APA's Executive Director Testifies on Rebuilding New Orleans

APA Executive Director Paul Farmer testified at an October 18, 2005, joint congressional hearing about plans for rebuilding New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The hearing, "A Vision & Strategy For Rebuilding New Orleans," was hosted by the U.S. House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittees on Water Resources and Environment, chaired by Rep. John J. Duncan, Jr. (R-Tenn.), and Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management, chaired by Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.).

Click here to read Paul Farmer's oral testimony at the hearing

Click here to download Paul Farmer's more detailed written testimony

Those testifying at the hearing included:

Panel I

• Rep. Richard H. Baker (R-La.)
• Rep. William J. Jefferson (D-La.)

PANEL II

• Honorable Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, Governor, State of Louisiana (by video teleconference)
• Honorable C. Ray Nagin, Mayor, New Orleans
• Honorable Mitchell J. Landrieu, Lieutenant Governor, State of Louisiana
• Wynton Marsalis, Musician, New York City

PANEL III

• Mtumishi St. Julien, Executive Director, The Finance Authority, New Orleans, Louisiana
• Paul Farmer, AICP, Executive Director, American Planning Association, Washington, D.C.
• J. Stephen Perry, President and CEO, New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Gary P. LaGrange, President & Chief Executive Officer, Port of New Orleans
• John Felmy, Chief Economist, American Petroleum Institute, Washington, D.C.
• Jerome Ringo, Chair, National Wildlife Federation, Lake Charles, Louisiana
• Michael C. Voisin, Owner & General Manager, Motivatit Seafoods, Inc., Houma, Louisiana