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This article reports that the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Wednesday approved a bill that would make temporary changes in disaster relief laws to allow communities affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita to apply for increased federal aid. It was offered by Economic Development Subcommittee ranking member Bill Shuster, and would govern the distribution of money already appropriated for the Federal Disaster Relief Fund, according to a committee aide. The measure would allow the administration to pay personnel working for state and local governments that have lost 25 percent or more of their revenue because of the storms. The bill would also amend the Community Disaster Loan Act to allow jurisdictions hit by the storms to receive federal loans of up to 50 percent of their annual budget, up from 25 percent.

This article reports that U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Secretary Michael Chertoff called on businesses to invest in preparing their companies and employees for emergencies like the hurricanes that ripped through the Gulf Coast region this year. The department, along with the Advertising Council, announced new public service advertisements targeted at small to medium-size businesses. The "Ready" campaign for businesses was initiated last year, but Chertoff said that the department could not convince businesses to prepare for a terrorist attack or natural disaster. The Council cited a recent survey that found 92 percent of business executives believe it is very important or somewhat important" for business to invest in preparedness, but only 39 percent have done so.

This article reports that generals of the U.S. National Guard from the Gulf Coast region told a House panel today that the Congress should not change a 1878 law to give the military a larger role in handling domestic emergencies. Major General Mark Bowen of Alabama echoed General Bennett Landreneau's sentiment before the House Select panel investigating the government's response to Hurricane Katrina. The generals testified that the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act, which greatly restricts the military's ability to participate in domestic law enforcement, did not impede their efforts to respond to Hurricane Katrina. Bowen said that the Congress may want to consider revising the law so governors would mobilize Guard troops sooner in an emergency. He said that states have to pay hundreds of dollars per hour for the troops and that causes governors to wait until the "last minute" before calling in the National Guard.

This article reports that three of the governors of the U.S. oppose President George W. Bush's suggestion that the Congress must consider whether the military should take the lead role in responding to natural disasters. Rick Perry of Texas, who once served as Bush's lieutenant governor, oppose the federalization of emergency response efforts to natural disasters and other catastrophic events. Perry's comments came during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing on the role federal, state and local officials should play in disaster response. Perry's concerns were echoed by the president's brother, GOP Governor Jeb Bush of Florida and Arizona Democratic Governor Janet Napolitano.

This article reports that budget watchers have said that the U.S. Senate appropriators freed up large sums of money by transferring programs from the traditional budget to the $50 billion wartime emergency account. It was found that the U.S. Senate appropriators made sizeable cuts in some of the Pentagon's priciest programs to help generate $7 billion in savings in the FY06 Defense spending bill. Keith Ashdown at the organization Taxpayers for Common Sense, who found $12.2 billion in earmarks in the FY05 Defense bill, predicts the funding for pet projects will continue despite the Pentagon's need to pay for troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The article reports that U.S. Homeland Security Department Inspector General Richard Skinner informed that his office would aggressively review Hurricane Katrina recovery contracts to uncover fraud with an emphasis on sole-source awards. Skinner responded to concerns raised by several lawmakers worried about fraud and abuse, telling them his office will attempt to prevent misspending on questionable contracts and grants. Federal Emergency Management Agency Acting Chief of Operations Kenneth Burris said his agency needed more resources, but added the recovery effort will be neither fast nor easy.

This article reports that emergency personnel will receive only slightly more for new communications gear than the amount initially proposed by U.S. President George Bush in February, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. House-Senate conferees agreed last week to provide the Homeland Security Department with $27 million to develop technology and expand interoperability initiatives, $15 million less than the House approved in its spending bill in May. The Senate's version included $15 million, and Bush requested $21 million. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said after touring the hurricane-ravaged area that the Congress had invested money over the last four years but its efforts had failed. The Congressional Budget Office estimates it would cost $15 billion to upgrade equipment for firefighters and police and experts say it would take 15 to 20 years to connect the 60,000 emergency workers across the country.

