IV 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 935 

Acknowledging the progress yet to be made in the rebuilding after Hurricanes 

Katrina and Rita. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 20, 2006 

Mr. JEFFERSON (for himself, Mr. BOUSTANY, Mr. ROSS, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan, Ms. LEE, Mr. MELANCON, Mr. 

BRADY of Pennsylvania, Mr. ALEXANDER, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. CLEAVER, 

Mr. BAKER, Mr. MCCRERY, and Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 

Transportation and Infrastructure 

RESOLUTION 

Acknowledging the progress yet to be made in the rebuilding 

after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. 

Whereas Hurricane Katrina made landfall in the Gulf Coast 

region on August 29, 2005, as a powerful category three 

storm and is recorded as the third strongest land-falling 

United States hurricane ever recorded with winds peaking at 175 miles per hour; 

Whereas Hurricane Katrina caused four protective levees to 

breach, including the 17th Avenue Canal, the Industrial 

Canal, and the London Avenue Canal, resulting in flooding of the city of New Orleans and the parishes of St. 

Bernard and Plaquemines; 


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Whereas nearly every home and business was destroyed in St. 

Bernard Parish, and Plaquemines Parish also suffered 

extensive damage; 

Whereas approximately 80 percent of New Orleans was submerged for nearly one month; 

Whereas Hurricane Katrina destroyed 275,000 homes, 

18,750 businesses, and 875 schools and is blamed for the 

deaths of 1,577 residents 

Whereas Hurricane Katrina devastated institutions of higher 

education including Xavier University of Louisiana, 

Tulane University, Loyola University, Dillard University, 

Southern University at New Orleans, the University of 

New Orleans, and Delgado Community College; 

Whereas prior to Hurricane Katrina the population of New 

Orleans stood at 484,674, and nearly a year later less 

than half have been able to return to their homes; 

Whereas Hurricane Katrina caused personal injuries and 

complete devastation to homes, businesses, and public 

property and disabled industries across Mississippi; 

Whereas Hurricane Rita made landfall along the Louisiana 

and Texas coasts on September 24, 2005, as the fourth 

most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded causing 

$9.4 billion in damage; 

Whereas Hurricane Rita completely destroyed several small 

towns in Southwest Louisiana and washed tons of potentially hazardous debris into the area’s marshes; 

Whereas in Cameron Parish, 19 public buildings, including 

the local hospital and Cameron Elementary School still 

need to be demolished; 


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Whereas in coastal Terrebonne Parish, the count of severely 

damaged or destroyed homes stood at nearly 9,900; 

Whereas the Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the 

Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina uncovered failures of initiative and leadership at all levels 

of government despite adequate warning and resources; 

Whereas Hurricane Katrina overwhelmed the capabilities of 

State and local governments, and the Congress appropriated billions of dollars for emergency response needs 

such as evacuations, emergency repairs, deployment of 

personnel, and other expenses resulting from immediate 

relief efforts; 

Whereas the Congress has responded to the devastation by 

providing billions of dollars in assistance, including tax 

relief, student aid, and disability services to victims of 

Hurricane Katrina; 

Whereas a Gulf Coast Opportunity Zone has been created by 

the Congress to expedite economic recovery and provide 

tax benefits for individuals and businesses affected by 

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita; 

Whereas 4.5 million people have been affected by the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita; and 

Whereas the American people have been extremely generous 

in their support for the region in addition to the outpouring of assistance from the international community: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the importance of the Gulf Coast 

3 region to the national economy; 


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1 (2) expresses its support for all those still af2 fected by these terrible natural disasters one year 

3 later; and 

4 (3) reaffirms its commitment to rebuilding the 

5 Gulf Coast region and improving the quality of life 

6 for all of its residents. 

Æ 


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