Lafayette, LA – U.S. Representative Charles W. Boustany, Jr. today enlisted the help of two U.S. House committee chairmen to investigate continued denials on the part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for documents related to the June 29th debris removal extension. That extension failed to include any of the Southwest Louisiana parishes affected by Hurricane Rita.
Boustany’s letter is addressed to Chairman Peter King of the House Homeland Security Committee, and Chairman Bill Shuster of the House Subcommittee on Emergency Management, who have both visited areas affected by Hurricane Rita. Their respective committees have oversight responsibilities on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as well as FEMA.
“You both know as well as I do that the people of Southwest Louisiana, though disappointed, will not let this decision hamper their spirit and determination to rebuild,” writes Boustany. “As their representative in Congress, however, I do not take these actions by FEMA lightly, nor will I soon forget them.”
Since the debris removal decision was made, Boustany has requested the criteria and conditions FEMA used to its recommendation. Those requests have been denied by FEMA, citing an exemption under Section 5 of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). To follow up, Boustany filed a formal appeal under the FOIA to DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff.
“I find it troubling, as a Member of Congress, that FEMA would continually deny these simple requests for documents, all the while using little legal reasoning,” continued Boustany. “As Members of Congress, we have an oversight responsibility to ensure that the Executive Branch disclose any and all information available, as permissible by law and national security. Therefore, I write to both of you, as chairmen of committees with oversight of DHS and FEMA, to bring this issue to a close. I offer any assistance I can provide in the way of hearings, or necessary legal action, that can accomplish this goal.”
Click here to view the full text of Boustany’s letter.
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