Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Melvin L. Watt (D-NC), Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), today released the following statement on behalf of the CBC about the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) decision to end housing assistance to Hurricane Katrina evacuees:

"The recent announcement by the Federal Emergency Management Agency that it would end housing assistance to more than 150,000 Hurricane Katrina evacuees, making it necessary for them to find other housing by December 1, is irresponsible and callous.

"Neither FEMA nor the federal government have put forth a long-term housing plan and FEMA's announcement will push thousands of evacuees into shelters for the homeless because of lack of planning. Many of the evacuees are elderly and have small children, and it is heartless for FEMA to set this deadline one week after Thanksgiving and just before Christmas.

"Earlier this month, the members of the Congressional Black Caucus introduced a Katrina Relief Bill designed to provide for the recovery of the Gulf Coast region and for the reunion of families devastated by the storm. The bill proposes funding for 300,000 additional tenant-based rental assistance (Section 8) vouchers and proposes $10 million for housing counseling for families in temporary shelters. It also contains a number of other proposals that would help these evacuees get and afford housing longer-term. We urge President Bush and the Democratic and Republican members of the House and Senate to support the CBC's legislative response to Katrina and implore them to make a compassionate commitment to ensure the evacuees find housing."