• By GERARD SHIELDS
• Advocate Washington bureau
• Published: Jun 19, 2008 - Page: 1A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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WASHINGTON — Gov. Bobby Jindal visited Capitol Hill on Wednesday in an effort to save $400 million in Louisiana hurricane-recovery support for crime control, hospitals and low-income housing.

The money was tucked into a massive emergency war-spending bill that is moving through Congress. The bill includes $5.8 billion to shore up Louisiana levees. Members of the House stripped hurricane-recovery funds this week because they were not offset by other budget cuts.

The Senate still has the hurricane-recovery money in its version of the $165 billion war bill.

Jindal met with members of the Louisiana delegation and the federal coordinator for Gulf Coast recovery, urging them to push for the additional $400 million.

Jindal, a former House member, said getting the money into the supplemental war bill is critical to the state.

“Obviously, the supplemental could be moving soon, and we wanted to make sure we met with administration officials,” Jindal said. “We’re aware that there might not be another vehicle.”

The Senate bill contains $76 million to provide 3,000 permanent housing vouchers in Louisiana. Two-thirds of those vouchers would go to New Orleans.

The state would see about $157 million for hospitals that suffered severe financial loss following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The money would go to six hospitals in Jefferson and Orleans Parish, including the LSU Interim Hospital.

The Senate bill also includes $50 million to help New Orleans hire 15 additional police officers, repair its damaged crime lab and employ more prosecutors.

Another $75 million would be dedicated to closing the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet. The outlet was blamed for aiding storm surge, particularly in St. Bernard Parish during Hurricane Katrina.

Louisiana also could save $200 million it otherwise would be required to pay as a match for federal funding of levee repairs. Traditionally, states are required to pay a 35 percent match for levee funds, but the Senate legislation would reduce that match to as low as 25 percent on some projects.

In addition, Louisiana would have 30 years to pay back its $1.3 billion share, rather than the three years initially proposed.

“We’re willing to pay our fair share,” Jindal said. “We’re saying: ‘Give us the flexibility that you’ve given to other states.’ ”

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