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<WASHINGTON
– Almost six
months after Hurricane Katrina devastated
the Gulf states,
U.S. Senator Trent Lott of
Mississippi today introduced legislation in the U.S. Senate to
re-establish the Federal Emergency
Management Agency as an independent,
cabinet-level agency, reportable directly to
the President.
“When the Department of
Homeland Security several years ago was
created from many agencies, I questioned
the wisdom specifically of placing FEMA, our
first line of emergency preparation and
response, within that department,
anticipating all the red tape and
decision-making paralysis that would
result,” Senator Lott said. “Within hours
of Katrina, my worst fears were realized,
and even today, the impact of that decision
is hurting our relief effort in
Mississippi . Thousands of Mississippians remain without
trailers and other support that should have
been channeled through FEMA.”
Senator Lott urged
the Congress to discard the layers of
bureaucracy, the ambiguous chain of command,
and the chronic accountability issues which
led to FEMA’s failings after hurricanes Rita
and Katrina by passing his bill. In
addition to establishing FEMA as an
independent agency within the
Administration, Senator Lott’s legislation,
titled the Federal Emergency Management
Improvement Act of 2006, stipulates that
FEMA remain the lead agency for the Federal
Response Plan and be headed by a director
appointed by the President and confirmed by
the Senate.
Under the Lott bill, FEMA’s
mandate would include all functions and
authorities prescribed by the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act with a mission of preventing
the loss of life and property and protecting
the nation from all hazards with a
comprehensive, risk-based emergency
management program.
“Re–establishing FEMA as an
independent agency, directly accountable to
the President and Congress will contribute
to a more manageable and comprehensible
process for disaster victims, elected
officials and agency personnel alike,”
Senator Lott said. “Much of the agency’s
actions continue to be inexcusable, but, as
another hurricane season approaches, it
would be even more inexcusable if Congress
fails to take action to correct FEMA’s
inefficiencies. Somewhere along the Gulf or
Atlantic states, a hurricane likely will make
landfall this year. We must get FEMA
reforms in place before that happens.”
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