Community Development Block Grant Funds
in Disaster Relief and Recovery
Eugene Boyd
Analyst in Federalism and Economic Development Policy
Oscar R. Gonzales
Analyst in Economic Development Policy
January 28, 2010
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
RL33330
CRS Report for Congress
P
repared for Members and Committees of Congress
Community Development Block Grant Funds in Disaster Relief and Recovery
Summary
In the aftermath of presidentially declared disasters, Congress has used a variety of programs to
help states and local governments finance recovery efforts, among them the Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Over the years, Congress has appropriated
supplemental CDBG funds to assist states and communities recover from such natural disasters as
hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornadoes. In addition, CDBG funds supported recovery efforts in
New York City following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; in Oklahoma City following
the bombing of the Alfred Murrah Building in 1995; and in the city and county of Los Angeles
following the riots of 1992. In response to those calamities, CDBG funds were made available for
short-term relief efforts, mitigation actions, and long-term recovery, and to provide housing and
business assistance, infrastructure reconstruction, and public services.
The Gulf Coast hurricanes of 2005 (Katrina, Rita, and Wilma) resulted in the largest
appropriation of CDBG funds for disaster relief and recovery in the program’s history. Since
December 2005, Congress has provided $19.85 billion in CDBG disaster-related assistance to the
five states (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas) affected by the Gulf Coast
hurricanes of 2005. This included $11.5 billion in CDBG assistance appropriated in the Defense
Appropriations Act for FY2006, P.L. 109-148; $5.2 billion in the Emergency Supplemental
Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery Act of 2006,
P.L. 109-234; and $3 billion (exclusively for Louisiana’s Road Home Program) appropriated in
the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for FY2008, P.L. 110-116.
The 110th Congress appropriated $6.8 billion in CDBG funds to be used to respond to
presidentially declared disasters occurring in 2008. This included $300 million appropriated
under the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, P.L. 110-252, and $6.5 billion included in
the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009, P.L.
110-329.
In general, CDBG disaster relief acts passed since 2005 have included provisions that limit the
amount a state could use for administrative expenses to 5%; allow a state to seek waivers of
program requirements, except those related to fair housing, nondiscrimination, labor standards,
and environmental review; prohibit the use of funds for activities that were reimbursable by or
made available bythe Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or the Army Corp of
Engineers; and require each state to develop and HUD to approve state recovery plans
As a condition for the receipt of CDBG disaster recovery assistance, states are required to submit
quarterly reports to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees on all awards and use of
funds. The acts do not prescribe the form these quarterly reports are to take nor the content they
are to include, except for identifying and rationalizing the use of sole source contracts. This report
will be updated as events warrant.
Congressional Research Service
Community Development Block Grant Funds in Disaster Relief and Recovery
Contents
Background ................................................................................................................................ 1
CDBG Disaster Assistance .......................................................................................................... 1
Short-Term Disaster Relief.................................................................................................... 2
Mitigation Activities ............................................................................................................. 2
Long-Term Recovery Activities............................................................................................. 3
Other Actions by HUD in Support of Disaster Recovery.............................................................. 3
Authority to Waive Program Requirements............................................................................ 4
Funding Transfers ................................................................................................................. 4
State Matching Funds............................................................................................................ 5
Matching Other Federal Funds .............................................................................................. 5
Reporting Requirements........................................................................................................ 5
Policy Considerations ................................................................................................................. 5
Tables
Table A-1. Funding History of CDBG Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief .............. 7
Appendixes
Appendix. Funding History of CDBG Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief .............. 7
Contacts
Author Contact Information ...................................................................................................... 11
Congressional Research Service
Community Development Block Grant Funds in Disaster Relief and Recovery
Background
The CDBG program, administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD), is the federal government’s largest and most widely available source of financial
assistance to support state and local government-directed neighborhood revitalization, housing
rehabilitation, and economic development activities. These formula-based grants are allocated to
more than 1,100 entitlement communities (metropolitan cities with populations of 50,000 or
more, and urban counties), the 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the insular areas of American Samoa,
Guam, the Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Grants are used to implement plans
intended to address local housing, neighborhood revitalization, public services, and infrastructure
needs, as determined by local officials with citizen input.
