Time for Action
09/08/2005
Dear DFL Member and Supporter,
Hillary is speaking out about the need to take action in the tragic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Appearing on four morning television shows today and talking to reporters, she spoke of meeting with hurricane victims in Houston:
“At every turn I encountered our fellow citizens with desperate questions and few answers,” she said. “Certainly there was nobody in charge at the federal government, and there was nobody willing to take responsibility to work with state and local officials.”
Hillary has introduced legislation to restore FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to Cabinet-level, independent status, as it was in the Clinton Administration. “The bureaucracy created by moving FEMA under the Department of Homeland Security is clearly not working...” she said
For a copy of Hillary’s complete statement, please visit http://www.hillaryclinton.com.
“FEMA was the lead agency during the Clinton Administration. It was in charge. ...FEMA took on the role of helping to prepare localities and states to be in a position to respond. ...That philosophy...was rejected by this administration. ...[FEMA] was basically taken apart and denied funding.”
Hillary also called for an independent Katrina Commission to provide a comprehensive evaluation of what could have been and should have been done to avoid the extraordinary damage, loss of life and inadequate relief problems that have contributed to the suffering of so many thousands of Americans.
“This was a massive disaster but there were certainly enough warnings and enough people who had given warnings to the government before. ...I want an independent commission to investigate because I don’t believe it’s appropriate for this government to investigate itself, and because I think we should focus on recovery efforts. ...I believe we owe the people better. ...I think we owe the American people answers.”
Asked this morning on the Today Show where the money to rebuild should come from, Hillary said:
“It comes from the first instance in not making those tax cuts for rich people like us permanent. You know, it means let’s get back to shared sacrifice. Let’s take care of each other. Let’s plan for the future. Let’s do what is necessary to put Americans first again.”
Working together, we can do it. Thank you, for your interest and support.
Sincerely,
Ann F. Lewis
P.S. If you haven’t yet made a contribution to hurricane relief, please do it now. You can select an aid agency to support at http://www.hillaryclinton.com.