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Contact: Robin Winchell (202) 225-4031
WASHINGTON, D.C. -U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA)
announced today that Governor Kathleen Blanco and members of the House of
Representatives' leadership havr accepted his request for a meeting to address
the projected shortfall in Road Home funding. Rep. Melancon sent
letters to both parties earlier this week requesting a meeting as soon as
possible so Governor Blanco could brief leadership on the situation and steps
could be taken toward a solution. Next Tuesday, June 19th, the
Governor, members of the House Democratic leadership, and House committee
chairmen with jurisdiction over federal Road Home funding will meet in Washington. Rep.
Melancon, as facilitator of the meeting, will also attend.
Over 145,000 Louisianians have applied to the Road Home program
for grants to either rebuild or sell their hurricane-damaged homes. Louisiana has received
$6.2 billion from the federal government for the program so far, but officials
estimate the Road Home could need up to $5 billion more to make sure all
eligible applicants receive the full amount of grant money they qualify
for.
"I am very pleased Governor Blanco and my leadership were
able to arrange this meeting so swiftly," said Rep. Melancon. "Their
quick attention to this matter proves both the urgency of the Road Home
shortfall and both parties' commitment to working together to find a solution
as soon as possible, so the people of south Louisiana don't have to suffer any more than
they already have.
"I am grateful to my leadership for making Louisiana's
recovery a top priority this Congress, and I am optimistic that on Tuesday we
will walk out of the meeting with a plan to move forward with making the
program solvent. I know all of us have the same goal: to make sure that
every Louisianian who needs it gets the home rebuilding grant they have been
promised. We owe them nothing less."
In letters sent to both parties earlier this week, Rep.
Melancon noted that the meeting needed to happen as soon as possible,
preferably early next week. Rep. Melancon wrote, "Because the House of
Representatives appropriations process for FY08 is quickly drawing to a close,
we need to address these issues very soon should we determine that an
additional congressional appropriation or other legislative fix is necessary."
Click here to view both
letters.
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