Congressman Charles Boustany is calling on President Barack Obama to include Cameron Parish in his recently announced Gulf Coast visit, slated for mid-October. Boustany, who has frequently complained of Washington suffering from "Rita amnesia" due to the disproportionate focus given to Hurricane Katrina, sent the following letter to the President today:
Dear Mr. President:
I am writing to respectfully request that you visit Cameron Parish in Southwest Louisiana during your mid-October trip to the Gulf Coast.
Cameron Parish was devastated by Hurricane Rita only weeks after Hurricane Katrina hit Southeastern Louisiana. Rita left a path of destruction much like Katrina, but the media and many activists quickly forgot about Southwest Louisiana as they focused on New Orleans. Even in the wake of Hurricane Ike in 2008, Cameron Parish is strongly committed to its recovery. Residents still face many obstacles in rebuilding and restoring this important coastal community, which requires a nearby workforce to sustain major industries in the area - energy and seafood. Making sure that this region is not forgotten remains a top priority of mine, and I encourage you to share the same commitment to its residents.
As you make your first trip to Louisiana as President of the United States, I ask that you travel to Cameron Parish as you focus on the needs of the Gulf Coast and ongoing recovery of South Louisiana. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss this issue with you. Thank you in advance for your consideration of this important request.
Sincerely,
Charles W. Boustany, Jr., MD
Member of Congress