[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12936]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           IN SUPPORT OF THE BUX-MONT KATRINA RELIEF PROJECT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PATRICK J. MURPHY

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 16, 2007

  Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, it is with 
great honor and personal gratitude that I recognize ther remarkable 
work of the Bux-Mont Katrina Relief Project (BMKP), whose organizers 
took bold initiative to provide much needed disaster relief services to 
Hancock County, Mississippi in the aftermath of Katrina Hurricane.
  In partnership with the Salvation Army, the Bux-Mont Katrina Relief 
Project developed a community-to-community disaster response model. By 
creating a partnership between Bucks and Montgomery Counties in 
Pennsylvania and Hancock County in Mississippi, a $1.25 million child 
care center was created. Furthermore, homes were rebuilt, schools were 
repaired and community projects were aided. In addition, the University 
of Pennsylvania School of Society Policy and Practice is partnering 
with the BMKP to help fix the Hancock County human services system. 
Funding for these projects came solely from private and corporate 
donations and in-kind services.
  Through outstanding effort and vision, this project brought hope to 
the Gulf Coast community by establishing a proactive disaster relief 
program. Madam Speaker, the experience gained by BMKP and its partner 
organizations has inspired them to present their program as a national 
disaster relief model designed to bring together the military, 
governmental agencies, regional groups and national organizations.
  Madam Speaker, as you know, the victims of Hurricane Katrina have 
been slow to receive the necessary and promised support from our 
government. The Bux-Mont Katrina Relief Project has successfully 
provided private support to one community. Their disaster relief model, 
if promoted nationally, will expand on that success and greatly improve 
our Nation's ability to respond to man-made and natural disasters.

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