Extension of FEMA Housing Assistance Deadline for Hurricane Katrina Survivors

EXTENSION OF FEMA HOUSING ASSISTANCE DEADLINE FOR HURRICANE KATRINA SURVIVORS -- (Extensions of Remarks - May 26, 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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