RENEE MONTAGNE, host: New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and city officials were in Washington, D.C. this week lobbying for more help to rebuild New Orleans. During the two-day trip Nagin told the Washington Times that volunteers, not Congress, are the ones who's supplied the bulk of assistance so far.</s>Mr. RAY NAGIN (Mayor, New Orleans): We're out of balance a little bit. The private sector and volunteerism came in in a big way, and if that would have been balanced with some effective timely government help we'd be much further along.</s>RENEE MONTAGNE, host: New Orleans officials hope Congress will give the city more money to rebuild levies, water and sewer services and public transit. The request totaled more than $2 billion.</s>RENEE MONTAGNE, host: You're listening to MORNING EDITION from NPR News.
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin led a city delegation to Washington, D.C., this week to seek more than $2 billion for the Big Easy. They want Congress to help shore up levies and improve water, sewer and public transit services.