Kendrick Meek: “Well, plans would actually be action if we were in the majority, or if we had a majority party that were willing to move…”

“Well, plans would actually be action if we were in the majority, or if we had a majority party that were willing to move in a bipartisan way in responding to the aftermath of Katrina. And also what Hurricane Katrina has exposed in America is the fact that we are not prepared to face a natural disaster or a disaster, period. We are not coordinated in this country to be able to have a response that will be appropriate to the American people in their time of need. Mr. Speaker, the gentlewoman left off with what is being proposed, and what is also being proposed is a $9 billion cut in student aid. I know we passed a bill to kind of help with a Pell grant, but this week the majority comes back with a $9 billion discussion of helping to pay for Katrina. So it is almost like I am going to give you something, but I am going to take $9 billion back. Mr. Speaker, I am so glad that we have the opportunity to come to the floor, and we have had to double up on 30-Something, because it is too much, too much going on.”