Conference Report on H.R. 2360, Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2006

CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 2360, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2006 -- (House of Representatives - October 06, 2005)

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Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to engage the gentleman from Minnesota in a colloquy and seek support to include language in a future supplemental bill to provide individual assistance to residents in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties, Florida, who suffered damage because of Hurricane Katrina.

Hurricane Katrina struck Broward and Miami-Dade counties as a Category One storm on August 25. The Federal Emergency Management Agency's initial assessment revealed that over 170 homes were destroyed or severely damaged in Broward and Miami-Dade counties because of Katrina's fury. Following the initial assessment, local and State authorities documented that there were at least 219 homes in Broward and 189 homes in Miami-Dade severely damaged or destroyed.

FEMA denied assistance to individuals in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties on August 31, 2005. On September 6, 2005, Florida appealed FEMA's decision and provided specific information to support its original request, including the disproportionate number of low-income residents impacted and the fact that the State does not have disaster relief funds. This appeal was also denied, leaving hundreds of south Floridians with little hope of Federal individual assistance.

Mr. SABO. Mr. Speaker, will the gentlewoman yield?

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. I yield to the gentleman from Minnesota.

Mr. SABO. Mr. Speaker, the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act suggests that a number of factors are considered to measure the severity, magnitude and impact of a disaster and authorizes FEMA to provide individual assistance. I would be happy to work with the gentlewoman from Florida to get this corrected within current FEMA statutory authorities and provide equitable assistance to all victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his leadership, commitment, and support.

Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, will the gentlewoman yield?

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. I yield to the gentleman from Florida.

Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to support the gentlewoman's efforts and those of the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mario Diaz-Balart). We all in south Florida are working. I thank the gentlewoman for highlighting this. Katrina did start in Florida. People have been impacted. They have been hurt, and they deserve the same consideration as our colleagues and neighbors in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida and the gentleman from Minnesota, and I look forward to working with them to correct this inequity.

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