Scalise introduces coastal restoration and disaster recovery bills to kick off 112th Congress

Washington, DC -- Congressman Steve Scalise yesterday introduced a series of bills at the start of the 112th Congress focused on both local and national issues, including enhanced coastal restoration through the use of BP fines, and improvements to FEMA’s disaster recovery process.

“These bills provide essential relief to Louisianans, to our environment, and to our ecosystems,” Scalise said. “It is only proper that the Gulf Coast states that were impacted should receive the lion’s share of the fines BP will have to pay as a result of the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Coastal restoration is vital to the protection of Gulf ecosystems, environments, and communities and we must restore America’s wetlands that have eroded while re-establishing this barrier to weaken future storms and protect our communities from flooding. The federal government cannot continue to ignore the need to restore America’s wetlands or break through FEMA’s red tape, and I look forward to continuing to lead the charge to restore our coast and reform disaster recovery in the new Congress. ”

Scalise has been a long-time proponent of comprehensive hurricane and flood protection as well as coastal restoration efforts. The Gulf Coast Restoration Act, H.R. 56, was the first bill introduced by Scalise in the new Congress. H.R. 56 requires that at least 80 percent of the fines assessed to BP under the Clean Water Act be directed to Gulf States for the purpose of coastal and ecosystem restoration.

In addition to the Gulf Coast Restoration Act, Scalise also introduced the Disaster Recovery Improvement Act (DRIA), H.R. 57. The bill improves FEMA’s disaster response plans and builds on lessons learned following Hurricane Katrina. H.R. 57 would:

• Speed up FEMA’s response time when responding to assistance requests
• Require FEMA to issue and implement regulations to expedite public assistance payments
• Require that FEMA update the factors used to determine the amount of individual assistance available for individuals affected by a disaster
• Authorize FEMA to provide assistance for the rescue, care, shelter and essential needs of individuals with pets and service animals during emergencies

Scalise also introduced the following bills yesterday:

• H.R. 58, to improve law-abiding citizens’ ability to purchase firearms
• H.R. 59, to require Senate confirmation of executive branch appointees, or czars, who hold similar authority and power as cabinet officials but who have not undergone the same confirmation process.
• H.R. 60, to repeal the burdensome 1099 tax reporting mandate of the new health care law
• H.R. 61, to prohibit federal employees from flying in first class on the government dollar

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Contact: Stephen Bell
202-226-9113