[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 14]
[House]
[Pages 19454-19455]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                HELPING THE VICTIMS OF HURRICANE KATRINA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise this afternoon in support of the 
supplemental appropriation. It is with great sadness that we are being 
called upon today to address this issue.
  Let me begin my remarks by first commending those great Americans who 
are engaged in the rescue efforts down in Louisiana, Alabama and 
Mississippi. They are great Americans.
  This tragedy today brings back unpleasant memories. It was my 
district in eastern North Carolina that was devastated in 1999 by 
Hurricane Floyd; and so we know so well, so well, the pain of those 
people who are displaced. So on behalf of the people of the First 
Congressional District of North Carolina, we offer our prayers and 
sincere concern for their welfare.
  Mr. Speaker, I am concerned about the absence of an adequate plan to 
cope with the damage done by this hurricane. Hurricane Katrina has 
triggered a nightmare, a nightmare, for thousands of our citizens. Many 
thousands at this very moment are in harm's way. They are displaced, 
they are hungry, they need medical assistance. They need every resource 
that this government has available, and that includes FEMA's 
assistance, transportation and housing assistance from the military and 
other humanitarian assistance.
  These displaced families must be extricated from the danger that 
surrounds them; and we have the capacity, we have the capacity to do 
it, and we must accelerate our efforts.
  Mr. Speaker, I can tell you that several military bases are willing 
and able to provide immediate housing for these victims. Space is 
available. There is substantial housing resources on our bases, and we 
must use them. As a member of the Committee on Armed Services, I 
encourage us to use our military resources to the fullest.
  There are many, many communities across the South and across this 
country who are eager to provide housing and health care and education 
for these victims. In Columbia, South Carolina, for example, those 
great Americans want to care for these victims; and they are 
conferencing right now with the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. 
Spratt) and the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn).
  In my State of North Carolina, Laurinburg Institute is eager to 
provide space and educational opportunities for up to 200 school-age 
children. We must begin to move these families to loving American 
communities.
  Mr. Speaker, we must also protect communities. We must protect 
communities who open their resources to displaced families. We must 
guarantee to them that the cost of care for these families will be 
provided. We must also guarantee that they will not incur any legal 
liability as a result of their efforts.
  So I want to encourage FEMA to quickly secure trailer homes needed 
for temporary housing. My constituents in 1999 were required to wait, 
in our opinion, an unreasonable time before trailers were erected. I 
know it cannot be done with the snap of a finger, but the process must 
be expedited. FEMA must execute a comprehensive plan that will not 
result in the dumping of these displaced families when the FEMA 
specialists complete their work. This was a problem in 1999. These 
specialists must provide one message, and they must stay on site until 
every issue is resolved.
  It is important, Mr. Speaker, that the Federal Government provide 
full financial assistance to these displaced families, and that 
includes housing and health care for those who choose to decline FEMA 
housing and elect to stay with their family and their friends. They 
too, they too deserve an assistance stipend.

[[Page 19455]]

  The distinguished gentleman from California, the chairman of the 
Committee on Appropriations, stated a few minutes ago, actually it was 
a couple of hours ago now, that money will not make the difference in 
the final analysis. Well, I understand the import of that statement, 
but I want to emphasize that adequate money resources will make life 
better, will make life better for these Americans. We should not 
suggest otherwise.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, I understand that the Federal Government does 
not and cannot act with precision in these types of disasters, but we 
must insist that FEMA and the military and the National Guard and other 
rescue efforts engage in coordinated efforts, and we must provide the 
resources.
  I applaud and support the minority leader's suggestion of a select 
hurricane task force. I support the idea.

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