This article reports that the U.S. federal government is asking more than 7,600 Floridians in 60 counties to return $30.3 million in emergency hurricane aid dispensed last year when a record four hurricanes slammed the state. Most of the payments the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) wants back stem from cases in which insurance settlements were reached after the government aid was doled out. By law, FEMA cannot duplicate insurance coverage. Residents there are being asked to return $3.7 million. In Palm Beach County, FEMA is seeking nearly $3.4 million. In a small number of cases, FEMA wants to recoup money because of processing errors or duplicate approval of funds.

The article reports that U.S. House Government Reform Chairman Tom Davis, who is leading his chamber's select panel investigating the government's response to Hurricane Katrina, said the U.S. Congress might share the blame for the government's efforts. Michael Brown, the former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, testified before the special committee that he notified key lawmakers privately that the agency was not receiving adequate resources and funding to meet its mission.

This article reports that Michael Brown, the ousted director of the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency, blamed Louisiana officials for the government's tardy response to Hurricane Katrina. His biggest mistake was not recognizing by August 27, 2005, that Louisiana was dysfunctional, Brown said at a U.S. House select committee hearing on the matter. Brown was pulled from the Gulf Coast region on September 9 and resigned three days later. Brown said the decision by Governor Kathleen Blanco and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin not to evacuate the area until August 28--the day before Katrina struck--was the tipping point for all the other things that went wrong or disintegrated.

The article focuses on the dissatisfaction shown by the U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay over excessive use of military during disaster relief in the United States. DeLay said he could not support a system that did not allow local first responders to remain in charge during a catastrophe. The White House and some lawmakers said that the U.S. Department of Defense has the ability to respond quickly and with enough manpower.

The article reports that U.S. President George W. Bush has made plans to fly to Texas on Friday to review the preparations for Hurricane Rita, which is expected to hit the state's Gulf Coast by Saturday. The U.S. Department of Defense and other Federal agencies are continuing to gear up for Rita, reflecting the Federal government's efforts to avoid criticism that it once again was too slow to respond to an impending disaster.

This article reports that the for-profit hospitals in the U.S. are hoping that the federal largesse being extended in the wake of Hurricane Katrina will include them. Louisiana lawmakers are already lining up to support a change the industry has long sought, making for-profit facilities eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster relief under a 1974 law that provides for the rebuilding of hospitals. The for-profit hospital industry, led by its trade association, the Federation of American Hospitals, tried in the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, to change the Stafford law.

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 as members of the U.S. Congress clamor for tough oversight of the federal response to hurricane Katrina, a number of states are testing and evaluating their own disaster plans to avoid similar missteps. There's going to be an enhanced awareness and an eagerness to better prepare, said Havidan Rodriguez, director of the Disaster Research Center. He said state residents can expect more drills, more rehearsals and more talks about coordination, cooperation, communication in coming weeks.

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 James Lee Witt, the former Federal Emergency Management Agency director, hired by Louisiana to help lead its Hurricane Katrina recovery effort, has registered to lobby for an insurance company that wants the U.S. Congress to create a natural disaster catastrophe fund. Louisiana Democratic Governor Kathleen Blanco hired Witt earlier in September 2005 as a consultant to advise her on the state's hurricane relief work.

This article focuses on efforts of the U.S. Congress to address the Gulf Coast disaster in full swing and broader changes in homeland security and emergency preparedness. The lobbyist hiring blitz appears to have begun within days of Hurricane Katrina, with government contractors and local governments inking deals with a number of high-profile advocates with close ties to the GOP. ARES Corp. hired PPSConsult lobbyist Randy DeLay, the brother of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay to lobby on homeland defense and public health issues. Municipal water systems, stormwater controls and runoff have emerged as key areas likely to be addressed in future changes in federal environmental rules that played a role in the Gulf Coast disaster.

This article presents results of a public opinion poll, according to which three-fourths of Americans support an investigation of the federal handling of Hurricane Katrina by a panel similar to the 9/11 Commission. But nearly as many say the panel is likely to get bogged down in partisan politics. The Republican leaders of the Congress have called for a full-scale congressional investigation of the government's hurricane preparedness and response effort.

