[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 113 (Monday, September 12, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1816]
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

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                               speech of

                           HON. BRAD SHERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 2, 2005

  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to join with my colleagues in 
expressing my sincere condolences to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. 
My heart goes out to those who are suffering, especially those who are 
still seeking information on the fate of missing loved ones. The 
devastation of Hurricane Katrina will continue to be felt for years to 
come.
  Therefore, I support this all important supplemental appropriation 
bill to ensure our Nation can and will provide the necessary relief 
services to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. In the aftermath of this 
horrible tragedy, as in past tragedies, we have seen the true 
generosity and compassion of the American people. I continue to be 
amazed at the outpouring of support from people all over the country 
working together to offer assistance to those in need.
  Hundreds of fire fighters and search and rescue crews from my home 
state of California have gone to New Orleans and the Gulf coast 
devastated by the hurricane. I am proud to say that this includes the 
70 strong Los Angeles urban rescue team from Fire Station No. 88 in 
Sherman Oaks in my Congressional District.
  In both my District and Washington, DC offices, I have received 
hundreds of calls from my constituents calling to express their concern 
for those in need and seeking to identify ways to provide them with 
assistance. For many of my constituents, this tragedy brought back 
their memories of surviving natural disasters, like the 6.8 earthquake 
that struck Northridge at 4:30 am on January 17, 1994. Like Katrina, 
this earthquake caused monumental damage to communities, including road 
structures, and was one of the costliest natural disasters in our 
nation's history.
  Following the earthquake, the Northridge community experienced 
similar outpouring of support from Americans. However, we also 
experienced a much greater and more effective response from the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency, FEMA. According to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, the response of the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency, FEMA began 15 minutes after the earthquake. This is 
particularly significant because unlike Katrina, the Northridge 
earthquake was not predicted to occur in 2004. In addition, the FEMA 
Headquarters Emergency Support team was activated 90 minutes after the 
earthquake. FEMA coordinated the response of the 27 Federal agencies 
involved in the Northridge earthquake allowing for services to be 
provided quickly. An Earthquake Service Center with representatives 
from all disaster agencies was opened almost immediately. FEMA also 
expedited the loan process for victims and disseminated important 
information to Los Angeles County residents.
  In short, we saw results. Victims received relief in a timely manner. 
We saw an efficient Federal agency carrying out its mission. Reason 
would dictate that 11 years after this disaster, our response to 
natural disasters would be even more rapid and effective, and not 
slower and inefficient.
  Sadly, this has not been the case. Almost exactly four years after 
the September 11th terrorist attacks, our Nation continues to struggle 
with properly aiding its citizens when disaster strikes.
  And, unfortunately, we have seen firsthand the results of this 
struggle. We have all seen the images on television and heard the grim 
reports. People who have already lost their homes, who were separated 
from their families did not have access to basic necessities--food, 
water, and medical supplies. Many of these families, who needed their 
government the most, were forced to live in despicable, unhealthy and 
dangerous conditions. Women have been raped, babies have had to go 
without diapers, and people were forced to live in filth surrounded by 
human waste and corpses.
  This is absolutely unacceptable, and I join with my colleagues in 
demanding a complete explanation of and accountability for what went 
wrong. We must also ensure that this ineffectual initial response never 
happens again.
  Congress has a vital role in overseeing agencies and providing 
adequate funding. We need to reinstitute disaster mitigation programs 
like ``Project Impact'' that were in place during the Northridge 
earthquake. In addition to providing assistance after a disaster we 
need to take steps to prevent disasters. This includes responding to 
the funding requests of the Army Corps of Engineers and local 
communities who have predicted disasters, like the one we are now 
experiencing. In our capacity as legislators, we must ensure that FEMA 
has the leadership, tools and resources to effectively respond to a 
crisis without being burdened by untold levels of bureaucracy and lack 
of a clear mission.
  This is an agency that needs to be directed by an experienced 
professional. What we have seen is just the opposite. I therefore call 
for the resignation of FEMA director Michael Brown. I am encouraged 
that former FEMA director James Lee Witt is providing his knowledge and 
experience to the state of Louisiana and it is my sincere hope that Mr. 
Witt will be reappointed to his position as Chief of FEMA and restore 
that agency to the strength it had during the Northridge earthquake.
  But, that is not enough. We must also help individuals facing 
financial vulnerabilities from natural disasters as well as foster an 
environment that allows the private sector to properly aid those in 
need. To that end, I have worked with my colleague from Florida, Ms. 
Brown-Waite, on legislation that would require the Secretary of the 
Treasury to ensure there was sufficient insurance capacity available 
for private homeowners to cover catastrophic natural disasters. I urge 
my colleagues to cosponsor the Homeowners' Insurance Availability Act 
of 2005 (H.R. 846).
  In 2002, along with several of my colleagues, I asked GAO to study 
efforts to securitize natural catastrophe and terrorism risk. We 
received that report in April 2003, but have not held hearings in the 
Financial Services Committee on the issue since then. I am hopeful that 
we can enact this needed insurance legislation so that Americans living 
in areas subject to cyclonic, seismic, volcanic and other catastrophic 
activity can rest assured that the industry insuring them against 
losses will be there when they need it the most.
  This is just one suggestion for ways that we can move forward to 
protect our citizens and our financial industry. Once again, I thank my 
fellow citizens who have shown such wonderful compassion for those 
affected by Katrina. I look forward to working with my colleagues 
toward the goal of implementing a fully functional and effective 
government response that aids people in need and provides them with the 
tools to help get them back on their feet as quickly as possible. The 
American people deserve no less.

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