Rep. Waters introduces Katrina Housing Recovery Legislation

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), Chair of the Financial Services Committee Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity, introduced H.R. 1227, "The Gulf Coast Hurricane Housing Recovery Act of 2007" on March 1.

The bill comes on the heels of the Housing and Community Opportunity field hearings in the Gulf Region to address the region’s ongoing affordable housing crisis. The bill will make a number of policy, bureaucratic, and procedural changes to speed the return of displaced Gulf Coast residents and funnel federally-approved funds to the region to expedite the rebuilding effort.

"The residents of the Gulf Coast, who have been displaced for over a year, have spoken loud and clear and they intend to return home," Waters said.

"While the President goes on another 'look-see' tour today in the Gulf Region, his Administration continues to disregard the residents of the Gulf Coast. This bill will provide immediate assistance to the displaced families of the Gulf by freeing up rebuilding funds for homeowners and providing tough oversight of state housing assistance plans and requiring HUD to reopen public housing and provide voucher assistance for added affordable housing."

Louisiana ACORN head organizer Steve Bradberry testified at a Congressional Hearing on housing held before Waters and other dignitaries at Dillard University on Feb. 22.

To view Bradberry’s testimony, click here [2].

05-03-07