My letter re: Katrina, and Norm Coleman's heartfelt response

wellstone dem

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Tue Sep-06-05 07:45 PM
Original message

My letter re: Katrina, and Norm Coleman's heartfelt response

MY LETTER:

I am writing my senators, representatives, the president and congressional leaders. I have never done a letter to this many powerful people before, and the reason is that I am furious.

We have Americans who suffered for days before action was taken. We have Americans who continue to suffer. People have died because FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security failed to act strongly in a timely manner. Today I heard the mayor of a city in Mississippi on CNN asked about the role of FEMA in disaster relief efforts in his community, his sarcastic response is "Who's FEMA?" He had seen no response. I saw the man in charge of Jefferson Parish in Louisiana weap about a woman who had drowned because help did not get to her for 5 days. There were no food or water drops for days. There was no security for days. This is America and I am
so angry.

This disastor was predicted and was predictable, what will the Department of Homeland Security do if there is an act of terrorism where the terrorists don't give us advance notice.

I am sick of seeing my fellow citizens deprived of basic necessities,
still living in shelters, split up from families. I am sick of dead
bodies lying on the sides of roads. We need to focus federal resources on fixing these problems now.

But what do I hear. Congress is going to work to reduce taxes, working on the estate tax. Instead of working to further help the rich, lets help the poor people of New Orleans. Can we please show the world that we have our priorities straight.

In addition to adequate funding and resources, we need to delay the
implementation date of the new bankruptcy act. Courts in LA have been devastated, law firms are out of business with records destroyed. The poor people in LA, Mississippi, and Alabama need the protection of the current bankruptcy law. Unlike people in every other state in this blessed country, these who may need the protection of the old statue the most will lose that protection.

For once can we please delay the benefits to the rich, and focus on the Americans who really need help.

Thank you for listening.

Sincerely,

NORM COLEMAN's RESPONSE

Dear:

Thank you for taking the time to contact me with your concerns about Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.

It is crucial we move swiftly in getting the appropriate funds to the region. The areas affected are in desperate need of aid and resources. In its wake, Hurricane Katrina left entire cites in ruin and families displaced from their homes.

In order to provide immediate relief, my Senate colleagues and I convened a special session of Congress to grant $10.5 billion in disaster assistance funds to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This funding is the first step in a long rebuilding process on the Gulf Coast and it will supply the affected areas with much-needed resources in the coming days and weeks.

Thank you once again for contacting me. I will keep your concerns in mind as we work together to address this urgent situation.

Sincerely,
Norm Coleman
United States Senate