NEW ORLEANS —  The Democratic National Committee will bring about 400 people to New Orleans for its first meeting of 2006 to help rebuild the Gulf area devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

DNC chairman Howard Dean said the three day meeting will begin April 20th, the weekend of the French Quarter Festival.

Dean said the group usually uses only union hotels, but got a special dispensation from labor officials to book the downtown Sheraton. The Sheraton is the only full-service hotel that is currently reserving rooms and can handle a convention.

The American Library Association, which has to book years in advance because it brings about 20,000 people to its midyear conference, confirmed early this month that it will keep its June 24-27 date in New Orleans.

Dean said New Orleans is also among 33 cities invited to compete for the 2008 Democratic National Convention. The April meeting is the major one before the midterm elections.