Response to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma in the 109th
Congress
In the 109th Congress, Committee Democrats worked with
Republican Committee Members to pass a number of bills in the
House to aid the victims of the hurricanes: the National Flood
Insurance Program Enhanced Borrowing Authority Act of 2005; the
Hurricane Katrina Emergency Relief CDBG Flexibility Act of 2005;
the Hurricane Katrina Emergency Housing Act of 2005; and
the Rural Housing Hurricane Relief Act of 2005.
Ranking Democrat Barney Frank co-sponsored a bill, H.R. 4320,
with Chairman Oxley to provide some reforms to the National
Flood Insurance Program and further, temporarily increase its
borrowing authority to $22 billion. Congressman Frank also
co-sponsored H.R. 3922, introduced by Rep. Taylor, to help
Katrina and Rita hurricane victims who did not have flood
insurance by permitting them to "buy-in" to the National Flood
Insurance Program.
Congressional Black Caucus' Comprehensive Katrina Relief
Bill- Representative Watt, along with several other members
of the Financial Services Committee, helped create the
Congressional Black Caucus' Comprehensive Katrina Relief Bill.
This is the only comprehensive package that responds to the
needs of the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Click here
to read a summary of the bill.
Click here to read the text of
the bill.
House Democrats' Actions to Address Katrina Housing Needs-
Click here for a
summary of Democratic actions to address the housing needs of
the victims of the hurricanes.
Click here for February 15, 2006
press release on Rep. Frank chiding FEMA on ending of hotel
housing assistance for hurricane evacuees.
Click here for February 3, 2006 press
release on FEMA's failure to provide information on rental
assistance eligibility for Katrina evacuees.
Click here for December 15, 2005 press
release on bipartisan hurricane relief measure.
Click here for December 8, 2005
press release on Frank and Waters calling for subpoenas to be
issued to HUD.
Click here for December 7, 2005 press
release on HUD refusing to show at Hurricane Katrina Oversight
Hearings.
Click here for November 30, 2005 press
release by Rep. Frank chiding HUD on Katrina Housing Response.
Click here to read the November 11,
2005 press release by Reps. Frank and Waters on the lack of a
Katrina Housing Plan and reports of evacuees facing eviction
from their temporary housing.
Click here for November 4,
2005 letter from several Committee Democrats to Financial
Regulators on favorable CRA consideration for investments in
minority-owned federally insured depository institutions
affected by Hurricane Katrina.
Click here for Rep. Barney Frank's
October 26, 2005 floor statement on the Hurricane Katrina
Financial Services Relief Act of 2005.
Click here to view Rep.
Barney Frank's October 18, 2005 letter to HUD about the unnecessary
diversion of scarce housing voucher resources to Katrina evacuees at a
time when FEMA funds are available to assist such families.
Click here to view Rep.
Barney Frank's October 18, 2005 letter to FEMA requesting that they
reimburse public housing agencies for the cost of HUD Section 8 housing
vouchers made available to Katrina evacuees.
Click here to view
Rep. Barney Frank's October 7, 2005 letter to FEMA seeking answers to a
number of questions regarding ongoing eligibility for rental housing
assistance under FEMA's Transitional Housing Assistance Program.
Click here for Congressman Frank's October
6, 2005 floor statement on the Hurricane Katrina Emergency Housing Act
of 2005.
Click here for Rep. Frank's
October 6, 2005 floor statement on the Hurricane Katrina Emergency
Relief CDBG Flexibility Act of 2005.
Click
here to read the September 29, 2005 press release by Reps.
Frank, Waters and Davis on the glaring weakness in the
President's Homesteading Initiative.
Click here for Rep. Frank's September
8, 2005 floor statement on the National Flood Insurance Program
Enhanced Borrowing Authority Act of 2005.
