Sen Clinton Calls on President Bush to Appoint an Independent National Commission To Review Katrina Relief Efforts

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today called on President Bush to appoint an independent national commission to review Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Senator Clinton also intends to introduce legislation to restore FEMA to an independent agency with cabinet-level status. The text of the letter follows:


September 4, 2005


The Honorable George Bush

President of the United States

Washington, D.C. 20500


Dear Mr. President:


It has become increasingly evident that our nation was not prepared to launch an effective federal response plan to an emergency such as Hurricane Katrina. Therefore, I urge you to appoint an independent national commission, the Katrina Commission, comprised of individuals with significant experience, knowledge, training, and planning for natural disaster preparedness and response to fully examine the adequacy of federal response efforts to ensure that our nation is completely prepared to deal with the demands of any future disasters that come our way.


The slow pace of relief efforts in the face of a mounting death toll, coupled with the need to handle what is sure to be an unprecedented long-term feeding, housing and medical care challenge, seems to confirm that our ability to respond to cataclysmic disasters has not been adequately addressed. Therefore, I ask that the Katrina Commission be constituted similar to the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States and be tasked with conducting a full assessment of a number of critical issues including our preparedness for natural disasters, resources for mitigation, organizational changes needed, why assistance was delayed in getting to people in the impacted areas, and what long-term recovery efforts are going to be needed for the people who survived the initial destruction.


My hearts and prayers go out to the people whose lives have been shattered by Hurricane Katrina. Thousands have been saved by our first responder heroes and for that our nation is grateful. It is now incumbent upon you Mr. President to ensure that our nation is prepared to handle this disaster and any and all future disasters and I hope you seriously consider my call for an independent Katrina Commission. The people of the Gulf deserve an explanation and we must ensure all our citizens that our nation is prepared.


Sincerely,



Hillary Rodham Clinton


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