U.S. Edition
WASHINGTON (CNN) - President Obama will send two Cabinet officials to the Gulf Coast next month to assess progress in rebuilding the region that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, the White House announced Friday.
The president is also extending the operations of a federal office tasked with overseeing reconstruction efforts along the Gulf Coast. Obama signed an executive order keeping the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding open through Sept. 30, 2009. It was initially scheduled to close at the end of this month.
“The residents of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast who are helping rebuild are heroes who believe in their communities and they are succeeding despite the fact that they have not always received the support they deserve from the Federal government,” Obama said in a statement. “This executive order is a first step of a sustained commitment by my Administration to rebuild now, stronger than ever.”
The office was established by former President Bush in November 2005.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan will head to the region on March 5 and 6.
I suppose the Republicans AND the Republican Governor of Louisana don't approve of this either. How hypocritical are they anyway?
It's about time. Our previous administration did nothing but talk ( ...... good job, Brownie ..... ).
Those people in LA, MS, and parts of TX need the help.
Before we rebuild the city, lets rebuild the levee system to withstand a category 5 event. I've seen this game before we rebuild the city then run out of money to rebuild the infrastructure, then 15 years from now another hurricane and we'll be right back to the same problem.
Cleaning up Bushs' mess
What about IKE!!!!! I'm so sick of hearing about Katrina when the only people who haven't picked themselves up yet are those in N.O. All those alone the Mississippi coast line are back and at it.....it is time for the people of N.O. to stop being victims.
It is so nice to FINALLY have a president who cares for those other than the rich!
Finally something will be done!! How many years did we wait for the repubs to do something???? AND this time it will be done RIGHT!!!
Go Mr. President!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All the tears, the people who still haven't recovered. What a relief....
Now comes Obama's capacity to handle natural calamity. If his response is perceived as rapid and rigorous, the ratings may be favorably influenced. Let's wait 'n' watch.
Wait, Pres. Obama – you'd better ask Bobby Jindal (R) for permission to help his state!!! By the way, I cannot forget the story I heard that while New Orleans was drowning – Bush and McCain where enjoying a birthday barbeque in Texas.
Thank YOU Mr. President. It's about TIME someone looked into the horrific incompetence by FEMA and the Bush Administration in regards to those devastated by Hurricane Katrina!!! Hundreds DIED due to the blatant disregard and lack of urgent medical and food aid to the Gulf when this hurricane hit.
This will FOREVER remain one of the biggest blood stain on the Bush Administration, besides the Iraq war and GITMO. No doubt.
What a disgrace that our country is still rebuilding from an event that took place in 2005. Shame on the Bush administration. Hooray for Obama and thank you.
They don't want to help New Orleans because it is an overwhelmingly DEMOCRATIC city. Obama won it by a landslide....infact that is the only city in Louisiana that he won.
This is the right thing to do. The Bush Administration failed at helping the people of Katrina. Now what would be right and appropriate would be the Gov. of Louisana step up and publically think President Obama. Time will tell if the the Governor is for the people of Louisiana of the people of the Republican Party.
Good Obama. You always do the right thing.
Don't forget, the state of Louisiana (at the time of Katrina) was run by Democrats and did not want the Feds help...(is it because they were Republicans)?
I'm so proud of our new President..... I believe when this financial crisis is behind us, we will see that Obama has been one of our best domestic Presidents, in a long time...... By the way, Gov. Jindal is playing russian roulette w/ the New Orleans well being, by grandstanding claiming he's not sure if he'll take any stimulus money for his state........... Mr. Jindal, your state does not consist of just republicans......... By your blocking aide to your state, you are putting government in the way, not taking it out the way! I'm a republican, and i'm p'd off about my party....... I'll vote dem again and again, until we get it together!!
Good man. We still need it. Going down the Biloxi shoreline drive is still heartbreaking.
STILL with Louisiana and Katrina? WTH? It's been how many years?
Those of us recovering from Ike aren't waiting on the Feds to come hold our hand, pay for everything, and make it all better. We're just DOING it.
No Presidential candidate can know for sure if all of the things he says he would like to do can be done until he attains the office. But, this President has keep at least 2/3's of his campaign promises so far or stated that he still intends to. That is a 100% improvement over the last 8 years.
Boy...Katrina did kill it for former President Bush, huh? I can't stress how critically bad that was for that party and literally, to our former President...I mean, bad!
The people of New Orleans are outraged that there was nothing in the stimulus package specifically for them..... especially after the Democrats blasted Bush for not helping New Orleans.
We had high winds the other day here in the midwest. Part of the outside stall on my barn lost a portion of the wall, I had some shingles fly odd of my roof and a large section of fascia got damaged. In addition a large pine tree was knocked over and part of an ash tree fell on my roof.
I need some gub-ment money to fix it, where's my reparations?
Gimme, gimme, gimme!
It may be too late now since I already took care of the trees myself and have started pricing materials and making plans to fix the rest when it's warm enough out there to do so.
I wish I wasn't so self-reliant, it's cost me dearly throughout my life.
Our country is really becoming pathetic.
Wow, I see Pheonix is warming up to the new Prez...... It's good to see. Obama is a good man, dealt an awful hand....... just like the rest of the country.
Another thing Bush "kicked the can down the road" on.
RNC is scrutinizing Obama's first month like he has been in office for years and has done nothing.
Please tell me one positive thing Bush did in 8 years. He DID NOT keep this country safe contrary to (within the RNC party) popular belief. The 9/11 terrorist attacks happened on Bush's watch. Katrina happened on Bush's watch. The economic crisis started on Bush's watch.
What was he doing for 8 years besides hooking up his cronies with good jobs?