Due to the block grant nature of the program, local and state officials exercise a great deal of
discretion in determining which combination of eligible activities (in 25 categories) to undertake
when developing their community development plans. Eligible CDBG activities include historic
preservation; real property acquisition, demolition, site preparation and disposition; economic
development and job creation, including assistance to for-profit entities and establishment of
revolving loan funds; housing assistance, including rehabilitation loans and grants; public service
activities, including job counseling and employment training; and assistance to not-for-profit
entities, including community development corporations and faith-based institutions.
Any of the eligible activities undertaken by a community must address at least one of the
program’s following three national objectives:
• principally benefit low and moderate income persons;
• aid in eliminating or preventing slums or blight; or
• meet particularly urgent community development needs because existing
conditions pose a serious and immediate threat to the public.
It is this third program objective—meeting an urgent threat—that allows CDBG funds to be used
to assist in disaster response activities.
The program’s authorizing statute requires each state and entitlement community to allocate 70%
of its CDBG funds to activities that primarily benefit low- and moderate-income persons. In
response to previous disasters, HUD has waived this provision in order to allow a community to
address an urgent threat to the safety of residents.
CDBG Disaster Assistance
The CDBG program has been used frequently by the federal government to respond to natural
and manmade catastrophes (for a list of CDBG disaster recovery appropriations see the
Appendix). In general, Congress has provided increased flexibility and allocated additional
CDBG funds to affected communities and states to help them respond to and recover from
presidentially declared disasters. This includes allowing communities to reprogram CDBG funds
to meet disaster-related needs, including short-term disaster relief, mitigation activities, and long-
term recovery activities. In assisting communities and states in responding to disasters, HUD may
Congressional Research Service
1
Community Development Block Grant Funds in Disaster Relief and Recovery
expedite grant awards for affected communities in presidentially declared disaster areas,
including allowing affected grantees to move up their CDBG program start dates.
Short-Term Disaster Relief
Past disaster relief legislation has allowed CDBG funds to fill gaps in Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) and Small Business Administration (SBA) emergency relief
activities. In general, such legislation prohibited CDBG funds from substituting for FEMA or
SBA funding but allowed CDBG funds to be used for activities that are not reimbursable by
FEMA or SBA. Typically, CDBG has been used to finance the removal of debris, the provision of
extra security patrols, and the emergency restoration of essential services, such as water, sewer,
electrical, and telecommunications. For instance, approximately $250 million in CDBG funds
were used to finance the emergency temporary restoration of utilities in the affected areas of
Lower Manhattan following the destruction of the World Trade Center, and an additional $500
million was made available for permanent utility restoration and infrastructure improvements.1
Mitigation Activities
Mitigation activities are intended to lessen the impact of a disaster, and can range from such
physical measures as the construction of levees to protect against flooding to buildings designed
to withstand earthquakes. Mitigation activities may also involve training exercises and public
awareness programs. Less typical is the use of CDBG to compensate businesses and workers for
lost wages or revenues. Mitigation can take place at any time—before a disaster occurs, during an
emergency, or after a disaster, during recovery or reconstruction.
Mitigation activities have involved the use of CDBGs to fund buyouts of real property in areas
prone to a recurrence of the event. For instance, following the Midwest floods of 1993, CDBG
and Hazard Mitigation Grants from FEMA were used to acquire privately-held real property
within flood plain areas in the nine affected states2 and convert the land to public uses, such as
recreation, or allowing it to return to its natural state.3 CDBG funds were also used to construct
and repair levees in an effort to reduce the area’s vulnerability to future flood losses. Following
the Midwest floods of 1997, Congress again appropriated CDBG funds to cover buyouts of
privately-held land in flood prone areas in the affected states.4
Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Congress appropriated $2 billion under
P.L. 107-117 for disaster relief and recovery assistance to New York.5 The act earmarked at least
1 Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, Partial Action Plan S-2 for Utility Restoration and Infrastructure
Rebuilding, prepared by the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation in partnership with Empire State
Development and New York City Economic Development Corporation, available at http://www.renewnyc.com/
content/pdfs/PAP%20S-2%20%20As%20Approved%20by%20HUD%20as%20of%20091503.pdf, visited March 23,
2006, p. 1.
2 States affected by the 1993 floods included Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota,
South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
3 108 Stat. 13; U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency and State of Missouri Emergency Management Agency,
Success Stories from the Missouri Buyout Program, (Washington: August 2002) available at http://www.fema.gov/pdf/
casestudys/mo_buyoutreport.pdf, visited March 23, 2006, p. 2.
