[StBernard] LRA Executive Director's Statement Regarding the BakerBill

[Westley Annis]

That makes me sick to my stomach. How very disappointing. I supported the 
Bush administration and it's hard to believe they are abandoning us in our 
time of need. I can't believe that anyone who came and saw could leave us 
behind like that.

Laurie



>-----------------------------------------------------

>

>Statement from LRA Executive Director Andy Kopplin

>

>Regarding Cong. Richard Baker's Legislation

>

>

>"I learned from Chairman Don Powell that the Bush Administration does not

>support HR 4100, Cong. Richard Baker's bill to create the La. Recovery

>Corporation.

>

>"Hurricanes Katrina and Rita left Louisiana with housing challenges that 

>are

>unimaginable. According to estimates from Chairman Powell's office, the

>hurricanes destroyed over 200,000 housing units in Louisiana. But our

>rebuilding challenges don't stop there. In addition to having three times

>the housing units destroyed of any other state, we estimate Louisiana

>sustained 10 times more businesses destroyed than any other state and had

>about 85 percent of the total property and infrastructure damage from the

>two hurricanes.

>

>"Congressman Baker's bill would help us get these destroyed houses back 

>into

>commerce and prevent them from being stranded in neighborhoods of blight 

>and

>ruin. It would also allow Louisiana to use some of its limited CDBG

>allotment to address critical infrastructure and economic development needs

>as well as housing, which Governor Blanco has identified as her top

>priority. "

>

>