We have read in the national and local press that enthusiasm in Congress for the restoration of New Orleans is decreasing daily as businesses slowly die and people begin to lose hope.

We believe that in this, the largest catastrophe ever to hit this nation, the Federal Government needs to step up and help to make sure that New Orleans is rebuilt and is made safe from future storms.

We believe that New Orleans is too important for the Federal Government to let it wither on the vine and die.

We believe that if the Federal Government ignores this situation, then it will ignore other disasters around the country as well.

So we are demanding that President Bush live up to the promises made in New Orleans in his speech at Jackson Square, to make New Orleans better, safer, and
healthier.

And we are demanding that President Bush make sure that Congress lives up to its obligation to remedy a situation partly created by the U.S. Corps of Engineers, and wholly beyond the capacity of any one city or state to cope with.

Mr. President, protect and defend this great city.