An Act to provide assistance to the State of California for the reconstruction of areas damaged by recent storms, floods, landslides, and high waters
PL 91-79 (H.R.6508), enacted 10/01/1969

83 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-79-OCT. 1, 1969 
125 
Public Law 91-78 
JOINT RESOLUTION 
SeptemberSO, 1969 
To provide for the temporary extension of rural housing programs and Federal 
[s.j. Res. 152] 
Housing Administration insurance authority, and to extend the period during 
which the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may establish maxi-
mum interest rates on insured loans. 
Resolved hy the Senate and House of Representatwes 
of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled^ That sections 513,515(b) (5), 
p°srp!'398. 
and 517(a) (1) of the Housing Act of 1949 are amended respectively 
by striking out "October 1,1969", wherever it appears in such sections, 
and inserting in lieu thereof "January 1, 1970". 
SEC. 2. (a) Section 2(a) of the National Housing Act is amended 
^°^^' P- ^^^• 
by striking out "October 1, 1969" in the first sentence and inserting in 
lieu thereof "January 1, 1970". 
(b) Section 217 of such Act is amended by striking out "October 1, 
1969" and inserting in lieu thereof "January 1, 1970". 
(c) Section 221(f) of such Act is amended by striking out "October 
1, 1969" in the fifth sentence and inserting in lieu thereof "January 
1,1970". 
(d) Section 809(f) of such Act is amended by striking out "October 
1,1969" in the second sentence and inserting in lieu thereof "January 
1,1970". 
(e) Section 810(k) of such Act is amended by striking out "October 
1,1969" in the second sentence and inserting in lieu thereof "January 1, 
1970". 
(f) Section 1002(a) of such Act is amended by striking out "October 
1, 1969" in the second sentence and inserting in lieu thereof "January 
1,1970". 
(g) Section 1101 (a) of such Act is amended by striking out "October 
1, 1969" in the second sentence and inserting in lieu thereof "January 
1,1970". 
SEC. 3. Section 3 (a) of the Act of May 7,1968 (Public Law 90-301), 
^°^'' P- ^'^'^^ 
is amended by striking out "October 1, 1969" and inserting in lieu 
thereof "January 1,1970". 
Approved September 30, 1969. 
Public Law 91-79 
AN ACT 
October 1,1969 
To provide additional assistance for the reconstruction of areas damaged by 
[H. R. 65 08] 
major disasters. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That Congress hereby Acf/of^geg^^"^^ 
recognizas that a number of States have experienced extensive prop-
erty loss and damage as a result of recent major disasters including, 
but not limited to, hurricanes, storms, floods, and high waters and 
126 
PUBLIC LAW 91-79-OCT. 1, 1969 
[83 STAT. 
Highway repairs. 
Timber sale 
contracts. 
Cancellation 
authority. 
Public notice 
of sale. 
30 Stat. 35; 
31 Stat. 661. 
Public land 
entry men. 
wmJ-driven waters and that there 5 a need for special measures 
designed to aid and accelerate the efforts of these affected States to 
reconstruct and rehabilitate the devastated areas. 
SEC. 2. The President is authorized to allocate funds hereafter appro-
priated to carry out this section to those States affected by a major dis-
aster for the permanent repair and reconstruction of those permanent 
street, road, and highway facilities not on any of the Federal-aid sys-
tems which were destroyed or damaged as a result of such a major 
disaster. No funds shall be allocated under this section for repair or 
reconstruction of such a street, road, or highway facility unless the 
affected State agrees to pay not less than 50 per centum of all costs of 
such repair or reconstruction. 
SEC. 3. (a) Where an existing timber sale contract between the Secre-
tary of Agriculture or the Secretary of the Interior and a timber pur-
chaser does not provide relief from major physical change not due 
to negligence of the purchaser prior to approval of construction of 
any section of specified road or other specified development facility 
and, as a result of a maj'or disaster in an affected State a major physical 
change results in additional construction work in connection with such 
road or facility by such purchaser with an estimated cost as deter-
mined by the appropriate Secretary (1) of more than $1,000 for sales 
under one million board feet, or (2) of more than $1 per thousand 
board feet for sales of one to three million board feet, or (3) of 
more than $3,000 for sales over three million board feet, such increased-
construction cost shall be borne by the United States. 
(b) Where the Secretary determines that damages are so great that 
restoration, reconstruction, or construction is not practical under the 
cost-sharing arrangement authorized by subsection (a) of this sec-
tion, the Secretary may allow cancellation of the contract notwith-
standing provisions therein. 
