Cochran Praises Post-Katrina Progress, Looks to Continue Recovery Process

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) today issued the following statement in recognition of the fifth anniversary since Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast, devastating regions of Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama:

"The Mississippi Gulf Coast has made significant progress over the past five years to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina, especially considering the devastation left in the wake of that historic storm. Our recovery has been made possible by the resilience and hard work of the people who live on or near the coast, as well as the remarkable outpouring of church and volunteer workers from across the nation. The proactive efforts of our state leaders with the federal government have also served Mississippians well in the five years since the 2005 hurricane season. But the job is not complete.

"Insurance and federal regulations continue to pose hurdles to our recovery efforts. It is my hope that over the next five years we will see more progress in restoring the housing, businesses, infrastructure and public services that were damaged by Katrina. The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico poses significant new challenges to this recovery effort, but I am confident we will continue to work toward ensuring the economic and ecological vitality of the Mississippi Gulf Coast."