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On June 10, the Basic Act on Great East Japan Earthquake Reconstruction (provisional translation) passed the House of Representatives and was sent to the House of Councillors.
Following an agreement reached between the DPJ, the LDP and Komeito, additions such as: (1) the establishment of a Reconstruction Agency (provisional translation) that would have powers of implementation, (2) the establishment of Special Reconstruction Zones, and (3) the issuance of reconstruction and revitalization bonds as a source of financing for reconstruction, were added to the government proposal. On June 9, it was agreed in a meeting of the Special Committee on Disaster Reconstruction in the House of Representatives that the proposal would be submitted as a Diet member’s bill, and the government proposal was withdrawn that same day.
On June 10, the Chair of the Special Committee, Toru Kikawada, explained the main content of the proposal as follows:
(1) The basic philosophy of the reconstruction process would be to create new local communities, as well as to work to establish communities fit for mid-twenty-first century Japan, to respect the wishes of the residents of the affected areas, to reflect the opinions of a wide range of people, including women, children and the disabled, and to take into account the progress made in recovering from the nuclear accident when undertaking the reconstruction of those areas affected by the accident.
(2) The national government and local governments in the regions would be obliged to take the necessary measures for reconstruction in accordance with this basic philosophy.
(3) With regard to funding, in addition to implementing sweeping spending cuts, and utilizing funds relating to fiscal investment and loans, as well as private funds, reconstruction bonds would be issued. Prompt legislative measures would be taken regarding a system for special reconstruction zones.
(4) A Great East Japan Earthquake Strategy Headquarters (provisional translation) headed by the Prime Minister, will be established under the authority of the Cabinet, and regional strategy headquarters will be established in the affected regions, headed by the vice ministers of related government ministries. A Great East Japan Earthquake Vision Committee will be established inside the Strategy Headquarters. A Reconstruction Agency will be established for a limited period of time within the Cabinet to undertake drafting, overall management, and implementation of reconstruction plans, and the necessary legislative measures for this will be taken. The Great East Japan Earthquake Strategy Headquarters will be abolished upon the establishment of the Reconstruction Agency.
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