[StBernard] Thousands of Louisianians Give Thanks

[Westley Annis]

Thousands of Louisianians Give Thanks

Letters of thanks to be delivered to leaders in Washington this week


BATON ROUGE, La. (December 12, 2007) - Thousands of Louisianians participated in the "Louisiana Gives Thanks" campaign, signing a letter to President Bush, members of Congress and the American people thanking them for making the state's recovery from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita a national priority. The campaign, which was initiated by the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) and supported by elected officials and more than 30 non-profit organizations, generated more than 8,400 signatures from citizens across Louisiana and the others throughout the nation. Letters will be delivered to the White House and Congressional offices this week. 

"This holiday season, Louisianians want the rest of the country to know that we have so much for which to be thankful. The financial support committed to our recovery has gone a long way to rebuilding thousands of homes and affordable rental units; improving schools for the many children returning to the state to learn; restoring our wetlands; and strengthening our levees to protect us from future storms," said LRA Chairman Norman Francis. "We are humbled by the blessings the nation has bestowed upon us and we want to thank the President and the Congress and their leadership for their commitment to Louisiana. This continuing support gives us hope for the future."

Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco and Governor-elect Bobby Jindal kicked off the campaign last month traveling together to Capitol Hill to personally meet with leaders in Washington to express gratitude for the historic investments they had recently made in Louisiana's recovery. The week before their visit, Congress put into law the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which authorized nearly $7 billion to restore critical hurricane and flood protection infrastructure in Louisiana. It also passed a Continuing Resolution attached to the Defense Appropriations Bill, which included $3 billion for Louisiana's housing recovery program, known as the Road Home. 

This $3 billion appropriation, which the President signed, fully funded the Road Home program. Governor Blanco and the LRA announced last week that the state will not have to seek new funds from Congress to ensure that every eligible homeowner receives their full grant award from the Road Home.

The LRA, Governor Blanco and Louisiana's Congressional delegation began working with Congressional leaders in May to secure the necessary to provide each and every eligible homeowner with grants to repair and rebuild their homes in the aftermath of the 2005 storms and the failure of the federal levee system. 

Blanco and Jindal serve as honorary co-chairs of the "Louisiana Gives Thanks" campaign, along with other members of the Louisiana Congressional delegation: Sen. Mary Landrieu, Sen. David Vitter, Rep. Richard H. Baker, Rep. James O. McCrery, Rep. William Jefferson, Rep. Rodney Alexander and Rep. Charles Boustany, Jr. and Rep. Charlie Melancon. The initiative is also supported by more than 30 community and non-profit organizations including: African American Leadership Project, America's WETLAND Foundation, Archdiocese of New Orleans, Ashe Cultural Arts Center, Baton Rouge Area Chamber, Blueprint Louisiana, Citizens for 1 Great! er New Orleans, Citizens Road Home Action Team, ChangeLouisiana.com, Center for Planning Excellence, Fleur de Lis Ambassadors, Friends of New Orleans, Greater New Orleans Community Data Center, Greater New Orleans Foundation, Greater New Orleans, Inc., Gulf Restoration Network, Hospice of Baton Rouge, Institute of Mental Hygiene, Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission, Jefferson Chamber of Commerce, The Jeremiah Group, LA 1 Coalition, Levees.org, Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation, Louisiana Family Recovery Corps, LouisianaREBUILDS.info, Louisiana Recovery Authority Support Foundation, Louisiana Serve Commission, Louisiana Speaks, New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity, NewOrleansBlack.com, New Orleans Chamber of Commerce, New Orleans City Business, NewOrleansOnline.com, New Orleans Regional Black Chamber of Commerce, Office of Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu, Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance, St. Bernard Chamber of Commerce, St. Bernard Economic D! evelopment Commission, St. Bernard Parish Citizen's Recovery Committee , University of Louisiana System, Urban League of Greater New Orleans, Women of the Storm and Xavier University.

The "Louisiana Gives Thanks" campaign is privately funded through the Louisiana Recovery Authority Support Foundation. To read the Louisiana Gives Thanks letter that will be delivered this week and learn more about the campaign visit: Learn more at www.lra.louisiana.gov/LouisianaGivesThanks <http://www.lra.louisiana.gov/LouisianaGivesThanks> . 


Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated South Louisiana, claiming 1,464 lives, destroying more than 200,000 homes and 18,000 businesses. The Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) is the planning and coordinating body that was created in the aftermath of these storms by Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco to lead one of the most extensive rebuilding efforts in the world. The LRA is a 33-member body which is coordinating across jurisdictions, supporting community recovery and resurgence, ensuring integrity and effectiveness, and planning for the recovery and rebuilding of Louisiana. 

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