator of 
a private facility for covered hurricane damages. 
(2) DENIALS OF REQUESTS.— 
(A) WRITTEN NOTICE.—If a State, local 
government, or owner or operator of a private 
facility requests the use of alternate dispute 
resolution procedures for an appeal pursuant to 
paragraph (1) and the President denies the re-
quest, the President shall provide to the State, 
local government, or owner or operator written 
notice of the denial, including the reasons for 
the denial. 
(B) QUARTERLY REPORTS.—The President 
shall submit to the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Homeland 
Security and Governmental Affairs of the Sen-
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ate, on at least a quarterly basis, a report con-
taining information on any denial described in 
subparagraph (A) made by the President dur-
ing the period covered by the report, including 
the reasons for the denial. 
(3) APPLICABILITY.—Paragraph (1) shall apply 
to an appeal made by a State, local government, or 
owner or operator of a private facility within 60 
days after the date on which the State, local govern-
ment, or owner or operator is notified of the decision 
that is the subject of the appeal. 
(4) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than one 
year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
President shall submit to the Committee on Trans-
portation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Homeland Secu-
rity and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report 
containing a description of how alternate dispute 
resolution procedures are being used pursuant to 
this subsection and recommendations on whether the 
President should be given the authority to use such 
procedures under the Stafford Act on a permanent 
basis. 
(d) ESSENTIAL ASSISTANCE.—In providing assist-
ance under section 403 of the Stafford Act for covered 
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hurricane damages, the President may provide assistance 
for the re-interment of human remains at a privately- 
owned or privately-owned nonprofit cemetery. 
(e) USE OF SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES.—For covered 
hurricane damages, the President may use, if requested 
by a State or local government or the owner or operator 
of a private nonprofit facility, section 422 of the Stafford 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5189) for a project for which the Federal 
estimate of the cost is less than $100,000. 
(f) USE OF TEMPORARY HOUSING UNITS TO PRO-
VIDE HOUSING TO VOLUNTEERS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—In providing assistance 
under title IV of the Stafford Act (42 U.S.C. 5170 
et seq.) for covered hurricane damages, the Presi-
dent may provide temporary housing units pur-
chased under section 408 of the Stafford Act (42 
U.S.C. 5174) to State and local governments and 
appropriate private nonprofit entities for the purpose 
of providing housing to volunteers assisting in the 
recovery from such damages. 
(2) FEASIBILITY DETERMINATION.—The Presi-
dent may provide temporary housing units for the 
purposes described in paragraph (1) only if the 
President determines that such assistance is appro-
priate, cost effective, and would not unduly interfere 
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with the ability of the Federal Emergency Manage-
ment Agency to provide housing for individuals and 
households with respect to other major disasters. 
(g) CONTRIBUTIONS FOR PUBLIC FACILITIES USED 
TO HOST PUBLIC EVENTS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding sections 
403 and 406 of the Stafford Act (42 U.S.C. 5170b 
and 5172), the President may make contributions to 
the State of Louisiana for— 
(A) costs incurred for the repair or res-
toration of a public facility used to host public 
events if the facility was damaged as a result 
of use in conducting response activities for Hur-
ricane Katrina or Rita; 
(B) costs incurred because response activi-
ties for Hurricane Katrina or Rita precluded 
the normal use of the facility for public events; 
and 
(C) costs incurred for necessary materials 
provided to evacuees in a public facility used to 
host public events. 
(2) LIMITATIONS.— 
(A) CONTRIBUTIONS
FOR
REPAIR
AND 
RESTORATION
COSTS.—Contributions 
made 
under paragraph (1)(A) shall be limited to re-
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pair and restoration costs associated with dam-
ages described in paragraph (1)(A) that oc-
curred— 
(i) in the case of damages related to 
Hurricane Katrina, on or before October 
27, 2005; and 
(ii) in the case of damages related to 
Hurricane Rita, on or before November 23, 
2005. 
(B) CONTRIBUTIONS FOR COSTS INCURRED 
FOR CANCELLED EVENTS.— 
(i) 
EVENT
REQUIREMENTS.—Con-
tributions made under paragraph (1)(B) 
shall be limited to costs that are docu-
mented for an event— 
(I) for which there was a binding 
commitment for use of the facility in 
effect prior to August 29, 2005; and 
(II) that was scheduled to be 
held on or before December 31, 2005, 
at the facility. 
(ii) LOST
REVENUES.—Contributions 
under paragraph (1)(B) shall not be made 
for any lost revenues. 
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