4 111 Stat. 198.
5 In total, Congress appropriated $3.483 billion in CDBG disaster relief assistance. These funds were made available in
(continued...)
Congressional Research Service
2
Community Development Block Grant Funds in Disaster Relief and Recovery
$500 million for economic losses to individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations in an
effort to mitigate the attack’s economic impact. That provision required HUD to implement the
program within 45 days after passage of the act. It limited economic loss grants to small
businesses located within a designated area to no more than $500,000. In addition, the act
earmarked at least $10 million for the tourism and travel industry.6
Long-Term Recovery Activities
The third set of activities eligible for CDBG assistance is associated with long-term recovery and
reconstruction efforts. This would include assistance to businesses and residents affected by a
presidentially declared disaster, as well as grants intended to attract new businesses to the area.
The forms of assistance may range from business loans to infrastructure improvements.
For instance, to assist in the redevelopment of the Lower Manhattan area of New York following
the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Congress appropriated $3.5 billion in CDBG funds.
Of the $3.5 billion in CDBG funds made available, $1.49 billion has been allocated to recovery
assistance including $350 million in business recovery grants (to compensate businesses for lost
revenue) and small firm attraction and retention grants (awarding incentives to businesses
agreeing to stay in Lower Manhattan).7 The $1.49 billion also included $280.5 million in
residential grant assistance to encourage renters and owners to stay in the area.8 In exchange for a
two-year commitment to stay in the area, renters and owners in designated Lower Manhattan
neighborhoods received residential grants that covered up to 30% of their housing costs.9 In
addition, $330 million in CDBG funds were made available to cover some portion of costs
incurred by Con Edison and Verizon in restoring utility and telecommunication services to the
Lower Manhattan area.
Other Actions by HUD in Support of Disaster
Recovery
In addition to providing CDBG funding assistance, Congress has included a number of other
provisions in past disaster relief appropriations to facilitate relief and recovery efforts and to
ensure accountability. These have included the use of waivers, funding transfers, matching funds,
and reporting requirements.
(...continued)
three separate appropriations acts: $700 million in P.L. 107-38; $2.0 billion in P.L. 107-117; and $783 million in P.L.
107-206.
6 115 Stat. 2336.
7 Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, Partial Action Plan 002: New York Business Recovery and Economic
Revitalization, prepared by the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation in partnership with Empire State
Development and New York City Economic Development Corporation, available at http://www.renewnyc.com/
FundingInitiatives/PartialActionPlans.aspx, visited March 23, 2006, p. 2.
8 Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, Partial Action Plan 001: Residential Grant Program, prepared by the
Lower Manhattan Development Corporation in cooperation with the State of New York and the City of New York,
available at http://www.renewnyc.com/FundingInitiatives/PartialActionPlans.aspx, visited March 23, 2006, p. 1.
9 Ibid., p. 9.
Congressional Research Service
3
Community Development Block Grant Funds in Disaster Relief and Recovery
Authority to Waive Program Requirements
Previous disaster relief appropriations have granted the Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development significant authority to waive program requirements but have generally prohibited
waivers in four areas: nondiscrimination, environmental review, labor standards, and fair housing.
This is consistent with the program’s authorizing legislation which states that:
For funds designated under this title by a recipient to address the damage in an area for
which the President has declared a disaster under title IV of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, the Secretary may suspend all requirements for
purposes of assistance under section 106 for that area, except for those related to public
notice of funding availability, nondiscrimination, fair housing, labor standards,
environmental standards, and requirements that activities benefit persons of low- and
moderate-income.10
Congress, on a few occasions, has waived or modified the CDBG program’s income targeting
provisions, which require grantees to allocate at least 70% of their funds to activities that benefit
low- and moderate-income persons. For instance, in response to the Midwest floods of 1998 and
the Florida hurricanes of 2004, Gulf Coast hurricanes of 2005, and natural disasters of 2008, the
income targeting requirement was lowered to 50%.11 In response to the 1992 Los Angeles riots,
Congress increased the ceiling on the use of the CDBG funds for public service activities in Los
Angeles from 15% to 25%.12
In addition to waivers, affected grantees in presidentially declared disaster areas may request the
suspension of certain statutory or regulatory provisions. This may include extension of the
deadline for submitting annual performance reports, and changes in the time frame for measuring
whether the community met the CDBG program’s income-targeting requirement (that 70% of
CDBG expenditures benefitted low- and moderate-income persons).13 Grantees may also seek a
suspension or removal of statutory provisions prohibiting the use of CDBG funds for new
housing construction or for repair or reconstruction of buildings used for the general conduct of
local government. Several past disaster relief acts included language requiring HUD to publish in
the Federal Register, five days in advance of the effective date, any waivers or suspensions of
any statute or regulation governing the use of CDBG funds for disaster relief.14
Funding Transfers
Congress has included language in previous disaster relief appropriations allowing communities
to transfer CDBG funds to other programs. For instance, disaster relief assistance legislation in
response to the Northridge, California, earthquake of 1994 included a provision allowing HUD to
transfer $75 million in CDBG assistance to the HOME Investment Partnership program (a
housing block grant administered by HUD).15 In addition, Congress included language in
appropriations dealing with the 1998 Midwest floods that transferred administrative authority
10 42 U.S.C. 5321.
