Rep. Boozman: "Outpouring of support for hurricane victims has been remarkable"

Rep. Boozman: "Outpouring of support for hurricane victims has been remarkable"
Congressman notes that material donations are no longer needed at Fort Chaffee

Washington, Sep 9 -

U.S. Representative John Boozman (R-AR) today issued the following statement praising Arkansans for the support and donations they have given Hurricane Katrina victims.

"The outpouring of support for hurricane victims has been remarkable. Many of these evacuees arrived at Fort Chaffee with little more than the shirts on their backs and the people of Arkansas have come to their aid. Thank you for opening up your hearts and welcoming the victims of one of our worst natural disasters with kindness and compassion," said Boozman.

Donations of physical goods are no longer needed at Fort Chaffee. Fort Chaffee has all the food, water and supplies they need to care for the evacuees remaining at the site. The surplus of goods and supplies is being assessed right now and will be distributed to churches and shelters around the state to be given to Hurricane Katrina victims.

Cash donations and volunteer help are still needed. Arkansans wanting to assist in this manner should contact the Salvation Army at (800) SAL-ARMY (725-2769) or the American Red Cross at (800) HELP NOW (435-7669). In most cases, these organizations have all of the physical items they need. However, they all need monetary donations to help provide items and service that cannot be donated.

Boozman also added his praise for the Arkansas National Guard's effort in processing, supporting and housing evacuees at Fort Chaffee.

"The Guard should be commended for the excellent job they have done in caring for the thousands of hurricane victims that arrived at Fort Chaffee. They have worked tirelessly to ensure that everyone arriving at the base was treated with care and dignity," said Boozman.

The U.S. House of Representatives has spent the week focusing on Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. In addition to passing an additional $51.8 billion funding measure, the House also acted to remove some of the red tape that prevented those in need of receiving welfare and other aid quickly; to give FEMA the authority to borrow more money if necessary for the national flood insurance program; to get the federal court system in affected areas back up; and to ensure that students who are forced to withdraw from college because of the hurricane aren't forced to repay their student aid, grants and scholarships.

http://www.boozman.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=33983