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Boustany Introduces Evacuation Assistance Bill

Sep 17 2008
 
Washington, D.C.– U.S. Representative Charles W. Boustany, Jr., (R-Southwest Louisiana), today introduced the Evacuee Assistance Act of 2008 to help reimburse the costs of evacuating for residents under mandatory evacuation orders.
 
“Traveling across Acadiana and Southwest Louisiana to view the destruction of hurricanes Gustav and Ike, I saw the hard work lying ahead firsthand,” Boustany said.  “I also saw the difficulty many in our area are having meeting the expensive costs of evacuating.  This is why I introduced the Evacuee Assistance Act of 2008 today. My bill is a starting point that would provide some help to residents who heeded mandatory evacuation orders by reimbursing evacuees up to $2,000 to cover travel and lodging in the form of tax credits.”
 
Boustany’s bill, H.R. 6918, provides tax credit reimbursement for evacuation costs incurred by individuals who live in areas under mandatory evacuation orders. Under current law, residents do not necessarily receive any assistance with evacuation expenses.
 
Boustany continued, “many constituents tell me their evacuation expenses totaled over $600 per family.  Residents of Southwest Louisiana should not be discouraged by the government to evacuate in the wake of a mandatory evacuation because of the cost.”
 
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