[StBernard] An Update from Bobby...

[Westley Annis]

I wanted to take a moment to update you on some of the activities in
Washington, D.C. that will be a great impact to the people of Louisiana.  

Helping with Taxes:

The past few days have seen quite a bit of movement in the effort to provide
some tax relief for people and businesses impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and
Rita.  I introduced legislation which would exempt disaster victims from
federal income taxes for 2005, allowing people to hold on to their money and
use it to pay bills, buy essential supplies, and help them rebuild.  It
seems senseless to me that as the federal government reaches out with one
hand to help victims of these hurricanes, that same government might reach
out with the other hand to take their money.  

Don't get me wrong, this legislation is going to face an uphill battle in
order to become law - there are going to be many in Congress who oppose
letting you keep your money - but I am going to fight for it and I will keep
you updated on the effort.

At the same time, the House passed a separate set of tax bills creating a
"Gulf Opportunity Zone."  I am a supporter of these tax initiatives, which
should help local businesses (especially small businesses) recover and
rebuild, homeowners repair hurricane damage, and communities recover.

Protecting the future, not just rebuilding:

In what was a very busy week, a committee in the House of Representatives
yesterday passed a hurricane relief bill that, when enacted, will bring
billions of dollars to Louisiana for disaster mitigation.  The bill, which
incorporates legislation I had previously introduced, doubles the amount of
money the federal government can send to Louisiana for projects like
repairing and improving the strength of our levees and restoring our
coastline to help protect against future hurricanes; it will provide
Louisiana with at least an additional $4 billion for these restoration
projects.  These mitigation projects will help not only rebuild Louisiana,
but limit the damaging effects of future hurricanes.  The bill is now ready
for a vote in the full House of Representatives. 

Mortgage Assistance: 

Most of you have probably already heard the news, but, in case you have not,
the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced that they
will make mortgage payments for up to one year for disaster victims with
mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration who want to move
back home.  The announcement will help homeowners within the disaster area
cover their mortgage payments and keep people in their homes.  If you have
questions about this announcement, please feel free to contact my office. 

A Louisiana Tree:

Every year at the beginning of December, the President lights the National
Christmas Tree in the center of the city.  In addition to the large national
tree, smaller trees from every state, territory and the District of Columbia
are included in the display.  Volunteers from each state have decorated the
smaller trees in order to commemorate the history and heritage of their home
states. 

Louisiana's tree was going to be decorated by the Louisiana Children's
Museum in New Orleans.  Unfortunately, because of Hurricanes Katrina and
Rita, the decorating effort was not undertaken.  However, in the spirit of
the season and not wanting Louisiana's tree to stand bare beside the others,
every other state and territory donated an ornament to Louisiana. 

For each donating state it was just a small gesture, an extra few minutes of
work.  But the effect when the trees were lit on December 1 was far greater
and goes well beyond a one day ceremony.  It was representative of much of
the sentiment shown over the past months; that no matter how bad the
situation and how bleak the prospects, Louisianians are not alone.
Louisianians will not be alone.

These are just a sampling of the efforts here in Congress to continue to
bring aid and attention to the recovery efforts in Louisiana.  I will
continue to bring you updates as those efforts progress.

Bobby

Paid for by the Committee to Re-Elect Bobby Jindal, Inc.