[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 664 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 664
Observing the 20th anniversary of the dates on which Hurricane Katrina
and Hurricane Rita devastated the Gulf Coast and recognizing the
progress of efforts to rebuild the affected Gulf Coast region.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 29, 2025
Mr. Ezell (for himself, Mr. Higgins of Louisiana, Ms. Letlow, Mr.
Guest, Mr. Kelly of Mississippi, Mr. Carter of Louisiana, and Mr.
Fields) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Observing the 20th anniversary of the dates on which Hurricane Katrina
and Hurricane Rita devastated the Gulf Coast and recognizing the
progress of efforts to rebuild the affected Gulf Coast region.
Whereas, on August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina, a Category 3 hurricane and 1 of
the 5 deadliest hurricanes in United States history, hit the Gulf Coast
and caused 1,833 recorded fatalities, including 1,577 in Louisiana, 238
in Mississippi, 14 in Florida, 2 in Georgia, and 2 in Alabama, according
to the National Hurricane Center;
Whereas Hurricane Katrina inflicted catastrophic damage, estimated at
$161,000,000,000 in the States of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and
Florida;
Whereas more than 1,200,000 people were under some type of evacuation order,
including New Orleans' first mandatory evacuation in the city's history;
Whereas more than 1,000,000 Gulf Coast residents were displaced, and many remain
displaced to this day;
Whereas hundreds of thousands were unemployed as a result of the devastation to
businesses;
Whereas more than 200,000 homes and 20,000 businesses from Louisiana to Florida
were destroyed;
Whereas an estimated 5,000,000 people were left without power, according to the
Federal Emergency Management Agency;
Whereas major highways were destroyed, including the Interstate 10 Twin Span
Bridge connecting the cities of New Orleans and Slidell in Louisiana and
United States Highway No. 90 bridges connecting Bay St. Louis to Pass
Christian and Biloxi to Ocean Springs in Mississippi;
Whereas the Louisiana Superdome sheltered an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 evacuees
and suffered roof leaks and other significant damage from strong winds;
Whereas neighboring cities and States took in thousands of displaced residents
and provided medical care and shelter at makeshift hospitals, such as
the Katrina Clinic at the Astrodome (formerly named the ``Reliant
Center'') in Houston, Texas;
Whereas the United States Coast Guard rescued more than 33,544 people and
assisted with the evacuation of 9,409 patients and medical personnel
from 11 hospitals;
Whereas the United States Armed Forces orchestrated one of the largest domestic
rescue operations in history, with command centers at the Emergency
Operations Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the Louis Armstrong New
Orleans International Airport in Kenner, near downtown New Orleans,
Louisiana, the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida, and Camp Shelby
in Hattiesburg, Mississippi;
Whereas the resident population of the Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, Mississippi,
metropolitan statistical area was 421,916 in March 2024, an 87-percent
increase over its lowest point of 225,681 in 2006;
Whereas the number of tourists who visited New Orleans was 17,500,000 in 2022,
up from 3,700,000 tourists in 2006;
Whereas, on September 24, 2005, Hurricane Rita, a Category 3 hurricane, hit the
Gulf Coast and caused 120 recorded fatalities, across Louisiana,
Mississippi, Florida, and Texas, according to the National Hurricane
Center;
Whereas Hurricane Rita inflicted catastrophic damage, estimated at
$10,000,000,000 in the States of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas,
making it one of the costliest storms in United States history;
Whereas more than 2,500,000 people were under some type of evacuation order
across Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi;
Whereas more than 1,000,000 Gulf Coast residents were displaced, and many remain
displaced to this day;
Whereas hundreds of thousands of people were unemployed as a result of the
devastation to businesses;
Whereas more than 20,000 homes and 20,000 businesses from Texas to Mississippi
were destroyed;
Whereas an estimated 2,000,000 people were left without power, according to the
Federal Emergency Management Agency;
Whereas the United States Coast Guard rescued more than 100 people and assisted
with the evacuation of 4,000 patients and medical personnel from several
facilities in Texas and Louisiana;
Whereas the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army, America's
Second Harvest (now known as Feeding America), Catholic Charities,
National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, Southern Baptist
Disaster Relief, United Way, and other religious and charitable
organizations provided crucial food, water, and hygiene products to
victims;
Whereas countless first responders, such as police officers, emergency medical
personnel, and firefighters, from across the United States worked around
the clock to provide care for and to protect the safety of residents
from the affected communities;
Whereas those affected have shown great resilience and strength to rebuild and
restore their communities; and
Whereas, although significant progress has been made in the Gulf Coast region,
there is still more work to be done to address the challenges still
attributable to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina and
Hurricane Rita: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) expresses its support to the victims of Hurricane
Katrina and Hurricane Rita;
(2) commends the courageous efforts of those who assisted
in the recovery progress;
(3) recognizes the contributions of communities in
Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Texas, and Georgia to
the United States; and
(4) reaffirms its commitment to rebuild, renew, and restore
the Gulf Coast region.
<all>