[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 116 (Thursday, September 15, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1860]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCING LEGISLATION TO ESTABLISH A SPECIAL INSPECTORS GENERAL 
                     COUNCIL FOR HURRICANE KATRINA

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                        HON. TODD RUSSELL PLATTS

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 15, 2005

  Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation to 
establish a Special Inspectors General Council for Hurricane Katrina. 
As Members of Congress charged with overseeing the operation and 
accountability of the Federal government, we have a responsibility to 
ensure that all funds we authorize and appropriate are spent for their 
intended purposes. In the wake of the terrible devastation caused by 
Hurricane Katrina, we have already appropriated more than $60 billion 
for the immediate relief effort, and this amount is, no doubt, only the 
beginning. These funds must be spent in a way that ensures that the 
people in the affected areas of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama are 
able to recover.
  Assuring accountability for relief and recovery projects is 
imperative. The public's trust in their government has been shaken in 
the aftermath of this disaster. We must assure the American people that 
we are being appropriately prudent with their money. Any dollar lost to 
fraud or waste is a dollar that does not make it to someone who is in 
need. This funding is too important to be misspent, and that is 
precisely why I am introducing this legislation today.
  As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Management, Finance, 
and Accountability, I have seen firsthand the good work of agency 
inspectors general. Their unique relationship with both the agencies 
they oversee and the Congress, to whom they report, provides an ideal 
check on the system. Inspectors general have long stood as a bulwark 
against fraud and mismanagement.
  While some in the Congress have called for the appointment of one 
Special IG to oversee hurricane relief funding, this proposal raises 
concerns. The most troubling aspect of the legislation is a requirement 
that this Special IG be appointed by the Secretary of the Department of 
Homeland Security within three days. This is contrary to the intent of 
the Inspector General Act. The IG Act requires that an IG with this 
much authority--one who would potentially oversee the expenditures of 
up to $200 billion--be appointed by the President with the advise and 
consent of the Senate. Under the Special IG proposal, we would face the 
unworkable problem of having several IGs with Senate confirmation 
reporting to a political appointee who reports to one cabinet 
secretary.
  The response to Hurricane Katrina will involve the full breadth of 
Federal resources. It will touch nearly every Federal agency. What we 
need is a coordinated response from the IGs now in place throughout 
government. We need IGs with institutional knowledge unique to their 
own agencies to work together under the leadership of the Department of 
Homeland Security. This Council will draw on the resources of over 
5,000 auditors and investigators who are already in place today.
  The hurricane relief money is being spent right now. It is important 
that this coordination begin as quickly as possible. We cannot take a 
chance on a single Special Inspector General who mayor may not have the 
depth and breadth of knowledge to ensure full accountability at all the 
Federal agencies that will be part of this effort. We have no time for 
a learning curve, especially when we have the ability to leverage the 
considerable resources already available. A Special IG Council will 
enable this important work, which in many cases is already underway, to 
be completed in the most effective manner.

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