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This article reports that U.S. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid bowed to Republican leaders' requests that amendments to the defense authorization bill be relevant, clearing the path for the stalled legislation to return to the Senate floor. Reid's decision will make it nearly impossible for Democrats to introduce language establishing an independent commission to evaluate the federal government's response to Hurricane Katrina. With the clock ticking on the session, it appeared more and more likely that Senate leaders would not strike a compromise to make room on its hectic legislative calendar for the authorization bill, which was shelved in late July. The chamber has passed the legislation annually for more than four decades.

This article reports that the U.S. House approved two bills extending disaster relief employment and student financial aid for victims of Hurricane Katrina. One bill, sponsored by Representative Charles Boustany, would authorize the Labor Department to make National Emergency Grant (NEG) payments to displaced workers located outside the hurricane disaster area. It also permits previously awarded NEG funds to be used wherever needed, allows workers to get public sector jobs not directly related to the disaster and expands eligibility to those workers who were unemployed or have no prior work history. The second bill, sponsored by Representative John Kline, extends for two years through September 30, 2007, the authority of Education Secretary Margaret Spellings to waive requirements of student financial assistance for students dislocated by the hurricane.

This article reports that the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is expected to have enough cash on hand to continue relief efforts into late October, likely pushing back consideration of another emergency spending bill until after the Columbus Day recess. But Tropical Storm Rita might change that picture. And with the scope of damaged facilities and drained coffers across some 30-odd other federal agencies being sorted out, lawmakers still might have to provide a cash infusion before the Congress leaves town on October 7 for a one-week recess. Of the $62.3 billion already appropriated for the relief effort, $60 billion was earmarked for FEMA; as of Wednesday afternoon, the agency had $48.5 billion remaining in its disaster relief account.

This article reports that the U.S. Senate today rejected an amendment to the FY06 Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations bill that would have earmarked $5 billion in government grants to strengthen communications among emergency responders. The amendment, offered by Senator Debbie Stabenow, fell 58-40. It needed 60 votes to secure a waiver to budget rules. Senate Budget Chairman Judd Gregg insisted the amendment was not related to Hurricane Katrina. Gregg said that the federal government has spent $2 billion to fix the communication problem. Meanwhile, in the first congressional hearing to examine the government's response to Hurricane Katrina, former California GOP Governor Pete Wilson said that the Congress should strengthen governors' emergency powers to waive state and federal regulations.

This article reports that the U.S. Senate Democrats and Republicans appear to have dropped their temporary ceasefire prompted by the Gulf Coast disaster and have begun trading partisan shots over the chamber's pace in addressing legislation to provide relief and help recovery efforts. Democrats on Monday accused the White House and congressional Republicans of failing to adequately address emergency response and preparedness needs exposed by the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and argued the U.S. Congress must place new emphasis on the issue. At the same time, Republicans faulted Senate Democrats for stalling a relief package sought by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist that would lift work requirements for recipients of aid under the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.

The article reports that the U.S. House appropriators have frozen funding for a project to digitize flood maps but ordered the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to focus on updating the maps in their home states. The House version of the FY06 Homeland Security spending bill directs the FEMA to spend next year's funding on modernizing maps of counties in Arkansas, North Carolina, Texas and Kentucky. The FEMA uses the flood maps to determine premium rates for the National Flood Insurance Program, a government initiative that allows property owners to purchase flood insurance that is unavailable commercially.

The U.S. House is expected to pass on party lines a bill addressing the continuity of U.S. Congress in the event of a catastrophic attack on the Capitol that kills or incapacitates 100 or more members of the House. During floor debate, Democrats accused Republicans of taking a partisan approach to the bill, arguing that Democrats were shut out from constructing the bill and refused floor votes on a number of Democratic amendments. Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi complained of unnecessary partisanship.

Doomsday legislation to speed election of new U.S. House members was approved on Wednesday by the House Judiciary Committee to cope with any terrorist attack or other catastrophe that would wipe out more than 100 lawmakers. On an 18-10 vote, the committee sent the legislation to the House for action, over Democratic objections the bill had too many loose ends and needed more study. Democrats said the bill pre-empts all state laws, and several lawmakers wondered whether 45 days would be enough time to hold elections.

The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Economic Development Subcommittee unanimously supported a bill Wednesday to reauthorize the predisaster mitigation program of the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. The U.S. administration led by U.S. President George W. Bush had proposed a six-year reauthorization of the program, which provides funding to states for the purpose of disaster preparation measures, such as diverting rivers that routinely flood. The draft bill requires a study on the effectiveness of the pre-disaster mitigation program to be completed within two years.

The article reports on the move of U.S. Senator Tom Coburn to block the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding bill which costs 5.1 billion dollars that will be used for disaster relief and youth jobs programs.

