MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2005 5th Extraordinary Session
To: Sel Cmte on Hurricane Recovery
By: Representative McCoy, Akins, Aldridge, Arinder, Bailey, Baker (74th), Baker (8th), Banks, Barnett, Beckett, Bentz, Blackmon, Bondurant, Bounds, Broomfield, Brown, Buck, Burnett, Calhoun, Carlton, Chism, Clark, Clarke, Coleman (29th), Coleman (65th), Compretta, Cummings, Davis, Dedeaux, Denny, Dickson, Eaton, Ellington, Ellis, Espy, Evans, Fillingane, Flaggs, Fleming, Formby, Franks, Fredericks, Frierson, Gadd, Gibbs, Gregory, Guice, Gunn, Hamilton (109th), Hamilton (6th), Harrison, Hines, Holland, Holloway, Horne, Howell, Huddleston, Hudson, Ishee, Janus, Jennings, Johnson, Lott, Malone, Markham, Martinson, Masterson, Mayhall, Mayo, McBride, Middleton, Miles, Mims, Moak, Montgomery, Moore, Morris, Moss, Myers, Nicholson, Norquist, Parker, Patterson, Peranich, Perkins, Read, Reed, Reeves, Reynolds, Robinson (63rd), Robinson (84th), Rogers (14th), Rogers (61st), Rotenberry, Scott, Shows, Simpson, Smith (27th), Smith (39th), Smith (59th), Snowden, Staples, Stevens, Straughter, Stringer, Sullivan, Thomas, Turner, Upshaw, Vince, Walley, Ward, Warren, Watson, Weathersby, Wells-Smith, Whittington, Woods, Young, Zuber
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO PROVIDE THE MAXIMUM POSSIBLE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER EXISTING FEDERAL LAWS AND LAWS TO BE ENACTED BY CONGRESS, AS NECESSARY AND PROPER TO ADDRESS THE DEVASTATION SUFFERED BY MISSISSIPPI FROM HURRICANE KATRINA, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREAS OF AGRICULTURE, MEDICAID, EDUCATION, TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING, INSURANCE, UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AND ANY OTHER RELIEF DEEMED APPROPRIATE TO ASSIST IN THE RECOVERY AND REBUILDING OF THE STATE'S ECONOMY AND RESOURCES.
WHEREAS, on August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina unleashed its fury on the State of Mississippi, totally obliterating and paralyzing numerous communities in the frenzy of its aftermath and devastation; and
WHEREAS, openly declared to be the worst natural disaster in the state and nation's history, Hurricane Katrina delivered a severe blow to Mississippi's economy and resources, rendering countless revenue generating industries completely inoperable, families homeless and broken apart, citizens plagued by signs of death and destruction, medical facilities knocked offline, natural and manmade resources stripped, thoroughfares made impassable and lives forever altered; and
WHEREAS, the economic hardships induced by Hurricane Katrina profoundly impacted critical areas of Mississippi's economy and the needs of its citizens, such as Medicaid and health care, education, transportation, agriculture and forestry, housing, insurance and unemployment; and
WHEREAS, countless thousands of Mississippians who own homes and businesses that were directly affected by this natural disaster remain subject to substantial indebtedness backed by security instruments on real and personal property, and because of inflation, property value appreciation and the replacement or repair cost of that property will in most instances exceed the original cost; and
WHEREAS, the vast majority of the victims of Hurricane Katrina will be unable to fully recover from these devastating losses and will face irreparable personal and financial misfortune unless they receive much additional assistance; and
WHEREAS, the United States Congress has already responded by authorizing the distribution of a total of 62.3 billion dollars for relief and recovery from Hurricane Katrina, illustrating the inherent and fundamental purpose of our federal government to safeguard the public and promote the general welfare of the people, but so much more is needed:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby urge the United States Congress to provide the maximum possible financial and other relief assistance to the State of Mississippi to aid in its recovery from Hurricane Katrina, especially in the following areas:
(a) Providing financial and other aid to the agricultural and forestry producers, markets and industry within the devastated areas for losses and damages incurred in order to assist in timber seeding and replanting to prevent further erosion and dilapidation of other natural resources and to assist all agricultural interests in the recoupment of their losses;
(b) Providing requisite funding for the rebuilding of small business and industry in all areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina including minority owned business and industry;
(c) Providing requisite funding to the Division of Medicaid to ensure that qualifying individuals are not denied the necessary medical and pharmaceutical assistance required to maintain their health care needs;
(d) Providing an exemption for compliance with the federally mandated "No Child Left Behind" Act, P.L. 107-110, 115 Stat. 1425, 20 USCS 6301, due to the large student population adversely affected by the disaster;
(e) Providing financial and other aid to the United States Department of Transportation for the repair, renovation, improvement or replacement, and the planning, design and construction of damaged roadways, bridges, road signs and structural support for state highways and other state and local roads;
(f) Providing for housing assistance to individual citizens through voucher-assistance programs, temporary housing or any other feasible remedies for displaced and relocated families;
(g) Providing indemnification to homeowner's insurance policy holders from losses suffered as a result of Hurricane Katrina, whether those losses were caused by a water-driven or wind-driven storm;
(h) Extending the period for which unemployment benefits can be received from the current maximum of 26 weeks, and granting any other waivers on the federal level that would be beneficial to state citizens who have become unemployed as a result of Hurricane Katrina.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the members of the Mississippi Congressional Delegation, Governor Haley Barbour and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.