[StBernard] LRA Board of Directors Outline Federal Priorities for Recovery

[Westley Annis]

LRA Board of Directors Outlines Federal Priorities for Recovery

LAKE CHARLES, La. (September 11, 2007) - Today the Louisiana Recovery Authority's (LRA) Board of Directors presented its current outline of top federal priorities to advance Louisiana's recovery from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

"Key congressional leaders including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Whip Jim Clyburn recently visited Louisiana to survey the progress that's been made on the ground since Congress waived the 10% match requirement on rebuilding projects to help us cut through a significant portion of the federal red tape that was hampering our recovery," said LRA Chairman Dr. Norman C. Francis.

"They made a commitment to help us fill the gap in funding for the Road Home program, and we are grateful for that commitment as Road Home funding is our top priority for the upcoming Supplemental Appropriations bill. But while they were here they also asked us to let them know what else they could do to help-especially on short-term recovery issues like mental health services and helping small businesses and minimizing the bureaucracy in the Stafford Act. As a result, we've begun working with Governor Blanco, Louisiana's Congressional delegation and local leaders over the last month to outline this list of top priorities for the recovery. This is a starting point, and we will continue to work with the Governor, our congressional delegation, and local leaders to further refine this document before taking it to Washington.

"While we've made great strides toward rebuilding a safer, stronger, smarter Louisiana, much remains to be done. We have reached a critical stage in the recovery and the future success of our state will be significantly influenced by the receipt of additional federal resources and assistance.

"We have been encouraged by the response we received from Congressional leaders last month and we look forward to visiting Washington in October, as this Congress has proven it is committed to helping us address our ongoing needs and removing federal red tape that will enable us to achieve a full recovery."

In addition to overarching items of national significance impacting Louisiana's recovery, the LRA endorsed the following outline of federal recovery priorities: 

Continue the restoration of homeowner and workforce housing

*	Fill the funding gap in the Road Home Homeowner Assistance Programs
*	Guarantee the use of Hazard Mitigation funds for the Road Home 
*	Secure comprehensive workforce housing assistance, starting with: 
	- S 1668, the Landrieu-Dodd bill 
	- HR 1227, the Waters-Frank bill 
	- HR 1427, the Federal Housing Reform Act
	- Stabilize the property insurance market with federal intervention


Secure rebuilt Louisiana with adequate flood and coastal protection

*	Enact Water Resources Development Act conference report (S 1228, HR 1495) 
*	Secure waiver of or funding for Louisiana's 35% cost share for additional expenses to restore New Orleans flood protection to 100-year protection level

Cut through arcane bureaucracy by reforming the Stafford Act

*	Create a catastrophic annex and implement other reforms to the Stafford Act to reduce red tape and streamline its Public Assistance program to better support the repair and reconstruction of our damaged schools, roads and bridges, fire and police stations, hospitals, etc. 

Help families in crisis

*	Immediately enhance behavioral health services, including mental health and addictive disorders, with a special focus on the student population 
*	Targeted homelessness solutions for areas most impacted by the storms 
*	Provide 3,000 new vouchers for permanent supportive housing (PSH) for people with disabilities and the frail elderly
*	Expand direct assistance to returning families through the Louisiana Family Recovery Corps

Restore health care access for all

*	Provide immediate deployment to the affected areas of mental health and other health care professionals through the United States Public Health Service to address shortfalls 
*	Enhance recruitment and retention of nurses and allied health professionals 
*	Expand access to care at the community level by securing flexibility to use existing funds for physician and clinic uncompensated care services 
*	Help hospitals address post-Katrina labor costs with Medicare wage index adjustment 
*	Support medical schools and hospitals that train physicians with an extended exemption from the traditional three-year rolling cost average that does not recognize post-disaster circumstances

Bolster economic recovery

*	Enact pending small business assistance legislation: 

- HR 1468, disaster relief for small businesses 
- HR 1361, the RECOVER Act

*	Enhance existing GO Zone tax incentives 
*	Increase the state's allocation of GO Zone bonds and New Markets Tax Credits 
*	Address the acute domestic labor shortages in all economic sectors through enhancement of available immigrant labor programs in the GO Zone

Locally driven rebuilding with a long-term vision

*	Provide additional infrastructure funds for the implementation of local and regional long-term plans, which have been designed by Louisiana citizens as the blueprints for a safer, stronger and smarter Louisiana 

Assist in the recovery of Louisiana's commercial and recreational fisheries

*	Provide adequate and equitable resources for the recovery of our commercial and recreational fisheries, including direct support to fishers and seafood processors as well as infrastructure 
*	Ensure that FEMA tasks the Coast Guard by mission assignment or interagency agreement with the responsibility for conducting a comprehensive marine debris removal program as was done in Alabama and Mississippi 
*	Provide sufficient funding for NOAA to complete their Gulf Coast Survey work along the entire Louisiana coast

The LRA endorsed this broad outline of priorities at its Board of Directors meeting, which was held at the Lake Charles Civic Center today. Board resolutions and presentations for the board meeting are available online at www.lra.louisiana.gov <http://www.lra.louisiana.gov>  .

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