11 112 Stat. 76; 118 Stat. 1254; 119 Stat.2781; and 122 Stat. 3600
12 42 U. S. C. 5306(a)(8).
13 The time frame for measuring low- and moderate-income benefits may not exceed three years.
14 118 Stat. 1254.
15 108 Stat. 13.
Congressional Research Service
4
Community Development Block Grant Funds in Disaster Relief and Recovery
over CDBG funds for land buyouts from HUD to FEMA as a part of a disaster mitigation
strategy.16
State Matching Funds
Congress has also included language in disaster relief appropriations requiring communities to
meet a financial match requirement as a condition for receipt of CDBG-funded disaster relief
assistance. For instance, disaster relief assistance in response to the Florida hurricanes of 2004
required each state to “provide not less than 10 percent in non-Federal public matching funds or
its equivalent value (other than administrative costs) for any funds allocated to the state under this
heading.”17 CDBGs awarded to states following the 1998 Midwest floods were conditioned on
each state providing 25% in non-federal public matching funds.18
Matching Other Federal Funds
Statutory provisions governing the regular CDBG program allow states and local governments to
use their annual (non-disaster related) CDBG allocations to meet the matching fund requirements
of other federal programs (42 USC 5305(a)(9). However, recently Congress included language in
appropriations dealing with Gulf Coast hurricanes of 2005 and natural disasters in 2008 that
prohibited states and local governments from using CDBG disaster-relief funds to meet the
matching fund requirements of other federal programs.19
Reporting Requirements
Several past appropriations acts have included provisions requiring quarterly reports on the
expenditure of funds in order to provide oversight and ensure accountability in the allocation of
disaster relief funds. Legislation providing CDBG disaster relief assistance to communities
affected by the 1997 and 1998 Midwest floods included provisions that required HUD and FEMA
to jointly submit quarterly reports to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees on the use
of CDBG funds for land acquisition and buyouts.20 Legislation providing CDBG assistance to
New York following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the Gulf Coast hurricanes of 2005,
and natural disasters of 2008 also included quarterly reporting provisions.21
Policy Considerations
The CDBG program’s broad list of eligible activities and its flexibility has allowed communities
and states affected by disasters to undertake short-term disaster relief efforts, implement
mitigation strategies, and finance long-term recovery activities. These funds have been used to
16 111 Stat. 199; 116 Stat. 889.
17 118 Stat. 1254.
18 112 Stat. 76.
19 120 Stat. 473, 122 Stat. 3601.
20 111 Stat. 199; 112 Stat. 77.
21 115 Stat. 221, 119 Stat. 2781, 122 Stat. 3601.
Congressional Research Service
5
Community Development Block Grant Funds in Disaster Relief and Recovery
support disaster recovery efforts spanning multiple states, as well as to respond to disaster
recovery efforts in highly urbanized areas.
As Congress examines legislative proposals intended to finance long-term disaster recovery
efforts, it may move to consider a number of CDBG-related policy questions:
• Is the CDBG program an appropriate and effective means of providing federal
support for long-term disaster recovery efforts?
• If it is, what should be the level of CDBG assistance awarded to affected areas?
• Should CDBG assistance be controlled by the individual communities, by the
states, or by a multi-state regional entity or entities?
