[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 114 (Tuesday, September 13, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1833]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      REMARKS ON HURRICANE KATRINA

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                           HON. TAMMY BALDWIN

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 13, 2005

  Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, with a heavy heart, I rise today in 
solidarity with my fellow Americans who suffered the devastation of 
Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. We deeply mourn the loss of life. 
We share the pain of those who are suffering physically and emotionally 
from this trauma. And we also mourn the loss of some of our faith in 
government to respond in full measure to people in need.
  In the past few days I have received scores of calls and e-mails from 
my constituents in Wisconsin expressing their support for the victims 
of the devastation and also their outrage at the slow and inefficient 
federal response to that tragedy.
  Wisconsinites are deeply ashamed of the images of abandonment and 
neglect they saw on TV and desperate to help in rescue efforts. My 
heart goes out to the victims of Hurricane Katrina and to those family 
members here in Wisconsin and across the country waiting for word from 
their loved ones. While Americans are reaching into their wallets to 
support private relief efforts, there should be no doubt that the 
federal government must provide the leadership to ultimately meet the 
challenges of this situation.
  Particularly disturbing is that we have spent more than $36.7 billion 
dollars since the September 11th terrorist attacks planning for a 
response to a disaster of epic proportions. Now we've had one. Given 
the response of the Department of Homeland Security to this disaster, 
every aspect of that Department's performance and capability is now 
called into question and the security of every American hangs in the 
balance. Wisconsinites are not alone in calling for a government 
investigation into this catastrophic failure and an immediate overhaul 
of the system so that such a failure never again occurs.
  Congress has now sent more than $62 billion in federal disaster 
relief to help save and aid hurricane victims and I supported this 
authorization of money. But money, alone, will not solve the problems 
we face.
  The response to this disaster showed us many things, among them that 
our social safety net has been badly neglected. It showed us also that 
we have been inadequate stewards of the environment.
  Whether it's our failure to fight poverty and provide health care to 
all in America; or our failure to make proper and adequate investments 
in infrastructure (including our emergency communications 
infrastructure); or our failure to protect the natural buffers, our 
coastal wetlands and barrier island which serve as Mother Nature's 
shock absorbers; or our failure to listen to scientists long warning us 
of climate change; or our failure to embark upon a path that decreases 
(rather than increases) our dependence on finite resources so that 
future generations won't experience the fear and anxiety that grips all 
of our constituents when fuel becomes unaffordable.
  All of this was revealed stunningly in recent days. Let us not ignore 
what was exposed to us. This time, let's seize the opportunity to work 
toward the common good; to help those with the least, not just those 
with the most; and to make good on the social compact.
  In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, we have the opportunity to 
reclaim the promise of America. Failure is not an option.

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