'Road Home' Funds Get Emergency Boost

Louisiana's "Road Home" program for rebuilding hurricane-damaged homes is slated to get another $3 billion from Congress thanks to an "emergency" spending provision tucked into a $471 billion defense appropriations bill that President Bush is expected to sign.The emergency appropriation is aimed at covering a $3.0 billion to $4.3 billion shortfall in Louisiana's housing recovery program, which has already received over $10 billion in Community Development Block Grant funds. Senate Appropriations Committee member Mary Landrieu, D-La., pushed for the additional funds so all eligible homeowners who filed claims before Aug. 1 could receive grants of up to $150,000. "Congress made a $3 billion pledge to Louisiana homeowners to ensure they receive their Road Home grants to rebuild and recover," Sen. Landrieu said. Congress initially approved $6.2 billion in CDBG funds for Louisiana and $5.1 billion for Mississippi in response to hurricanes Katrina and Rita.