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Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League called on Congress to immediately pass and fully fund comprehensive disaster assistance legislation that protects the rights of the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
“While I applaud Congress for providing much-needed funding for FEMA and other government agencies to continue their relief efforts, this is only a small part of what is needed in the short and long term,” said Morial, the former mayor of New Orleans. “Hurricane Katrina is a national tragedy of epic and unprecedented proportions. In responding to this crisis, Congress’ number one priority must be to help protect and restore the lives of the hundreds of thousands of citizens whose lives have been disrupted and destroyed.”
Morial called on Congress to take the following steps immediately:
Create a Victims Compensation Fund - Congress must immediately pass legislation creating a Victims Compensation Fund for the hundreds of thousands of citizens injured, killed and displaced as a result of Hurricane Katrina.
“Within days after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Congress passed and the president signed legislation authorizing a 9/11 victims compensation fund, which eventually provided more than $7 billion in compensation for the victims of 9/11,” Morial said. “As it did then, Congress must take immediate and decisive action to begin compensating American citizens whose lives have been disrupted by this major national tragedy.”
Provide 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,” Morial noted. “We owe it to these workers to help them get back on their feet.”
Protect Voting Rights - America must ensure that the hundreds of thousands of citizens displaced by Hurricane Katrina continue to have full voting rights in their home states.
“If we can see to it that Iraqi citizens living on our shores are able to vote in a war-torn land halfway across the world, we can certainly guarantee that displaced citizens of Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi continue to have full voting rights in their home states and districts,” Morial said. “Our displaced citizens want and deserve a voice in the rebuilding of their communities. We must not compound the tragedy visited upon our citizens by disenfranchising them at a time when the most fundamental tool of citizenship – their right to vote – is more important than ever.
Morial stated that these are only the first, but critical steps that Congress must take in the coming days and weeks.
“We have a long and difficult road ahead,” Morial said. “By taking these actions now, Congress will send an important message that the hurricane victims will not be left behind and lay the groundwork for the arduous collective task before us.”
“We are in this together and together, we will regroup and rebuild.”
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