We all need to work together, and every tool needs to be deployed. And all of this must be done without delay, without excuse, and without red tape.

We want a FEMA that is smart. That works. That stretches taxpayer dollars and uses them wisely. And unfortunately, we don't have that kind of FEMA in America today.

The corps should not be in the business of trying to second-guess cost. That's Congress's role. The corps should do what Congress directed them to do. Give us the best science, give us the plans, give us the designs for Category Five levee…

Stop wasting money through FEMA. Start rebuilding the Gulf Coast, and give us money to restore our coast and build our levees, and then we can take care of the rest ourself.

Senator Landrieu's bill would get all participating states to have a media campaign -- it's required -- and she would link all the states in a national registry which would protect a father no matter where he was and where the mother was.

Our future of this coast depends on the government getting in their mind that what we have is not sufficient. We need to build a better mousetrap.

This temporary assistance was basically built around your normal hurricane situation. We don't have a normal hurricane situation.

His sister, Mary Landrieu, is a U.S. Senator from Louisiana.

It does not surprise me that FEMA would waste $300 million. So, again, that picture of those trailers and that whole story is just another evidence that the old kind of contracts are not working for this new desperate situation.

Well, it's another example, Susan, of the mismatch in planning that has gone on. And it really is, again, to the point, that, even on FEMA's best day, they're not suited to manage this catastrophe.

Congress is going to an unprecedented session to pass a $10 billion supplemental bill tonight to keep FEMA... and the Red Cross up and operating.

Sorry for interrupting. I haven't heard that because for the last four days, I've been seeing dead bodies in the streets here in Mississippi. And to listen to politicians thanking each other and complimenting each other -- you know, I got…

So, while it's encouraging -- at least we know that will get done -- we have got a long way to go.

You promised to do whatever it took. And we know there are many things that it will take, but one thing that we have to leave with and one thing is a commitment for our levees.

We'll talk about what didn't do later. There'll be plenty of time for that and the truth will speak for itself.

But I'm telling you that the people of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama that make up the energy coast of this country need help from this United States government. We are American taxpayers, black and white, rich and poor. We should not…

It's absolutely justifiable and I have news for people, it's probably going to be more than $250 billion when all is said and done. And this is for Louisiana and the nation that it serves, and the Gulf Coast region.

I know what the people are suffering. The governor knows. The president knows. The military officials know.

Anderson, there will be plenty of time to discuss all of those issues, about why, and how, and what, and if. But, Anderson, as you understand, and all of the producers and directors of CNN, and the news networks, this situation is very…

Nobody is perfect, Anderson. Everybody has to stand up here and I know you understand.

We need a lot of help.

And I have every confidence that this country is as great and as strong as we can be do to that.

This was the highest priority for businesses in my home state of Louisiana.

I thank the Chair for holding this hearing on the devastation that Hurricane Katrina has brought on my home state of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.

Senator Vitter and I are introducing a package today which we hope Congress will look at very carefully.