• Should Congress require states to meet a matching fund requirement as a
condition for receiving disaster recovery-related CDBG funds? If so, what level
of matching funds would be appropriate? Would it be fixed, or adjustable to
account for such factors as level of damage, state fiscal capacity, income levels,
and other factors?
• What, if any, additional compliance and accountability measures or actions
should Congress require of CDBG recipients as a condition of receiving CDBG
funds?
Congressional Research Service
6
Appendix. Funding History of CDBG Supplemental Appropriations for
Disaster Relief
Table A-1. Funding History of CDBG Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief
Public law
Funding
Intended use of funds
P.L. 110-329. Consolidated Security,
$6,500,000,000
Provides funds to assist communities affected by hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters
Disaster assistance, and Continuing
occurring during 2008 undertake activities related to disaster relief, long-term recovery, and
Appropriations Act, 2009
restoration infrastructure economic .housing, and economic revitalization. Allocates $6.5 million
for HUD administrative expenses, limits the administrative expenses each state may incur in
undertaking eligible activities to no more than 5% of its allocation, directs that each state allocate
its pro rated shareof $650 million for affordable rental housing. Requires that at least 33% of the
amount appropriated be al ocated within 60 days after passage of the act. (122 Stat. 3599)
P.L. 110-252. Supplemental
$300,000,000
Midwest floods and other natural disasters of 2008. Funds are to be used for necessary expenses
Appropriations for FY2008
related to disaster relief, long-term recovery, and restoration of infrastructure in areas covered
by a declaration of major disaster under title IV of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) as a result of recent natural disasters. (122
Stat. 2352)
P.L. 110-116. Road Home Appropriations
$3,000,000,000
Provides funding for the Road Home Program, through the Department of Defense
under Department of Defense
Appropriations for FY2008. The funding will be provided as part of the Department of Housing
Appropriations
and Urban Development, Community Planning and Development, Community Development
Fund. The funds can only be used to cover costs associated with otherwise uncompensated but
eligible claims that were filed on or before July 31, 2007, under the Road Home program
administered by the State of Louisiana. (121 Stat. 1343)
P.L. 109-234. Emergency Supplemental
$5,200,000,000
Makes emergency supplemental appropriations to HUD in response to the consequences of
Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global
Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. CDBG disaster recovery funds were to be allocated among
War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery,
the five states (Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida) affected by the Gulf Coast
2006
hurricanes of 2005; limited the amount that any one state could receive to $4.2 billionand
encouraged states to target assistance to infrastructure reconstruction and activities that would
spur the redevelopment of affordable rental housing, including federally assisted housing and
public housing. Requires each state to develop recovery plan that must be approved by HUD,
and to submit quarterly reports to House and Senate Appropriation Committees. (120 Stat.472)
P.L. 109-148. Department of Defense,
$11,500,000,000
Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. CDBG funding for activities and necessary expenses related
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations to
to disaster relief, long-term recovery, and restoration of infrastructure in the most impacted and
Address Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico,
distressed areas related to the consequences of hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico in 2005 in
and Pandemic Influenza Act, 2006
states for which the President declared a major disaster under title IV of the Robert T. Stafford
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.). (119 Stat. 2780)
CRS-7
Public law
Funding
Intended use of funds
P.L. 108-324. Military Construction
$150,000,000
Florida Hurricanes of 2004. For use only for disaster relief, long-term recovery, and mitigation
Appropriations and Emergency Hurricane
activities related to four hurricanes. The state may use the supplemental to reimburse
Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2005
entitlement communities. (118 Stat. 1253)
P.L. 107-206. 2002 Supplemental
$783,000,000
Assistance to rebuild Lower Manhattan fol owing Terrorist Attacks of 9/11/2001. Funds awarded
Appropriations Act For Further Recovery
to the State of New York through the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation in
from and Response to Terrorist Attacks on
cooperation with the City of New York in support of the city’s economic recovery efforts.
