HURRICANE KATRINA
Email Received From Senator Jeff Bingaman
September 14, 2005
Margaret Hollingworth
12120 Genoa Street Northeast
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87111
Dear Margaret:
Thank you for contacting me about the tragic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. I appreciate your taking the time to write and sharing David Smith's email.
My heart goes out to all those affected by the devastation left behind by Hurricane Katrina. This is a tragedy the scale of which we are just beginning to understand, and we will be dealing with its aftermath for years to come. From all accounts, the federal government's response to this disaster, from prevention to response, has been inadequate at best. Although I do not believe it would be in the best interest of our country to initiate measures to impeach President Bush, I have a number of concerns about aspects of the Administration's domestic and foreign policy agendas. The Senate has plans to conduct an investigation into these problems and concerns, including such issues as the time it took to initially respond, the effect of cuts in Army Corp of Engineers funding on the levees surrounding New Orleans, and whether National Guard troop deployments overseas affected our ability to respond to the hurricane. I assure you that I will work to ensure full accountability and transparency in the investigation.
I am pleased that the Senate has acted on two aid packages which provide a total of $60 billion to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and $2 billion to the Department of Defense to rush help to the communities and individuals in distress all across the Gulf States. Although the authority for FEMA rests with the President, please be assured that I will continue to do everything I can to ensure that the President has adequate funding for FEMA relief and rebuilding activities.
In addition to the incredible devastation brought by this storm, Hurricane Katrina has shed light on the growing disparity between rich and poor in our country. It is becoming evident that the policies and priorities of this Administration have contributed to this widening gap and the shrinking of the middle class, and it is my intention to focus on reversing this trend in this Congress. More immediately, the minority party has introduced legislation which addresses four key areas affecting evacuees and many other Americans: health care, homelessness, keeping children in school, and helping affected Americans get back on their feet.
Several countries have offered the United States assistance at this trying time and I believe the Administration should take steps to execute an effective response through accepting aid. Foreign assistance was accepted from forty-nine of ninety-four countries that offered, including the European Union, NATO, the Arab League and the United Nations. However, I do not believe that the Administration should reject aid in a time of need from any country due to political viewpoints.
Let me assure you that I will continue to work to ensure that the values and policies that have made this country great are not undermined or reversed by an extremist agenda. These values center around improving the quality of life for all Americans and upholding the rights embodied in our Constitution. Among other things, I am committed to improving our public education system and ensuring that state and local governments have the resources
necessary to maintain quality education and high standards in our schools. I am dedicated to ensuring retirement security by protecting people's hard-earned pensions and strengthening Social Security for current and future generations. I value peoples' right to access quality and affordable health care. I value our freedom and believe we must remain vigilant in the fight against terror and ensure that our communities have the resources they need to protect themselves against potential terrorist attacks. At the same time, though, I believe that we must respect the rights of all people, not just the rights of those with whom we agree. I will continue to work to pass responsible bipartisan legislation that produces tangible and quality results for New Mexico, and I will oppose legislation that, in my view, is not consistent with the principles outlined above.
Again, thank you for writing. Please do not hesitate to contact me regarding any other matter of importance to you and your community.
Sincerely,
JEFF BINGAMAN
United States Senator Link
September 14, 2005
Margaret Hollingworth
12120 Genoa Street Northeast
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87111
Dear Margaret:
Thank you for contacting me about the tragic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. I appreciate your taking the time to write and sharing David Smith's email.
My heart goes out to all those affected by the devastation left behind by Hurricane Katrina. This is a tragedy the scale of which we are just beginning to understand, and we will be dealing with its aftermath for years to come. From all accounts, the federal government's response to this disaster, from prevention to response, has been inadequate at best. Although I do not believe it would be in the best interest of our country to initiate measures to impeach President Bush, I have a number of concerns about aspects of the Administration's domestic and foreign policy agendas. The Senate has plans to conduct an investigation into these problems and concerns, including such issues as the time it took to initially respond, the effect of cuts in Army Corp of Engineers funding on the levees surrounding New Orleans, and whether National Guard troop deployments overseas affected our ability to respond to the hurricane. I assure you that I will work to ensure full accountability and transparency in the investigation.
I am pleased that the Senate has acted on two aid packages which provide a total of $60 billion to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and $2 billion to the Department of Defense to rush help to the communities and individuals in distress all across the Gulf States. Although the authority for FEMA rests with the President, please be assured that I will continue to do everything I can to ensure that the President has adequate funding for FEMA relief and rebuilding activities.
In addition to the incredible devastation brought by this storm, Hurricane Katrina has shed light on the growing disparity between rich and poor in our country. It is becoming evident that the policies and priorities of this Administration have contributed to this widening gap and the shrinking of the middle class, and it is my intention to focus on reversing this trend in this Congress. More immediately, the minority party has introduced legislation which addresses four key areas affecting evacuees and many other Americans: health care, homelessness, keeping children in school, and helping affected Americans get back on their feet.
Several countries have offered the United States assistance at this trying time and I believe the Administration should take steps to execute an effective response through accepting aid. Foreign assistance was accepted from forty-nine of ninety-four countries that offered, including the European Union, NATO, the Arab League and the United Nations. However, I do not believe that the Administration should reject aid in a time of need from any country due to political viewpoints.
Let me assure you that I will continue to work to ensure that the values and policies that have made this country great are not undermined or reversed by an extremist agenda. These values center around improving the quality of life for all Americans and upholding the rights embodied in our Constitution. Among other things, I am committed to improving our public education system and ensuring that state and local governments have the resources
necessary to maintain quality education and high standards in our schools. I am dedicated to ensuring retirement security by protecting people's hard-earned pensions and strengthening Social Security for current and future generations. I value peoples' right to access quality and affordable health care. I value our freedom and believe we must remain vigilant in the fight against terror and ensure that our communities have the resources they need to protect themselves against potential terrorist attacks. At the same time, though, I believe that we must respect the rights of all people, not just the rights of those with whom we agree. I will continue to work to pass responsible bipartisan legislation that produces tangible and quality results for New Mexico, and I will oppose legislation that, in my view, is not consistent with the principles outlined above.
Again, thank you for writing. Please do not hesitate to contact me regarding any other matter of importance to you and your community.
Sincerely,
JEFF BINGAMAN
United States Senator Link
posted by Maggs at 12:54 PM
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