Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Affected by Hurricanes Katrina or Rita Act of 2005

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3864) to provide vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities affected by Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3864.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3864. H.R. 3864, the Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Affected by Hurricane Katrina or Rita Act of 2005, is a bill that I introduced to provide immediate and critical assistance to individuals with disabilities affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Since I introduced H.R. 3864 last week, I have worked with my colleagues in the Senate to revise the language to create an even better bill, and the amendment I am introducing today reflects the agreement we were able to reach.

I urge my colleagues to adopt this commonsense legislation that will allow individuals with disabilities greater access to vocational rehabilitation services so they may return to work in the aftermath of these devastating hurricanes.

The measure that we are considering today deals with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a law that provides job training and other services designed to increase employment options for individuals with disabilities. The bill will provide greater flexibility to the United States Department of Education and the Rehabilitation Services Administration so sufficient funds are made available to States impacted by these hurricanes.

Specifically, this legislation requires the commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration to give preference to States like Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, and others that have taken in large numbers of evacuees when unused vocational rehabilitation services funds are reallocated at the end of this fiscal year under the Rehabilitation Act.

It also assists impacted States by providing a one-time waiver of the requirement that those States match the reallocated funds they receive with non-Federal sources. This will provide the impacted States the necessary flexibility to maximize the use of both State and Federal funds to serve the citizens of those States during the critical months ahead.

The bill also ensures that States like Louisiana will continue to have access to funds under the Rehabilitation Act that had been relinquished to the Department of Education prior to the hurricane. Finally, the measure encourages affected States that receive a reallocation of vocational rehabilitation funds to use those funds to provide services to individuals with disabilities affected by the hurricanes. This will give these residents an opportunity to contribute to the economic development of their communities and participate in the reconstruction efforts.

As everyone knows, my State of Louisiana has suffered through two major hurricanes this last month. I spent this past weekend in my district as we prepared for and dealt directly with the aftermath of Hurricane Rita. Those affected by this hurricane and Hurricane Katrina continue to display tremendous courage, and I appreciate all that the American people and this Congress have done to assist our region.

This bill represents yet another step we will take to provide needed resources to the people of the gulf coast, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I want to thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee). He has been quite an ally in this process.

This is a very important piece of legislation, a small piece of legislation, but important, that will help us get back on our feet; and I urge passage of H.R. 3864.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this bill to ensure that individuals with disabilities may gain access to the vocational rehabilitation services they need in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. I thank my colleague on the Education and the Workforce Committee, Mr. Boustany, for his work on this bill and other legislation to bring additional flexibility and resources to the Gulf Coast region. He and another of my Committee colleagues, Mr. Jindal, continue to work tirelessly on behalf of their constituents and all Gulf Coast residents to ensure that we act where necessary to assist in the recovery efforts.

This bill is critical for individuals with disabilities who are seeking to re-enter the workforce in the aftermath of the two hurricanes. Under the Rehabilitation Act, States must return unused vocational rehabilitation funds at the end of each fiscal year to the Rehabilitation Services Administration, RSA. The RSA then reallocates those funds to States based on the needs of their respective residents. H.R. 3864 directs the Commissioner of the RSA to give consideration to States affected by the hurricanes in this year's reallocation of those unused funds.

This bill also provides significant flexibility for States impacted by the hurricanes. Under the Rehabilitation Act, States that receive a reallocation are required to match those funds with non-federal sources. This bill provides a reasonable, one-time waiver of that requirement for States affected by Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita. This recognizes the unique circumstances faced by these States and ensures that State officials will not have their hands tied as they seek to take advantage of these additional resources.

Madam Speaker, in the month since Hurricane Katrina, the House has approved a variety of legislation to cut through bureaucratic red tape and enhance flexibility in the affected regions. We've addressed the needs of college students, workers, and their families. With this bill, we turn our attention to the needs of individuals with disabilities as well. As many of these individuals seek to return to work in and around the Gulf Coast region, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this measure to ensure they may do just that.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3864, which provides needed assistance to individuals with disabilities who are affected by the recent hurricanes. The bill requires the Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration to give preference to States affected by Hurricanes Katrina and/or Rita with respect to the re-allotment of funds for vocational rehabilitation services. This provision is a necessary step in channeling monies to enable individuals with disabilities affected by either hurricane to participate in reconstruction or other major disaster assistance activities.

A strength of this legislation is that it permits affected States to use these re-alloted funds to pay for vital vocational rehabilitation services. This includes important activities such as training, mentoring, or job shadowing that contribute to the economic growth and development of communities. H.R. 3864 also grants needed flexibility to the States in providing the vocational services to individuals with disabilities by allowing the Commissioner to waive a state's matching requirement for funds from non-Federal sources.

These proposals will help the affected States as well as individuals with disabilities. The affected States will not have to draw upon their already depleted funds to pay for these critical services, and individuals with disabilities will be able to participate in the rebuilding of their towns and cities, which in turn will gain from the valuable services that individuals with disabilities can provide.

In my district I have seen the amazing work that disabled individuals are capable of. The Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind employs blind individuals to build clocks for the Federal Government. I am glad to support a bill that recognizes and encourages the contributions of this population.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank also the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Boustany), my colleague and friend, for introducing this commonsense hurricane relief bill that will offer relief to his constituents and many other Americans with disabilities in the gulf region.

This bill offers additional funds to gulf region vocational rehabilitation programs and offers the flexibility needed to continue services.

Madam Speaker, Louisiana is in a difficult position of not having met their Federal share for funds already allotted. Under H.R. 3864, Louisiana can apply for a waiver of that requirement. I commend the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Boustany) for introducing this legislation to take care of that.

In the reallotment of unused funds from the previous fiscal year, this bill will give priority to those affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Impacted States can then apply for waivers in meeting their non-Federal share of the reallotted funds as well.

Madam Speaker, impacted gulf coast States can use these funds to pay for vocational rehabilitation services that allow individuals with disabilities to contribute to the rebuilding of their local communities. I am pleased to support this bill, which not only offers relief from previous obligations but also provides additional resources necessary to continue services. Moreover, it reinforces the value of having community members participate in the revitalization of their neighborhoods.

Again, I thank the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Boustany) for introducing this very much-needed legislation, and I encourage my colleagues to support its swift passage.

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 3864 which was received from the House.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.