S.Amdt. 619

SA 619. Mr. LEAHY (for himself, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Lautenberg, Mrs. Gillibrand, and Mr. Conrad) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the joint resolution H.J. Res. 66, approving the renewal of import restrictions contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the appropriate place, insert the following:

SEC. __. EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND.

(a) Funding.--There is appropriated, out of money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2012, for an additional amount for the “Emergency Relief Fund”, authorized under section 125 of title 23, United States Code, for expenses described in subsection (a) of such section resulting from a major disaster (as defined in section 102(2) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122(2)), $2,500,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That such amount is designated by Congress as being for disaster relief pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(D) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Public Law 99-177).

(b) Disaster-related Repair Work.--

(1) Definition of qualifying state.--In this subsection, the term “qualifying State” means a State in which a major disaster or emergency was designated by the President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.).

(2) Exemptions.--As determined by the Secretary of Transportation, in the case of a qualifying State--

(A) notwithstanding section 120(e) of title 23, United States Code, or any other provision of law, the Federal share of the cost of carrying out eligible emergency repairs to minimize damage, protect facilities, or restore essential traffic, and the cost of carrying out permanent restoration work on all Federal-aid highways (as defined in section 101 of title 23, United States Code), affected by the major disaster or emergency in the State using funds made available under section 125 of title 23, United States Code, shall be 100 percent; and

(B) the limitations under section 125(d) of title 23, United States Code, on the maximum amount of funding that may be received by a State shall not apply.