Irene Preparation Commendable; FEMA Crucial to Disaster Response (Updated)
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement regarding Hurricane Irene and the Federal Emergency Management Agency's preparation and response:
Although the cleanup for Hurricane Irene has just begun, it is evident that FEMA and the Administration prepared and responded admirably to this widespread disaster affecting tens of millions of Americans across the Eastern Seaboard. FEMA was able to quickly and efficiently assist many states with limited resources.
It is clear now more than ever that FEMA is crucial to our nation's preparedness – putting to rest any ideas that it is a superfluous or purely bureaucratic government agency. I hope my colleagues will join me in stopping drastic cuts to our Nation's preparedness and homeland security – this is not the place for haphazard budget cuts. We need to give FEMA the funding necessary to support its emergency preparedness and response missions without corresponding offsets and cuts elsewhere. There is no need to politicize disaster response.
As a Representative of district severely affected by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, my thoughts and prayers are with those affected by Hurricane Irene and will support those in the rebuilding effort.
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