Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Recovery Facilitation Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-3247
Sponsor: Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
Introduced: 2007-07-31 in the House
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Alternative dispute resolution
Cemeteries and funerals
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Disaster relief
Emergency housing
Environmental Protection
Government Operations and Politics
Housing and Community Development
Hurricanes
Law
Leases
Louisiana
Mississippi
Refuse and refuse disposal

Summary:
action_date: 2007-07-31
text: 
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Recovery Facilitation Act of 2007 - Directs the President to increase the amount of federal in-lieu contributions under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act for covered hurricane damages (damages suffered in Louisiana and Mississippi as a result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita) to 90% of the cost of repairing any state or local government controlled property that will be replaced instead of repaired.

Makes Louisiana, Mississippi, and local governments in such states eligible to participate in the pilot program under the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2007 that would increase the federal share of debris removal and financial incentives to expedite recovery project completion. 

Authorizes and encourages the President to use alternate dispute resolution procedures for appeals of decisions made under the Stafford Act regarding the award, denial, or amount of assistance to specified parties for covered hurricane damages.

Authorizes the President, subject to specified limitations, to: (1) provide assistance under the Stafford Act for the re-interment of human remains at a privately-owned for-profit or nonprofit cemetery; (2) use a simplified procedure under that Act, if requested by specified parties, for a project for which the federal estimate of the cost is less than $100,000; (3) provide temporary housing units to state and local governments and private nonprofit entities for volunteers assisting in the recovery; and (4) make contributions to Louisiana for costs incurred with respect to public facilities used to host public events.

action_date: 2007-10-29
text: 
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Recovery Facilitation Act of 2007 - Directs the President to increase the amount of federal contributions under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act in lieu of repairing, restoring, reconstructing, or replacing any facility damaged in Louisiana and Mississippi as a result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to 90% of the federal share of the federal estimate of such cost.

Makes Louisiana, Mississippi, and local governments in such states eligible to participate in the pilot program under the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2007 that would increase the federal share of debris removal and financial incentives to expedite recovery project completion. 

Authorizes and encourages the President to use alternative dispute resolution procedures for appeals of decisions made under the Stafford Act regarding the award, denial, or amount of assistance to specified parties for covered hurricane damages. Directs the President to report to specified congressional committees on how such procedures are being used, with recommendations on whether the President should be given the authority to use such procedures on a permanent basis.

Authorizes the President, subject to specified limitations, to: (1) provide assistance under the Stafford Act for the re-interment of human remains at a privately-owned for-profit cemetery or a nonprofit cemetery; (2) use a simplified procedure under that Act, if requested by specified parties, for a project for which the federal estimate of the cost is less than $100,000; (3) provide temporary housing units for volunteers assisting in the recovery; and (4) make contributions to Louisiana for costs incurred with respect to public facilities used to host public events (including the reasonable costs of renting or leasing a facility that was used for conducting response activities for Hurricane Katrina or Rita between August 29, 2005, and January 6, 2006).

Authorizes: (1) a project for covered hurricane damages initiated by Louisiana or Mississippi between August 29, 2005, and this Act's enactment date to contribute toward the nonfederal share of hazard mitigation assistance under the Stafford Act if the project complies with all applicable federal laws governing such assistance and otherwise is eligible to contribute to the nonfederal share, notwithstanding any requirement for presidential approval; and (2) Louisiana and Mississippi to submit an application to the President under the Stafford Act with respect to any such project.

action_date: 2008-09-18
text: 
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Recovery Facilitation Act of 2008 - Directs the President to increase the amount of federal in-lieu contributions under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act for covered hurricane damages suffered in Louisiana or Mississippi as a result of Hurricanes Katrina or Rita to 90% of the cost of repairing any state or local government controlled property that will be replaced instead of repaired.

Makes a pilot program established under the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2007 that was designed to make better use of existing rental housing located in areas covered by a major disaster declaration applicable to any assistance being provided under any major disaster declaration relating to Hurricanes Katrina or Rita that otherwise qualifies for participation under such program.

Authorizes and encourages the President to use alternative dispute resolution (ADR) procedures for an appeal of a decision made under the Stafford Act regarding assistance provided to a state, local government, or owner or operator of a private facility for covered hurricane damages for a project the total assistance for which exceeds $500,000. Directs the President to: (1) provide written notice of and the reasons for the denial of any request by a state, local government, or owner or operator of a private facility to use ADR procedures for an appeal; (2) report to specified congressional committees annually on denials; and (3) report to such committees within one year on how ADR procedures are being used under this Act and on whether the President should be given authority to use such procedures under the Stafford Act on a permanent basis.

Permits the President to use simplified procedures under the Stafford Act for a project for which the federal cost estimate is less than $100,000 for covered damages if requested by a state or local government or an owner or operator of a private nonprofit facility. 

Authorizes the President, in providing assistance under the Stafford Act for covered hurricane damages, to provide temporary housing units purchased under that Act that are determined through appropriate testing to be safe for occupancy to state and local governments and private nonprofit entities to provide housing to volunteers assisting in the recovery (but only upon determining that such assistance is appropriate, cost effective, and would not unduly interfere with the ability of the Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA] to provide housing with respect to other major disasters). 

Requires the President to report to specified congressional committees regarding the status of recovery for Louisiana and Mississippi from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

(Sec. 4) Directs the President, within 30 days after submission of a request, to provide a single payment for eligible costs under the Stafford Act for a fire station, police station, or criminal justice facility damaged by Hurricanes Katrina or Rita. Prohibits the President from reducing the amount of: (1) federal in-lieu assistance provided under the Stafford Act for such a facility; or (2) flood assistance provided to a local government under that Act more than once for each such facility for which that local government is receiving assistance relating to Hurricane Katrina or Rita.

Authorizes the President to provide case management services or assistance for victims of any major disaster relating to Hurricanes Katrina or Rita.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 1031.
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Lieberman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-471.
action_date: 2008-09-18
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Lieberman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-471.
action_date: 2008-04-10
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2007-10-30
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2007-10-29
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2007-10-29
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H12124-12125)
action_date: 2007-10-29
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H12124-12125)
action_date: 2007-10-29
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3247.
action_date: 2007-10-29
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H12124-12128)
action_date: 2007-10-29
text: Ms. Norton moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2007-10-18
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 241.
action_date: 2007-10-18
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation. H. Rept. 110-387.
action_date: 2007-10-18
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation. H. Rept. 110-387.
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2007-08-02
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2007-08-01
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2007-08-01
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2007-08-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
action_date: 2007-07-31
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2007-07-31
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-07-31
text: Introduced in House