Landrieu Secures $3 Billion for Road Home Program
WASHINGTON - United States Senator Mary L.
Landrieu, D-La., announced that congressional negotiators have
agreed to provide an additional $3 billion for Louisiana's Road
Home program in a pending defense bill. Sen. Landrieu worked
closely with Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert Byrd,
D-W.V., Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations
Subcommittee Chairman Patty Murray, D-Wash., and other
committee colleagues to secure the funds, which help close an
estimated $3 to 4.5 billion shortfall in the post-hurricane housing
rebuilding program.
"This support for the Road Home is an encouraging
reflection of Congress' commitment to fully funding Louisiana's
rebuilding from the 2005 hurricanes and levee failures," said Sen.
Landrieu. "It is a shot in the arm for our recovery, and with the
holidays approaching, provides much-needed peace of mind to those
fearing the Road Home would be closed to them.
"A fundamental key to the recovery of the Gulf Coast is ensuring
Louisiana's homeowners the availability of resources they need to
rebuild their homes and communities," Chairman Byrd said. "The Road
Home program is an example of the many steps Congress is taking to
help the region through its long- term recovery. The people of
Louisiana have a strong champion in Senator Landrieu, and I remain
committed to working with her to restore the Gulf Coast."
"The delivery of these critical dollars means a renewed commitment
to bringing people home and bringing vitality back to the state
Louisiana. We all know that housing is the critical first step to
the re-growth and renewal of any community," said Sen. Murray, a
member of the Senate Democratic Leadership. "I am pleased to have
worked with Senator Landrieu on this critical issue - this victory
would not have been possible without her passion and commitment to
the people of Louisiana."
The Fiscal Year 2008 Defense Appropriations Conference Report, a
compromise between funding bills passed by the Senate and House of
Representatives earlier this year, now returns to the floor to be
passed in each chamber before going to the President for his
signature. However, congressional Republicans have indicated that
they may attempt to block the legislation on the floor.
"Senators Byrd and Murray and the Senate Leadership have been
essential partners in this effort, standing with Louisiana and the
hundreds of thousands of homeowners who need our support," Sen.
Landrieu said. "I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to
follow this example, and allow this vital measure to move forward by
rejecting the partisanship that has entangled past hurricane
recovery efforts."
This funding will help Louisiana fully implement the Road Home
program by continuing to cover both water and wind damage resulting
from hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. While Bush Administration
officials have recently blamed the inclusion of wind- damaged homes
for the program's shortfall, the Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) originally approved coverage when the Road Home
was first developed. Without this coverage, thousands of
Rita-affected homeowners would be left out of the rebuilding
program.
An additional $1.17 billion could be made available to the program
by providing greater flexibility for the state's use of Hazard
Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds. Responding to pressure from
Sen. Landrieu and the media, the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) has taken steps to make these funds available
administratively.
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in
August passed the SMART RESPONSE Act, introduced by Sen. Landrieu,
which would specifically allow the $1.17 billion in HMGP funds to be
used for the Road Home. That bill is pending floor action.
"Today's agreement is a major step forward, but there is still much
work left to do," Sen. Landrieu said. "I will continue to fight to
ensure that every penny due Louisiana's recovery is made available,
and not trapped behind partisan games or federal bureaucracy."
The Road Home program was developed after Hurricanes Katrina and
Rita by Louisiana Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco and the
Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) in negotiations with the White
House and Gulf Coast Recovery Coordinator Donald Powell. It provides
rebuilding grants of up to $150,000 per home and was funded through
$8.1 billion in federal Community Development Block Grants provided
by emergency supplemental appropriations bills.
"This money is vital to giving our citizens the resources they need
to rebuild," Governor Blanco said. "Now is not a time for
partisanship. The people of Louisiana need our Delegation in
Washington to stand together and fight for their people. I applaud
Senator Landrieu's continued efforts, the Congressional Leadership
has committed to meeting our ongoing recovery needs and I ask that
Congress join this effort to deliver on this federal promise."
"Senator Landrieu has given us another reason to be grateful this
Thanksgiving," said Dr. Norman C. Francis, Chairman of the Louisiana
Recovery Authority. "We have been blessed by the support we've
received from the American people and their representatives in
Congress - and this announcement to ensure that all of our families
can rebuild their homes and their lives couldn't have come at a
better time or season. On behalf of all Louisianians, we again offer
our heartfelt appreciation for having another reason to express our
gratitude this holiday."
The Republican-controlled Congress in 2005 and 2006 capped
Louisiana's share of the federal funding at 54 percent, despite
having endured more than 70 percent of the disaster's damage.
As of October 25, a total of 185,895 applications to the Road Home
had been recorded, with an average of $67,358 having been disbursed
to 66,314 homeowners.