(c) The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to reduce to seven 
days the minimum period of advance public notice required by the 
first section of the Act of June 4, 1897 (16 U.S.C. 476), in connection 
with the sale of timber from national forests, whenever the Secretary 
determines that (1) the sale of such timber will assist in the recon-
struction of any area of an affected State damaged by a major disaster, 
(2) the sale of such timber will assist in sustaining the economy of such 
affected area, or (3) the sale of such timber is necessary to salvage the 
value of timber damaged in such major disaster or to protect undam-
aged timber. 
(d) The President, whenever he determines it to be in the public 
interest, and acting through the Director of the Office of Emergency 
Preparedness, is authorized to make grants to any State or political 
subdivision thereof, for the purpose of removing from privately owned 
lands timber damaged as a result of a major disaster and such State 
or political subdivision is authorized, upon application, to make pay-
ments to any person for reimbursement of expenses actually incurred 
by such person in the removal of damaged timber, but not to exceed 
the amount that such expenses exceed the salvage value^f such timber. 
SEC. 4. The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to give any public 
land entryman such additional time in which to comply with any 
requirement of law" in connection with any public land entry for lands 
in any State affected by a major disaster as the Secretary finds appro-
SBA disaster 
loans. 
72 Stat. 387. 
83 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-79-OCT. 1, 1969 
, 
127] 
priatel)ecause of interference^with the entryman's ability to comply 
with such requirement as a result of such major'disaster. 
SEC. 5. The last paragraph under the center heading "Administra- 
^Q^^^I\- ^Q^Q 
tive Provisions" in title II of the Public Works Appropriation Act, 
1967 (Public Law 89-689), is hereby repealed. 
SEC. 6. In the administration of the disaster loan program under 
section 7(b)(1) of the Small Business Act, as amended (15 U.S.C. 
636(b)), m the case of property loss or damage in any affected State 
resulting from a major disaster the Small Business Administration— 
(1) to the extent such loss or damage is not compensated for 
by insurance or otherwise, (A) shall at the borrower's option on 
that part of any loan in excess of $500 cancel (i) the interest due 
on the loan, or (ii) the principal of the loan, or (iii) any combi-
nation of such interest or principal except that the total amount so 
canceled shall not exceed $1,800, and (B) may defer interest pay-
ments or principal payments, or both, in whole or in part, on such 
loan during the first three years of the term of the loan w^ithout 
regard to the ability of the borrower to make such payments. 
(2) may grant any loan for the repair, rehabilitation, or replace-
ment of property damaged or destroyed, without regard to 
whether the required financial assistance is otherwise available 
from private sources, except that (A) any loan made under 
authority of this paragraph shall bear interest at a rate equal to 
the average annual interest rate on all interest-bearing obligations 
of the United States having maturities of 20 years or more and 
forming a part of the public debt as computed at the end of the 
fiscal year next preceding the date of the loan, adjusted to the 
nearest one-eighth of one per centum, and (B) no part of any loan 
made under authority of this paragraph shall be eligible for can-
cellation or deferral as authorized in paragraph (1) of this 
section. 
(3) may in the case of the total destruction or substantial prop-
erty damage of a home or business concern refinance any mortgage 
or other liens outstanding against the destroyed or damaged prop-
erty if such financing is for the repair, rehabilitation, or replace-
ment of property damaged or destroyed as a result of such disaster 
and any such refinancing shall be subject to the provisions of 
paragraphs (1) and (2) of this section. 
SEC. 7. In the administration of the emergency loan program under 
subtitle C of the Consolidated Farmers Home Administration Act 
of 1961, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1961-1967), in the case of property loss 
or damage in smy affected State resulting from a major disaster the 
Secretary of Agriculture— 
(1) to the extent such loss or damage is not compensated for by 
insurance or otherwise, (A) shall at the borrower's option on that 
part of any loan in excess of $500 cancel (i) the interest due on the 
loan, or (ii) the principal of the loan, or (iii) any combination of 
such interest or principal except that the total amount so cancelled 
shall not exceed $1,800, and (B) may defer interest payments or 
principal payments, or both, in whole or in part, on such loan dur-
ing the first three years of the term of the loan without regard to 
the ability of the borrower to make such payments, 
(2) may grant any loan for the repair, rehabilitation, or replace-
ment of property damaged or destroyed, without regard to 
whether the required financial assistance is otherwise available 
Emergency 
farm loans. 
75 Stat. 311. 
128 
PUBLIC LAW 91-79-OCT. 1, 1969 
[83 STAT. 
State disaster 
relief programs, 
development. 
" S t a t e . " 
State agency, 
designation. 
Report to 
Congress. 
Federal 
coordinating 
officer. 
Appointment. 
