September 28, 2005   SENATORS COLLINS AND LIEBERMAN HOLD KATRINA HEARING TO DISCUSS IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF VICTIMS AND COMMUNITIES Witnesses Included Mayors in Gulf Coast States, Harris County Judge Robert Eckels   WASHINGTON, DC-- Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Susan Collins and Ranking Member Joseph Lieberman today held a hearing titled, “Recovering from Hurricane Katrina: Responding to the Immediate Needs of its Victims.” Today’s hearing was the second held by Senators Collins and Lieberman in conjunction with their committee’s investigation into preparation for and response to Hurricane Katrina. Witnesses at today’s hearing included, The Honorable Robert A. Eckels, County Judge in Harris County, Texas; The Honorable Melvin L. Holden, Mayor-President of Baton Rouge, LA; The Honorable Robert V. Massengill, Mayor of Brookhaven, Mississippi; and The Honorable Dan Coody, Mayor of Fayetteville, Arkansas. “This Committee is undertaking an in-depth investigation into the inadequate preparedness and response to the hurricane, but our immediate focus is on ensuring that bureaucratic roadblocks, inflexible policies, outdated laws, and wasteful practices do not impede the prompt and compassionate delivery of needed assistance,” said Senator Collins. She added, “Today’s witnesses brought to our attention that there appears to have been a serious lack of communication among FEMA officials in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and that there is a misunderstanding in many communities about what FEMA’s responsibilities are. These are important matters that we will look at more closely throughout the course of our investigation.” The Senators announced that the Committee intends to hear testimony from Acting FEMA Director David Paulison next week. In addition the Senators will soon send the first document requests to federal and state entities-they are extensive. They are also working closely with the GAO and the Inspectors General.   ###   Printable Version   « previous Press Release next Press Release »   1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 September 2005 Press Releases   September 30 - GAO Releases Report On NASA’s Misuse Of Passenger Aircraft, Waste Of Millions Of Taxpayer Dollars   September 29 - Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Requests Extensive Government Documents For Hurricane Katrina Investigation   September 28 current Press Release   September 23 - Senators Collins and Frist Correspondence on Hurricane Investigation   September 22 - Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee Approves Bills To Help Victims Of Hurricane Katrina   September 21 - Senators Collins And Lieberman Introduce Bill To Help Improve Communications For First Responders   September 21 - Senators Collins And Lieberman Hold Hearing On Transit Security To Examine Lessons Learned From The London Attacks   September 19 - GAO Releases Report To Senators Collins And Lieberman On U.S. Govt Efforts To Curtail Islamic Extremism   September 16 - Senators Susan Collins And Joseph Lieberman Call On DHS To Issue Unclassified Version Of Natl Transportation Security Strategy   September 15 - Senators Susan Collins and Joseph Lieberman Unveil Bill To Assign An IG To Oversee Katrina-Related Expenditures   September 14 - Senators Collins, Lieberman Hold First Congressional Hurricane Katrina Hearing   September 12 - Senator Collins Releases Statement on Resignation of FEMA Director Michael Brown   September 9 - Senator Collins Releases Statement On Sec Chertoff’s Assignment Of Vice Adm Thad Allen To Katrina Efforts   September 7 - Senator Collins Comments On Announcement Of Bipartisan, Bicameral Hurricane Response Committee   September 2 - Senators Collins and Lieberman Launch Oversight Investigation Of Hurricane Relief Efforts, Emergency Preparedness To Learn Lessons For Future Disasters   September 2 - DHS Proposes New Rules On Documents Needed For Travel To U.S. From Canada, Mexico Proposal   September 1 - Senate Approves $10 Billion Relief Aid for Gulf Coast Hurricane Victims
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 340 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510