[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 111 (Thursday, September 8, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1798]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               ON CONSIDERATION OF EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL

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                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 8, 2005

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, let me say at the outset that my 
thoughts, prayers, and condolences continue to go out to all of the 
victims and citizens whose lives have been ravaged by Hurricane Katrina 
and its aftermath.
  And I must also commend the efforts of communities across this great 
Nation, for opening their hearts and homes to the victims of this 
tragedy.
  In my district, the Beattie Road Church of Christ, Mt. Zion Baptist 
Church, the Albany Marine Corps Logistics Base, Fort Benning, Norman 
Park Assembly, the Southwest Georgia Chapter of the American Red Cross 
and the many others who are too numerous to mention, but who have 
opened their hearts, homes and wallets to help the nearly 800 victims 
of Katrina who are now foster residents of the Second Congressional 
District of Georgia, should be recognized as well.
  Two weeks ago, I do not think any of us could have imagined using the 
word ``diaspora'' to describe the lives of American citizens. But that 
is the situation that we are now faced with.
  We are all too familiar with the horrific images coming from the Gulf 
Coast: images of our own people suffering, images that I know will 
always haunt me as I am sure that they will haunt you.
  I also know that we are all too familiar with the accusations and 
mistakes that have been made at FEMA and at other levels of government. 
These are legitimate accusations that deserve an investigation.
  in the end, however, it is what we do now that matters. That is why I 
am standing here today because I believe that we are still mismanaging 
this crisis, particularly the resources and assistance being provided 
evacuees as they disperse throughout the United States.
  Just yesterday, my staff received several calls from the families of 
evacuees who have been relocated to the State of Georgia, whose needs 
are not being fully addressed by FEMA.
  We have been told of several cases where evacuees, who are lucky 
enough to get a FEMA debit card, quickly learn that it has yet to be 
activated or simply doesn't work.
  We continue to hear that it is very difficult and almost impossible 
to reach FEMA by phone, despite FEMA's ongoing and specific request 
that evacuees contact the agency by phone or e-mail. I question where 
these evacuees are going to get computer access, just as I know their 
access to telephones is limited.
  But even more horrific are the stories of evacuees, panhandling, 
without clothes, without shoes, without any place to turn.
  Mr. Speaker, this is not the America I know. FEMA and the Department 
of Homeland Security must be held accountable and, they must be held 
accountable today, not tomorrow, not next week, not next month, but 
today and each and every day in the future, until the victims of the 
Katrina Diaspora are allowed to return home or are appropriately 
resettled in a community of their choosing.
  Just as all persons of Jewish decent have a right to return to their 
homeland in Israel, we must ensure that all victims of the Katrina 
Diaspora be given the right and opportunity to return to their homes.
  Finally, I applaud the leadership on both sides of the aisle for 
taking this matter up today.
  I do not care about sound bites or political advantage here. Those 
concerns do not help the millions of Americans who have been robbed of 
everything.
  What I am concerned with and what all of us across the Nation should 
be concerned with, is how we move forward in an effective and 
responsive fashion.
  Are we correcting our administrative mistakes and missteps on a daily 
basis?
  Are we taking care of our citizens?
  This is the time to pull together, not apart. This is the time to 
work together, to share ideas and to use our collective wisdom and 
energy to get the job done. Even if this means admitting that we have 
made mistakes.
  We must be clear that this is just a down payment on meeting the 
costs of this disaster. There is a long road ahead. And it is my hope 
that what we are doing here today provides the short term relief that 
is so desperately needed by the victims of Katrina.
  Only time will tell if we are adequately meeting the needs of the 
victims of this awful tragedy.

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