WASHINGTON -- United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., today voted in favor of the Senate's Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill, which funds ongoing U.S. military engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan, and includes language Sen. Landrieu authored to expedite rebuilding of non-profit schools, such as Catholic schools. The legislation passed the Senate by a vote of 86-3.

Sen. Landrieu's amendment eliminates the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) 25 percent penalty on the hurricane rebuilding projects of private, non-profit schools. In 2007, Sen. Landrieu secured a similar provision for public schools that were devastated by Katrina and Rita.

"Thanks to this amendment, our non-profit schools along the Gulf Coast now can rebuild safer and smarter," Sen. Landrieu said. "This language will help speed up the recovery of our schools, which will strengthen our recovery effort in the region."

The bill's primary purpose is to keep the country safe and adequately protect America's troops. The Supplemental Appropriations bill funds 21,000 additional troops in Afghanistan and increases funding for Department of Defense health programs for our service members. Sen. Landrieu has strongly supported a more robust troop presence in Afghanistan to defeat insurgent and terrorist forces.

The Defense Health Program funds will provide medical and dental services to active duty forces, mobilized reserve components and their family members. This allocation will also cover costs associated with the treatment of combat-related injuries.

Sen. Landrieu also cosponsored two amendments with Sen. David Vitter, R-La., that would temporarily suspend implementation of permanent pump stations at the outfall canals along Lake Pontchartrain in Orleans and Jefferson parishes and authorize an alternative plan referred to as "pump to the river." The suspension would allow for further analysis of the alternate options identified in an Army Corps of Engineers report to Congress dated August 30, 2007. These amendments were not included in the final bill, but Sen. Landrieu will continue her work with the Administration and Senate colleagues to ensure all options on these critical pumps are explored.

Other highlights of the 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 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.