 |
“ Democratic priorities are clear: we will fight to get the economy back on track, we will create jobs, and we will help unemployed workers. ” |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
Pelosi Statement on Republicans’ Creation of Committee to Investigate Response to Hurricane Katrina
Washington, D.C. – House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement on Speaker Hastert and Leader Frist’s announcement this afternoon that a bipartisan, bicameral committee will be created to investigate the federal government’s response to Hurricane Katrina:
“For nearly a week, I have urged Speaker Hastert to establish a bipartisan task force to address the emergency assistance and recovery needs of the victims of Hurricane Katrina, cut the red tape, and to investigate why the initial federal response compounded the disaster.
“I am disappointed that the committee Speaker Hastert and Leader Frist have outlined is not truly bipartisan, will not be made up of equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans, cannot write legislation, and will not have bipartisan subpoena power.
“The American people want the truth as to what happened in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and how we can now best meet the needs of the hurricane victims. The Republicans missed an opportunity today to meet both those goals.
“Congress has an opportunity to lead – to hear the cries of the people touched by this disaster and put aside our differences to address them. But Republicans are afraid of a truly bipartisan investigation that can get to the bottom of why the federal government’s initial response failed.
“It is long past time for Republicans to rise above partisanship in addressing this crisis. People who have lost everything and are in dire need of food, income, and housing assistance cannot wait for multiple congressional committees to act.”
“ Democrats are united in presenting a New Direction for America, one that will make our nation as strong as its people, one that brings opportunity, security, and prosperity to all Americans. ”
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi
