Mississippi and Louisiana

• Louisiana and Mississippi are among the poorest states and lack the necessary resources to fuel a full recovery.
• According to the 2000 U.S. census, Mississippi ranked 2nd only to District of Columbia in its poverty rate, making it the poorest state in the nation, with Louisiana ranking as the 2nd poorest.
• Mississippi also ranks 50th in the quality of its health care, while Louisiana ranks 49th. Both states also share the lowest level of educational attainment in the country.