John Bel Edwards: “our deepest condolences go to the victims of Hurricane Katrina, who lost their lives, their homes and their livelihoods.…”

“our deepest condolences go to the victims of Hurricane Katrina, who lost their lives, their homes and their livelihoods. Our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families. While the devastation caused by this tragedy is vast, our faith and determination ensure that we will rebuild and we will endure. Congress and President Bush have taken the first step in appropriating emergency funds to aid relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and much more is on the way. It is vital that this emergency funding moves quickly toward rescue and relief efforts in the Gulf Coast region and throughout the Nation. Together, Federal, State and local authorities must continue to work diligently to protect and assist those in need. In Texas, we are opening our hearts, homes, and facilities to over 75,000 victims of Hurricane Katrina. The Federal Government has a responsibility to help communities in Texas who are generously helping others during this time of national tragedy. During this difficult time, most Americans have shown an inspirational outpouring of support for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. However, it appears that some have acted out of greed and taken advantage of our national tragedy by price gouging Americans when it comes to basic necessities like gas, food, and shelter. That is totally unacceptable and the Federal Government must act quickly to fulfill its responsibility to protect the public and hold price gougers accountable.…”