Mary Landrieu

Does the House bill help us to reduce volatility in this price, or will it contribute to the volatility of this price?

I want to say I think it is a very smart idea, and I would argue to my colleagues, both Democrats and Republicans, that using the entrepreneurialship model more for trying to have Government programs be successful is something that I think…

The President is very focused--and it is really very bipartisan as well--on this whole new concept of social entrepreneurship.

I would love to talk with Senator Snowe about it--and also the particular business of daycare--because it supports and undergirds small business everywhere.

I think he will be an incredible asset to the work of this Contracting Oversight Subcommittee.

The money should come to the communities that were hurt the worst where the needs are the greatest

It is virtually impossible to rebuild a community without the small business base.

I am going to be watching this very carefully, and we will work with our friends in Texas...

I want to be very clear about one principle, that we are now using Community Development Block Grant at the federal level to try to respond to communities that are struck by disasters because the current programs are just not sufficient.

We insisted that one-third of the funds be dispersed within 60 days

We just passed that amendment this week off the Senate floor, and we hope it stays in the bill because it will give the State of Texas a great deal more flexibility in how those Community Development Block Grant monies can be used and can…

Thank you for your time and for your caring.

We have subsequently passed at least one law that will help, and if we can expand it, it would cover that instance where we have required FEMA now to basically reimburse as a whole police stations, fire stations, and public schools.

I have long wanted to come to Galveston as a resident of New Orleans and as a senator now from the State of Louisiana into my third term.

What we have to recognize is, unfortunately, those days of garden district storms are over with.

I think it is a relatively small number.

We also required specifically that 10 percent of this funding go for, I think, rental, affordable housing.

It is not necessarily meant to be a Community Development Block Grant bonanza for the entire state.

We insisted that the money be distributed as between states based on damage

That is our hope and intention, and I am very pleased that we have a representative from HUD on the second panel.

It is extremely important that we eventually get that law changed to authorize them to do that.

Making sure that FEMA is working at its optimal level, that there is coordination at the federal level that really honors and respects the hard work going on at the street level or the local level is important to me.

I am Senator Mary Landrieu, and I would like to call this field hearing to order.

FEMA has been in the business of short-term emergency housing, but I put the emphasis on 'short.'

I hope that you receive this in the spirit because that is our only tool right now at the federal level.