Last year, the White House and Congress approved legislation that provided over $300 million to repair levees across the Upper Mississippi River basin.

The money would pay for a wide array of projects, including $14billion to restore coastal wetlands and $20billion to repair levees.

In times of emergency, reclamation districts will appeal to county, state, and federal agencies for additional funds necessary to repair levees.

Replicating that experience on the Gulf Coast would prevent billions of dollars from being squandered as we carry out public projects like removing debris, repairing levees and rebuilding roads, bridges and major government buildings.

I'd like to add three other questions: Why are we spending billions each month in Iraq instead of repairing levees in New Orleans?

The compromise made it clear that emergency work to repair levees could go ahead, but it stopped short of allowing any flood control projects to override the Endangered Species Act.

It also provides $3.7 billion to the Army Corps of Engineers to repair and reinforce levees in southeast Louisiana and to restore wetlands.

His arguments prevailed over complaints that current policy forced delays in repairing levees and put rare species ahead of human life.

But as the city confronts its enormous rebuilding task, removing mold has been deemed a low priority compared with repairing levees and bridges, clearing streets and figuring out how to restart the economy.

Questions Over Who Should Pay A change in the Federal law that provided for repairing private levees could make it too expensive for many communities to qualify for Government help.