MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2005 5th Extraordinary Session
To: Sel Cmte on Hurricane Recovery
By: Representative Miles, Akins, Aldridge, Arinder, Bailey, Baker (74th), Baker (8th), Banks, Barnett, Beckett, Bentz, Blackmon, Bondurant, Bounds, Broomfield, Brown, Buck, Burnett, Calhoun, Carlton, Chism, Clark, Clarke, Coleman (29th), Coleman (65th), Compretta, Cummings, Davis, Dedeaux, Denny, Dickson, Eaton, Ellington, Ellis, Espy, Evans, Fillingane, Flaggs, Fleming, Formby, Franks, Fredericks, Frierson, Gadd, Gibbs, Gregory, Guice, Gunn, Hamilton (109th), Hamilton (6th), Harrison, Hines, Holland, Holloway, Horne, Howell, Huddleston, Hudson, Ishee, Janus, Jennings, Johnson, Lott, Malone, Markham, Martinson, Masterson, Mayhall, Mayo, McBride, McCoy, Middleton, Mims, Moak, Montgomery, Moore, Morris, Moss, Myers, Nicholson, Norquist, Parker, Patterson, Peranich, Perkins, Read, Reed, Reeves, Reynolds, Robinson (63rd), Robinson (84th), Rogers (14th), Rogers (61st), Rotenberry, Scott, Shows, Simpson, Smith (27th), Smith (39th), Smith (59th), Snowden, Staples, Stevens, Straughter, Stringer, Sullivan, Thomas, Turner, Upshaw, Vince, Walley, Ward, Warren, Watson, Weathersby, Wells-Smith, Whittington, Woods, Young, Zuber
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO WAIVE ALL REQUIREMENTS FOR STATE OR LOCAL MATCHING FUNDS AND ALL TIME LIMITS IN WHICH TO COMPLETE EMERGENCY WORK FOR DAMAGE TO THE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE CAUSED BY OR RESULTING FROM HURRICANE KATRINA.
WHEREAS, on the 29th day of August, 2005, the Gulf Coast region of the State of Mississippi was devastated by Hurricane Katrina, a storm of historic proportions; and
WHEREAS, there was great loss of life and property as a result of said storm; and
WHEREAS, the direct and indirect damage to the public infrastructure of the State of Mississippi and the local communities in the affected counties was immense; and
WHEREAS, damage estimates are now in the hundreds of millions of dollars; and
WHEREAS, due to the enormity of the damage, normal state and local procurement processes are inadequate to allow response in a timely manner; and
WHEREAS, the extent of the damage is such that the tax base of both the local communities and the state at large will be adversely affected; and
WHEREAS, the Governor of the State of Mississippi, Governor Haley Barbour, has officially requested that the President of the United States waive all requirements for state or local matching funds and operating assistance restrictions for projects to restore the public infrastructure within the State of Mississippi and provide one hundred percent federal funding for these projects; and
WHEREAS, Governor Haley Barbour additionally has requested that the President of the United States waive all time limitations in federal assistance programs for a period of twenty-four months, and the president has acceded to this request:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That the Congress of the United States of America is urged and requested to support the president's waiver of time limitations in federal assistance programs relating to the devastation created by Hurricane Katrina, waive all requirements for state or local matching funds and operating assistance restrictions for projects to restore the public infrastructure within the State of Mississippi, provide one hundred percent federal funding for these projects and enact all legislation necessary to accomplish these purposes.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to President George W. Bush, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, members of the Mississippi Congressional Delegation, Governor Haley Barbour and members of the Capitol Press Corps.