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August 29, 2006
Contact: Robin Winchell (202) 225-4031
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon held a Hurricane
Recovery Policy Forum in New Orleans today to bring Members of Congress face to
face with local experts and leaders. Following a luncheon with coastal
parish presidents, the roughly 25 Congressmen and women met privately with Louisiana leaders with
expertise in the areas of levees and coastal restoration, health care,
education, small business and economic recovery, agriculture and fisheries,
transportation, and housing (see list below).
In small discussion groups, the experts told Members what
the situation is on the ground and worked together to develop specific courses
of action Congress can take to ease the recovery. The Members will
discuss the results of their meetings at a press conference tomorrow at 11:30
at the New Orleans
Media Center,
located at the Sheraton Hotel on Canal
Street. The press conference will also be
aired on CSPAN.
The policy forum was part of a four-day trip Melancon is
leading to Louisiana and Mississippi to honor the one-year
anniversaries of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
"When I first started talking with my colleagues in
Congress about coming down to Louisiana,
I knew I wanted this to be a different kind of trip," said
Melancon. "I wanted them to meet directly with the people in Louisiana who are
working every day to rebuild our schools, our homes, our health care system, our
levees, and our state. Today we accomplished that goal. Not only
did we open a lot of eyes, but we developed legislative goals that will help Louisiana cut the red
tape and finally get the assistance it needs to recover and rebuild."
"Congressman Melancon knew what to do with twenty five
members of Congress after he got them down here," said Rep. James E Clyburn,
Chairman of the Democratic Caucus. "He put us to work. It was a
rare opportunity for that many federal officials to be paired with local
leaders in a room, to share ideas and work toward solutions for the critical
issues of this region."
Charlotte Randolph, President of Lafourche Parish and also
President of Parishes Against Coastal Erosion, took part in the levees and
coastal restoration discussion group. Following the forum, Randolph commented, "I am thrilled Rep. Melancon is
bringing national attention to this issue that is vital to the survival of
coastal Louisiana.
During the breakout group, I had the chance to talk to Rep. Neil Abercrombie,
who has worked closely with Rep. Melancon to get outercontinental shelf
revenue-sharing for Louisiana.
Now that Mr. Abercrombie and other Members of Congress from around the country
have been here, we have more allies in Washington
who understand how crucial saving our coast is."
After participating in the health care discussion group,
John Matessino, President and CEO of the Louisiana Hospital Association, said,
"I am impressed by the dedication shown by these Members of Congress, who
traveled on their own dime to Louisiana
to learn about the post-hurricane health care crisis we are dealing with.
We had a productive conversation with Rep. Steny Hoyer, the House Democratic
Whip and second-ranking Democrat in the House. I feel the Members now
understand that affordable, accessible health care is a key component to Louisiana's recovery
from last year's devastating hurricanes."
John Luther, President of the Homebuilders Association of
Greater New Orleans, made the following comments: "We have an enormous
undertaking ahead of us in Louisiana.
In St. Bernard Parish, almost every single family suffered damage to their
homes and most people still can't move back. Today was a great chance to
tell our story to the Members and I am confidant they will share what they
learned with their colleagues back in Washington."
Participating in the policy forum were leaders from the following Louisiana organizations:
Agriculture and Fisheries
Coastal Conservation Association in Louisiana
United Commercial Fisherman's Association
Louisiana
Shrimp Association
Gulf
Coast Commercial
Fishermen's Coalition
Department of Agriculture - Commissioner Bob Odom
LA Department of Wildlife and Fisheries - Assistant
Secretary John Roussel
Louisiana
Oyster Task Force
Louisiana
Rice Growers Association
American Sugar Cane League
Louisiana
Cattlemen
Citrus Producers
Louisiana
Farm Bureau
Louisiana
Cattlemen
Louisiana
Crawfish Research Promotion Board
Education
Tulane
University
Louisiana
School Boards Association
Louisiana
Board of Elementary & Secondary Education
Louisiana
Federation of Teachers
Louisiana Department of Education -- Deputy Superintendent
of Education Carole Wallin
Louisiana
Board of Regents
St. Bernard Unified School
MQVN Community Development Corporation
Health Care
Louisiana
Hospital Association
West
Jefferson Medical
Center
Ochsner
Hospital
LSU
Health Science
Center
Louisiana Public Health Institute
Louisiana Secretary of Health and Hospitals Dr. Fred Cerise
Louisiana
Primary Care Association
Louisiana
Recovery Authority
Housing
Office of the Mayor of New
Orleans
Homebuilders Assn of Greater of New Orleans
Housing and Urban Development field director
Fannie Mae
Freddie Mac
ACORN New Orleans
Louisiana
Recovery Authority
MQVN Community Development Corporation
Levees and Coastal Restoration
Louisiana Governor's Office
South Lafourche Levee District
Louisiana Department of Natural Resources
Governor's Advisory Commission on Coastal Restoration and
Conservation
America's
Wetlands
Louisiana
Levee Board Association
Parishes Against Coastal Erosion
Loyola
University coastal
restoration expert
Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District
Louisiana
Recovery Authority
Small Business and Economic Recovery
Louisiana Department of Economic Development
Louisiana
Recovery Authority
Louisiana
AFL-CIO
MQVN Community Development Corporation
Transportation
Port Association of Louisiana
Louisiana
1 Coalition
Department of Transportation and Development
Louis
Armstrong International
Airport
Lake Charles
Regional Airport
Lakefront
Airport
Louisiana
Dept. of Transportation and Development
Louisiana
Recovery Authority
Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP)
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