This article reports that conservatives from across the U.S. have flooded the office of Senator Mary Landrieu, with calls over the last several days in an attempt to tie up her phone system. The callers, virtually all of whom came from outside the Gulf Coast region devastated by Hurricane Katrina, were upset with Landrieu after she remarked on the television network ABC's "This Week" program on September 4 that she might have to "punch" President George W. Bush if he criticized local officials again for their handling of the Katrina disaster. Over the last week, dozens of Senate aides have volunteered to work the phones in Landrieu's office to help handle the deluge of calls from constituents calling for assistance in everything from being rescued from roof tops to tracking down lost family members.

This article reports that U.S. President George W. Bush today took responsibility for the federal response to Hurricane Katrina, acknowledging that the effort by federal, state and local officials was inadequate. The president, who spoke during a news conference at the White House with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, suggested he wanted a detailed analysis of the response. The president will address the nation from Louisiana at 9 p.m. Thursday about the disaster recovery efforts and long-term plans to rebuild. Asked today whether a special inspector general should be appointed to oversee Katrina-related expenses, White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan noted that the Homeland Security Department already has an inspector general who has sent teams to the Gulf Coast states to review major relief contracts.

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.

This article reports that House Appropriations ranking member David Obey and Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee ranking member Martin Olav Sabo are asking U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to hold off on his previous plans to reorganize the department in the wake of the agency's response to Hurricane Katrina. The secretary said he wanted to eliminate the directorate for emergency preparedness and response, which oversees the beleaguered Federal Emergency Management Agency. The lawmakers requested Chertoff postpone the reorganization indefinitely until the U.S. Congress investigates his department's response to the hurricane.

This article focuses on the opposition of U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, to a joint House-Senate committee to investigate the response to Hurricane Katrina and said they will not appoint Democrats to the panel. Instead, Reid and Pelosi called for the creation of an independent commission using the 9/11 Commission as a model. Reid insisted that an independent commission be created that includes an equal number of Democrats and Republicans. Democrats were not included in discussions about how to create the investigative panel, and Pelosi said she was informed of decisions mainly through press reports.

This article reports that U.S. President George W. Bush unveiled a new federal effort to ensure that Gulf State residents dislocated by Hurricane Katrina receive government benefits, while Treasury Secretary John Snow announced the extension of deadlines for filing tax returns and paying taxes. The program announced by Bush is designed to ensure that childcare, housing and Medicaid benefits are given to individuals where they are on the ground after fleeing their homes. Bush said that every household would be granted $2,000 in emergency disaster relief. Snow said that tax deadlines will be extended until January 3, and that the U.S. Internal Revenue Service will forgo any interest or late filing fees that would have applied.

The article reports that Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Louisiana continued to dominate the congressional agenda today as the White House sent up a $51.8 billion supplemental aid request, while House and Senate GOP leaders acknowledged the budget reconciliation process will be delayed as a result of more pressing matters. House Speaker Dennis Hastert and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said Congress will clear the hurricane aid this week, which will be enough to last the Federal Emergency Management Agency--which is burning through money at an extraordinary rate of nearly $2 billion per day--until the end of this month. White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan said the request would focus on immediate needs, with more funding to be sought at a later date for longer-term disaster relief projects.

The article reports that the top two U.S. senators on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee have said they plan to hold as early as next week the first public hearing on the government response to Hurricane Katrina. On the House side, the Homeland Security Committee is likely to hold investigative hearings as well, but a committee aide said the schedule has not been determined. The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee also has jurisdiction over Federal Emergency Management Agency. A House GOP leadership aide said Majority Leader Tom DeLay has asked House chairmen to propose ideas for a legislative package that could come to the floor as early as this week.

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.

This article reports that the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security Committee Secretary today announced plans to rearrange and consolidate several agencies at the department, the first reorganization since the department was created two years ago. He said that he would implement several of the changes while others would require legislation. He plans to pull the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency out of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate to become, once again, a stand-alone agency reporting directly to him.

The article focuses on several U.S. Senators who rallied outside of the Capitol to call on U.S. President George W. Bush to release the remaining $99 million in emergency funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Bush released $100 million in emergency funding, raising the total of emergency funding released this winter by the administration to $200 million for heating subsidies for the poor. Congress authorized $299 million in emergency funding as part of 2004's omnibus spending bill. Fifty senators sent a letter to Bush January 27, 2005 asking that the full emergency funding be allocated.