The article reports on the condition of the nearly $150 billion tax-cut extensions and mental health parity legislation in the U.S. Senate. According to Republican Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn, whose state will be benefited by the tax-cut, they were satisfied on the compromise policy which makes five coastal counties affected by Hurricane Ike be eligible for additional tax relief. On the other hand, Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus agreed a new disaster aid legislation.

The article reports on the legislation that would require the release of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve during the last week of July 2008 in the U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said that past administrations had released oil from the reserve. However, President George W. Bush reiterates his opposition to the move saying the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is intended for emergencies and does not address the fundamental issue.

The article focuses on issues related to a bill in the U.S. Senate aimed at streamlining the response of the federal government to health emergencies. The bill is expected to be cleared by the Senate after Democratic Senator Christopher Dodd from Connecticut withdrew his concerns on November 14, 2006.

This article reports that the U.S. Senate passed a bill to strengthen coal mining safety regulations and impose oversight requirements for the federal agency that regulates the industry. The House readied its legislation that will include a provision to require drug testing of miners. The bipartisan Senate bill is the first piece of mine safety legislation to pass either chamber. The bill, which passed by unanimous consent, would require the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to review emergency response plans every six months. The bill also increases the maximum fines for safety violations and permits MSHA to close mines when the fines are not paid. In addition to the mandatory drug testing for all mine workers, the House bill would establish a grant program to fund the installation of communication and breathing devices as well as grant MSHA power to subpoena witnesses.

This article reports that U.S. Department of Defense's Secretary Donald Rumsfeld today pressed House and Senate conferees on the FY06 supplemental spending bill to resolve differences and send the legislation to the floor for a vote in both chambers before the Memorial Day recess. Delaying the passage of the supplemental, which now includes $67.6 billion for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, puts other critical military accounts "at risk," Rumsfeld told the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee during a hearing today. Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Ted Stevens, would "carry the word" to conferees, who have been unable to reach agreement on the size of the bill. The Senate approved a $108.9 billion package for military operations, hurricane relief and avian flu preparedness. The House version, meanwhile, comes in at just $91.9 billion, and does not include the $2.3 billion for avian flu preparedness the White House has requested.

The article reports that the U.S. House Republicans are going to present competing bills to overhaul the nation's emergency management system. House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Don Young and House Government Reform Chairman Tom Davis planned to introduce a bill that would remove Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from the Homeland Security Department and make it an independent Cabinet-level agency under the control of the White House. Senior members of the House Homeland Security Committee plan to introduce a bill that would turn FEMA into a new Directorate of Emergency Management, but keep it within Homeland Security.

This article reports that conservatives of the U.S. Senate are aiming to strip unrequested provisions from the $106.5 billion FY06 emergency spending bill, after President George W. Bush's veto threat. Tom Coburn, has filed amendments targeting projects championed by Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran and Banking Committee Chairman Richard Shelby that Bush cited in his veto threat. One Coburn amendment would strike $700 million to relocate a rail line on the Mississippi coast. Its backers say that the project would shield an important commercial link to major Gulf of Mexico ports from future hurricane damage. Another Coburn amendment would eliminate language designed to reimburse Northrop Grumman Corp., for up to $500 million in losses suffered as a result of Katrina-related ship delivery delays. Coburn also would target Shelby's $1.1 billion redevelopment plan for Gulf Coast fisheries, specifically $100 million for oyster bed and shrimp ground rehabilitation and $15 million for a seafood marketing campaign.

The article reports that the U.S. Senate Republican sponsors of a long-stalled Army Corps of Engineers projects bill are objecting to including portions of a $2 billion package of Louisiana water projects in the war and hurricane relief emergency package that hits the Senate floor next week. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a $106.5 billion supplemental package April 4 that included about $2 billion to strengthen levees and pump stations, as well as for coastal restoration in Louisiana.

The article reports that in an interview with National Journal Group reporters and editors, U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Director Michael Brown said that Congress' top priority in dealing with the nation's emergency response system should be moving the FEMA out of the Homeland Security Department and giving it back control of its own budget and staff. Both the House and Senate have investigated what went wrong at all levels of government during Katrina, and lawmakers said that they plan to introduce legislation in the coming months to improve the emergency response system.

United States Senate Appropriations chairman Ted Stevens said Tuesday he was looking at several options to boost spending in a supplemental spending bill beyond what the House passed last week, including using Fiscal Year 2004 appropriations bills as a vehicle. Stevens complained bitterly last week that he was blindsided when House Grand Old Party leaders passed a $983.6 million supplemental bill without adequate funds for the Federal Emergency Management Agency or funds for NASA and Western firefighters before they left town for the August recess. While the Senate may bring up the House bill sometime this week before the recess, Stevens said he would look to add some funds to Fiscal Year 2004 appropriations bills in September and designate that money to be used for prior expenses.