[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 16 (Monday, February 4, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S463]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       CONGRATULATING NEW ORLEANS

  Ms. LANDRIEU. I know Senator Harkin is on the floor with others to 
present several new pieces of legislation or to speak on items pending. 
I wanted to take a moment of personal privilege to say just a few words 
about the spectacular sporting event that took place in our country 
yesterday in the city of New Orleans. I want to, of course, 
congratulate the Baltimore Ravens, the Senators from Maryland, 
particularly Senator Mikulski and Senator Cardin, and Governor 
O'Malley, who was there, of course, representing Maryland; the Senators 
from San Francisco and California, the 49ers, Senators Feinstein and 
Boxer, former Speaker Pelosi was with us yesterday in New Orleans, and 
thousands of fans from all over the world and, of course, watching on 
television.
  I wanted to make a note on this floor, not because it was just a 
sporting event, although it was one of the highest watched Super Bowls 
ever in the history of the game, but because of the role this Congress 
played and the administration in helping this great city and region and 
State rebound from what was a devastating body blow 7\1/2\ years ago 
with Hurricane Katrina and then Rita hit 3 weeks later and then the 
levees broke in over 52 places. The city went virtually underwater--at 
least two-thirds of the city.
  To see, 7\1/2\ years later, the city rebound, the people of New 
Orleans and Louisiana are just foremost in my thoughts right now for 
their fighting spirit, their resiliency, their unwillingness to give up 
on this special place that will celebrate its 300th birthday in 2018. I 
want to say a special thank-you to Mayor Landrieu, John Young, 
president of Jefferson Parish, the leaders of St. Bernard and 
Plaquemines Parish. Those parishes were virtually destroyed, the lower 
part of Jefferson Parish. The whole region has come back. The world 
could see it for themselves yesterday--the civic leadership, the faith-
based leadership. Again, a shout out to President Obama, his Cabinet 
and the Members on both sides of the aisle who stood by this region, 
the gulf coast, to rebuild after all these years.
  In conclusion, it is my only hope that after passing the Sandy 
supplemental, we will stand united with the Northeast as they rebuild 
bigger, better, stronger, hosting the next Super Bowl which is a real 
symbol of resurgence and rebuilding and resurrection.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Iowa.

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