Helping Victims of Katrina - Gus Bilirakis Votes NO

H R 1361 RECORDED VOTE
QUESTION: On Passage
BILL TITLE: Relief for Entrepreneurs: Coordination of Objectives and Values for Effective Recovery Act

VOTE PASSED
Bilirakis - NO

H.R. 1361

to improve the disaster relief programs of the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes

The Congressman did vote YES on the following Amendments to limit the amount of relief offered by the government and the SBA (amendments failed):

An amendment numbered 1 printed in House Report 110-97 to strike section 211, thereby requiring anyone receiving both a grant and a disaster loan to use the grant to repay the disaster loan thereby preventing the government from compensating the same person twice for the same disaster.

An amendment numbered 2 in House Report 110-97 to strike section 210, thereby eliminating the authority of the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to offer grants to certain small businesses that were severely affected by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, or Wilma but that were denied disaster loans.

And he voted YES to Recommit the bill with the following instructions (motion failed):

The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill report the same back to the House with an amendment that says if a person or small business is convicted of a crime under the Federal or State law, the person or small business shall not receive assistance under the Small Business Act.

___________________________________________________________

Cost Estimate from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) found here:
http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/79xx/doc7973/hr1361.pdf

INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND PRIVATE-SECTOR IMPACT:
H.R. 1361 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates, as defined in UMRA,
and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments.

Bill Summary -

SUMMARY AS OF: 3/17/2005--Introduced.
(May be some changes on today's passed bill - full text hasn't been posted yet)

International Security Enhancement Act of 2005 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the President to provide assistance for stabilization and reconstruction operations in a country or region that is in, or is in transition from, or is likely to enter into, conflict or civil strife.

Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to direct the Secretary of State to establish within the Department of State an Office of the Coordinator for Stabilization and Reconstruction, which shall: (1) be headed by the Coordinator for Stabilization and Reconstruction; and (2) have primary responsibility for planning and administering stabilization and reconstruction operations in a country or region that is in, or is in transition from, or is likely to enter into, conflict or civil strife.

Establishes within the Foreign Service Institute an International Stabilization and Reconstruction Training Center.

Directs the Coordinator to establish within the Office: (1) a Stabilization and Reconstruction Corps of up to 250 persons; and (2) a Stabilization and Reconstruction Reserve of volunteers. Authorizes presidential deployment of Corps and Reserve members.

Establishes in the Treasury the Department of State Stabilization and Reconstruction Operations Support Fund. Authorizes the President to provide Fund amounts to the Office for a country of impending or immediate risk.

Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) funds appropriated to carry out the amendments made by this Act should be offset by reductions in redundant or duplicative functions and foreign assistance programs of the Department of State; and (2) increased staff levels required by the amendments made by this Act should be offset by the transfer of staff within the Department of State, and the elimination of resultant redundant Department of State functions.