Nearly 4 years after the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, residents of the Gulf Coast continue to struggle to recover and rebuild their lives. They live in growing fear that they will be left behind, as promises of recovery assistance continue to go unmet. Levees remain vulnerable; tens of thousands of people have not been able to return their homes.  Schools, hospitals and transportation infrastructure remain damaged, and residents continue to struggle for access to affordable housing and living wage jobs.

The current economic crisis is only adding to the challenges faced by Gulf Coast residents, who are now enduring the impact of budget cuts on vital services and recovery efforts.

The Gulf Coast Civic Works Campaign is organizing to bring 400 advocates to Washington DC at the end of May. This diverse national partnership of community, environmental, faith-based, human rights and student organizations are working to build support for this legislation which will address the needs for rebuilding infrastructure, revitalizing the regional economy and restoring the coastal environment to mitigate the effects of future storms.

Join the advocacy effort to support Gulf Coast Recovery by urging your representative to cosponsor the Gulf Coast Civic Works Act [HR 2269]. 

This bipartisan bill would create 100,000 green living wage jobs and training opportunities for Gulf Coast residents and displaced people to rebuild critical infrastructure, restore natural flood protection and increase energy efficiency.  It funds “green” resident-led recovery to help address the overwhelming unmet needs of communities devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The Gulf Coast Civic Works Act would provide training opportunities for local and displaced workers on projects in the community. By utilizing emerging green building technologies communities can begin reinvesting in infrastructure and restoring the coastal environment.  It enables the federal government to partner directly with local leaders and nonprofit organizations to address remaining recovery challenges.

The UCC, through Wider Church Ministries’ Disaster Ministry and Back Bay Mission, and Justice & Witness Ministries’ Gulf Coast Justice Initiative, have established many partners along the Gulf Coast who are very supportive of the Gulf Coast Civil Works Act.  They affirm the  principle included in HR 2269 of involving those most impacted by a disaster in designing appropriate recovery efforts for their communities.

The Gulf Coast Civic Works Act would empower residents to return home with dignity and create stronger, safer and more equitable communities. Now is the time to make good on the broken promises of recovery assistance for the Gulf Coast.

Please send a message to your representatives asking them to support this legislation!