[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 110 (Wednesday, September 7, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1775]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT TO MEET IMMEDIATE NEEDS 
        ARISING FROM THE CONSEQUENCES OF HURRICANE KATRINA, 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. JOE BACA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 2, 2005

  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, for more than a week we have all watched 
television coverage of Hurricane Katrina, transfixed by the devastating 
impact of the storm on the Gulf Coast, especially in and around New 
Orleans. Although the full extent of the damage is not yet known, it is 
clear that thousands of Americans have died, and many more have been 
injured, shaken and displaced. The wind, rain and flooding has 
destroyed homes, businesses, farms and crops, causing immeasurable 
suffering.
  The destruction has significantly scarred the people and the economy 
of the region and even beyond. Rebuilding the area's infrastructure 
will probably take years. Rebuilding the lives of our fellow Americans 
will also take time and require assistance.
  Many people in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama lack basics such 
as food, water, clothing, sleeping materials, medicine and first aid. 
We must help provide for their critical immediate needs so they can 
survive.
  I am heartened that my constituents in the Inland Empire of 
California have heeded the call to help. I am not surprised by our 
response; however, because I already know that our communities are 
generous. We have shown great compassion responding to those in need, 
as we did following September 11th and other tragedies affecting people 
thousands of miles away. And we must do so again when so many Americans 
are suffering.
  My immediate concern has been the effort to rescue and assist the 
victims of Hurricane Katrina, making sure that we do all we can to help 
those in need.
  Congress is taking a first step by approving more than $10 billion of 
funding for emergency assistance to help. We all recognize that the 
costs of rescue, recovery and rebuilding will be substantially higher, 
and I am confident that Congress, and the American people, will support 
additional funding.
  However, we in Congress must also focus on determining what needs to 
be done to minimize devastation from future natural disasters or other 
emergencies. So we must ask difficult questions about the Federal 
Government's preparation and planning prior to the storm and the 
response following it.
  One of the fundamental responsibilities of government is to protect 
our citizens. So we must investigate fully whether the Administration 
did all it could have, and should have, to protect Americans.
  Katrina was a powerful and deadly natural disaster, but we must ask 
whether hundreds, maybe even thousands of Americans, died because of 
the failure of officials to prepare and respond effectively.

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