Washington, DC – Congressman William J. Jefferson (D-La.) announced his support today for House Majority Whip James Clyburn’s “Hurricane Katrina and Rita Federal Match Relief Act of 2007”.  Standing alongside Clyburn and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Jefferson endorsed the legislation, which would waive Title IV of the “Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act”. If not waived, Louisiana would be required to match up to 25% of federal expenses for direct emergency assistance, repair of damaged facilities and aid to individuals of Louisiana.  In addition to waiving the Stafford Act, Clyburn’s legislation would cancel required repayment of Community Disaster Loans (CDLs), which is traditionally done for states affected by natural or man-made disasters.

At the news conference, Jefferson said, “There has never been a natural disaster of such magnitude as Hurricane Katrina in the United States, so we’ve had no points of reference to go by in terms of how much money should be authorized for repairing and rebuilding the Gulf Coast.” 

“…The most current figures for my state alone are astounding.   The Clyburn bill has the potential to save the state of Louisiana and its many political subdivisions over $1.8 billion dollars in monies that can be used toward rebuilding the state.  According to officials from the Louisiana Governor’s office, this figure includes nearly $1 billion dollars in CDLs and $886 million dollars in repayments of direct and individual assistance matching funds.  Without the waiving of the Stafford Act, it clearly would be impossible for devastated Gulf Coast communities to repay even a small percentage of the total costs of repairs”, Jefferson said. 

Congressman Jefferson added, “I believe all of this to be justified on the basis of the Army Corps of Engineers’ responsibility to the Greater New Orleans area after admitting to constructing faulty levees which breeched and caused the extensive flooding following Katrina.”