Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) today announced plans to introduce legislation this week creating a new, independent Natural Disaster Preparedness and Response Agency that would take control of preparing for and responding to natural disasters.  The new agency would not be responsible for terrorism related disasters, which would remain at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.     

"The Federal Emergency Management Agency's woefully slow response to the destruction of Hurricane Katrina demonstrates how federal emergency services have been neglected by the Bush administration," Pallone said.  "As the Congressman for the New Jersey shore, I'm profoundly aware of how devastating natural disasters can be.  New Jersey shore communities are particularly vulnerable to the impact of a hurricane or Nor'easter.  It's now time to think outside the box and create a new agency solely responsible for emergency responses and ways to prevent considerable damage."

The New Jersey congressman stressed the need for the agency's involvement in long-term prevention plans, particularly at a time when shoreline populations are dramatically growing, beach waters are rising and global warming is affecting ocean water temperatures.  Pallone said emergency response for natural disasters gets lost at the Department of Homeland Security, whose primary responsibility is to protect the homeland from terrorist attack.

"The agency will not only be charged with responding to natural disasters, but will also assess long-term civil works planning to protect against the impact of severe storms or natural disasters," Pallone continued.  "At a time when the Bush administration is proposing serious cuts in flood control and shore protection projects along the Jersey Shore, it's essential that our nation's federal emergency and preparedness agency have some input on these projects so we can prevent unwarranted destruction."  

Pallone pointed to consistent funding shortages that FEMA has faced over the last four years since joining the Department of Homeland Security.  The president's Fiscal Year (FY) 2005 budget request for the Office of Domestic Preparedness was $3.561 billion, $452 million below the FY 2004 level.  According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, the agency's staff has been reduced by 500 positions to 4,735 since being folded into the Homeland Security. 

 The New Jersey congressman points to statements made by both President Bush, in which he said that nobody expected the breach of the levees, and Secretary Michael Chertoff, stating that the breach of the levees in New Orleans "exceeded the foresight of planners," as examples of how important it is to have the new agency directly involved in flood control and other disaster prevention projects. 

Pallone also urged President Bush today to fire FEMA Director Michael Brown.  Despite admitting last Friday that the government's response to Hurricane Katrina was unacceptable, the president turned around later in the day and said "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job."

"The director of our nation's emergency response is not a position for political patronage," Pallone said.  "Michael Brown has shown that he is in way over his head.  It's time for Brown to go, so the president can replace him with someone with actual expertise in emergency response.

            "I'm also deeply disappointed in Secretary Chertoff's absence of leadership during this tragic national disaster," Pallone continued.  "It's clear the Department of Homeland Security was asleep at the wheel for four days, something that is inexcusable for any federal agency."