February 02, 2006 Contact: Leslie Phillips (202) 224-2627 LOUISIANA & MISSISSIPPI GOVERNORS TESTIFY IN HURRICANE KATRINA HEARING Governors Blanco & Barbour Say Lack of Interoperable Communications was Biggest Hurdle to Successful Response to Disaster   Chairman Susan Collins (R-ME) and Ranking Member Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) today held a hearing of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to examine the roles, responsibilities, and actions of the governors of Louisiana and Mississippi leading up to and following Hurricane Katrina. Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco and Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour testified at today’s hearing. The hearing was the 15th in a series of hearings that are part of the Committee’s investigation of the government’s preparation for and response to the hurricane and the aftermath that devastated those states. “In the partnership among state, local, and federal governments that forms the backbone of the American system of disaster preparation and response, our nation’s governors play the central role. They are the essential bridge between local knowledge and needs, and federal expertise and resources,” said Senator Collins. “The Governor’s influence cannot be overestimated in times of catastrophe. By word and deed, by where the Governor spends time, by the priorities the Governor sets, by the issues and problems the Governor becomes personally involved in, the whole tone and tempo of the response to a disaster are established. We must understand both their obligations and limitations so that the partnership among governments that forms the core of our national emergency response system will be stronger the next time disaster strikes.” “At this juncture, the Committee work raises important questions about the failures of government at all levels,” said Senator Lieberman. “I applaud the governors of Mississippi and Louisiana for their extensive cooperation with this Committee's investigation. It is worth noting that the cooperation from these state chief executives and their staffs have provided stands in marked contrast to the recalcitrance of the White House.” Governors Blanco and Barbour today both agreed that the greatest obstacle at the state level to successfully responding to the hurricane was the lack of an interoperable communications system that was able to withstand the effects of the storm and its aftermath.   ###   Printable Version   « previous Press Release next Press Release »   1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 February 2006 Press Releases   February 23 - Lieberman Statement on Townsend Report   February 21 - Senators Collins, Lieberman, Coleman and Levin Express Concern over Sale of U.S. Port Operations to Dubai-Controlled Company   February 16 - Senate Approves Collins-Lieberman "Katrina Emergency Assistance Act"   February 16 - Secretary Chertoff Testifies About DHS Failures in Response to Hurricane Katrina   February 15 - Senator Lieberman Delivers Statement at Hearing on Homeland Security Department's Preparation and Response   February 14 - Collins, Lieberman Hold Hurricane Katrina Hearing on Waste, Fraud and Abuse in FEMA's Assistance Programs   February 10 - Lieberman Says DHS Must Be Held Accountable   February 9 - Military Role in Katrina Response Seemed Cobbled Together   February 6 - Collins-Lieberman Hearing Exposes Confusion & Turf Battles Among Agencies Responding to Hurricane Katrina   February 6 - Lieberman Assails Administration Budget for Failing First Responders   February 6 - Lieberman Statement on Law Enforcement and Communications Problems Faced in Response to Hurricane Katrina   February 6 - Collins, Lieberman Express Concern Over Security Flaw in GSA Contractor Website   February 3 - Senators Collins & Lieberman Urge President Bush to Broaden Authority of Federal Coordinator for Hurricane Katrina Recovery   February 3 - Lieberman Urges DHS to Explain Why New Haven, SW Connecticut Are Ineligible for High Risk Homeland Security Grants   February 2 current Press Release   February 1 - Collins-Lieberman Invite DHS Secretary to Work Together on FEMA Overhaul   February 1 - Senator Lieberman's Statement on Managing the Crisis and Evacuating New Orleans   February 1 - New Orleans Mayor Testifies at Hearing to Examine Public Officials' Responsibilities & Response to Katrina
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 340 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510