WASHINGTON, September 28, 2004 -- New York Lawmaker, After Interceding with Secretary Powell, Urges President Bush To Do More

Cong. Charles Rangel said this week that he welcomed the announcement by the White House of a $50 million disaster assistance package for the hurricane devastated islands of the Caribbean, but urged President Bush to do more.

"The President's request is welcome as an indication that the Administration is mindful of the plight of tens of thousands of our brothers and sisters in the Caribbean, but much greater generosity will be needed to address the devastation of the region," Cong. Rangel said. 

The President's announcement was made under pressure from members of the Congressional Black Caucus and other members of Congress, including Cong. Rangel who spoke personally to Secretary of State Colin Powell about the need for a strong U.S. response to the hurricanes in the Caribbean.

"I made it clear to the Secretary the depth of suffering in the Caribbean and that a special effort was needed to address it," Cong. Rangel said.  "He said he would be helpful and he has been."

The Caribbean aid package, which must be approved by Congress, would provide disaster and famine assistance to mitigate damage from Hurricane Ivan and Tropical Storm Jeanne in Grenada, Jamaica, Haiti and other nations affected by recent storms.  It would sanction the use of funds for restoration of electricity, housing rehabilitation and reconstruction, water and sanitation systems, as well as repairs to roads, irrigation and infrastructure, schools and health facilities. The funds would be routed through the Agency for International Development. 
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Before the Presidential request, the U.S. had provided $3.8 million in emergency assistance in the form of food, water and shelter to Haiti, Grenada, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas.  The greatest portion of the assistance has gone to Haiti, the hardest hit of the islands, having suffered more than 2,000 deaths and hundreds of thousands left homeless.

The President's request to Congress for aid to the Caribbean was contained in a White House request for $7.1 billion in additional emergency funds primarily targeting areas in the United States devastated by hurricane Ivan.   That followed earlier relief packages for the U.S. totaling $5.1 billion in the wake of hurricanes Charley and Frances. 

Following the announcement, representatives of several Caribbean governments met with Congressional staff to review the President's announcement and to offer their own preliminary assessments of the damage to the region.

"Indications are that substantially more will be needed to get these islands back on their feet," Cong. Rangel said.  "We'll keep on working on it, but this is a step in the right direction."