Gulf Coast 'Open for Business' Act filed in Senate

[TayTay]

SEN. LANDRIEU INTRODUCES GULF COAST OPEN FOR BUSINESS ACT
US Fed News 03-30-2006


WASHINGTON, March 30 -- The office of Sen. Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., issued the following press release:

Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., today introduced the Gulf Coast Open for Business Act to respond to the needs of small businesses along the Gulf Coast and focus on the long-term recovery of the region and aid victims of future disasters. Sen. Landrieu was joined by Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., Ranking Member on the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, more than 125,000 small- and medium-sized businesses along the Gulf Coast were disrupted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. But, according to local chambers of commerce, as many as two-thirds of their members have not resumed business operations. Congress has passed appropriations bills to give much-needed assistance for residents and businesses devastated by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. Yet, seven months later small businesses are continuing to struggle to win federal rebuilding contracts, get technical assistance, and access the necessary capital to contribute to the economic growth of the area.

"Real recovery for the Gulf Coast starts with recovery for our small businesses," Sen. Landrieu said. "Hurricanes Katrina and Rita were the most devastating storms in our nation's recorded history and the mousetrap in place to handle past disasters is simply not sufficient. We need to build a better mousetrap.

"We are introducing this bill today to create new tools, bolster existing programs that work, and ensure accountability at all levels so we can help the people of the Gulf Coast reopen their small businesses which will in turn help all of us reopen our homes."

"We've learned a lot of lessons from Hurricane Katrina, and one of them is that you can't trust the Bush Administration to adequately respond to a disaster," Sen. Kerry said. "Seven months later, small and local businesses are still waiting, wanting to boost the economy and get people back to work, but the Administration hasn't held up their end of the bargain. This legislation says enough is enough. We're holding the Bush Administration accountable. We're laying out a real plan for getting the Gulf Coast open for business."

More at http://www.dispatch.com/business-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/03/31/20060331-G1-03.html

I think Louisiana now has three Senators. Nice work.