C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger: “I rise today to join all Americans in expressing our great sorrow for those who have lost loved ones in the wake of…”

“I rise today to join all Americans in expressing our great sorrow for those who have lost loved ones in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and our outrage for those still suffering in the South. This is a real crisis, and Americans are in need. These people, many of whom are most vulnerable, have lost everything. Now they are losing hope. President Bush has called the response ``not acceptable.'' This must change now. It is not about Democrats or Republicans; it is about helping our fellow Americans in their darkest hour. This is not the time for excuses or blame. Our country has the means to rescue and care for these people; and we must do it quickly, before more lives are lost. First, we need to address their very basic needs. We need to get food, water, and medical supplies to the thousands of people desperately waiting for it at shelters like the Superdome and the convention center in New Orleans. Rescue workers also need to get a handle on who is trying to survive out on their own in flooded areas across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. We need to send out the National Guard and local police in skiffs, boats and helicopters to locate these people, street by street and house by house, rescue them and bring them to a safe location where supplies are waiting for them and reconnect them with their loved ones. One national database needs to be set up for family members searching for survivors once they have been brought to safety.…”