June 14, 2006   LIEBERMAN SAYS DISASTER AID ABUSE UNDERSCORES NEED FOR A REINVENTED FEMA Abuse also Occurred During 2004 Hurricane Season   WASHINGTON – Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Ranking Member Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., said Wednesday the widespread abuse of FEMA disaster aid confirms the need to reinvent the agency into a strongly-led, more accountable organization and underscores the Bush Administration’s historic neglect of financial oversight. Following is his full statement: “The revelations that over $1 billion in hurricane disaster aid were misspent confirm what I and my colleague Senator Susan Collins have been arguing for months now: FEMA needs to be reinvented as a disaster agency capable of handling a catastrophe the size and scope of Hurricane Katrina. FEMA simply was not designed to effectively or efficiently address the needs of over a million victims. We need to reinvent emergency management in this country so the next time a catastrophe occurs, it can respond to the needs of millions of victims. “These types of abuses, however, could have been and should have been predicted. Last year, a Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee investigation into FEMA’s response to the 2004 hurricane season found fraudulent claims, wasteful spending, and ineffective management following Hurricane Frances in Miami-Dade County, Fla. FEMA distributed over $31 million to people in Miami-Dade County, even though the county’s emergency officials found damage and debris to be minimal. “Why didn’t the Administration put proper controls in place after the 2004 hurricane season and before the 2005 season? Perhaps it was because the Bush White House has proven itself to be indifferent to financial oversight, most glaringly with the billions of dollars spent on Iraqi reconstruction that has resulted in extensive waste and fraud. “The critical nature of disaster assistance makes reports of waste, mismanagement and outright fraud extremely disturbing. We cannot sweep such allegations under the rug; we must face them head-on to preserve public confidence in these programs.”   ###   Printable Version   « previous Press Release next Press Release »   1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 - 2008 June 2006 Press Releases   June 30 - Collins, Lieberman Seek to Address Government Fraud   June 29 - Dodd, Lieberman Help Secure Additional $4 Million for Coast Guard Research and Development Lab   June 29 - Lieberman Says DHS Infrastructure Protection Plan Not Enough   June 28 - Lieberman Speaks on Introduction of Bill to Reinvent FEMA   June 27 - Collins, Lieberman Seek Greater Funding To Protect Transit, Rail and Ports   June 27 - Lieberman Says Appeals Court Decision Reaffirms Opposition To DHS Personnel Changes   June 23 - Lieberman Demands Greater Information Security For DHS Trusted Traveler Programs   June 20 - Lieberman Welcomes Reversal of FEMA Trailer Evictions   June 20 - Democrats Seek Oversight of Iraqi Reconstruction Contracts   June 19 - Lieberman Says Federal Efforts to Ensure Diversity Must Improve   June 16 - Lieberman Says NRP Conclusion is Not Surprising   June 16 - Senators Collins, Lieberman, Coleman and Murray Call on Chertoff to Issue Transporation and Port Security Grant Guidance   June 15 - Senate Homeland SEcurity Committee Unanimously Passes Collins-Lieberman Chemical Security Legislation   June 15 - Lieberman Heralds Advancement Of Chemical Security Bill   June 14 - Lieberman Leads Defeat of Industry's Preemption Amendment to the Chemical Security Bill   June 14 current Press Release   June 14 - Lieberman Calls for Investigation of the Appearance of Widespread Censorship by the Administration on Climate Change Research   June 9 - Some Katrina Victims Get a Break on Unemployment Benefits   June 9 - NASA Admits Wrongdoing in Not Allowing Top Scientist to Discuss Climate Change Research   June 8 - Senate Homeland Security Committee Holds Hearing on Where FEMA Belongs   June 8 - Lieberman Calls for Reinvention, Strengthening of FEMA   June 6 - Lieberman Assails GOP for Refusing to Extend Unemployment Benefits for 2005 Hurricane Victims
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 340 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510