House Votes Relief for Gulf Coast 8(a) Firms The House passed legislation that gives 8(a) businesses in the areas hit by Hurricane Katrina an additional 18 months to participate in the program. The primary sponsor, Louisiana Democratic Rep. William Jefferson, said Katrina left 80,000 businesses in his state damaged or destroyed, 97% of them small. The bill would tack an additional 18 months onto the nine-year 8(a) eligibility for participating companies in Alabama, Mississippi, or Louisiana that suffered economic impact from the 2005 disaster. The House passed H.R. 1468 by unanimous consent on March 26. It is awaiting action in the Senate.