Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs Committee, Susan Collins, R-Maine, and
ranking member Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., have announced plans
to investigate the preparation for and response to Hurricane
Katrina.
A committee statement said the investigation would initially
focus on making sure the current response is adequate, and that
once the situation is under control it would proceed with the hearings.
In a joint statement the senators said it was their “responsibility
to investigate the lack of preparedness and inadequate response,”
and said it was “increasingly clear that serious shortcomings in
preparedness and response have hampered relief efforts at a critical time.”
They said the committee would “demand answers” but would focus on
the ongoing operations first and foremost.
Senator Collins responded to an announcement by House Speaker
Dennis Hastert and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist that they
would be creating a bipartisan, bicameral, special committee to
investigate readiness and response to the hurricane, saying that
such a committee is “an appropriate vehicle to address the very important
issues and questions surrounding readiness and response efforts associated
with the hurricane.”
“While I have not yet seen all of the details of the composition,
mandate, and authority of this joint committee, I am honored that
Senator Frist has asked me to be the Senate leader of this investigation,
and I stand ready to continue with our oversight efforts, which are
already underway,” Collins said.
The Senate Governmental Affairs committee announced it would hold the
first public hearing on Wednesday, September 14, to provide the
foundation for work to be completed by the joint committee.
Last week the committee held a closed briefing with high-level
FEMA and Cost Guard officials.
