[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 68 (Friday, May 26, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E993]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  EXTENSION OF FEMA HOUSING ASSISTANCE DEADLINE FOR HURRICANE KATRINA 
                               SURVIVORS

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                        HON. ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 25, 2006

  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose the pending 
termination on May 31, 2006 of the FEMA housing assistance for 
survivors of Hurricane Katrina.
  FEMA was required to submit a plan for developing transitional and 
eventually permanent housing for those who lost their homes in Katrina 
by January 6 of this year--but this plan still has not been submitted.
  Now, without itself having figured out how best to provide housing to 
those left homeless by the hurricane, FEMA is poised to leave some 
55,000 families--many with very young, or very old, or even very sick 
members--without any viable option for finding or affording housing and 
with few remaining options for seeking Federal assistance except on a 
very short-term basis.
  Mr. Speaker, shortly after Katrina devastated New Orleans, the 
President pledged that our Nation would help that city and its citizens 
rebuild their lives. Not only has the President failed to honor that 
pledge, but the administration is now willing even to force those who 
lost everything out of the temporary housing provided to them in the 
wake of the storm. This is shameful. Is this how we should treat our 
brethren who have suffered and lost so much?
  I urge my colleagues not to let FEMA fail, once again, those who have 
been failed by the government at every turn of this natural disaster. I 
urge my colleagues to join me in urging the administration to extend 
the FEMA temporary housing deadline.




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