November 03, 2005
"The Congressional Black Caucus is playing a pivotal role in making sure that recovery and reconstruction in the wake of hurricane Katrina is both speedy and just, and prioritizes the needs of those who have been hit hardest in this tragedy," said Lee.
H.R. 4197, the Hurricane Katrina Recovery, Reclamation, Restoration, Reconstruction and Reunion Act of 2005, is designed to provide for the recovery of the Gulf Coast region and for the reunion of families devastated by Hurricane Katrina and to address the underlying causes of the poverty that contributed to the storm’s devastating impact.
As a member of the House Financial Services’ Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity, Lee played a lead role in developing the housing and poverty sections of the bill.
Through Lee’s efforts, the package included immediate housing initiatives, such as 300,000 emergency housing vouchers, a mortgage moratorium for Gulf-region FHA Homeowners, housing counseling for Katrina survivors living in transitional and temporary housing, and prohibitions on housing Katrina survivors in dilapidated housing units.
The legislation also includes longer term housing initiatives, such as funding for HOPE VI, the Community Development Block Grant program, and the public housing capital fund—which is needed to rebuild over 70,000 public housing units that were destroyed in the storm.
Lee, who has been outspoken about the role that poverty played in Katrina’s devastation, also played a key role in making sure the legislation contained provisions to address the underlying structural problem poverty poses for the nation.
"As we begin rebuilding, we must also address the systemic problems of poverty and racism that contributed to the storm’s terrible impact, and that starts with leadership from the White House," said Lee. "It’s time for this administration to demonstrate that it is not indifferent to the most vulnerable among us by giving us a plan for eradicating poverty."
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Barbara Lee, CBC Introduce Comprehensive Katrina Relief Bill
(Washington, DC) – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) joined Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chair, Mel Watt (D-NC) and other CBC members at a press conference on Capitol Hill today to announce the introduction of the CBC’s comprehensive relief legislation for Katrina survivors and the Gulf region."The Congressional Black Caucus is playing a pivotal role in making sure that recovery and reconstruction in the wake of hurricane Katrina is both speedy and just, and prioritizes the needs of those who have been hit hardest in this tragedy," said Lee.
H.R. 4197, the Hurricane Katrina Recovery, Reclamation, Restoration, Reconstruction and Reunion Act of 2005, is designed to provide for the recovery of the Gulf Coast region and for the reunion of families devastated by Hurricane Katrina and to address the underlying causes of the poverty that contributed to the storm’s devastating impact.
As a member of the House Financial Services’ Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity, Lee played a lead role in developing the housing and poverty sections of the bill.
Through Lee’s efforts, the package included immediate housing initiatives, such as 300,000 emergency housing vouchers, a mortgage moratorium for Gulf-region FHA Homeowners, housing counseling for Katrina survivors living in transitional and temporary housing, and prohibitions on housing Katrina survivors in dilapidated housing units.
The legislation also includes longer term housing initiatives, such as funding for HOPE VI, the Community Development Block Grant program, and the public housing capital fund—which is needed to rebuild over 70,000 public housing units that were destroyed in the storm.
Lee, who has been outspoken about the role that poverty played in Katrina’s devastation, also played a key role in making sure the legislation contained provisions to address the underlying structural problem poverty poses for the nation.
"As we begin rebuilding, we must also address the systemic problems of poverty and racism that contributed to the storm’s terrible impact, and that starts with leadership from the White House," said Lee. "It’s time for this administration to demonstrate that it is not indifferent to the most vulnerable among us by giving us a plan for eradicating poverty."