Ben Cardin: “I rise to say that our thoughts and prayers go out to all those who have suffered through the catastrophic event of…”

“I rise to say that our thoughts and prayers go out to all those who have suffered through the catastrophic event of Hurricane Katrina. I also rise today in support of the $10 billion supplemental spending bill to help deal with the ravages left in its wake. This category 4 Hurricane has laid waste to our Gulf Coast region, including the city of New Orleans. Today, I am outraged, outraged at the failure of our Federal Government to have planned for and adequately responded to a disaster we all knew could happen. I join millions of Americans who have been stunned by the television coverage showing the desperation of thousands and thousands of our citizens and the failure of our Government to provide them with essential services--food, water, medical care, and sanitary conditions. Today, I want to talk about the situation in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast and the immense suffering and desperation that the people there are experiencing. It has been 5 days since Hurricane Katrina slammed into the region and yet tens of thousands of Americans are without food and water. Lawlessness has settled in New Orleans and we have not provided the support necessary to secure the region.…”