Temporary 
dwellings. 
from private sources, except that (A) any loan made under 
authority of this paragraph shall bear interest at a rate equal to 
the average annual interest rate on all interest-bearing obliga-
tions of the United States having maturities of 20 years or more 
and forming a part of the public debt as computed at the end of 
the fiscal year next preceding the date of the loan, adjusted to the 
nearest one-eighth of one per centum, and (B) no part of any 
loan made under authority of this paragraph shall be eligible for 
cancellation or deferral as authorized in paragraph (1) of this 
section. 
(3) may in the case of the total destruction or substantial prop-
erty damage of a home or business concern refinance any mortgage 
or other liens outstanding against the destroyed or damaged prop-
erty if such financing is for the repair, rehabilitation, or replace-
ment of property damaged or destroyed as a result of such disaster 
and any such refinancing shall be subject to the provisions of par-
agraphs (1) and (2) of this section. 
SEC. 8. (a) The President is authorized to provide assistance to the 
States in developing comprehensive plans and practicable programs 
for assisting individuals suffering losses as the result of a major disas-
ter. For the purposes of this section, the term "State" includes the Dis-
trict of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin 
Islands, the territory of Guam, American Samoa, and the Trust Terri-
tory of the Pacific Islands. 
(b) The President is authorized to make grants not to exceed $250,000 
to any State, upon application therefor, in an amount not to exceed 
50 per centum of the cost of developing the plans and programs 
referred to in subsection (a). 
(c) Any State desiring assistance under this section shall designate 
or create an agency which is specially qualified to plan and administer 
such a disaster relief program, and shall, through such agency, submit 
a State plan to the President not later than December 31, 1970, w^iich 
shall (1) set forth a comprehensive and detailed State program for 
assistance to individuals suffering losses as a result of a major disaster 
and (2) include provision for the appointment of a State coordinating 
officer to act in cooperation with the Federal coordinating officer 
required by section 9 of this Act. 
(d) The President shall prescribe such rules and regulations as he 
deems necessary for the effective coordination and administration 
of this section. 
(e) Upon the submission of such plans the President is authorized 
to report and recommend to the Congress, from time to time, programs 
for the Federal role in the implementation and funding of comprehen-
sive disaster relief plans, and such other recommendations relating to 
the Federal role in disaster relief activities as he deems warranted. 
SEC. 9. The President shall, immediately upon his designation of an 
area as a major disaster area, appoint a Federal coordinating officer to 
operate under the Office of Emergency Preparedness in such area. 
Such officer shall be responsible for the coordination of all Federal dis-
aster relief and assistance, shall establish such field offices as may be 
necessary for the rapid and efficient administration of Federal disaster 
relief programs, and shall otherw^ise assist local citizens and public 
officials in promptly obtaining assistance to which they are entitled. 
SEC. 10. (a) The President is authorized to provide on a temporary 
basis, as prescribed in this section, dwelling accommodations for indi-
viduals and families displaced by a major disaster. 
83 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-79-OCT. 1, 1969 
129 
(b) The President is authorized to provide such accommodations 
by (1) using any unoccupied housing owned by the United States 
under any program of the Federal Government, (2) arranging with a 
local public housing agency for using unoccupied public housing units, 
(3) acquiring existing dwellings through leasing, or (4) acquiring 
mobile homes or other readily fabricated dwellings, through leasing, 
to be placed on sites furnished by the State or local government or by 
the owner-occupant displaced by the major disaster, with no site 
charge being made. Rentals shall be established for such accommoda-
tions, under such rules and regulations as the President may prescribe 
and shall take into consideration the financial ability of the occupant. 
In cases of financial hardship, rentals may be compromised, adjusted, 
or waived for a period not to exceed twelve months, but in no case shall 
any such individual or family be required to incur a monthly housing 
expense (including any fixed expense relating to the amortization of 
debt ownng on a house destroyed or damaged in a major disaster) 
which is in excess of 25 per centum of the individual's or family's 
monthly income. 
(c) Dwelling accommodations may be made available under this 
section only to an individual who, or family which, as certified by such 
authority as may be designated by the President, had occupied a dwell-
ing, as owner or tenant, that had been destroyed, or damaged to such 
an extent as to make it uninhabitable, as a result of such major disaster. 
SEC. 11. (a) Whenever, as the result of a major disaster, the Presi- aifo°^'^nt°s"^°" 
dent determines that low-income households are unable to purchase 
adequate amounts of nutritious food, he is authorized, under such 
terms and conditions as he may prescribe, to distribute through the 
Secretary of Agriculture coupon allotments to such households pur-
suant to provisions of the Food Stamp Act of 1964 and to make surplus 
7^us'c*2oTf' 
commodities available pursuant to the provisions of section 3 of Public note. 
