2006 Opinions & Editorials Archive

Last week, the House Select Committee established to investigate the preparation for and response to Hurricane Katrina released its final report to the American people after an extensive five month investigation. I eagerly accepted this assignment because I was appalled by the faltering response and concerned about the impact the evacuation from the Gulf Coast was having on the State of Texas. I also wanted to bring my experience as a former Mayor and Member of the Select Committee on Homeland Security to the investigation.

Two years ago, Tom Kean, the chairman of the bipartisan September 11 Commission, said that 3,000 Americans died that September day because the government "simply was not active enough in combating the terrorist threat." And he warned that the terrorists were not going away. "We must prepare," he said, "and we must act."