Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo has joined Congressman Frank Wolf of Virginia and over 60 Members of Congress in sending a letter to President Bush opposing special tax breaks to rebuild casinos destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Proposals for a “Gulf Opportunity Zone” tax relief package have included the possibility of extending relief to the gambling industry.

Congresswoman Bordallo made the following statement with respect to such proposals:

“In the wake of such devastating events, we need to make sure that federal resources are going to those who truly need it. The victims, not the gambling institutions of the Gulf region, are the ones that need this tax relief the most.”

In Mississippi, the gambling industry has never received such a tax break and under current federal policy, casinos have been routinely excluded from receiving special tax breaks. Total reconstruction costs for Hurricane Katrina are estimated at over $200 billion. Congress has already approved over $62 billion for the disaster, but these funds are expected to have been fully expended by next month. The Federal Government has spent over $13 billion so far in the recovery effort.

The letter urged the President, in proposing recovery packages and tax relief, to ensure that the available resources go to those most in need following this natural disaster.

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Contact: Alicia Chon in Washington, D.C. at (202) 225-1188 or Joseph Duenas in Guam at (671) 477-4272/4.