Washington, D.C.- Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D-MI), Chairwoman of the CBC, has sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi requesting the appointment of a Select Committee on Hurricane Katrina. Members of the 43-member Caucus believe rebuilding at home must be a priority for the over 200,000 Americans still out of their homes.

"The Bush Administration has turned its back on our fellow Americans, the victims of the greatest disaster on American soil in our generation," read the letter. "How can we talk about reconstruction abroad when we cannot help our fellow Americans at home?"

The President’s failure to mention Hurricane Katrina in the State of the Union address reinforced the Administration’s failed response, relief, and recovery.

"Members of the Congressional Black Caucus are disappointed that President Bush did not mention, or address, the continuing catastrophic situation in the Gulf Coast, particularly New Orleans...We must act immediately to give the over 300,000 people, including women and children, hope for the future…a Select House Committee on Katrina offers the best hope for development."

CBC Members met to discuss a plan of action aimed at meeting the needs of those affected by Hurricane Katrina. In addition to forming a Select Committee, the group’s strategy for confronting the continuing crisis includes pursuing debt forgiveness for the City of New Orleans and State of Louisiana, securing funds for transitional housing, providing emergency financial resources to bolster public safety infrastructure, holding hearings on FEMA’s post-Katrina efforts, and introducing legislation designed to repeal immunity laws for the Corps of Engineers.

"The CBC wants to ensure that the Administration plans to '[extend the] hope and opportunity' President Bush mentioned in his recent State of the Union address to the thousands of families that were displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita," said Congresswoman Kilpatrick. "The American people expect our country to live up to its promise to help all Americans achieve their full potential. We will continue to fight for the families so that today’s obstacles become tomorrow’s opportunities."