(Washington, DC) -

Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney
Floor Statement on
FEMA's Latest Housing Deadline for Katrina Survivors
May 17, 2006

Madame Speaker, after evicting all Katrina Survivors in temporary housing on March 15th, FEMA has now announced that 55,000 families will lose their emergency housing assistance as of May 31st.  Tens of thousands of these families are being told they are ineligible for further assistance because of FEMA's onerous and discriminatory rules. 

Is this how we treat people who have lost everything?  Where do we expect families who have lost their homes, their jobs, even their city supposed to turn without housing assistance?  Nearly nine months have passed since Hurricane Katrina hit.  If FEMA cannot help these families reclaim their lives, then it is time for Congress to act.   Literally dozens of Katrina bills are still languishing in committees, HR 4197, the most comprehensive relief package offered to date.  I urge my colleagues to pass this legislation in support of the survivors.