US LAWMAKERS BLOCK HUD FUNDING TO PORT 6-22-08

SOME CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS ARE AT ODDS WITH GOVERNOR BARBOUR OVER KATRINA RELIEF MONEY GOING TO REBUILD THE PORT AT GULFPORT. CONGRESSMAN BENNIE THOMPSON AND OTHER LAWMAKERS SENT A LETTER TO THE HOUSE APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN CHALLENGING THE USE OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT MONEY AT THE PORT.  THE GOVERNOR TOOK THE 600 MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE SAME FEDERAL POOL THAT PAID FOR GRANTS TO HELP HOMEOWNERS REBUILD AFTER THE 2005 STORM. THOMPSON SAYS THERE ARE STILL 10-THOUSAND KATRINA FAMILIES IN TEMPORARY HOUSING.  HE SAYS THE STATE IS TREATING THE FEDERAL HOUSING MONEY AS A WINDFALL TO EXPAND THE PORT, WHILE NOT MEETING POST KATRINA HOUSING NEEDS. THOMPSON, WHO IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE, JOINED 11 OTHER DEMOCRATS IN ASKING THE HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT CHAIRMAN TO INSERT LANGUAGE BLOCKING THE TRANSFER INTO THE SPENDING BILL THAT WILL FUND HUD NEXT YEAR.