Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives condemning the actions of the Gretna Police Department, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Department and all officers under their command who closed to foot traffic the Greater New Orleans Bridge in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and prevented hundreds of citizens from evacuating the City of New Orleans, and recognizing that at all times and especially during a time of national crisis, that all citizens should be treated in a lawful manner and with dignity and respect.

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Nov 2, 2005

Condemns the actions of the Gretna Police Department and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Department in Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina (closing the Greater New Orleans Bridge to foot traffic and preventing hundreds of citizens from evacuating New Orleans).

Declares that the civil rights and civil liberties of all individuals should be protected, especially during a time of national crisis. Calls upon local, state, and federal authorities to work to prevent bias and racial insensitivity and to adopt laws and procedures that will protect civil liberties.

Urges the United States to condemn the actions of, and initiate a Department of Justice investigation into misconduct by, the Gretna Police Department.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-35] · D–CA

Committees

Judiciary Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Feb 6, 2006
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
Nov 2, 2005
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Nov 2, 2005
Introduced in House
Nov 2, 2005
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Nov 2, 2005 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 4209 · To temporarily deny Federal assistance to the City of Gretna Police Department, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office, and the Crescent City Connection Division Police Department in the State of Louisiana for their maltreatment of individuals seeking aid during the Hurricane Katrina crisis, and for other purposes.

Source last updated: Jan 2, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

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Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.Res.530 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.Res.530, 109th Congress: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives condemning the actions of the Gretna Police Department, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Department and all officers under their command who closed to foot traffic the Greater New Orleans Bridge in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and prevented hundreds of citizens from evacuating the City of New Orleans, and recognizing that at all times and especially during a time of national crisis, that all citizens should be treated in a lawful manner and with dignity and respect.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/house-resolution/530

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2005-11-02.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/hres530/BILLS-109hres530ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T16:47:17Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.Res.530 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.Res.530 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.Res.530, 109th Congress: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives condemning the actions of the Gretna Police Department, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Department and all officers under their command who closed to foot traffic the Greater New Orleans Bridge in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and prevented hundreds of citizens from evacuating the City of New Orleans, and recognizing that at all times and especially during a time of national crisis, that all citizens should be treated in a lawful manner and with dignity and respect.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/house-resolution/530

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2005-11-02.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/hres530/BILLS-109hres530ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T16:47:17Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.Res.530 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.Res.530 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.Res.530, 109th Congress: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives condemning the actions of the Gretna Police Department, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Department and all officers under their command who closed to foot traffic the Greater New Orleans Bridge in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and prevented hundreds of citizens from evacuating the City of New Orleans, and recognizing that at all times and especially during a time of national crisis, that all citizens should be treated in a lawful manner and with dignity and respect.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/house-resolution/530

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2005-11-02.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/hres530/BILLS-109hres530ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T16:47:17Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.Res.530 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.Res.530 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.Res.530, 109th Congress: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives condemning the actions of the Gretna Police Department, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Department and all officers under their command who closed to foot traffic the Greater New Orleans Bridge in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and prevented hundreds of citizens from evacuating the City of New Orleans, and recognizing that at all times and especially during a time of national crisis, that all citizens should be treated in a lawful manner and with dignity and respect.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/house-resolution/530

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2005-11-02.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/109/bills/hres530/BILLS-109hres530ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T16:47:17Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.Res.530 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.