WASHINGTON -- United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., today commented on the White House's announcement today that the Obama Administration will extend the Office of Gulf Coast Rebuilding through September 30, 2009. On February 10, the Louisiana delegation wrote a letter to President Obama asking for a two-year extension. The office was created by executive order in November 2005 to focus on the Gulf Coast's recovery from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and was set to expire February 28, 2009.

President Obama also announced that Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan will tour the Gulf Coast on March 5 and 6 to assess the recovery. Sen. Landrieu invited both of them to tour the region and will join them next month. Sen. Landrieu said:

"The extension of the Gulf Coast Rebuilding Office demonstrates the commitment of this new administration to our ongoing recovery. We need the federal government to be our partner as we work through the remaining challenges to our rebuilding effort in the New Orleans region and along the Gulf Coast. I welcome Secretaries Napolitano and Donovan to our communities next month. In touring the region with me, they can personally assess our progress and understand the challenges still ahead.

"The Louisiana delegation asked in unison for the office to be extended for at least two years, and our delegation will be working with the Administration to extend its service beyond September. This extension gives us time to work with the White House to determine the best structure to move the recovery effort forward.

"Under the Bush Administration, the office was often blocked from accelerating our recovery. It now must be strengthened so that it can carry out its intended purpose: to coordinate recovery efforts between HUD, FEMA, the Army Corps of Engineers, SBA, the Department of Transportation, and other relevant federal agencies."