Media Center

In a Congressional hearing today, Congressman David Scott (GA-13) sharply questioned Donald Powell, the federal coordinator of Gulf Coast rebuilding efforts, about the federal recovery and long-term rebuilding efforts in the Gulf Coast Region. A copy of Congressman Scott's statement is included below:

Thank you, Chairman Ney and Ranking Member Waters for holding this hearing and for your other efforts to bring accountability in the federal efforts to rebuilding the lives that were decimated by Hurricane Katrina.

Just this morning, I read in the Washington Post that President Bush is blaming Congress for being too slow in responding to the Katrina rebuilding efforts. I find this response to be out of touch with reality.

Congress is moving to bring relief to the gulf communities. However, we must remember that it was the Bush Administration and their allies that put a stop to Congressman Richard Baker’s bill – a bill that was passed by this committee with strong bipartisan support. Many sections of the Baker bill were taken from the Congressional Black Caucus Katrina bill.

We are seeing a pattern here. First, there is a failure of leadership, to step up and admit mistakes. Then, we have a failure to lead and move forward without casting blame on others. This response by President Bush is just shameful. We need leadership, not more obstruction and finger-pointing.

The Atlanta area is second to Houston in being home to Katrina evacuees. There remains considerable uncertainty among the former gulf residents about their future. Without a plan for certainty, the residents cannot plan to return to work or their homes. I want to be able to report to those evacuees that Congress is serous about rebuilding their communities.

However, the actions taken by the government have not given these families a strong sense of security. These families have been arbitrarily kicked out of motel rooms while FEMA trailers sit in a cow pasture in Hope, Arkansas. They are told that the Army Corps of Engineers is working to rebuild the levee system. Yet, many levee experts are saying that the levees are being rebuilt on the quick and cheap. Congress must continue to keep an eye on the rebuilding process to ensure that we rebuild the gulf communities the right way to ensure that residents and lenders feel confident that they can re-invest in their communities.