News Release
Congressman Bob Etheridge
North Carolina

September 15, 2005

                                       Contact: Joanne Peters
                                       Phone: (202) 225-4531

Etheridge Calls for Independent Hurricane Katrina Inquiry

Congressman Votes Against Partisan Congressional Select Committee

WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-Lillington) today called for Congress to establish an independent commission to examine the federal government's response to, and preparation for, Hurricane Katrina. Etheridge voted against the formation of a partisan select committee saying that an independent commission would allow a higher degree if impartiality and independence than a partisan select committee.

"It is a shame that the Republican leadership continues to cover up the colossal failures of the Administration's response to Hurricane Katrina. North Carolinians have experience with hurricanes and natural disasters, and we know that we must first rely on our state and local authorities to plan and prepare, but we make these plans with the knowledge that the federal government will back us up," said Etheridge.

"By establishing an independent commission, Congress will hold the Administration to the highest standards of professionalism and vigorously conduct our constitutional obligation for oversight of these agencies. We must restore the professional integrity of FEMA to protect the American people from natural disasters as well as terrorist attacks"

Etheridge is cosponsoring legislation that is mirrored after the 9-11 Commission and is the House companion bill to S. 1622, introduced by Senators Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Barbara Mikulski (D-MD). The commission will be made of 10 members, with not more than five members being either Republicans or Democrats. The commission will attempt to answer questions including:

  • Are we adequately prepared to respond to a disaster of this magnitude?
  • What plans were in place to meet power, utility and telecommunications needs before Hurricane Katrina made landfall?
  • What was the availability of adequate resources to meet the needs of displaced individuals and families?
  • Did our federal disaster plans consider the needs of all communities? What plans were in place to ensure that underserved communities reached safety before and after Hurricane Katrina?
  • How effective was the federal government in its rescue and life saving techniques?
  • Was the federal response to Hurricane Katrina efficiently coordinated with state and local governments?
  • What improvements do the executive and legislative branches need to make to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of our disaster response programs?

Etheridge, who serves on the House Homeland Security Committee, also called on Congress to fulfill its Constitutional obligation to oversee the $62 billion already appropriated to respond to Katrina.

"We owe it to the victims of this storm and the American taxpayers to make sure that relief, recovery and reconstruction efforts are done right," said Etheridge.

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