the United States
Funds may be used for assistance to properties and business, including to redevelop
infrastructure, and for economic revitalization activities. (116 Stat. 889)
P.L. 107-117. Department of Defense and
$2,000,000,000
Assistance to rebuild Lower Manhattan fol owing Terrorist Attacks of 9/11/2001. Funds made
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations
available to reimburse businesses and persons for economic losses, including funds to reimburse
for Recovery from and Response to
tourism area. (115 Stat. 2236)
Terrorist Attacks on the United States Act,
2002
P.L. 107-73. Departments of Veterans
$700,000,000
Assistance to and reimbursement of State of New York fol owing terrorist attacks of 9/11/2001
Affairs and Housing and Urban
(Sec. 434). The amounts subject to the fifth proviso under the heading “Emergency Response
Development, and Independent Agencies
Fund,” in P.L. 107-38, are available for transfer to HUD 15 days after OMB has submitted to the
Appropriations Act, 2002
House and Senate Committees on Appropriations a proposed al ocation method and plan for
use of the funds. Funds may be awarded to the State of New York for assistance for properties
and businesses damaged by, and for economic revitalization related to, the September 11, 2001
terrorist attacks on New York City, and for reimbursement to the State and City of New York
for expenditures incurred from the regular Community Development Block Grant formula
al ocation used to achieve these same purposes. (115 Stat. 699)
P.L. 106-31. 1999 Emergency
[$230,000,000] rescission
Rescinds $230,000,000 in CDBG unobligated balances available under division B of the Omnibus
Supplemental Appropriations
Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999, P.L. 105-277. (113 Stat.
109)
P.L. 105-277. Omnibus Consolidated and
Provision clarifying the use of Compensation for Oklahoma City bombings. Notwithstanding the third undesignated paragraph
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations
funds provided to Oklahoma
under the heading Community Development Block Grants under title II of the Departments of
Act, 1999
City through the program in
Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies
the
Appropriations Act, 1999 ( P.L. 105-176), of the amount made available under such heading for
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, up to 50% of such amount shal be available to such city for payment
FY1999 appropriations act.
of claims for bomb damage and repairs for infrastructure located in the area described in clause
(1) of such undesignated paragraph. Any amounts available for use under such undesignated
paragraph that are not expended to pay such claims or for such repairs shall be utilized for the
revolving loan pool described in such undesignated paragraph. (112 Stat. 2681-546)
P.L. 105-277. Omnibus Consolidated and
$250,000,000
Presidential y declared disasters of 1998 and 1999. For use only for disaster relief, long-term
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations
recovery, and mitigation activities related to four hurricanes. The state may use the supplemental
Act, 1999
to reimburse entitlement communities. (112 Stat. 2681-578)
CRS-8
Public law
Funding
Intended use of funds
P.L. 105-276. Department of Veteran
$12,000,000
Oklahoma City Bombing. Of the amount made available under this heading, $12,000,000 is for
Affairs and Housing and Urban
the City of Oklahoma City for a revolving loan pool that shall be made available only for the
Development and Independent Agencies
purposes of making loans to carry out economic development activities that primarily benefit the
Appropriations Act, 1999
area in Oklahoma City bounded on the south by Robert S. Kerr Avenue, on the north by North
13th Street, on the east by Oklahoma Avenue, and on the west by Shartel Avenue. (112 Stat.
2476)
P.L. 105-174. 1998 Supplemental
$130,000,000
Presidential y declared disasters of 1998. $130,000,000 in CDBG funding which shal remain
Appropriations and Rescissions
available until September 30, 2001, For use only for disaster relief, long-term recovery, and
mitigation in communities affected by presidentially declared natural disasters designated during
fiscal year 1998, except for those activities reimbursable by or for which funds are made available
by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Smal Business Administration, or the Army
Corps of Engineers. (112 Stat. 76)
P.L. 105-18. 1997 Emergency
$500,000,000
Midwest Floods of 1997. $500,000,000, in CDBG funds, of which $250,000,000 shal become
Supplemental Appropriations for Recovery
available for obligation on October 1, 1997, and al of which shal remain available until
from Natural Disasters and for Overseas
September 30, 2000. For use only for buyouts, relocation, long-term recovery, and mitigation in
Peacekeeping Efforts, Including those in
communities affected by the flooding in the upper Midwest and other disasters in FY1997 and
Bosnia
such natural disasters designated 30 days prior to the start of FY1997, except those activities
