Brad Miller Has 'Hard Questions' About Katrina Disaster

U.S. Rep. Brad Miller, a Raleigh Democrat who represents the 13th Congressional District, on Friday issued the following statement on Hurricane Katrina. Acknowledging the anger many Americans feel over the federal government's murderously inept response to the predicted disaster, Miller questions some officials' admonishments against finger pointing and demands to know when the nation's leaders will be held accountable.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
09.02.05
CONTACT: Joe Bonfiglio, (202) 225-3032

Miller Statement on Katrina Relief Supplemental

Washington, DC - U.S. Rep. Brad Miller (NC-13) delivered the following statement today on the floor of the House of Representatives in support of the $10.5 billion Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill for Hurricane Katrina victims:

"I know that today's session was a formality, that there would be no votes other than a voice vote, but I thought it was important to be here to show my support for the victims of Hurricane Katrina in whatever way I could, however modest.

"Martin Luther King said, 'we cannot walk alone.' We are responsible for one another. We help others in need on the faith that when we are in need we will be helped.

"North Carolinians have twice faced desperate needs following devastating hurricanes in just the last decade. Other Americans responded generously both acting together through their government and in their contributions to private relief efforts. Americans are again responding generously to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

"But, Mr. Speaker, I share the anger of many Americans at how shamefully inadequate our government's response has been. Tens of thousands of Americans are living outside the walls of civilization. They are without food, they are without water to drink, they are without medicine or medical care, they are without effective shelter, they are without the protection against violence that law provides.

"The failures that led to that are not the failures of the last four days; but of the last four years.

"There have been repeated warnings that New Orleans and the Gulf Coast were vulnerable to precisely what has occurred and yet our government was stunningly unprepared.

"The President's press secretary was asked earlier this week about our government's response to the hurricane and he said, 'now is not the time for finger pointing.'

"Earlier today on this floor Mr. Lewis [CA-41] said, 'now is not the time for finger pointing.'

"Mr. Wamp [TN-03] said, 'now is not the time for finger pointing.'

"Mr. Kirk [IL-10] said, 'now is not the time for recrimination.'

"Mr. Lungren [CA-03] said, 'now is not the time for recrimination or for finger pointing.'

"They say now is the time to grieve for the victims of the hurricane.

"Mr. Speaker, I do grieve for the victims of the hurricane.

"They say now is the time to help the victims of the hurricane.

"Mr. Speaker, I want to help the victims of the hurricane in every way that I can. I am here today and like millions of Americans, my wife and I are contributing to private relief efforts.

"But Mr. Speaker, there has to come a time for accountability. If there is not accountability for the stunning failures that we have seen in our government's response to this hurricane, we will fail again and again.

"I know that this administration thinks that accountability is an ephemeral thing. If there is an attempt at accountability too soon, it's finger pointing. If there is an attempt at accountability too late, then it's something you should get over. There is just a moment for accountability.

"Mr. Speaker, tell me when that moment will be. Tell me precisely when the moment will come for accountability for the failures of our response, for the failures of our planning that have led to the devastation and the hardships that we are seeing now.

"And Mr. Speaker, tell me where the line forms to ask hard questions. I yield back the balance of my time."