Natural Hazard Observer Nov 2005

• Year: 2005
• Title: Natural Hazards Observer
• Author: Natural Hazards Center University of Colorado at Boulder
• Description: November 2005
• Publications - Doc Type: Other

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Post - Katrina Legislative Update
WASHINGTON
U PDATE
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, a variety of new
public laws (P.L.) have been passed to ease the response
and recovery effort. A plethora of other legislative initia-
tives have been proposed and will be reported on if and
when they are signed into law. The most significant of the
new laws are the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations
Act to Meet Immediate Needs Arising from the Conse-
quences of Hurricane Katrina, 2005 (P.L. 109 -61) and the
Second Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act to
Meet Immediate Needs Arising from the Consequences of
Hurricane Katrina, 2005 (P.L. 109 -62).
P.L. 109 -61 appropriates an additional $10 billion to
the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for
disaster relief and $500 million to the U.S. Department of
Defense (DOD) to help cover costs resulting from imme-
diate relief efforts. P.L. 109 -62 appropriates an additional
$50 billion to DHS, $1.4 billion to the DOD, and $400
million to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for opera-
tion and maintenance costs as well as flood control and
coastal emergencies. This new law also authorizes the use
of the emergency procurement authority of the Office of
Federal Procurement Policy Act by ex-
ecutive agencies to make purchases of up
to $250,000 without obtaining competi-
tive quotes for procurements of property
or services to be used for Hurricane
Katrina rescue and relief operations.
The following laws were also passed YOU HA D
as a result of Katrina: ASK FOR
TO
SOME
• The Federal Judiciary Emergency Spe- KATRINA LEGISLATION
DIDN T YOU?
cial Sessions Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-
63), although not specific to Katrina,
allows United States courts to conduct
as
business under emergency conditions. , 1
• The National Flood Insurance Program A J
Enhanced Borrowing Authority Act of
2005 (P.L. 109 -65) increases the bor-
rowing authority of the Federal Emer-
gency Management Agency from $1.5
billion to $3.5 billion through fiscal
year 2008 for carrying out the National
Flood Insurance Program.
• The TANF Emergency Response and
Recovery Act of 2005 (P.L. 109 -68)
provides assistance to families affected by Hurricane
Katrina through the program of block grants to states
for temporary assistance for needy families (TANF).
• The Flexibility for Displaced Workers Act (P.L. 109-
72) provides special rules for disaster relief employment
under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 for indi-
viduals displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
• The Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act of 2005 (P.L.
109 -73) creates special rules for use of retirement funds
for relief relating to Hurricane Katrina, offers employ-
ment relief to employees and employers, implements
charitable giving incentives, and establishes other forms
of tax relief.
• The Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Af-
fected by Hurricane Katrina or Rita Act of 2005 (P.L.
109 -82) gives assistance to disabled individuals affected
by the hurricanes through vocational rehabilitation ser-
vices.
The full text of these laws is available in any federal re-
pository library and on the Library of Congress Web site
at http: / /thomas.loc.gov/.
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OBSERVER
Natural Hazards Observer November 2005