[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 116 (Thursday, September 15, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H7961]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           HURRICANE KATRINA

  (Ms. FOXX asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, many people have spent time since Hurricane 
Katrina devastated the gulf coast attempting to place blame on various 
agencies and elected officials. I would like to take a moment to focus 
instead on the positive developments that are occurring down there. Day 
by day, we are seeing improvements, both big and small.
  After Katrina, 80 percent of New Orleans was covered in water; now 
the flood waters have receded to 30 percent and are continuing to 
recede. Over the weekend, trash collection began in the city, and those 
who remained behind are already cleaning up their neighborhoods.
  In Biloxi, Mississippi, the harbor opened for the first time since 
Katrina hit. The Coast Guard is now allowing limited commercial 
traffic, an important step in the recovery of the region. Utility 
companies are now reporting that around 131,000 homes and businesses 
are still without power, down from over 800,000.
  I am hopeful that some of the other side of the aisle will set aside 
their partisan barbs and start focusing on the progress that is being 
made. Finger-pointing does not help the families who lost their homes 
or loved ones.

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