“My thoughts and prayers are with all of the families left stranded by this devastating catastrophe.  First and foremost we need to continue getting them help and out of harm’s way.  Hurricane Katrina caused unprecedented damage to communities across Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida, but I am disappointed with the initial response management by our emergency officials.”  

“Every day, every minute, matters to each person in this hurricane-torn area, and today’s action by Congress will provide much-needed relief by making sure resources and supplies are available with no interruption.  This funding package is the first step in a process that will demand an in-depth examination of our emergency preparedness.  Relief and rebuilding efforts are proving to be a difficult and complicated task because of the unpredicted aftermath of Katrina, but an equally daunting and necessary task will be making sure we are better prepared for future natural disasters.  I plan to travel to the region next week to help the victims, get a first-hand look at the damages and start the information gathering process to make sure future responses are better coordinated.”  

-- Congressman Bill Shuster, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, which oversees FEMA.