Patsy T. Mink: “I rise tonight in very strong support for the Oberstar-Costello-Roemer amendment to maintain the independence of the…”

“I rise tonight in very strong support for the Oberstar-Costello-Roemer amendment to maintain the independence of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA's primary mission is to provide assistance after natural disasters. It is recognized throughout the country as the premium agency that people can depend upon. It has helped all sorts of disaster victims. It has helped certainly an entire island in my State when a hurricane hit there about 10 years ago. It not only responds to the disaster, but it helps people replace their home, repair damaged conditions, and it brings comfort and solace to the individuals who are devastated. FEMA is an entirely unique agency and to put it into this very large homeland security agency which has an entirely different mission would completely subsume the efficiency, purpose, and mission of FEMA. So I hope that this House will support this amendment to keep FEMA and the integrity of this operation outside the Department.”