I received this letter from a network of groups organizing a campaign around the Oscar nomination for the incredible documentary “Trouble the Water.”

Please go to:

www.troublethewaterfilm.com/congress

and ask Congress to introduce a bill to help people struggling on the Gulf Coast.

Dear friends of the Gulf Coast:

More than three years ago, Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast and took nearly 2,000 lives. Still today, the levees of New Orleans remain vulnerable, tens of thousands of people have not been able to return home, and residents continue to struggle for access to affordable housing and living wage jobs.

Trouble the Water, the Academy Award® nominated feature documentary, tells an inspiring story of Katrina survivors and their journey to rebuild their lives. It’s not just a film, but a public awareness campaign to remind the American people that the injustices along the Gulf Coast didn’t begin when the levees failed in New Orleans, and that the recovery is far from over.

Now it’s our job to bring this issue to the forefront of our politicians’ minds — and demand legislative action to repair the homes and lives of those ravaged by both the storm, and by the failures of government.

Click here to send a letter to your Senators or Representative, asking them to take action:

www.troublethewaterfilm.com/congress

The last Congress introduced a bill called the “Gulf Coast Civic Works Act.” which would have helped rebuild vital infrastructure in the region and protect it from future floods.

Unfortunately, this legislation never came up for a vote.

The $787 billion economic recovery package that Congress just passed does offer support for the working poor, but it doesn’t directly address the unfinished recovery of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.

No region of the United States has a greater need for rebuilding its housing and infrastructure and restoring its environment — Gulf Coast residents still need your hope and help.

President Obama has pledged to fix what was left undone in the Gulf Coast. Ask Congress to introduce a bill to help the victims of Katrina and hand it to President Obama to sign into law:

www.troublethewaterfilm.com/congress

We hope you’ll be cheering on Trouble the Water at the Oscars® on Sunday. And we also hope that you’ll be inspired by the film, and take action today.

www.troublethewaterfilm.com/congress

Thank you for your support.