BATON ROUGE- On Monday, Governor Bobby Jindal issued a letter to Congress supporting the fiscal year 2008 supplemental appropriations bill containing funds for hospitals damaged from Hurricane Katrina. Earlier this summer, the Secretary of Health and Hospitals, Alan Levine had also written Congresss outlining the needs for the New Orleans-related hospitals. Here is a copy of Govrenor Jindal's letter.
September 22, 2008
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi The Honorable John Boehner
Speaker of the House House Minority Leader
H-232, the U.S. Capitol H-204, the U.S. Capitol
Washington, DC20515Washington, DC20515
Chairman Dave Obey The Honorable John Lewis
Chairman on Appropriations Ranking Member on Appropriations 2314 RayburnHouseOfficeBuilding343 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C.20515-4907Washington, D.C.20515
Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader Boehner, Chairman Obey and Ranking Member Lewis:
As we begin a dialogue about the recoveries from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, we are also requesting your assistance in ensuring approval of a provision of the FY 2008 supplemental appropriations bill Congress is expected to consider shortly. The Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee has announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee’s version of the legislation will contain $350 million for hospitals in Louisiana and Mississippi related to losses sustained from Hurricane Katrina.
As you are aware, five hospitals in the greater New Orleans area of Louisiana – East Jefferson General Hospital, Ochsner Health System, Touro Infirmary, Tulane University Medical Center and West Jefferson Medical Center – suffered combined losses of $135 million in 2007 alone – losses which continue today, and are confirmed to have been caused directly by Katrina and events related to Katrina. These hospitals suffered additional losses related to Gustav, and yet have not received relief for their losses and incremental costs resulting from the 2005 storm.
The supplemental bill considered earlier this year by the Senate included a provision to address these losses, however it was not included in the House version. We remain concerned as Congress addresses the damage done from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike that the final resolution of this important issue lingering from Hurricane Katrina will become lost in the debate.
While this provision may not completely resolve the ongoing financial issues faced by these hospitals resulting from Katrina, it will help stabilize these crucial providers as we continue to meet the very substantial needs of the people in Southeast Louisiana.
I respectfully request your support for this provision.
Sincerely,
Governor Bobby Jindal
State of Louisiana
cc: The Honorable Mary Landrieu, U.S. Senate
The Honorable David Vitter, U.S. Senate
The Honorable Jim McCrery, U.S. House of Representatives
The Honorable William Jefferson, U.S. House of Representatives
The Honorable Rodney Alexander, U.S. House of Representatives
The Honorable Charles Boustany, U.S. House of Representatives
The Honorable Charlie Melancon, U.S. House of Representatives
The Honorable Steve Scalise, U.S. House of Representatives
The Honorable Don Cazayoux, U.S. House of Representatives
