For tens of thousands of Gulf Coast residents still reeling from Hurricanes Katrina, Gustav and Ike, the prospects of getting a major boost are hanging by a thread.
Despite a call from 140 national and state organizations, the U.S. House failed to include a Gulf Coast Civic Works program -- a pioneering initiative to create green jobs in hard-hit communities -- in its latest draft of the American Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act [pdf].
Advocates are now turning to the Senate, where there's still hope that Gulf Coast Senators Mary Landrieu, Thad Cochran and Richard Shelby -- especially Landrieu of Louisiana -- can include authorizing and funding language for the bill.
Many in New Orleans and the Gulf have been hopeful about a new Congress and administration signaling a new commitment to Gulf recovery. This weekend, the New Orleans Times-Picayune quoted New Orleans advocate Monique Harden, who focused on the Gulf Coast Civic Works plan:
Despite a call from 140 national and state organizations, the U.S. House failed to include a Gulf Coast Civic Works program -- a pioneering initiative to create green jobs in hard-hit communities -- in its latest draft of the American Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act [pdf].
Advocates are now turning to the Senate, where there's still hope that Gulf Coast Senators Mary Landrieu, Thad Cochran and Richard Shelby -- especially Landrieu of Louisiana -- can include authorizing and funding language for the bill.
Many in New Orleans and the Gulf have been hopeful about a new Congress and administration signaling a new commitment to Gulf recovery. This weekend, the New Orleans Times-Picayune quoted New Orleans advocate Monique Harden, who focused on the Gulf Coast Civic Works plan:
But unless the Senate acts, this long-time dream of Gulf advocates and residents could end. For more background, see Facing South's earlier coverage here."All of us who have been shut out for the last eight years because we're interested in social justice and environmental protection and poverty and schools, all of us who have been locked out are now included in this conversation," Harden said. "They were asking real questions: 'What do you want? What do you see?' "
They talked about Obama issuing an executive order to create a Gulf Coast Civic Works Project -- which stalled as legislation in the last Congress -- that would train and employ at least 100,000 people who lost their livelihoods in past storms to work rebuilding their communities.
Please call Gulf Coast Senators today to express your support for the inclusion of Gulf Coast Civic Works projects in the economic recovery package. A script and the phone numbers for your Senator are below.
Here are the numbers for their offices:
Senator Landrieu (LA) - 202-224-5824;
Senator Cochran (MS) - 202-224-5054;
Senator Shelby (AL) - 202-224-5744.
Ask for the Chief of Staff or Legislative Director, but you can leave a message with whoever answers the phone. They will keep track of the number of calls they receive.
Tell them:
"Hello, my name is ________________ and I am working on the Gulf Coast Civic Works campaign. (If you are from the Gulf Coast, please indicate this.)
I am calling to ask Senator Landrieu/Cochran/Shelby to offer the Gulf Coast Civic Works as an amendment to the economic recovery package during the Appropriations Committee mark-up.
The Gulf Coast Civic Works Act was originally introduced in the House. Gulf Coast Civic Works projects would create 100,000 good jobs and training opportunities for local and displaced workers to rebuild infrastructure and restore the environment. Funding for these projects would flow directly from the Federal Coordinator's office to local entities, administering these projects.
Gulf Coast advocates have been working diligently to identify ready-to-go projects that could stimulate the Gulf Coast economy quickly. (If you know of a ready-to-go project, please explain what it is here.)
Having Gulf Coast Civic Works authorized and funded through the economic recovery package is crucial for communities still recovering across our region.
Thank you."
January 26, 2009 6:12 PM | Reply