Funds appropriated under either the first or second sentence of subparagraph (B) of section 2(a)(5) of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act shall be available to cover the cost of recovery benefits provided under such section 2(a)(5) by reason of the amendments made by subsection (a) as well as to cover the cost of such benefits provided under such section 2(a)(5) as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act. 308. Office of Disaster Recovery (a) In general Title V of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 ( 42 U.S.C. 3191 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 508. Office of Disaster Recovery (a) In general The Secretary shall create an Office of Disaster Recovery to direct and implement the Agency’s post-disaster economic recovery responsibilities pursuant to sections 209(c)(2) and 703. (b) Authorization The Secretary is authorized to appoint and fix the compensation of such temporary personnel as may be necessary to implement disaster recovery measures, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service. The Secretary is authorized to appoint such temporary personnel, after serving continuously for 2 years, to positions in the Economic Development Administration in the same manner that competitive service employees with competitive status are considered for transfer, reassignment, or promotion to such positions. An individual appointed under the preceding sentence shall become a career-conditional employee, unless the employee has already completed the service requirements for career tenure. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of contents for the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 507 the following new item: 508. Office of Disaster Recovery. . 309. Graduation requirements for the United States Merchant Marine Academy and State maritime academies (a) United States Merchant Marine Academy (1) Notwithstanding section