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Congressman Cole Votes for Emergency Funds for Katrina Relief

September 8, 2005
Press Release

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cole voted today for a $51.8 billion supplemental appropriation package for immediate needs arising from the consequences of Hurricane Katrina. H.R. 3673 provides $50 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), $1.4 billion for the Department of Defense and $400 million for the Army Corps of Engineers to repair damaged infrastructure.

"Hurricane Katrina is the most devastating storm in our nation's history, hundreds of thousands of people's lives have been altered. With this supplemental, Congress is showing its commitment to stand behind those affected by this storm every step of the way, no matter what the cost," Congressman Tom Cole said.

H.R. 3673 includes reporting and accountability provisions to allow Congress to conduct oversight over the expenditure of taxpayer dollars. The bill requires the Chief of Engineers of the Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Homeland Security to provide the Appropriations Committee a weekly report which details the allocation and obligation of the emergency funds. In addition, $15 million is provided within existing funds for the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security to monitor the disaster expenditures by FEMA and other relevant agencies.

"We have added provisions to this legislation that ensure that the funds allocated will be spent in the most efficient manner. The Americans hurt by this disaster are in great need and we should not tolerate waste and abuse with these funds," Congressman Tom Cole said.

Congressman Cole also voted for four additional pieces of legislation to help alleviate problems associated with Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath:

  • H.R. 3669 will increase the amount FEMA can use to pay insurance claims related to flood insurance (National Flood Insurance Program) by $2 billion.
  • H.R. 3668 allows the Secretary of Education to waiver repayment of federal aid by students whose attendance was interrupted because of the impact of a natural disaster on the student or the institution he or she was attending.
  • H.R 3672 provides immediate payment of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds for the first quarter of FY 2006 to all states, provides states with flexibility in spending TANF funds for families impacted by hurricane Katrina and makes additional TANF funds available to states devastated by Hurricane Katrina.
  • H. Res. 428 expresses the House of Representatives' sincere gratitude to the foreign individuals, organizations and governments that have offered material assistance and other forms of support to those who have been affected by Hurricane Katrina.

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