[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 116 (Thursday, September 15, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1879]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CREATION OF AN INDEPENDENT HURRICANE KATRINA COMMISSION

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                           HON. BOB ETHERIDGE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 15, 2005

  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the creation of an 
independent commission to investigate the preparedness and response to 
the overwhelming devastation and loss of life from Hurricane Katrina 
and in opposition to the creation of a partisan select committee.
  I cosponsored Congressman Hastings (R-WA) bill to create an 
independent commission because it is the right thing to do. The 9/11 
Commission proved successful in investigating all branches and levels 
of government and offered concrete suggestions to Congress to correct 
breaches in our national security. The Hastings bill follows that model 
and presents the best option for a thorough, impartial investigation 
into the federal response to Hurricane Katrina.
  An independent commission is the best approach to this task, as it 
would allow a higher degree of impartiality and independence than a 
partisan select committee. I expect the Commission to conduct a through 
investigation of all the people and agencies involved by questioning 
everyone directly involved in the decision-making process, including 
the White House Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and former 
FEMA director Michael Brown. In addition to investigating the federal 
government's response to this horrendous natural disaster, the 
Commission should also determine if our country is adequately prepared 
to respond to another disaster of this magnitude, as well as serve the 
needs of all communities potentially affected. This Commission should 
also provide recommendations regarding improvements to the Executive 
and Legislative branches that would increase the efficiency and 
effectiveness of disaster response.
  Congress also has a constitutional duty to use its full oversight 
authority through the committee hearing process to assess the federal 
government's responsibilities and response to this disaster. We, in 
North Carolina, have plenty of experience with hurricanes and natural 
disasters, and we know that we must first rely on our state and local 
authorities to plan and prepare, but we make these plans with the 
knowledge that the federal government will back us up when we are 
overwhelmed.
  Congress must make sure that the federal response agencies appreciate 
and understand their responsibilities to the states in the event of a 
disaster. Congress must hold the Administration to the highest 
standards of professionalism and vigorously conduct our constitutional 
obligation for oversight of these agencies. We must restore the 
professional integrity of FEMA to protect the American people from 
natural disasters as well as terrorist attacks.
  Mr. Speaker, our country has worked to increase its preparedness for 
four years since that tragic day in September 2001, and it appears our 
efforts have failed. We must work swiftly to correct past mistakes so 
that we can ensure the safety of all Americans during a time of crisis.

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