Law 875 of the Eighty-first Congress. 
67^stft^\' ^^^^'' 
(b) The President is authorized to continue through the Secretary 
42 use isssb. 
of Agriculture to make such coupon allotments and surplus com-
modities available to such households for so long as he determines 
necessary, taking into consideration such factors as he deems appro-
priate, including the consequences of the major disaster on the earning 
power of the households to which assistance is made availab^.e under 
this section. 
(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed as amending or other-
wise changing the provisions of the Food Stamp Act of 1964 except as 
it relates to a Presidential determination regardmg availability of food 
stamps in a major disaster. 
SEC. 12. The President is authorized to provide to any individual 
unemployment 
unemployed as a result of a major disaster, such assistance as he deems 
appropriate while such individual is unemployed. Such assistance as 
the President shall provide shall not exceed the maximum amount and 
the maximum duration of payments under the unemployment compen-
sation program of the State' in which the disaster occurred and the 
amount of assistance under this section to any such individual shall be 
reduced by any amount of unemployment compensation or of private 
income protection insurance available to such individual for such 
period of unemployment. 
SEC. 13. The President is authorized to make grants and loans to ^i^n"^^ suppres-
any State to assist such State in the suppression of any fire on publicly 
or privately owned forest or grass lands which threatens such destruc-
tion as to constitute a major disaster. 
130 
PUBLIC LAW 91-80-OCT. 1, 1969 
[83 STAT. 
Debris re-
moval. 
•'Major dis-
aster." 
64 Stat. 1109. 
Termination 
date. 
Short title. 
SEC. 14. The President, whenever he determines it to be in the public 
interest, and acting through the Director of the Office of Emergency 
Preparedness, is authorized to make grants to any State or political 
subdivision thereof for the purpose of removing debris deposited on 
privately owned lands and on or in privately owned waters as a result 
of a major disaster, and such State or political subdivision is author-
ized, upon application, to make payments to any person for reimburse-
ment of expenses actually incurred by such person in the removal of 
such debris, but not to exceed the amount that such expenses exceed the 
salvage value of such debris. 
SEC. 15. (a) As used in this Act the term "major disaster" means a 
major disaster as determined by the President pursuant to the Act 
entitled "An Act to authorize Federal assistance to States and local 
§
overnments in major disasters, and for other purposes", approved 
eptember 30, 1950, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1855-1855g), which dis-
aster occurred after June 30,1967, and on or before December 31,1970. 
(b) This Act, other than sections 5, 8, 9, and 13, shall not be in effect 
after December 31,1970, except as it applies to major disasters occur-
ring before such date. 
SEC. 16. This Act may be cited as the "Disaster Relief Act of 1969". 
Approved October 1, 1969. 
October 1, 1969 
[H. R. 9526] 
Public Law 91-80 
AN ACT 
To amend the District of Columbia Unemployment Compensation Act to provide 
that employer contributions do not have to be made under that Act with respect 
to service performed in the employ of certain public international organizations. 
D.C. Unemploy-
ment Compensa-
tion Act, 
amendment. 
57 Stat. 100; 
72 Stat. 417. 
59 Stat. 669; 
80 Stat. 5. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That subsection 
(b) (5) of section 1 of the District of Columbia Unemployment Com-
pensation Act (D.C. Code, sec. 46-301 (b) (5)) is amended— 
(1) by striking out the period at the end of clauses (P) and (R) 
and inserting at the end of such clauses a semicolon, and 
(2) by adding after clause (S) the following new clause: 
" (T) service performed after April 1,1962, in the employ of a 
public international organization designated by the. President as 
entitled to enjoy the privileges, exemptions, and immunities pro-
vided under the International Organizations Immunities Act (22 
U.S.C. 288—288f-l)." 
Approved October 1, 1969. 
Public Law 91-81 
October 8, 1969 
A N 
A C T 
1
^
^
- 5^"*^ 
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to engage in feasibility investigations 
of certain water resburce developments. 
Water resource 
development 
projects. 
Feasibility 
studies. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress ossemMed^ That the Secretary 
of the Interior is hereby authorized to engage in feasibility studies of 
the following proposals: 
(1) Missouri River Basin project, Oregon Trail division, Corn 
Creek unit, in south-central Goshen County, in the vicinity of Hawk 
Springs, Wyoming; 
(2) Missouri River Basin project, I^ngs Peak division, Front 
Range unit, in Cache la Poudre River and Saint Vrain Creek Basins 
and adjacent areas in the general vicinity of Boulder, Colorado;