Gulf Coast Recovery Act of 2005

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Gulf Coast Recovery Act of 2005 - Authorizes the President to provide assistance under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (the Stafford Act) to reimburse an eligible state or local government 75% of the eligible expenses incurred between January 1 and June 30, 2006, for base pay and overtime expenses of employees who provide essential government services for response and recovery operations with respect Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on or after August 29, 2005.

Amends the Community Disaster Loan Act of 2005 to limit a disaster loan to 50% of a local government's operating budget for the fiscal year in which the disaster occurs.

Sets at 100% the federal share of assistance for debris removal under the Stafford Act with respect to such hurricanes.

Requires the President to contribute at least 75% of the cost of hazard mitigation measures approved under the Stafford Act in the one-year period following enactment of this Act with respect to such hurricanes.

Amends the Stafford Act to double from 7.5% to 15% of the estimated aggregate amount of federal disaster relief grants to be made with respect to a major disaster the limit on the total amount of contributions the President may make for cost-effective hazard mitigation measures in the disaster area.

Extends unemployment assistance in the case of an eligible individual affected by the hurricane disasters. Requires the President to make such assistance available for 52 weeks after the date of the disaster declaration. Requires the amount of such assistance for a week of unemployment, beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, to be at least 50% of the national average weekly unemployment benefit provided to an individual as of the date of the disaster declaration.

Amends the Stafford Act to require the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to make grants to state and local governments to: (1) purchase or improve commercially available interoperable communications equipment; (2) purchase mobile equipment to generate emergency power; and (3) train first responders and emergency personnel on how to best use such equipment effectively.

Authorizes appropriations for FY2006-FY2008.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov