[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Pages 19603-19605]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           HURRICANE KATRINA

  Mrs. BOXER. Madam President, I rise today with a heavy heart. We have 
all watched in horror as the Gulf Coast has been struck by what could 
be called the worst natural disaster in our history.
  Over the weekend, Chief Justice Rehnquist, who served our Court and 
country with such distinction for 33 years, and showed such bravery in 
the last months of his life, passed away.
  We have now lost nearly 2,000 young men and women in Iraq, and we 
still do not have, in my opinion, a credible plan, a mission, a 
timetable to achieve success and bring our troops home. Gas prices are 
putting horrible strains on most Americans.
  There is a tremendous amount of anxiety in America today. I feel it 
when I go home to California. We must confront it immediately in the 
Senate, in the House, and, yes, at the White House.
  With one party controlling the entire Government, there is pressure 
in some quarters to be silent and just let mistakes and misplaced 
priorities take their toll.
  Well, I do not agree with that mindset. I am going to say what I 
think. And even more important, I am going to do everything I can with 
my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to help get our country moving 
in the right direction again.
  Lives hang in the balance in this disaster and, God forbid, in the 
next one. It is difficult to put into words how heartbroken we all are 
for Americans affected by Hurricane Katrina. Thousands of people have 
lost their lives. Far more have lost their homes, their jobs, their 
communities. Brave souls everywhere are still searching for some family 
members while trying to keep others alive and hopeful.
  I even heard a doctor on CNN talking about being forced to make the 
impossible choice of whom to save and whom to leave behind to die.

[[Page 19604]]

  Yes, the acts of bravery are being celebrated, as they should be--
neighbor helping neighbor, churches filling in for FEMA, local law 
enforcement putting their own hardships aside to work 24 hours a day 
helping others.
  But there are images, such as this one I show here, that leave us in 
tears. It shows a makeshift grave along the road--a makeshift grave. 
Somebody put a sheet over a body, and it looks like bricks are holding 
down the sheet. There is a cross on top, and it says: ``Here lies Vera. 
God help us.'' God help us, indeed. How can this have happened in 
America? Here we are, the most powerful and prosperous country in the 
world, and our people have to write notes on handmade graves to get 
attention.
  Well, words of compassion are not enough. We must show those who have 
suffered so much that their Government will help them find their 
missing relatives, and rebuild their lives, homes, and communities.
  The $10.5 billion we appropriated was an important start but just a 
start. We should not wait another day to give all the victims of 
Katrina immediate access to Medicaid or to exempt them from the recent 
bankruptcy law. We should not be cutting Medicaid now, and that is 
exactly what is in the budget bill the Republicans are bringing before 
us.
  We should not wait another day to provide temporary housing for all 
those displaced, including emergency vouchers. We also should use our 
military bases that are vacant to house people until they are on their 
feet again.
  We should not wait another day to make sure that Halliburton, or any 
other company receiving Federal contracts, employs some of the 
estimated 500,000 to 1 million people who are now jobless. Put them to 
work rebuilding their own communities. You are giving these companies 
Federal contracts. Let them step to the plate and do their share. There 
are two similarities that I see between Iraq and this hurricane. The 
administration did not have a plan for either, and Halliburton will end 
up making billions of dollars for both.
  Hurricane Katrina has shown a spotlight on the best and the worst of 
America. We have seen the inspiring courage of the survivors and the 
dedicated men and women working around the clock to help them. We have 
also seen those who would loot, and take advantage of this tragic 
situation. We have seen the heroics of the press, which put a spotlight 
on the full extent of the tragedy.
  We have also seen the deadly chasm between the haves and the have-
nots, with the poorest among us left behind, literally and 
figuratively, to weather the storm. And, yes, we have seen, in my 
opinion, an unacceptable response from our Federal Government. The 
President himself said that, and then he backed away.
  I know the President has said he will launch an investigation, but it 
is not sufficient for the President to investigate his own 
administration. Congress must fulfill its oversight responsibility. I 
thank Senator Collins and Senator Lieberman for pledging to hold 
hearings on the Government's response to this tragedy.
  Today, an AP wire story that was just handed to me says, ``The top 
U.S. disaster official''--that is Michael Brown--``waited hours after 
Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast before he proposed to his 
boss,'' that is Michael Chertoff, ``sending at least 1,000 Homeland 
Security workers into the region to support rescuers, internal 
documents show.''
  Quoting further the AP wire story:

       The same day Brown wrote Chertoff, Brown also urged local 
     fire and rescue departments outside Louisiana, Alabama and 
     Mississippi not to send trucks or emergency workers into 
     disaster areas without an explicit request for help from 
     state or local governments.

