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Letter to Sen. Thad Cochran about the supplemental appropriations bill for Hurricane Katrina

December 9, 2005

NOTE: This letter was also sent to: Sen. Robert C. Byrd, Sen. Arlen Specter, Sen. Tom Harkin, Rep. Jerry Lewis, Rep. David R. Obey, Rep. Ralph Regula, and Rep. Norm Dicks

The Honorable Thad Cochran, Chairman
Committee on Appropriations
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Mr. Chairman:

On behalf of the 1.4 million members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), I am writing with respect to the anticipated supplemental appropriations bill for Hurricane Katrina. In particular, we are writing to urge you to provide grants for health care facilities through the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to help reestablish health care services for citizens in devastated areas, similar to PHSA emergency grants provided to health care facilities that were impacted by the 9/11 attacks.

Recent press reports have highlighted how Hurricane Katrina devastated the health care infrastructure in the affected Gulf Coast region. Despite the enormous health care needs of the citizens of the region, many safety net providers do not have the financial resources to resume full operation or even to make health care services available at all. In particular, with the closure of Louisiana State University's (LSU) Charity and University Hospitals, the people of New Orleans have lost safety net institutions that are critical to serving the poor and uninsured. In addition, eighty percent of Louisiana's population no longer has access to a Level 1 trauma center. To address the immediate needs of New Orleans' citizens, LSU has developed an interim plan for restoring basic health care services. Unfortunately, their operational needs do not qualify for Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance. This includes funds to retain hospital staff, rebuild the patient record and accounting system and finance the purchase of medical equipment.

Health care is an essential need, and ensuring that basic services are available in the devastated region must be a priority as the Congress develops the Katrina supplemental appropriations bill. We urge appropriators to assist Charity and University Hospitals and other safety net providers in their effort to restore health care services to the people of New Orleans and throughout the affected region.

     Sincerely,

     Charles M. Loveless
     Director of Legislation

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