Kendrick Meek: “$14 billion to make ready for a category 5 storm, $200 billion later, or several, up into the $60 billion and $70…”

“$14 billion to make ready for a category 5 storm, $200 billion later, or several, up into the $60 billion and $70 billion to not only fix it, but also deal with other issues, because of a result of the fact that we did not do what we were supposed to do when we were supposed to do it. Going back to vulnerabilities here in the United States, that community was ranked number one as it relates to a storm, a natural disaster in a catastrophic way as it relates to the damage that would be done. Madam Speaker, I think it is also important for me to point out, when we start talking about this issue, the gentleman mentioned Democrats having to stand up and make sure that we deal with the whole corruption and cronyism issue, and I think that that is important. {time} 2215 And I think it is also important to make sure that we deal with that, but to deal with that, A, we are trying to deal with it by calling out some of this stuff out here on the floor. We are trying to do the best we can. And there are others who are trying to do the best they can. The gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman), who is the ranking member on the Committee on Government Reform, can only do all that he can do to point out some of these issues. And I have a number of reports as it relates to contracting under the Bush administration. But guess what? If we were in the majority we could do these things and make sure that we save the Federal taxpayer money, we save those dollars.…”