  We must fulfill our oversight responsibility. I agree with Senator 
Clinton that we should also create an independent Katrina commission. 
Hurricane Katrina has raised alarming questions about our Nation's 
ability to prepare for and respond to disasters.
  Last Thursday, the President told Diane Sawyer that we did anticipate 
a serious storm, and I quote him:

       I don't think anyone anticipated the breach of the levees.

  Well, that is unbelievable. All you had to do was look at FEMA's own 
report in 2001, which listed the three most likely catastrophic 
disasters our country could face. What were they? A massive earthquake 
in California, a terrorist attack on New York City, and a major 
hurricane hitting New Orleans. All you had to do was look at the 
Houston Chronicle, which predicted this. The New Orleans Times-Picayune 
predicted this. The National Geographic predicted this. There was a 5-
day simulation in July of 2004 to specifically address a disastrous 
hurricane in New Orleans. The LA Times reported that in late May the 
Army Corps of Engineers in the New Orleans district formally notified 
Washington that hurricane storm surges could knock out two of the big 
pumping stations that keep the city dry.
  On the day before the tragedy struck, an AP wire story said:

       Experts expect Katrina to turn New Orleans into Atlantis, 
     leaving up to 1 million homeless.

  They did not think the levees would break?
  And what about the budgets? Despite repeated requests from New 
Orleans for more Federal money to protect the city, the press reported 
that funding for Corps of Engineers projects in the New Orleans area 
fell by 44 percent between 2001 and 2005. This is unacceptable.
  Michael Brown should go. He is a nice man. But I agree with Senator 
Mikulski, he should go. He should go because he does not even have the 
experience to do this job. He was the head of an Arabian horsemen's 
association. That is not training to step into a disaster the size of 
the one we have seen.
  Now, in California, we know how important FEMA is during a disaster. 
After the Northridge Earthquake, James Lee Witt, the head of FEMA, was 
out there. We counted on him, and Lord knows how many lives he saved. 
He knew what he was doing. We built up FEMA during that time, all of us 
working together. It has now been turned into a shadow of its former 
self.
  I also agree we ought to make FEMA again an independent agency. 
Senator Byrd tried to do that. He offered an amendment that said: Let's 
wait before we put FEMA under Homeland Security. Twenty-eight of us 
voted for that. It did not pass. I warned at that time very clearly 
that this was making me extremely nervous. My quote was:

       Putting the Federal Emergency Management Administration, 
     [FEMA] lock, stock, and barrel, into this new Department I 
     just think is going to be a real problem for us. . . . I am 
     very worried about accountability.

  Now, I do not say this to imply that I knew what was going to happen. 
I did not. But I do have some common sense, and I know you need one 
person in charge who has the ability, yes, to move mountains.
  Yesterday, we had a briefing on this up in room 407. We had the whole 
Cabinet there. I listened to a lot of good people. I would have 
preferred one person I could hold accountable.
  There are many more things I am going to do. But I have to say this: 
For years we tried to get interoperable communications funding--for 
years. I had a bill. Senator Stabenow had a bill. It got through the 
Senate. It got taken out by the House. We still do not have emergency 
workers able to talk to one another.
  So we need to move fast. We need to move fast before the next 
disaster strikes. Now, we all pray in the Senate we will not have 
another disaster like this, but we must plan in case we do. That is our 
job. That is our work. We must set aside a lot of other things we are 
going to do around here to get this right because we know we are living 
under the threat of a terrorist attack that could occur in any city in 
this country. And this is a sad case for us and not one that should be 
emulated.
  We all have to move forward. And, yes, the people who did not do the 
right thing should not be heading these agencies. In my state of 
California, we know how it feels to lose your bearings, your home, and 
your sense of security. I saw it so many times in my

