In the News

One student asked about the Duplication of Benefits issue – flood victims being denied help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency if they received or even applied for Small Business Administration help.

Graves offered an analogy to the students.

"I give you $20 to keep or help others buy lunches or I give you $20 and you have to pay me back," Graves said. "Shouldn't everyone have the chance to get the $20 if they don't have to pay it back?"

"After the big flood a few years ago, the federal government said, first, if you borrow money, fill out the paperwork later. Then when they gave out the money, they said if you borrowed (money) we won't give you money," Graves said.

"I don't think that's fair. Everyone should have the same opportunity," he told the students. "The federal government had some crazy rules."

Graves said he and New Orleans Congressman Cedric Richmond wrote a bill to fix the problem. It passed the House but was stopped in the Senate.

The bill was then attached to another bill, but the Senate removed it and passed that bill alone, he said.

The House members then attached it to a third bill and asked President Donald Trump for his help.

"After nine months, the president signed it," Graves said, "And he gave me the pen he used."

"The law was changed," in October, Graves told the students, but federal attorneys have been reading the bill and writing the process to be used to distribute $230 million to 70,000 Louisiana families.

"They are taking too long or are slow readers," he said, drawing laughs from the fifth-graders.

"But there is good news," the congressman said.

Graves said he was told the process to distribute the funds would be in place by the end of this week.

As soon as the OK is given, Gov. John Bel Edwards can release the funds and it could be going out by the end of the month, Graves said.

The congressman pulled out his cellphone and scanned it.

"I keep thinking I will get a message telling me it is done," Graves said.