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.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said on July 31, 2003 that he may bring a $986.3 financial year 2003 supplemental spending bill for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for discussion Friday, although that schedule could accelerate depending upon the ongoing negotiations on the Senate agenda. Daschle said Democrats plan to offer a "counter UC" to bring up two amendments to the bill, to increase funding for FEMA and Western firefighting as well as add funds for the Transportation Security Administration, which is being criticized for cutting back on the federal Air Marshal program at a time of heightened alert for terrorist attacks.

U.S. House and Senate negotiators were in discussions on Thursday over an approximately $983.6 million FY03 supplemental spending bill for the Federal Emergency Management Agency that could reach the House floor in time for adjournment. The House Appropriations Committee approved the supplemental as a stand-alone $2 billion measure and sought to enter conference negotiations with the president's request intact plus additional funds for flood control, judicial expenses and other programs.

When the U.S. Congress passed the Homeland Security Act in 2002, it left out a lot of details when it came to how the new Homeland Security Department would help state and local governments deal with their new role on the front lines in the battle against terrorism. Since then, state and local governments have complained that the federal aid is slow in coming and they can not spend the money. The current “one-size-fits-all” approach to homeland security grants is not working, said Senate Governmental Affairs Chairwoman Susan M. Collins. “The needs of our states and their first responders vary widely and are as diverse as thepeople who live there,” she said in April 2003. “We must make sure that federal assistance is sufficiently flexible to meet these differing needs.” One of the problems, she said, is that the current homeland security grant program — administered by the Homeland Security Department's Office of Domestic Preparedness — is based on a uniform, predetermined formula for every state. As a result, states must spend the same percentage — 70 percent for equipment, 18 percent for exercises, 7 percent for planning, 5 percent for training — on each category and cannot move surplus money from one to another.

Reports that U.S. Senate Agricultural chairman Thad Cochran has proposed a new agricultural disaster aid plan for farmers and ranchers on January 21, 2003. Components of Cochran's previous plan; Comparison between Cochran's revised plan and previous plan in terms of eligibility of farmers to receive payments; Reasons behind disagreement among Midwestern Republicans for the proposal.

Reports that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Christie Whitman and U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency director Joe Allbaugh have received praise from New York State and New Jersey Senators for their response after September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Senators' concern regarding security gaps; Criticism over EPA's efforts; Whitman's decision over extension of the cleanup campaign.

Focuses on the need for formulating a catastrophe survival plan by the U.S. government. Impact of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack; Establishment of a panel; Suggestions made by the American Enterprise Institute scholar Norman on revising the House rules.

Focuses on the role of the technology industry in addressing emergency management in the United States. Efforts of authorities to involve the industry in disaster planning; Contributions of technology companies in the wake of terrorist attack; Proposal to create NetGuard.

Focuses on the recommendation of mental health professionals for government to provide fund health services on individuals affected by the terrorist attacks in New York, New York. Provision of the benefit need of employees; Suggestion for a public education campaign on mental illness; Efforts of lawmakers to expand employer responsibility on mental health services.

Reports the emergency fund priorities of the United States government. Improvements of military intelligence systems; Priority on situational awareness; Plan to fast track the development of the Northrop Grumman-built Global Hawk unmanned aircraft.

Reports the development of emergency management for the airline industry in the United States. Allocation of $17.5 billion budget; Federalization of security system; Improvement in the screening technology.

Focuses on the development of assistance package for the stimulation of the airline industry in the United States. Provision of aids and supplies; Evaluation of security issues and liability concerns; Estimate of fund allocations; Conduction of meetings assessing the airline financial stability.

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 that a U.S. defense department proposal to give the federal government greater authority to mobilize and command armed forces during domestic disasters and emergencies, is on a collision course with those who favor giving state governors tactical control at such occasions.

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 a study released in July 2008 which has said that more planning at local levels and greater guidance from the federal government in the U.S. is needed to ensure that public transit systems will be effective in helping to evacuate residents of large urban areas during disasters. The study, conducted by the National Research Council, makes a series of recommendations to improve the role mass transit systems can play in disaster preparedness and response.

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.