Still More to be Done on Katrina Relief

By: Congressman Steve Scalise (LA-1)

August 13th, 2008

As we approach the 3-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, we are very appreciative for all of the help we’ve received from across the country.  We have worked hard to repair the damage done by Katrina, and we have worked equally hard to reform a political system that was badly broken long before the storm.  While much has been accomplished, there is still more work to be done as we rebuild from the nation’s worst natural disaster.

Last week we received some good news from the White House when President Bush agreed to give Louisiana up to 30 years to repay the local government’s $1.8 billion cost share to build our levees to a 100-year flood protection level, which follows a repayment precedent granted to other states who recovered from previous disasters.  It is imperative for Louisiana to rebuild and make sure the necessary infrastructure is in place to prevent future storms from causing similar damage.

The Louisiana Congressional Delegation has worked closely together to include funding for hurricane recovery for the greater New Orleans region in the supplemental appropriations bill we passed last month.  There are still some remaining issues that need to be addressed at the federal level, and our delegation will continue working together until the job is completed.  Later this month I will be joining with Congressman Boustany to lead a delegation of other Members of Congress from around the country to New Orleans.  We will review the progress of the recovery, and discuss the work that still needs to be done.