News-Opinion

Legis.News -- Inside the Iowa Legislature, January 23, 2009

By Speaker of the House Pat Murphy

$56 MILLION FOR DISASTER RELIEF

Our first order of business for the 2009 legislative session is disaster

relief. To that end, the House and Senate each established standing

legislative committees to deal specifically with relief issues. Earlier

this week the House Rebuild Iowa Committee, chaired by Rep. Tom

Schueller of Maquoketa, passed a $56 million package to fill gaps in

existing assistance programs, including funding for housing repair,

grants to individuals to meet living needs, and grants to cities and

counties for infrastructure, small business assistance or other needs.

The funds will be drawn from the economic emergency fund, which is part

of the state's $620 million cash reserve account.

While legislators may disagree on many things, everyone is pushing in

the same direction on relief issues. In the House, Schueller is working

closely with the Rebuild Committee's ranking Republican, Rep. Pat

Grassley of New Hartford. Rep. Tyler Olson, floor manager of the relief

package, attended President Obama's inaugural celebration in Washington

on Tuesday, then immediately flew back to Iowa to coordinate

negotiations on the bill. Republicans and Democrats in the Senate and

House are working cooperatively with the Governor's office to get this

aid package done by the end of January.

Of the total, $24 million will be allocated through the Iowa Finance

Authority in the form of forgivable loans up to $25,000 for

disaster-impacted homeowners who have not been able to obtain other

forms of disaster assistance, or have not been able to obtain sufficient

assistance to complete necessary home repairs. This money will be

available for housing repair or to help cover mortgage payments, housing

down payments, or energy efficiency.

Another portion of the relief package - $22 million - will be allocated

as grants to cities and counties to help cover infrastructure repair or

replacement, repairing or replacing housing, financial assistance for

small businesses and nonprofits, and certain other programs. Funds will

be allocated based at least in part on local communities' percentage

share of total statewide damages from the 2008 natural disasters.

The final component provides a total of $10 million for individual

assistance grants, providing up to $2,500 per household to pay for

personal needs or mental health expenses. This component is intended

for those who have additional expenses, beyond what existing programs

will cover, or who have income levels too high to qualify for existing

programs, but who still need assistance.

*************************************************************

REBUILD OFFICE TO EXPIRE IN TWO YEARS

One component of the Rebuild Iowa Disaster Assistance Legislation

establishes the Rebuild Iowa Office (RIO) as a temporary office under

Governor Culver. He issued an executive order last June establishing

the office to coordinate state and local disaster relief efforts in

conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and

other relief agencies. The legislation calls for the RIO office to be

disbanded June 30, 2011.

Originally headed-up by Lieutenant Governor Patty Judge, the office has

operated with equipment and staff mostly borrowed from other state

agencies. Initially co-located with FEMA in temporary quarters in

Urbandale, RIO has since moved to the Wallace State Office Building

across from the State Capitol. RIO obtained much of its initial

direction from the 17-member Rebuild Iowa Commission, created by Culver

to develop a plan for short-term and long-term recovery from last

summer's floods and tornados. This week's legislation calls for the RIO

office to obtain administrative support from the Iowa Department of

Public Defense, and will include a coordinating council of 15 other

state offices.

To date, the RIO office has helped to oversee over $1.4 billion in

disaster assistance, either received or on the way, including state and

federal funding sources for individuals, homeowners, businesses and

local governments impacted by natural disasters from last summer. That

includes small business loans, housing assistance, infrastructure funds,

unemployment assistance, assistance with college costs and other

programs. Further information on disaster assistance is available on

the RIO website (www.rio.iowa.gov) or by calling 515-242-5004.