[[Page 19605]]

congressional career, in my Senate career. Earthquakes, fires, floods, 
mud slides; you name it, we have had it. You need strength at the 
Federal Government level when these things happen. Look at the city of 
New Orleans, what they tried to do with the police officers. Two police 
officers committed suicide. They had nothing, and they were trying to 
secure a city for days.
  Well, it is hard to look at this, but we have to look at it. We have 
to do it with an independent commission. We have to make sure people 
who are counting on us get their lives back. And we can do it. This is 
America. But we need to hold people accountable. We need to be credible 
with our response. The job is a tough one, but we need to do it, and we 
need to do it soon. We owe nothing less to the people we represent.
  Madam President, thank you.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Utah.
  Mr. HATCH. Madam President, I was also at that meeting last night in 
the secure room in S. 407. I have to say, I was absolutely blown away 
by how much the Federal Government has mobilized to try and help in the 
Gulf region. There is no question that we knew this city was 10 to 12 
feet under sea level and that there was bound to be some sort of a 
problem happen. I think there is plenty of blame to be cast around to 
everybody. The important thing that we ought to be considering is 
solving the problem and getting that city back on its feet. From what I 
heard last night, the Federal Government is doing everything it 
possibly can. Frankly, I believe every agency, including FEMA, has done 
a good job under the circumstances. This has been a catastrophe of 
great proportions. There is no question about it. All of the criticism 
in the world is not going to change that.
  The fact is, we had a number of Cabinet-level officials there, from 
the Secretary of the Treasury to the Secretary of Labor, and I thought 
they made a pretty good case. I think we ought to get the job done and 
quit worrying so much about criticizing.
  Mr. SANTORUM. Madam President, words cannot express the sense of loss 
and hopelessness that many residents are feeling at this time in 
Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and Florida. My family and I send 
prayers and heartfelt condolences to all of those who have lost loved 
ones in the wake of this catastrophe.
  One certainty of every disaster that occurs in the United States and 
around the world is the desire of fellow Americans to help those who 
are in need. Today, as we watch the terrifying developments on our TV 
sets, we know that generous Americans across the country are 
contributing food, clothing, money, and time to the unfortunate victims 
of this tragedy.
  The Salvation Army has more than 250 volunteers, employees and others 
prepared to serve up to 500,000 hot meals per day to residents and 
first responders in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. They have 
mobilized approximately 100 mobile canteens that provide up to 5,000 
hot meals per day, and staged two, 54-foot mobile Base Camp kitchens 
that can provide 20,000 hot meals per day. Salvation Army staff and 
volunteers are working in shelters and coordinating the distribution of 
supplies.
  The American Red Cross is currently providing thousands of 
volunteers, Red Cross workers and resources to aid victims of Hurricane 
Katrina. The Red Cross has about 485 shelters open in 18 States serving 
more than 142,000 people. Working with the Southern Baptist Convention, 
the Adventists, and Second Harvest, the Red Cross is prepared to 
provide nearly 3.3 million meals each day. More importantly for some, 
the Red Cross is partnering with local and government entities to 
provide medical aid and counseling to families. The Red Cross is 
providing a safe haven for thousands of evacuees in hundreds of Red 
Cross shelters around the world.
  Catholic Charities agencies from around the region are ready to send 
technical assistance teams to help the local Catholic Charities in the 
impacted areas with their response efforts, as well as providing long-
term recovery work.
  I am also thankful for the efforts of charitable organizations in my 
home State of Pennsylvania. From the moment that disaster struck, 
individuals, families and organizations across the Commonwealth have 
made great efforts in assisting those in need. Brother's Brother 
Foundation, BBF, a 47- year old Pittsburgh-based international charity, 
is sending a tractor-trailer full of donations, including 5,000 pairs 
of new shoes donated by CROCS Inc. of Boulder, CO, and new clothing and 
hygiene items.
  Fraternal benefit societies have also stepped up to the plate, 
including the Loyal Christian Benefit Association headquartered in 
Erie, PA, as well as the Knights of Columbus and Thrivent. The Greek 
Catholic Union of the United States, headquarted in Beaver, PA, has 
donated $15,000 to Catholic Charities, Salvation Army, and American Red 
Cross.
  The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, UPMC, is ready to deploy 
two helicopters to States hit by the hurricane if emergency management 
officials ask for them.
  Additionally, UPMC has offered to treat hurricane patients at its 
Pittsburgh hospitals or set up a 250-bed medical facility around the 
disaster area.
  Carnegie Mellon University has offered to assist Tulane University in 
New Orleans in any possible way, which could include CMU taking on 
students from Tulane so they do not fall behind in their classwork.
  The charitable efforts of so many Americans during this crisis is a 
reminder that government should be making laws that support and 
encourage such philanthropy. Legislation such as the bipartisan CARE 
Act benefits a sector that is vital during these times of crisis. The 
estimated $2 billion in food-donation incentives that the CARE Act 
provides would allow farmers, restaurants and corporations to give more 
of their surplus food to local food banks and soup kitchens. 
Additionally, individuals would be willing to donate even more if 
current law was more favorable to those who charitably donate.

                          ____________________