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Katrina Emergency Assistance Act of 2006

Date: March 2, 2006
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: National Security Infrastructure Housing and Property


KATRINA EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE ACT OF 2006 -- (House of Representatives - March 02, 2006)

Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to come to the floor today to speak on behalf of people of the gulf region of New Orleans, of Mississippi, of Alabama who have in many ways been dismissed, marginalized, even violated. I rise in strong support of the passage of S. 1777.

Six months after Hurricane Katrina, life for Louisiana and Mississippi residents remains an uphill battle. Houses have not been rebuilt. Many are still without gas, electricity, and other needed utility service; and those who once resided in the New Orleans ninth ward are still unable to return home, and other areas also. Yes, some help has been given; however, much more needs to be done.

There has been a lot of talk in the news about how America is not a country that will cut and run. Yet that is what we are doing to Hurricane Katrina survivors if we do not extend the services they so desperately need. If passed, S. 1777 will extend the much-needed unemployment assistance to the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

The unemployment rate of the hurricane survivors has reached epidemic proportions. This effect is compounded by the fact that the affected areas had some of the country's highest unemployment rates prior to the storm. Six months have already passed, although it seems the desperate images of survivors was just yesterday. As a result, providing unemployment assistance for survivors for up to 39 weeks is not only desperately needed but it is the right thing to do.

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S. 1777 will waive the $25,000.00 limitation faced by individuals and household under existing law. As we have seen many individuals and families have to rebuild their entire lives from nothing. A recent media report chronicled the life of one woman whose sole possession after Hurricane Katrina was one dining room chair. The amount of funds these individuals receive needs to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

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