WASHINGTON -- United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., late yesterday voted in favor of the House-Senate's compromise Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill, which funds ongoing U.S. military activities in Iraq and Afghanistan. The final legislation 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 91-5 and heads to President Obama for his signature.

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.

"This commonsense amendment ensures that Louisiana's non-profit schools can rebuild safer, stronger and smarter without being excessively burdened by the federal government," Sen. Landrieu said. "We must make every federal recovery dollar count and free our schools from the tangle of FEMA red tape. This language will help speed up the long overdue rebuilding of our schools, which will strengthen the entire recovery effort in the Gulf Coast."

The Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act includes two other provisions requested by Sen. Landrieu that will assist and expedite Gulf Coast Recovery. First, legislative language in the bill requires that the federal cost share for recovery assistance from Hurricane Ike increase to 100 percent for debris removal and emergency protective measures, and to 90 percent for repairs and replacements of infrastructure and facilities. Second, the legislation instructs FEMA to continue through March 2010 the reimbursement of case management for families participating in the Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP).

The measure's primary purpose is to keep the country safe and adequately protect America's troops. With nearly $80 billion for the Department of Defense, the Supplemental Appropriations bill funds 21,000 additional troops in Afghanistan and increases funding for the Department's 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.

"Members of the U.S. military deserve the very best equipment and training to carry out their missions around the world," Sen. Landrieu said. "Their daily bravery and sacrifice keeps our nation safe and protects our freedoms. But Congress' responsibility to our Armed Forces must go beyond providing them with proper gear and support on the battle field. The bill is a success because it also includes funding for critical health and medical services for troops and their families."

Funding for housing assistance for states impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita was allocated in the legislation. This provision provides additional funding to address the continued need for workforce housing. Congress provided a total of $80 million for section 8 vouchers, which 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.

The bill also provides $7.7 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.