WASHINGTON -- United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., today voted in favor of the Senate's Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill, which contains special funding for ongoing U.S. military engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as $1.5 billion to address the H1N1 flu pandemic. The legislation that was approved unanimously by the Senate Appropriations Committee.

"This must-pass bill funds critical military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and ensures our troops have the very best training and equipment to defend our nation," Sen. Landrieu said. "In addition to responding to the H1N1 flu pandemic, the legislation addresses critical Corps projects and housing assistance in areas impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Congress must continue to support the Gulf Coast's recovery and rebuilding process."

The Committee today unanimously adopted a Landrieu amendment that eliminates the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) 25 percent penalty on certain projects undertaken by private, non-profit schools receiving public funds as a result of damages caused by Hurricane Katrina or Rita. In 2007, Sen. Landrieu secured a similar provision for public schools.

"This commonsense amendment ensures that non-profit schools along the Gulf Coast can rebuild safer, stronger and smarter without being penalized by the federal government for doing so," Sen. Landrieu said. "In the aftermath of such devastating natural disasters, we must make every federal dollar count and unburden our schools from unnecessary layers of federal bureaucracy."

At Sen. Landrieu's request, the Appropriations Committee also allocated an additional $15 million to the National Solidarity Program (NSP). NSP is the largest-ever effort to reach rural communities across Afghanistan and address their infrastructure needs using a participatory approach. Sen. Landrieu's request of an additional $15 million fully funds the program, which touches the lives of 13 million villagers in over 4,000 communities. This additional level of funding now matches the House at $70 million

"We have increased funding for a small but very important initiative-- the National Solidarity Program," Sen. Landrieu said. "This program helps build, block-by-block and village-by-village, communities in Afghanistan that are a significant part of our new approach to bring stability to that region of the world. It will provide opportunities to people in Afghanistan's most depressed rural areas."

In addition to the provisions she secured in today's markup, Sen. Landrieu will continue working to improve the Emergency Supplemental bill when it is considered by the full Senate next week. Among the amendments Sen. Landrieu may offer on the Senate floor is a request for $2 million for the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to address issues related to tainted Chinese drywall. Homeowners in 13 states, including hundreds in Louisiana, have reported metal corrosion, noxious fumes and health concerns in homes with imported Chinese drywall. Tests have not been able to pinpoint the problem substance in the drywall, nor has testing been conducted to understand the far-reaching health impact of these potentially toxic substances. This $2 million would allow CPSC to expedite a full investigation in to the health and safety impacts of this defective drywall.

"These funds would be used to do field studies, analyze the substances in the product, and most importantly, expedite lab results to provide clarity to impacted homeowners," Sen. Landrieu and Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) wrote the Appropriations Committee last week. "Such tests would allow the Federal government to fully understand the scope of the health and public safety risks posed by this product. Funds would also allow the agency to set up a public information campaign on defective drywall, including a website and hotline to help consumers."

Sen. Landrieu may also use the Emergency Supplemental bill to seek relief from V-Zone restrictions for Louisiana communities. Currently, federal regulations prohibit FEMA from funding new construction in Coastal High Hazard Areas known as Velocity or V-Zones. This restriction creates serious rebuilding problems for coastal Louisiana communities, particularly Cameron Parish. Other highlights of the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill include:

• Housing Assistance for States Impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: The bill provides additional funding to assist States that were impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita address the continued need for workforce housing. The provision provides a total of $80 million for section 8 vouchers. This funding is a combination of resources that were included in the Supplemental passed in October, as well as new funding. The vouchers will serve families whose FEMA and other temporary housing assistance is ending.

• H1N1 flu pandemic: As requested by the President, the bill provides $1.5 billion for preparation for and response to a global disease pandemic, including for the H1N1 influenza virus. While the ultimate threat of H1N1 is still uncertain, funding supports activities such as supplementing antiviral stockpiles, vaccine development, and international efforts to stem the outbreak.