emse232

Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management

Crisis and Emergency Management

October 2008 Volume 15 - Number 1

Congressional Updates...

Annotated Bibliography for CRS reports January to March

By Joy Chia-I Lee

1.Bea, Keith and Murray, Justin. Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Legislation for Disaster Assistance: Summary Data (RL33226). CRS Report. Jan 8, 2008. Available via LexisNexis: http://www.lexisnexis.com.proxygw.wrlc.org/congcomp/getdoc?CRDC-ID=CRS-2008-KSG-0005

This report provides summary information on emergency supplemental appropriations since 1989 through the present. Congress appropriated more than $213 billion for the 20 years and most were preceded by presidential request for supplemental funding.

2. Chite, Ralph M. Agricultural Disaster Assistance (No. RS21212). CRS Report. January 9, 2008. Available via LexisNexis: http://www.lexisnexis.com.proxygw.wrlc.org/congcomp/getdoc?CRDC-ID=CRS-2008-RSI-0068

This report provides an overview on the three major programs designed to help agriculture producers after the event of a natural disaster: the federal crop insurance, noninsured assistance program payments and emergency disaster loans.

3.Whittaker, Julie. Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) (No. RS22022). CRS Report. Jan. 23, 2008. Available via LexisNexis: http://www.lexisnexis.com.proxygw.wrlc.org/congcomp/getdoc?CRDC-ID=CRS-2008-DSP-0061

This report is a serious of updates. The Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) program provides income support to individuals who became unemployed as a direct result of a disaster and are not eligible for regular Unemployment benefits. It is funded through FEMA and administered by the Department of Labor through each state’s Unemployment Compensation agency. The duration of DUA benefits was extended by law for victims of Hurricane Katrina and Rita. As of the update, the Congress has no active legislation directly affecting DUA.

4. Bea, Keith. Federal Stafford Act Disaster Assistance: Presidential Declarations, Eligible Activities, and Funding (No. RL33053). CRS Report. January 28, 2008. Available via LexisNexis: http://www.lexisnexis.com.proxygw.wrlc.org/congcomp/getdoc?CRDC-ID=CRS-2008-GVF-0079

This report provides an overview on the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, which authorizes the President to issue a major disaster declaration in order to deliver various Federal aid to states overwhelmed by disasters. It also looks at the Disaster Relief Fund, and outlines issues for the 110th Congress on response and recovery from catastrophes, expanding eligibility, and control over Federal expenditures.

5. King, Rawle O. National Flood Insurance Program: Treasury Borrowing in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina (No. RS22394). CRS Report. January 30, 2008. Available via LexisNexis: http://www.lexisnexis.com.proxygw.wrlc.org/congcomp/getdoc?CRDC-ID=CRS-2008-GVF-0127

This report examines the financial woes of the National Flood Insurance Program after the massive flooding caused by Hurricane Katrina, Rita and Wilma. It also looks at the funds borrowed from the US Treasury, and Federal response to uninsured flood losses.

6. King, Rawle O. Hurricane and Disaster Risk Financing Through Insurance: Challenges and Policy Options (No. RL32825) CRS Report, January 31, 2008. Available via LexisNexis: http://www.lexisnexis.com.proxygw.wrlc.org/congcomp/getdoc?CRDC-ID=CRS-2008-GVF-0081

“Examines role of insurance in financing disaster risk and the changes implemented by insurers and legislators to minimize market disruptions following the 2004 hurricane season. Discusses Congressional interest in financing catastrophic risk, summarizes results of the 2004 and 2005 Atlantic hurricane seasons, and describes insurance lessons learned from Hurricane Andrew, insurance market response to past hurricanes, options for transferring risk through insurance, challenges for the 110th Congress and beyond, and policy options.”

7. Reese, Shawn. FY2009 Appropriations for State and Local Homeland Security (No. RS22805). CRS Report. February 7, 2008. Available: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/homesec/RS22805.pdf

The Administration requests $2.2 billion for the 2009 fiscal year for the Homeland Security assistance programs for states and localities. This amount is approximately $2.0 less than last years as the Administration proposes to reduce funding on some of its programs, except the Urban Area Security Initiative, the Citizen Corps Program and its bus security program. Its budget requests does not include funding for Emergency Operations Centers, Buffer Zone Protection Program, Metropolitan Medical Response Systems, Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grants and others. It did add National Security and Terrorism Prevention Program.

8. Lake, Jennifer, Nunez-Neto Blas, et al. Homeland Security Department: FY2008 Appropriations (No. RL34004). CRS Report. February 15, 2008. Available: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/homesec/RL34004.pdf

The Administration requested a net appropriation of $35.5 billion for the 2008 fiscal year for the Department of Homeland Security. The Federal Emergency Management Agency received $5,042 million.

9. McCarthy, Francis. Mortgage and Rental Assistance as Disaster Relief: Legislation in the 110^th Congress (No. RS22828) CRS Report. March 5, 2008. Available via LexisNexis: http://www.lexisnexis.com.proxygw.wrlc.org/congcomp/getdoc?CRDC-ID=CRS-2008-GVF-0194

The Mortgage and Rental Assistance Relief Act, S. 2386, was introduced in Congress by Senators Feinstein and Boxer. It provided economic aid to help families remaining the residences by assisting with mortgage or rent payments for a period up to eighteen months. In order to qualify for the assistance, the individual or household need to have an adjusted gross income that does not exceed $75,000. This reports discusses about the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and issues that led to its removal in 2000 as well as the reinstatement of S.2386.

10. Jordan, Mary. Federal Disaster Recovery Programs: Brief Summaries (No. RL31734). CRS Report. March 18, 2008. Available: http://www.ncseonline.org/NLE/CRSreports/08Apr/RL31734.pdf

The report summarizes about assistant programs that the Members of Congress can use in helping to address the needs of constituents. The programs fall into two broad categories: Programs that are specifically for disaster situations that are mostly administered by FEMA and the SBA; and programs that may be used in either disaster situations or to meet regular service needs. These programs are also classified by recipients of the services: individual, state and local governments and businesses. The programs address short term and long term needs as well.

11.Schierow, Linda-Jo. The Emergency Planning and Community: Right to Know Act) EPCRA: A Summary (No. RL32683). CRS Report. March 19, 2008. Available: http://www.ncseonline.org/NLE/CRS/abstract.cfm?NLEid=2053

“This report summarizes the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act and the major regulatory programs that mandate reporting by industrial facilities of releases of hazardous chemicals to the environment, as well as local planning to respond in the event of significant, accidental releases.” Each state is required to create a State Emergency Response Commission to establish local emergency planning committees for each district and assign emergency planning districts. EPA is required to maintain and update lists of hazardous materials and its threshold quantities.

12.Love, Natalie. Louisiana Road Home Program: Federal Aid for State Disaster Housing Assistance Programs (No. RL34410). CRS Report. March 21, 2008. Available via LexisNexis: http://www.lexisnexis.com.proxygw.wrlc.org/congcomp/getdoc?CRDC-ID=CRS-2008-GVF-0197

“Discusses Louisiana homeowners assistance program (HAP), to provide assistance for homeowners whose homes were damaged in 2005 Gulf Coast Hurricanes. Discusses Federal funding for the Louisiana road home program, which encompasses HAP; and covers legislation pertaining to use of FEMA hazard mitigation grant program funds, and issues for Congress.”