Former Presidents Bill Clinton, left, and George H.W. Bush during a press conference in Houston

Former Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush have started a nationwide fundraising campaign to help hurricane victims.

The former presidents announced the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund at a news conference in Houston, Texas Monday. The money raised will go to the governors of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama for disaster relief and medical services.

Former President Clinton said Congress must focus on what action it can take to alleviate the suffering of those displaced - such as providing incentives for firms to hire evacuees.

President Bush's father, former President Bush said retail giant Wal-Mart will immediately give jobs to their employees who have to re-locate because of the hurricane. Wal-Mart is also contributing $23 million to the fund.

Mr. Clinton and Mr. Bush, once political rivals, teamed up earlier this year to coordinate the U.S. fundraising drive for victims of the tsunami.