reimbursable or for which funds are made available by the Federal Emergency Management
Agency, the Smal Business Administration, or the Army Corps of Engineers. (111 Stat. 198)
P.L. 104-134. Omnibus Consolidated
$50,000,000
CDBG funds to remain available until September 30, 1998, for emergency expenses and repairs
Rescissions and Appropriations Act of 1996
related to recent presidential y declared flood disasters, including up to $10,000,000 for rental
subsidy contracts under the section 8 existing housing certificate program and the housing
voucher program under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended, except
that such amount shall be available only for temporary housing assistance, not in excess of one
year in duration, and shal not be subject to renewal. (110 Stat. 1321-334)
P.L. 104-19. Emergency Supplemental
$39,000,000
$39,000,000, to remain available until expended to assist property and victims damaged and
Appropriations for Additional Disaster
economic revitalization due to the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in
Assistance, for Anti-Terrorism Initiative, for
Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995, primarily in the area bounded on the south by Robert S. Kerr
Assistance in the Recovery from the
Avenue, on the north by North 13th Street, on the east by Oklahoma Avenue, and on the west
Tragedy that Occurred at Oklahoma City,
by Shartel Avenue, and for reimbursement to the City of Oklahoma City, or any public trust
Rescissions Act, 1995
thereof, for the expenditure of other Federal funds used to achieve these same purposes. (109
State 253)
P.L. 103-327. Department of Veteran
$225,000,000
Northridge/1994 earthquake in Southern California. $225,000,000, in CDBG to remain available
Affairs and Housing and Urban
until September 30, 1996, of which $50,000,000 shal be derived by transfer from funds provided
Development, and Independent Agencies
under the heading ‘Department of Education, Impact Aid’ in the Emergency Supplemental
Appropriations Act, 1995
Appropriations Act of 1994 (P.L. 103-211): Provided, That of the foregoing amount,
$200,000,000 and $25,000,000 shal be for the cities of Los Angeles and Santa Monica, California,
respectively. (108 Stat. 2335)
CRS-9
Public law
Funding
Intended use of funds
P.L. 103-327. Department of Veteran
$180,000,000
Tropical Storm Alberto and other disasters. $180,000,000 in CDBG funds to remain available
Affairs and Housing and Urban
until expended to be used to assist states, local communities, and businesses in recovering from
Development, and Independent Agencies
the flooding and damage caused by Tropical Storm Alberto. (108 Stat. 2335)
Appropriations Act, 1995
P.L. 103-211. Emergency Supplemental
$500,000,000 ($425,000,000
1994 earthquake in Southern California and the Midwest Floods of 1993. $500,000,000, in
Appropriations Act of 1994
after transfer of funds to
CDBG funds for emergency expenses for al activities eligible under Title I, except those
HOME program)
activities reimbursable by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or available
through the Small Business Administration (SBA): Provided, That from this amount, the
Secretary may transfer up to $75,000,000 to the HOME program. (108 Stat. 12)
P.L. 103-75. Emergency Supplemental
$200,000,000
Midwest Floods and other disasters. Only in areas affected by the Midwest floods, high winds,
Appropriations for Relief from the Major
hail and other related weather damages of 1993 and other disasters: $200,000,000, in CDBG
Widespread Flooding of the Midwest Act of
funds, of which $25,000,000 is for those community development planning activities related to
1993
recovery efforts and for immediate recovery needs not reimbursable by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA). (107 Stat. 748)
P.L. 103-50. Supplemental Appropriations
$40,000,000
Hurricane Andrew, Hurricane Iniki, Typhoon Omar, and other presidential y declared disasters.
Act of 1993
$40,000,000, in CDBG funds to be derived by transfer from the $100,000,000 appropriated in
the second paragraph under the heading “Annual contributions for assisted housing” in the Dire
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1992 (P.L. 102-368), for use only for the repair,
renovation, or replacement, or other authorized community development activities affecting
structures damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Andrew, Hurricane Iniki, Typhoon Omar, and
other presidential y declared disasters. (107 Stat. 264)
P.L. 103-50. Supplemental Appropriations
$45,000,000
Hurricane Andrew, Hurricane Iniki, or Typhoon Omar. $45,000,000 in CDBG funds for use for
Act of 1993
authorized community development activities only in areas impacted by Hurricane Andrew,
Hurricane Iniki, or Typhoon Omar. (107 Stat. 264)
Source: Compiled by CRS.
CRS-10
Community Development Block Grant Funds in Disaster Relief and Recovery
Author Contact Information
Eugene Boyd
Analyst in Federalism and Economic Development Policy
eboyd@crs.loc.gov, 7-8689
Oscar R. Gonzales
Analyst in Economic Development Policy
ogonzales@crs.loc.gov, 7-0764
Congressional Research Service
11