RESCHEDULED: Joint House and Senate Hearing “Lessons Learned: Ensuring the Delivery of Donated Goods to Survivors of Catastrophes”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, July 18, 2008
(WASHINGTON) – On Thursday, July 31st (originally 24th), the House Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response, chaired by Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) will hold a joint hearing with the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery, chaired by Sen. Mary L. Landrieu (D-LA), entitled “Lessons Learned: Ensuring the Delivery of Donated Goods to Survivors of Catastrophes.”
The hearing will examine how FEMA managed donated goods during Hurricane Katrina and what efforts FEMA has made to better streamline this system and ensure that states, local governments and non-profit organizations are properly coordinating in the wake of a catastrophe.
Chairman Cuellar released the following statement on the issue:
“It appears that FEMA improved its logistics operations regarding the delivery of donated goods during the most recent flooding in the Midwest. Congress however, must continue to perform oversight to ensure that the appropriate survivors are receiving the necessary items they need to recuperate from an incident.”
Senator Landrieu added the following statement:
“FEMA has proven to be, time and again, deaf to the immediate needs on the ground in the aftermath and long-term recovery from a major disaster,” Senator Landrieu said. “I am hopeful that this joint hearing will shed the light of public scrutiny on FEMA’s broken communications chain. We want to ensure the government will never again misroute necessary supplies intended for disaster victims to other government agencies and states for their everyday business.”
Thursday, July 31, 2008 @ 1pm
311 Cannon House Office Building
Joint Hearing: “Lessons Learned: Ensuring the Delivery of Donated Goods to Survivors of Catastrophes”
• Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Response and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery
Witnesses:
Eric Smith, Assistant Administrator for Logistics Management, FEMA
Carlos Castillo, Assistant Administrator for Disaster Assistance, FEMA
Barney Brasseux, Deputy Commissioner, Federal Acquisition Service, General Services Administration
Paul Rainwater, Executive Director, Louisiana Recovery Authority
Bill Stallworth, Executive Director, East Biloxi Coordination and Relief Center
Valerie Keller, Chief Executive Officer, The Acadiana Outreach Center
Diana Rothe-Smith, Executive Director, National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
There will be a webcast of this hearing.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Please contact Dena Graziano or Adam Comis at (202) 225-9978.
