Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick: “I first want to say that these people are not refugees. They are American citizens who pay taxes and are raising their…”

“I first want to say that these people are not refugees. They are American citizens who pay taxes and are raising their children. I would hope that we would not relegate them to something less than American citizens. I rise in support of the legislation and would like to report on what the City of Detroit is doing. Mayor Kwami Kilpatrick has put together an organization with the private sector as well as FEMA over the last 48 hours, and we are offering to the families that have been decimated 500 housing spots immediately. We have been working with the United Way and the health care industry to provide the resources that these families will need, housing, health care, water, food, clothing. We in the City of Detroit stand ready, under Mayor Kilpatrick's leadership. We have spoken with the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Thompson), as well as the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Davis), and the gentleman from New Orleans, Louisiana (Mr. Jefferson), and all have agreed to work to move them now. We need other government officials from around the country to step up and to bring them home. The people of New Orleans have nothing to go back to. Mr. Speaker, we are proud of our Mayor and the City of Detroit. Detroit has stood up, through Mayor Kilpatrick's leadership, and we ask that other cities around this great Nation of ours who have the wherewithal, because private companies are ready to help, and they have helped us.…”