WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky, a
Chief Deputy Democratic Whip, today released a statement on the approval of a
$10.5 billion emergency supplemental appropriation for the victims of Hurricane
Katrina. The emergency supplemental passed the Senate yesterday, and will
provide immediate funding for hurricane relief efforts.
The statement from Representative Schakowsky is below:
“The $10.5 billion dollars that Congress provided in
emergency aid today is just a first step in addressing this national crisis.”
“Hurricane Katrina has gone from being a natural
disaster to a national disaster. Everyone must agree that the situation in New
Orleans represents a failure of the federal government to meet its most basic
function of effectively and promptly providing safety and security for the
American people. The federal government failed to plan for and immediately
respond to this crisis.”
“The failure stems from a chronic and intentional
diversion of resources for which the Bush Administration must accept
responsibility. For years, it has been known that a devastating hurricane could
hit the Gulf Coast. In 2001, FEMA labeled a hurricane striking New Orleans as
one of the three most likely catastrophic disasters facing the United States.
The Bush Administration underfunded several critical programs which would have
mitigated the scope of this disaster. The Bush Administration has continually
proposed budgets which cut funding for the Army Corps of Engineers, disaster
mitigation programs, and hurricane protections for Louisiana’s coast. In
addition, the fact that thousands of National Guard soldiers from Alabama,
Mississippi, and Louisiana are in Iraq has prevented them from being available
in sufficient numbers to carry out their primary mission.”
“Now is the time for the Bush Administration to show
the leadership necessary to save lives, restore security, and initiate recovery
efforts on the Gulf Coast. My office has been flooded with calls from
constituents across my district offering help and support for the victims. All
Americans can help by contributing to the Red Cross and donating food and
supplies. Still, it is the primary role of the federal government to aid these
victims, who are in many cases impoverished and are surviving in precarious and
often life-threatening conditions.” |