Mary Landrieu

I believe we cannot continue to support a policy that will close the doors of our small businesses.

But the blanket moratorium on all deepwater drilling does nothing to advance that goal, and in fact the de facto shallow water moratorium has even less of a nexus to the original problem.

I mean all we hear from restaurant owners is that they are freezing, getting ready to lay off.

But let me be clear as one of the first senators to call for a full investigation into the accident and request more effective safeguards against future spills, I share the Administration's goal of a safer oil and gas industry.

The fact is, regardless of how it is reported, the fact is that Louisiana's coast line is a working coast that brings this country an abundance of seafood, energy, and navigation assets unmatched by any coast in the United States and…

But when an accident does happen, I cannot think of another situation where we brought an entire industry to a screeching halt.

We continue to want to work very, very closely.

I want to say that at the time of Hurricane Katrina--Mr. Fugate, this--that the Federal Government allowed these officials to borrow a total amount of money of $5 million.

FEMA is not a recovery organization. They are not a rebuilding organization.

I want to be clear that we are going to leave here committed to figuring this out.

But I just want to be clear for this record on this question, because this is just critical to our success moving forward.

I am very pleased with the tremendous support that we have received from President Obama.

Government is not adequately prepared structurally to respond to a catastrophic event.

I believe the Corps understands, and, of course, all of us understand that 100-year flood protection is not adequate to protect what it is that we know is coming our way.

We need to bring that urgency and that actual process to the coastal restoration.

If you have doubts about funding a safer, more protected New Orleans area... I want you to tour this school building with me.

We have made Gulf Coast recovery one of the very measures of our agency's success for the next 5 years.

Thank you so much, Congressman Scalise.

If we do all these things, I think we are at the verge of really witnessing probably one of the most catalytic urban transformations in recent history.

We can take credit for that.

As we approach the 5-year anniversary of the worst natural and manmade disaster in American history, we are compelled to pause and consider the road we have traveled.

If it were not for Senator Landrieu, much of this would not have happened.

We have a special obligation to get it right.

I would encourage Congress and the Senate to give broader authorization to FEMA to settle lump sum with parishes and mayors all over the country.

I want every resident of this proud region to know that this Administration will never forget you.