For example, FEMA did not verify the identity of all of those seeking assistance. So we had people in jail applying for FEMA aid for rental assistance, believe it or not.

I have investigated a lot of examples of wasteful federal spending and I have never seen waste on this scale. The magnitude is just incredible. And it seems to be a bottomless pit.

There were several findings that I found particularly troubling. The first is the blatant insubordination of then-FEMA Director Michael Brown. It was clear that he was disengaged from the onset of Katrina. He failed to communicate…

FEMA is discredited, demoralized, and dysfunctional.

That it involves potential unknown threats against a large number of potential vulnerabilities, that language is very troubling to me.

I am more convinced than ever that the process was truly flawed.

Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, told Chertoff, his agency's efforts were an alarming and unacceptable failure.

We can't keep them honest enough.

Do you swear that the testimony you are about to...

Another political fallout from Hurricane Katrina. The White House will shortly begin providing more documents to the Senate committee investigating what went wrong.

We can't find any evidence of a request to FEMA to get supplies to the Convention Center.

Pam became Katrina. The simulation beam reality, and optimism became the awful truth. We were not prepared.

We will critically examine the legal structures and authorities that define who is in charge of assets that must be brought to bear in such a catastrophic event. In its first major test since 9/11, however, this structure failed to meet…

Counterfeiting, because it's extremely lucrative and easy to get into, is the mechanism that terrorist groups have discovered and are exploiting.

What bound us was the belief, the strong belief, that exercising the pending motion of this constitutional option would be detrimental to the long-term well-being of the United States Senate.

I joined Senator Jack Reed in sending a letter to Secretary Tommy Thompson urging that he do all that he can administratively to optimize the utilization of the existing vaccine

I joined Senator Jack Reed in sending a letter to Secretary Tommy Thompson urging that he do all that he can administratively to optimize the utilization of the existing vaccine.

I want to commend you for holding this hearing to examine the current flu vaccine shortage