Gulf Coast Area Businesses Given a Long Overdue Chance to Help Recovery
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, March 31, 2006
Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, issued the following statement:
“Cleaning up and rebuilding the Gulf Coast in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita will take several more years and billions more dollars. It requires the vested interest and passion found in area businesses with an interest in recovery,” said Rep. Thompson.
“Over the last several months, many qualified small, minority, and disadvantaged businesses weren’t given the chance to compete for recovery contracts that would allow them to revive their communities.
“I am glad to see that FEMA is finally doing the right thing, or is at least on the right track to doing the right thing, by increasing the total for small business recovery contracts to $3.6 billion.
“Contracting waste, fraud, and abuse has been so prevalent in the wake of Katrina that news of profiteering, middlemen, and corporate corruption are making it difficult for the good folks of the Gulf Coast to recover and rebuild,” said Rep. Thompson.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Please contact Todd Levett at (202) 226-8866.
