1. Support
of the Victims Compensation Fund
The National Urban League expresses its unqualified support for the Hurricane
Katrina Recovery, Reclamation, Restoration, Reconstruction and Reunion Act of
2005 (HR 4197) introduced by the members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Two
months ago, within days after Hurricane Katrina struck, the National Urban League
called for a Katrina Bill of Rights which guaranteed the right to recover, return,
rebuild, work and to vote to the displaced residents of the devastated Gulf Coast
region. We are gratified that HR 4197 includes many of the recommendations contained
in the Katrina Bill of Rights, including voting rights guarantees, local resident
hiring goals, and a victims' restoration fund modeled on the 9/11 fund that Congress
authorized immediately after the 2001 terrorist attacks which eventually provided
$7 billion in compensation to 911 victims.
We urge Congress to take immediate and positive action to
pass this important and historic legislation.
2. Provision of Disaster Unemployment Assistance
Congress must provide for federal disaster unemployment assistance
to every worker left jobless by this tragedy and provide
a meaningful benefit that meets the needs of unemployed workers
and their families. Half a million hardworking Americans,
through no fault of their own, have been thrown out of work
and, in many cases, have seen their jobs disappear altogether.
We owe it to these workers to help them support their families
as they struggle to get back on their feet.
3. Protection of Voting Rights
We must ensure that the hundreds of thousands of citizens displaced
by Hurricane Katrina continue to have full voting rights
in their home states. Our displaced citizens want and deserve
a voice in the rebuilding of their communities. Their right
to vote is more important to them than ever.
4. Inclusion of gulf residents in every aspect of
the rebuilding process.
The federal government must fully commit to a gulf-wide rebuilding
effort that meaningfully includes Gulf residents in strategy,
jobs, contracts, procurement, etc. The effort requires a built-in
job-training component and a substantial commitment to a diverse
workforce up and down the ladder in order to ensure that all
of the citizens of the Gulf benefit from the billions of dollars
that will be needed for its reclamation. Local hiring requirements
should be included in rebuilding contracts and business that
already employ significant numbers of residents from low-income
communities should be given preference. Local and minority-owned
businesses from the affected regions should receive a fair
share of federally funded rebuilding contracts.
5. Establishment of an Independent Commission
We need an independent commissions to investigate and review
what went wrong with the early-warming system and relief
effort and identify how best to protect not just New Orleans
but also other cities and regions from such natural catastrophes
in the future. |
