As Congress reacts to Hurricane Katrina, lawmakers already are seeking quick action on unfinished bills that deal with the Corps of Engineers, a key player in the post-storm work. Emergency spending bills to cover immediate Gulf Coast repair and cleanup costs are on their way. Agreements now seem more likely on Corps fiscal year 2006 appropriations and a Water Resources Development Act to authorize longer-range projects and programs. It would be no surprise to see Congress boost Corps funding in some or all of those measures and earmark projects for Louisiana and other storm-battered areas.
"I think Congress has gotten a huge wake-up call here, that theyd better focus on this legislation and these types of issuesinfrastructure and infrastructure securityif were going to not only alleviate this disaster but head off future disasters," says Steve Hall, American Council of Engineering Companies vice president for government affairs."