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October 11, 2005

Washington, D.C. — Congress has passed bills totalling nearly $800 per U.S. family in spending, with a tax reduction focused on Katrina recovery bringing government expeditures above $850 per U.S. family.

Along with bills that extend the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program and an adjustment to the Pell Grant program, Congress has passed two emergency spending bills.

Bills that are still pending include more tweaks to student aid programs, a bill that seeks to police current Hurricane Katrina recovery spending, and the Louisiana Katrina Recovery Act, which amounts to more than $1,700 per U.S. family in additional spending.

WashingtonWatch.com uses government predictions about the costs or savings from proposed laws to calculate the significance to average Americans – in dollars and cents – of proposed changes to the nation's policies. More information about these calculations is available on the "about" page of the Web site.

Listed below are the costs and savings from Hurricane Katrina legislation that has passed and that remains under consideration, based on population figures and interest rates as of October 11, 2005.

Bills already passed:

• P.L. 109-61, A bill making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, to meet immediate needs arising from the consequences of Hurricane Katrina, and for other purposes. Costs: $120.36
• P.L. 109-62, A bill making further emergency supplemental appropriations to meet immediate needs arising from the consequences of Hurricane Katrina, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, and for other purposes. Costs: $593.78
• P.L. 109-66, The Pell Grant Hurricane and Disaster Relief Act. Costs: $0.02
• P. L. 109-68, The TANF Emergency Response and Recovery Act of 2005. Costs: $68.77
• P. L. 109-73, The Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act of 2005. Saves: $62.11

Bills still under consideration:

• H.R. 3670, A bill to extend for persons affected by Hurricane Katrina the time for appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims of certain decisions of the Board of Veterans Appeals that are rendered during the period from June 1, 2005, through November 30, 2005. Costs: $0.01
• H.R. 3863, The Natural Disaster Student Aid Fairness Act. Costs: $0.38
• S. 1716, The Emergency Health Care Relief Act of 2005. Costs: $96.46
• S. 1738, The Special Inspector General for Relief and Reconstruction Act of 2005. Costs: $0.85
• S. 1764, An act to provide for the continued education of students affected by Hurricane Katrina. Costs: $2.43
• S. 1766, The Louisiana Katrina Reconstruction Act. Costs: $1,751.79