WASHINGTON, DC—U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-La.) and House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn will lead a delegation of approximately 20 members of the House of Representatives, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, on a tour of several cities and towns along the Gulf Coast that were devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, from July 19-22.  Clyburn, a leader in Congress on Gulf Coast recovery issues, is heading up his third trip to the region to mark the anniversary of the storm, see the impact of federal resources appropriated to recovery and determine the remaining needs. 

Gulf Coast recovery is a priority for House Democrats—they are committed to Continuing a New Direction in the Gulf Coast..  Success in rebuilding the Gulf Coast is a test of how future challenges are handled.  The prosperity of the region is the prosperity of America.

The trip will begin in New Orleans and St. Bernard Parish on Saturday afternoon with meetings with local officials and a bus tour of the city to explore the status of recovery. Saturday evening the members will travel to Baton Rouge for a working dinner with local officials.  All Saturday events are closed to press.

Sunday afternoon the delegation will hold a media availability on the steps of the Old State Capitol.  Then the members will return to New Orleans and hold a media availability at the Royal Sonesta Hotel.  Sunday evening, the delegation will meet with local officials at a working dinner that is closed to press.

Monday morning, the congressional delegation will visit several sites by bus in New Orleans and St. Bernard Parish in the morning and coastal Mississippi in the late afternoon and evening to explore the issues of housing, health care, infrastructure, education, and all perils insurance coverage.  Monday’s events are open to the press.  The meetings and site visits include Xavier University, UNITY of Greater New Orleans at Baronne Street, the LSU Community health clinic in New Orleans East, levee construction at the Harvey Canal and a return to Chalmette and the home of Karen Vinsanau where the same House leaders committed last August to fully fund the Road Home program.

In the late afternoon Monday, the members will depart for Mississippi where they will tour the coast and stop in Pearlington, Waveland and Bay St. Louis.  The bus tour will be followed by a town hall meeting in Bay St. Louis.

Tuesday morning, the congressional delegation will hold a press conference in New Orleans before returning to Washington, DC.

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