Katrina survivors one year later

“Housing, health care and unemployment issues still plague residents of the Gulf Coast region, one year after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and parts of Mississippi and Alabama,” noted U.S. Representative Melvin L. Watt (D-NC), Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chairman.

“August 29, 2006 marks the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina’s devastating impact on the Gulf Coast, and as a result of the federal government’s failed response to the storm, much of the region remains obliterated and thousands of Katrina evacuees are still displaced,” Chairman Watt continued. “There has been little progress and no plan developed by the Bush Administration to restore the region or make survivors whole.”

“In the aftermath of the disaster, President Bush and congressional Republicans made many promises to the desperate residents of the region, but most of those promises have been broken,” Chairman Watt concluded.

Health care for those returning to the New Orleans area is limited, with an astounding shortage of doctors, nurses and hospital beds. Many of the city’s public schools remain destroyed, with less than half reopening this fall. Post-Katrina, there are also fewer students in Louisiana public colleges.

One year after the storm, thousands of hurricane survivors remain homeless and displaced, while many more wait for promised FEMA trailers. And still, the federal government remains negligent in its promise to provide stable rental assistance or to help those who lost their homes rebuild.

“A year after Katrina’s impact, thousands of Louisianans have never received federal help in rebuilding their lives and their property,” noted U.S. Representative Artur Davis (D-AL), whose city sustained a hit by Hurricane Katrina. “The Bush Administration has inexplicably blocked bi-partisan efforts to create a redevelopment corporation for Louisiana. Most tragically, the promised new focused on fighting poverty has disappeared as rapidly as did the old Louisiana coastline.”

Finding sustained employment continues to be a challenge for Gulf Coast residents. Employment in the New Orleans region has shrunk to 437,000 jobs, off about 30 percent from pre-storm levels, and within the city, the percentage is considerably higher, according to a recent story in The Washington Post newspaper. However, the largest Katrina contracts, which were no bid, were awarded to politically connected firms outside the Gulf Coast region.

“The tragedies and atrocities of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita will not soon be forgotten, as millions of Americans continue to cope with the aftermath,” said U.S. Representative Bennie Thompson (D-MS), whose district was hit by the storms. “There is hope, however, as communities are working together to rebuild, despite the lack of assistance from many federal and state leaders. It will take time, but I absolutely believe that the Gulf Coast will once again thrive and flourish.”

“Today, let us reflect on our experience one year ago today and remember those we lost in the days after,” said U.S. Representative William Jefferson (D-La.). “I ask that Congress and our government remain committed to the recovery of our region as one year later, we still have so much left to do. Our government should stay the course in making the Gulf Coast whole again. ”

On November 2, 2005, all 42 House members of the CBC introduced H.R. 4197, the Hurricane Katrina Recovery, Reclamation, Restoration, Reconstruction and Reunion Act of 2005. The bill is designed to provide for the recovery of the Gulf Coast region and includes housing, health care, education, small business, voting rights, unemployment and environmental provisions to help restore the region to pre-hurricane status. At present, there are 93 bill co-sponsors, all Democrats.

Additionally, on February 16, 2006, Senator Barack Obama introduced S. 2319, the Hurricane Katrina Recovery Act of 2006, in the United States Senate. Similarly, that bill seeks to address the many needs of the people of the Gulf Coast.

On November 4, 2005, members of the CBC wrote to President Bush, House Speaker Dennis Hastert and Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi to request a meeting to discuss how to work together to achieve the objectives outlined in H.R. 4197. To date, Leader Pelosi is the only person to meet with Caucus members.

CBC recently introduced a Congressional resolution, H. Con. Res 466, in observance of the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The resolution acknowledges the significant deficiencies that still exist in the ability of the Gulf Coast region to provide necessary social services to their residents and to attract the return of many displaced residents. It also reaffirms the commitment of Congress to assist in rebuilding the Gulf Coast, improving the quality of life for all its residents and ending poverty in America.