Advocacy News: U.S. Senate Hearing

Advocacy News: NASP Participates in a U.S. Senate Hearing

On December 10, 2009, Dr. Melissa Reeves, Chair of the PREPaRE committee presented oral and written testimony on behalf of NASP at a hearing of the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery of the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. This subcommittee is chaired by Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and it was by her invitation that NASP was included in the event. Senator Landrieu is currently drafting legislation that would consider the specific needs of children following a major crisis or natural disaster. NASP staff and leaders are working with her office to ensure that the important role that schools play in disaster recovery is explicitly recognized in this legislation.

Materials submitted by NASP into the official hearing record:

Statements by Hearing Panel Participants & Senator Landrieu

Other witnesses also participating on the hearing panel included Paul Pastorek, Superintendent of the Louisiana Department of Education; Matt Salo, Legislative Director for Health and Human Services of the National Governor’s Association; and Dr. Douglas Walker, Project Director, of Fleur de-lis Project in New Orleans, LA. Each of the presenters highlighted the importance of directly supporting children in disaster recovery efforts. Dr. Walker presented powerful testimony about the role of schools and communities collaborating for children and families following a disaster and the importance of utilizing evidenced based interventions in the treatment of children following a crisis. You can review the hearing testimony of Senator Landrieu and the other participants here.

Pictures of the Event

Photo 1: Dr. Melissa Reeves delivers testimony during a U.S. Senate hearing on children and disaster recovery.
Photo 2: Dr. Melissa Reeves and Senator Mary Landrieu
Photo 3: The NASP team attending the hearing (Left to Right: Kathy Cowan, Director of Communications & Marketing; Stacy Skalski, Director of Public Policy; Melissa Reeves, Chair of PREPaRE Committee; Senator Landrieu; Susan Gorin, Executive Director; Ted Feinberg, NEAT and PREPaRE Committee Member; and Deitra Reiser, Public Policy Fellow)



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