Washington, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge has announced a set of priorities to protect America and rebuild the Gulf Coast following a three-day tour of the region.
“Hurricane Katrina exposed severe faults in our emergency preparedness and response system, and Congress must make the changes necessary to protect lives and property. These priorities will not only help to rebuild lives in the Gulf Coast, they will also protect North Carolinians when we have another hurricane.”
Etheridge is the only N.C. member on the House Homeland Security Committee, which overseas the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Etheridge was in the Gulf Coast during the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina to view the progress that has been made in rebuilding the area. While on the trip, Etheridge participated in prayer and remembrance services, toured New Orleans, participated in a town hall meeting in Bay St. Louis, MS, on the issue of unpaid insurance claims and the challenges of rebuilding, and participated in a policy forum with local leaders.
Among the priorities Etheridge and other members outlined are:
Providing a federal response system that works – including reforming the Stafford Act to cut the red tape that is delaying urgent funding priorities; creating evacuation plans and disaster response systems with local and state governments at the table; and putting in place a contracting system prior to disasters that eliminates no-bid contracts and considers instate companies first.
Improving housing, to bring people of the Gulf Coast back home – including implementing a HUD voucher program to replace the FEMA program wrought with waste, fraud and abuse; extending the low income housing tax credit; assisting low-income homeowners in their efforts to repair or replace damaged homes; and preserving existing federal housing resources in the Gulf region.
Bolstering our levees and restoring our coastline – including rebuilding barrier islands, restoring the marsh and wetlands and providing for full resources to build and maintain optimal levee protection; cutting red tape and moving resources, in an expedited manner, to their point of use; and ensuring beneficial use of dredged materials in a way that maximizes resources and optimizes the protection from natural disaster of the American public.
Improving the education system, strengthening families – including rebuilding and improving the school systems along the Gulf Coast and New Orleans to state-of-the-art learning centers where children excel and families thrive; increasing 21st Century grants and ensuring that all federal resources are available for the rebuilding and recovery of the educational system; accelerating FEMA reimbursements, and providing substantive incentives for teachers to return to the impacted areas including housing, higher pay, certain insurance, tenure reinstatement and health benefits.