TANF Emergency Response and Recovery Act of 2005

TANF EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND RECOVERY ACT OF 2005 -- (House of Representatives - September 08, 2005)

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Mr. HERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3672. First, let me echo the sentiments of so many of my colleagues that have already been expressed here today to the victims of this terrible tragedy. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. You will continue to be in our prayers as you work to recover from the devastation this hurricane has wrought and to rebuild your communities. We hope the steps we take here today will provide a measure of help in that incredibly trying process.

This legislation is designed to assist States provide for the immediate financial needs of thousands of families affected by Hurricane Katrina. I am honored to support this bipartisan bill introduced by my colleagues, the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. McCrery) and the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Jefferson). Unfortunately, the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. McCrery) cannot be with us here today since he is in Louisiana with the Vice President, helping coordinate the ongoing response to the hurricane.

The purpose of this legislation is simple: to clear any obstacles that stand in the way of quickly getting money into the hands of the hurricane victims. The legislation before us now addresses the needs of families who either have been on welfare or might need to go on welfare as a result of the hurricane. It ensures that States have the resources to help them, and it removes the bureaucratic obstacles that might otherwise stand in the way.

In terms of funding, this bill immediately makes available more than $4 billion in Federal welfare funds which States would otherwise have to wait until October to access. So States have that money to spend now when so many families are in need in the region.

It provides additional Federal funds for the hard-hit States of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, and it reimburses other States for the cost of providing emergency benefits to the many families that have left the States directly in the path of the hurricane.

To ensure families can focus on getting their lives back together and States can focus on providing immediate help, this legislation also waives program rules that might otherwise tie States' hands in providing for the immediate needs of affected families.

Mr. Speaker, these changes provide more State flexibility in meeting the needs of families, including for basic cash assistance right away. And as communities start to get back on their feet, this flexibility can and should be used to help parents find and keep new jobs to support their families.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the House to support this important legislation.

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