Washington, DC - Congressman Ed Towns (D-Brooklyn), along with several House Democrats, including New York Congressmen Major Owens, Charles Rangel, Gregory Meeks and Eliot Engel, are urging Congress to increase its assistance to Caribbean countries devastated by the recent hurricanes.  The group has introduced a resolution calling on the President to make funding available to private volunteer organizations and United Nations agencies to deal with the effects of the natural disasters.

"The magnitude of destruction and devastation for countries of their size is enormous," said Rep. Towns. "In addition to the economic disasters, hundred of lives have been lost and thousands of people have been displaced from their homes.

"Many of these people are family members or loved ones of our constituents.  So this disasters really touches us here as well," continued Rep. Towns. 

The resolution notes that Hurricane Ivan caused significant damage to 90 percent of homes in Grenada and displaced about 13,000 Jamaicans.  It also brings attention to the fact that up to 80 percent of some cities in Haiti are flooded.  All toll, it could cost Caribbean nations more than $250 million to rebuild after this year's hurricane season.

"For the long term security of these island nations and our own national security, we need to step up to the plate to help," said Towns.  "The longer it takes to rebuild these nations, the more likely economic turmoil may result, which could lead to political problems. So there is a real strong case that additional support is also in our own self-interest." 

Rep. Towns notes that after Hurricane Mitch the U.S. contributed $400 million to Honduras, and so far the U.S. has provided only about 1% of that in aid to Caribbean countries devastated by this year's hurricanes. 

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