“Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”

Robert F. Kennedy
Capetown, June 6th 1966

KATRINA-RITA ANNIVERSARY RECOVERY AND HUMAN RIGHTS FEDERAL REPORT CARD

As we approach the 4th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, it appears Congress will not be leading its usual Congressional Delegation to the region and President Barack Obama will be resting in Martha's Vineyard, MA instead of traveling to meet with the survivors of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Since Congressional Leadership and President Barack Obama will be unable to hear from the people themselves, we hoped to issue a Federal Report Card to let them know what those community leaders still working in the recovery think of their jobs to date and how they are doing in comparison to past efforts on Gulf Coast recovery, particularly in regards to recovery issues relevant to human rights.

The contact information (name, organization/affiliation, email) of respondents listed below will be left private, but maybe be used internally to contact prospective organizations who may wish to be listed as a co-sponsor of the report or assist in media outreach in relation to the report.

TIMELINE FOR REPORT CARD

The grading form will be open from August 13 to August 19.
A Finalized Report Card, including data from the survey, quotes from President Obama and Congressional leadership and an overview of Presidential Congressional action in 2009 will be completed by COB August 21st.
This Report Card will be presented to officials in the Obama Administration and to Members of Congress on August 29th.
The Report Card will be presented at a press conference on August 28th.

Below is a form for giving your grades. If you have technical problems email buchanan@rfkmemorial.org.

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Your Organization/Affiliation:

Please enter the name of the relevant organization working in Gulf Coast recovery you represent or are affiliated with.

Number of years you've personally been working on Gulf Coast recovery issues:

Your First Name: *

Required.

Your Last Name: *

Required.

Your Email Address: *

Required.

Your City:

Your State: *

Your Zip Code: *

Rate White House recovery efforts after 2005 Hurricanes in the Bush Administration (2005-2008): *

	A - Outstanding	B - Above average	C - Average	D - Below average	F - Fail
publicly acknowledge the challenges facing recovering Gulf Coast communities?
create necessary programs and appropriate needed funds for long-term recovery?
“shake loose” money tied up in federal bureaucracies to reach vital projects?
help displaced families voluntarily to return to their communities?
revitalize infrastructure in your community to promote safety and dignity (e.g., hospitals, fire stations, affordable housing, roads, and schools, etc.)?
increase coastal hurricane protection and prepare for and mitigate against future natural disasters?
create living wage jobs and promote local businesses in your community?
provide education and training opportunities in your community?

Rate White House recovery efforts after 2005 Hurricanes in the Obama Administration (2009): *

	A - Outstanding	B - Above average	C - Average	D - Below average	F - Fail
publicly acknowledge the challenges facing recovering Gulf Coast communities?
create necessary programs and appropriate needed funds for long-term recovery?
“shake loose” money tied up in federal bureaucracies to reach vital projects?
help displaced families voluntarily to return to their communities?
revitalize infrastructure in your community to promote safety and dignity (e.g., hospitals, fire stations, affordable housing, roads, and schools, etc.)?
increase coastal hurricane protection and prepare for and mitigate against future natural disasters?
create living wage jobs and promote local businesses in your community?
provide education and training opportunities in your community?

Rate Congressional recovery efforts after 2005 Hurricanes in the 110th Congress (2006-2008) : *

	A - Outstanding	B - Above average	C - Average	D - Below average	F - Fail
publicly acknowledge the challenges facing recovering Gulf Coast communities?
create necessary programs and appropriate needed funds for long-term recovery?
“shake loose” money tied up in federal bureaucracies to reach vital projects?
help displaced families voluntarily to return to their communities?
revitalize infrastructure in your community to promote safety and dignity (e.g., hospitals, fire stations, affordable housing, roads, and schools, etc.)?
increase coastal hurricane protection and prepare for and mitigate against future natural disasters?
create living wage jobs and promote local businesses in your community?
provide education and training opportunities in your community?

Rate Congressional recovery efforts after 2005 Hurricanes in the 111th Congress (2009-2010) : *

	A - Outstanding	B - Above average	C - Average	D - Below average	F - Fail
publicly acknowledge the challenges facing recovering Gulf Coast communities?
create necessary programs and appropriate needed funds for long-term recovery?
“shake loose” money tied up in federal bureaucracies to reach vital projects?
help displaced families voluntarily to return to their communities?
revitalize infrastructure in your community to promote safety and dignity (e.g., hospitals, fire stations, affordable housing, roads, and schools, etc.)?
increase coastal hurricane protection and prepare for and mitigate against future natural disasters?
create living wage jobs and promote local businesses in your community?
provide education and training opportunities in your community?

Additional thoughts on the Federal Government's recovery efforts:

(optional) A sampling of these comments may be anonymously included in the final report card.

add:

Logo photo: Stanley Tretick, Sidebar photo: Bill Eppridge