Achieving significant progress in Congress for Louisiana’s recovery

Less than one month after my meetings with the leadership of the new Congress, Louisiana’s recovery is a national priority.

I traveled to Washington to round up support for my Louisiana Federal Recovery Agenda, 10 items for the 110th Congress to tackle. I secured commitments from key Congressional Members, and today the new leadership is keeping its word n Congress, now working cooperatively with Louisiana’s Delegation, is swiftly addressing Louisiana’s recovery needs.

Measures providing emergency supplemental appropriations are moving through the House and Senate. Six of my 10 action items are covered in the legislation, including my first request: removing some state matching requirements for federal assistance grants n requirements that force our local governments to stretch insufficient funds even further as they work to rebuild.

Congress is also considering a key component of my agenda: reversing a move made to single out our recovering communities. The Community Disaster Loan Act of 2005 placed an unfair and heavy burden on local governments by prohibiting the federal government’s ability to forgive repayment of disaster loans – something that has been done after major disasters like 9/11 and Hurricane Andrew. The legislation before Congress would eliminate that prohibition, removing a significant obstacle to the recovery of the entire Gulf region.

I also asked Congress for an increase in COPS grants and other funds to help fight crime in New Orleans. The Senate bill would deliver $2 million for law enforcement technology and digitization of certain Civil Court records, and also provide $55 million to curb crime throughout our state. These funds deliver direct assistance to sheriffs’ offices in parishes impacted by Hurricanes Rita and Katrina and to the New Orleans Police Department.

Congress is also taking action on my request for immediate investment in hurricane protection by seeking to fund an additional $1.3 billion for levee projects for both the east and west banks in New Orleans. A one-year extension of our timeline to spend $221 million in emergency Social Service Block Grant funding is also in the works, allowing us to maximize this funding to best meet the needs of our citizens. Congress responded to my appeal for additional assistance for our small businesses by including $25 million to the SBA Disaster Loan Assistance in the emergency supplemental appropriations bill.

I am also working with Louisiana’s Congressional Delegation to advance other key recovery items. Sen. Mary Landrieu introduced legislation to exempt Road Home grant recipients from federal tax penalties. This week, House members passed Rep. William Jefferson’s Disadvantaged Business Disaster Eligibility Act, to help businesses facing long-term interruptions after a disaster by extending eligibility for the SBA program by 18 months. And the House passed the Katrina Housing Tax Relief Act, allowing a $237 million extension of tax incentives to promote the development of low income housing in GO Zone areas.

Clearly, Congress is delivering on its promise, I thank the new leadership. There is still much to do, and I will continue my fight to aid our communities during our unprecedented recovery.