Congressman Al Green: The Focus Must Be On Recovery

(Washington, DC)--Today, Congressman James Clyburn, Chair of the Democratic Caucus, announced the appointment of Congressman Al Green to the new Democratic Task Force on Hurricane Katrina.  The task force will be chaired by Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.), a victim of the hurricane. 

The Democratic Task Force on Hurricane Katrina will be dedicated to coordinating efforts and expertise to provide a comprehensive and effective recovery plan for the region.  Members of the task force will focus on keeping the Democratic Caucus fully informed and aware of recovery activities and initiatives taking place.

Congressman Al Green released the following statement:

"With the Davis report titled 'The Failure of Initiative,' we have more evidence as to what went wrong in the days preceding and following Hurricane Katrina, and the widespread government inertia that cost many people their lives.  While it is essential that we examine what went wrong in those crucial hours, we must also focus on recovery.

"Government resources are being wasted due to a failure of initiative.  Right now, in Hope, Arkansas, there are more than 10,000 mobile homes sitting and sinking.  While there are homeless families waiting for trailers in and around the Gulf Coast region, FEMA is spending six million dollars not to relocate those trailers, but to put a 290-acre bed of gravel underneath them so they do not sink into the mud.

"I marvel at how NASA can put a man on the moon, but FEMA cannot put a trailer on a lot.  This is unacceptable.  There have been many reasons as to why these trailers are not being used by the people who need them.  After hearing them, I can say they all amount to removable red tape.  The federal government is the road block between the trailers and the hurricane survivors who need them.  The government needs to get itself out of the way!

"As a nation we answered the clarion call to aid the city of New York after the city was brought to a standstill by the terrorist attacks of September 11th.  Just as we did then, we must once again rise to the occasion to help those in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region to rebuild their lives.  We need to stay the course and help hard-hit communities recover.  This is the American way."