LAWMAKERS, DO SOMETHING! RUSH OF LEGISLATION ECHOES FRANTIC DAYS AFTER SEPT. 11.

Byline: Lisa Friedman Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - Responding to the devastation and national emergency- preparedness concerns in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Congress has launched more than 40 bills designed to provide legislative aid.

The flurry is similar to congressional action in the tense weeks following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, when House and Senate lawmakers introduced scores of bills - about 50 in the first five days alone.

But four years ago, all but a few of the measures - such as the Patriot Act, new airline security measures and creation of the Homeland Security Department - failed to materialize into legislation.

And experts say they believe the same largely futile rush is occurring now as lawmakers seek to express their concern, outrage and desire to do what they can through the outlet that they know: legislation.

``They all try to get a piece of the political action, but that's not how these things are passed,'' said University of Virginia political science professor Larry Sabato. ``In the end, a relative handful of congressional leaders will reach an agreement on all of these items.''

So far, legislative efforts are falling into one of three areas: helping victims, mending broken bureaucracies or launching inquiries.

By Friday afternoon, there were more than 20 bills offering victim support.

U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., has a bill that would give priority in awarding federal contracts for the rebuilding of New Orleans to companies in which workers displaced by Hurricane Katrina compose at least 25 percent of the work force.

And Dianne Feinstein, California's other Democratic senator, signed onto legislation providing Katrina survivors with Medicaid, housing vouchers and a six-month moratorium on any loan payments to the federal government.

Among Southern Californian House members, Reps. Howard Berman, D-Van Nuys, Linda Sanchez, D-Lakewood, and Diane Watson, D-Los Angeles, had signed onto a bill amending the bankruptcy laws to relieve victims from burdensome paperwork.

Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Los Angeles, added his name to another Medicaid-providing measure; and Rep. Gary Miller, R-Brea, is working to provide qualified immunity to construction contractors volunteering their work for hurricane-relief efforts.

Other lawmakers are reaching into their areas of expertise to find ways to help: leading members of the House Veterans Affairs Committee are seeking ways to extend health care for veterans affected by Katrina, while House Education Committee members have sought waivers for the payback of Pell Grants.

``Everyone's first priority right now has to be making sure that we provide the resources or the changes in law necessary to make sure that those who have been victimized by Katrina have food to eat and a place to live and school for their kids and a place in the job market again,'' said Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Pasadena.

``All of us are looking for ways on our committees and in our backgrounds to help that along.''

Addressing concerns over disaster response, Boxer and Sen. Hillary Clinton have legislation that would form an independent commission to investigate.

And there are three different bills proposing that the Federal Emergency Management Agency be removed from the Homeland Security Department and established as its own agency.

So far, both houses of Congress have passed, and President Bush has signed, legislation authorizing $62.3 billion in relief aid.

The House also has passed a measure allowing displaced students to keep their Pell Grants, and another increasing FEMA's borrowing authority.

And the House and Senate also have both passed resolutions offering condolences.

Ultimately, Sabato said, at times of crisis, lawmakers feel the pressure from the public to ``do something.''

``The thing is, most people don't know the difference between the introduction of a bill and the passage of a bill,'' he said. ``Anyone can introduce a bill. But when a congressman is running for re-election, he says, 'I introduced a bill.' People think they're doing something.

``By introducing a bill, they may influence the product to a degree,'' Sabato said. ``They are politicians, and we do demand they take action even when they don't have the power to do so.''

Lisa Friedman, [phone]

lisa.friedman(at)langnews.com

DISASTER LEGISLATION

Congress has introduced dozens of bills designed to help victims of Hurricane Katrina, including those that would:

--Establish a National Emergency Family Locator System as part of the Homeland Security Department (Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.)

--Increase funding for communications systems so agencies can talk to one another during disasters. (Sen. Barbara Boxer; Rep. Jane Harman, D-El Segundo)

--Waive income limitations for individuals and corporations donating to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts (Rep. Roger Wicker, R-Miss.)

--Allow victims to obtain grants through the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program (Rep. Jim McCrery, R-La.)

--Dedicate 10 percent of disaster relief funds for mental health services for victims and first-responders (Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas)

--Help foster children affected or displaced by the hurricane (Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash.)

--Increase Federal Trade Commission civil penalties for price gouging, charity scams and other disaster-related fraud. (Rep. Charles Bass, R-N.H.)

--Suspend federal-excise taxes on motor fuels for one month (Rep. Phil English, R-Pa.)

--Allow President Bush to temporarily freeze gas prices and also to prohibit price gouging for gasoline

--Provide assistance to farmers who lost crops as a result of Hurricane Katrina.

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DISASTER LEGISLATION (see text)