Hurricane Recovery

Senator Landrieu led numerous battles to aid Louisiana's recovery and rebuilding efforts after the 2005 hurricanes. She successfully eliminated a requirement that state and local governments pay for a portion of projects to repair roads, schools and other pubic works projects, a provision that presented a huge obstacle to recovery efforts. Although the federal government eliminated the payment requirement after past disasters like the September 11 attacks and Hurricane Andrew, the administration refused to do so after the 2005 hurricanes.

Senator Landrieu is spearheading efforts to rewrite federal disaster laws, which are unsuited to deal with larger disasters like Hurricane Katrina and largely ignore communities that host disaster evacuees. In 2008, Landrieu held hearings to force FEMA to explain why it had not developed a National Disaster Housing Strategy after the agency missed two deadlines to do so.

Senator Landrieu fought hard to require comprehensive testing of FEMA trailers housing victims of the 2005 hurricanes for formaldehyde following complaints by residents. After tests found high levels of the carcinogen in the trailers, Landrieu used her position as chair of the Disaster Recovery Subcommittee to push FEMA for answers and a timeline for moving people out of the trailers.

In 2007, Senator Landrieu delivered $3 billion to bail out the Road Home program, which helps residents affected by the 2005 hurricanes get back into their homes. In 2008, she was successful in fixing the tax penalty assessed on Road Home recipients, bringing $1 billion in tax relief to the region's families.

Senator Landrieu also pushed to extend Gulf Opportunity Zone tax credits for businesses that invest in areas affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. In 2008, she secured $300 million in tax savings for Louisiana businesses that locate in GO Zones.

She successfully fought for recovery funding for housing, schools and universities, agriculture, infrastructure and small businesses across the region.