While thousands of homes and businesses in lower Jefferson Parish remain in disrepair, local lawmakers hope this week could bring a new beginning. A political trio is expected to take to the nation's capital on Wednesday in hopes of fighting for better hurricane protection and a faster recovery response.

"Mayor (Tim) Kerner from Lafitte, mayor (David) Camardelle from Grand Isle and myself will be traveling to Washington to meet with congressional leaders with regards to levees and coastal erosion issues particularly in lower Jefferson parish," said Jefferson Parish Councilman Chris Roberts.

But the timing of their trip could be one of their biggest obstacles. The trip comes in the midst of America's widespread economic crisis, and talk of a costly solution one worth $700 billion.

"I'm not sure that there's ever a good time to go to Washington to ask for money, but right now is a real difficult time," said WWL-TV Political Analyst Clancy DuBos.

But lawmakers in Jefferson Parish say America's credit crunch doesn't outweigh the need to protect their residents.

"If we just roll over and say these areas don't warrant further protection don't warrant further investment by the federal government, the coastline is going to continue to move inland and one day the City of New Orleans may be sitting right on the Gulf of Mexico," said Roberts.

Meanwhile, Lafitte residents like Jan Dufrene continue to work on their insurance claim, listing items ruined by Ike.

"It just makes you want to cry," said Dufrene.

The Dufrene's are one of 10 families in the lower part of the parish that still have pre-Ike hazard mitigation applications pending with the Federal Government. The grant is designed to provide residents with financial assistance to raise their homes, but so far the Dufrene family hasn't received anything.

"They told us we should have found out something in August, but we didn't so we're just waiting."

It's assistance that could have made the difference between a wet home and a dry one.

"It probably wouldn't have got flooded, and we'd be in our house."

It's yet another issue local lawmakers now hope to bring to Washington, all part of an effort to cut the bureaucracy while speeding up the recovery.

"Well, it will be money well spent," said Ronald Dufrene, Jan's husband. "Why keep paying and paying? This house has been flooded four times."

The Dufrene's just hope the trip to Washington will make a difference.

"We'll make it, we will," said Jan Dufrene.

Councilman Roberts, and Mayors Kerner and Carmadelle are expected to arrive to Washington, D.C., Wednesday. Roberts says one reason they chose not to delay their trip is because Congress is expected to take their fall recess soon, and won't be back in session until 2009.