District of Columbia Councilmember David Catania moved emergency legislation today that authorizes relocation and recovery assistance to Gulf Coast residents forced from their homes by Hurricane Katrina and flooding that followed that storm. Given this authority, the District will continue offering local and federal government aid to hundreds of guests from the affected area.

Catania said, "Given ongoing uncertainty as to whether our guests will remain in the District, relocate to other areas, or return home, the usual methods to distribute assistance cannot be utilized. This emergency measure provides the necessary flexibility to allow the District government to respond quickly and efficiently in a time of crisis."

The D.C. Disaster, Relocation, and Recovery Assistance Emergency Act of 2005 accomplishes five objectives. First, it permits the District to consider evacuees as "residents" of the District, thus facilitating immediate access to programs and services available to persons who reside on the District. Second, the Mayor is authorized to spend local money to provide necessary recovery assistance to eligible resident evacuees, such as travel, meals, lodging, and incidental expenses. Third, the District may waive documentation requirements such as social security card, birth certificate, and photographic identification before receiving aid. Fourth, the act authorizes an expedited supervisory program level of review and resolution of benefit claims associated with the provision of services. Finally, the act permits the District, to the extent permitted by law, to waive recovery of overpayment of benefits.

Under this emergency legislation, resident evacuees will have immediate access to federal Food Stamps, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Medicaid, health care, and education. Access to prescription drug benefits will be facilitated and counseling and other mental health services will be provided. Other benefits include transportation to and from the evacuated state; employment job fairs and other employment related services; access to computers and internet services to enable residents to find lost family members due to the disaster; and pro bono attorneys to provide free personal legal services to evacuated residents to facilitate access to child support, SSI, pension annuities insurance, etc.

Councilmember Catania accepted an amendment to the legislation requiring that the Mayor list D.C. residents that have been waiting for these or similar benefits.