August 9, 2007
Contact: Robin Winchell (202) 225-4031
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA)
today announced he will assist House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn in leading
a bipartisan Congressional delegation of approximately 15 House members,
including the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, to New Orleans and St.
Bernard Parish just prior to the two-year anniversary of Hurricanes Katrina and
Rita. The trip, which runs from August 12-14 and includes a visit
to Mississippi,
will allow Members to return to a region many visited a year ago and assess the
impact of the legislation Congress has passed in the first few months of the
Democratic majority.
"In the past year, south Louisiana has made a lot of progress towards
a full recovery from Katrina and Rita, but we still have a long road ahead of
us," Rep. Melancon said. "Whip Clyburn and I believe that by
visiting the Gulf Coast and meeting the people who are working daily to
help Louisiana
rebuild, the Members of Congress will better understand where the needs still
exist, two years after the storms. I thank my colleagues in the House,
especially the Democratic leadership, for renewing their commitment to stand
with the people of south Louisiana
and be a full partner in our recovery."
Whip Clyburn said, "Last August, we came to the Gulf Coast
region on the one-year anniversary of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to assess the
recovery. We set to work meeting with local officials, touring the region and
determining the needs around infrastructure, education, health care, public
safety and housing. We made a commitment to do better to help the Gulf
Cost."
"We took our work from that trip and applied it
immediately, and in six short months of a new majority we delivered on our
promises," continued Clyburn. "Next week we must assess the
progress in the Gulf
Coast region, and
establish a partnership for the future."
The three-day trip will focus on the progress made and
outstanding needs in the areas of education, housing, health care and
infrastructure. In Louisiana, the
lawmakers will hold a policy conference with local and state officials, visit
the Lower 9th Ward, tour the St. Bernard Health Center, visit a New Orleans school, tour the New Orleans levee system, and visit the
Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans. In Mississippi, Members will tour the
consolidated Pass Christian school system, visit a family living in a
formaldehyde-laced FEMA trailer, take a windshield tour of Pass Christian and
hold a town hall meeting in Bay St. Louis on insurance reform.
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