Washington, DC – Congressman William J. Jefferson (D-La.) today was pleased with the announcement that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) would be infusing more than $130 million into the Greater New Orleans area and other parts of Louisiana to help strengthen the region’s troubled health care industry.

     This is a partial breakdown of where the funds will go:

• $100-million to primary health care clinics to expand access to outpatient primary care, which includes medical and mental health services, substance abuse treatment, oral health care and optometric care.
  
  
• $35-million will be used to help Louisiana recruit and retain health care professionals.
  
  
• $60-million will be given to Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi to alleviate escalating financial pressures on health care providers in the wake of Katrina         

       Congressman Jefferson said, “It’s encouraging that the HHS is again recognizing that the Greater New Orleans area remains in dire need of federal help.  Although this is a significant amount of money being handed to the region, it is still a temporary fix for only immediate problems.  We still need more funding from Washington to create a long-term, positive effect on our health care industry.”  

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  Tonight, Congressman Jefferson voted “yes” on Amendment One of the House Supplemental bill.  This amendment provides money to continue supporting our troops  in Iraq and gives billions of dollars toward Gulf Coast recovery after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  Seven of the Gulf Coast provisions included in the supplemental were authored or co-authored by Congressman Jefferson.  
     On Amendment Two of the Supplemental, Congressman Jefferson voted “no.”  This amendment required the Bush administration to give frequent progress reports on the situation in Iraq, but it did not include any timeline for the eventual withdrawal of our troops.

      Congressman Jefferson said, “I have the highest respect for our troops and appreciate what they and their families sacrifice for us on a daily basis. I support them completely, and will continue to vote ‘yes’ on measures designed to give them whatever they need to succeed in Iraq. 

       Amendment Two of the Supplemental didn’t include the essential-  timeline to indicate when this war would eventually come to an end.  Most Americans have made it clear that they are ready for the fighting to wind down.  I side with them.”