In recent weeks, communities across Colorado and America have come together to lend a helping hand to those affected by Hurricane Katrina. The aftermath of the worst natural disaster our Nation has ever witnessed has shown us the best of what makes America great but it has also shown us some of our problems.

In early September, the Senate acted to send over $60 billion in federal aid to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. So far, Coloradans have contributed more than $6 million to the relief effort, if you can help, click here for a list of groups providing aid to Hurricane Katrina victims.

The three cornerstones to homeland security and disaster preparedness are readiness, response and recovery. Hurricane Katrina revealed that after almost four years of Homeland Security, preparedness, readiness and response was inadequate.

The basic function of the federal government is to respond to national disasters just like Hurricane Katrina. In the past two weeks we have seen that we can and must do better in three critical areas: immediately provide humanitarian assistance; develop a Marshall-like plan to reconstruct the Gulf Coast region; and learn lessons from the Katrina disaster so we can better protect America in the future.

Thousands of Gulf Coast residents are living in shelters across the Nation with tens of thousands more are living other places, including in the private homes of family, friends and, in some cases, strangers. This past week, I introduced legislation to increase the limits on charitable contributions for Katrina relief, allowing those of us that can to do more. This bill would also allow a $20 per day tax credit for good Samaritans that take Katrina-displaced evacuees into their homes.

I also am working to address high fuel prices and the malignant neglect of our Nation’s energy independence. We are working to prevent gas price gouging in the wake of Katrina, and as a member of the Energy Committee I am working to further an agenda of energy independence based on conservation, renewable energy, technology and responsible development.

There is much more we can do to make our homeland security and disaster response systems better. I will continue to work on solutions to these and other issues affecting the people of Colorado and this great Nation. Thank You.

Click here to read about Sen. Salazar’s efforts to assist agricultural producers hurt by Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters this year.

Click here to read about Sen. Salazar’s plan for a “Marshall Plan” style rebuilding effort in the Gulf Coast states ravaged by Hurricane Katrina.

Click here to read about Sen. Salazar’s successful steps towards the creation a first-of-its-kind Methamphetamine Task Force within the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

Lawmakers question fuel prices in the Denver Post
Read about Sen. Salazar’s efforts to consumers and agriculture producers from gasoline price gouging

Salazar calls for aid plan; Congress eyes recovery in the Pueblo Chieftain
Read about Sen. Salazar’s call for a “Marshall Plan”-style rebuilding effort for Gulf Coast states ravaged by Hurricane Katrina

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