James Oberstar: “10 days ago Hurricane Katrina slammed into America's Gulf Coast. The devastation we have seen is unprecedented. While…”

“10 days ago Hurricane Katrina slammed into America's Gulf Coast. The devastation we have seen is unprecedented. While the Federal Government's response to this devastation has itself been a management catastrophe, I have been heartened by the overwhelming response of our fellow Americans to the victims of Katrina. People have opened their homes and their hearts to their victims. They have donated food, clothing, and money. The goodness of our citizens to one another, especially in their time of need, should make all Americans proud. With a heavy heart, but with confidence in a better future, I join all my colleagues today in expressing my personal deep sense of sorrow and offering the condolences of a nation to all the victims of Hurricane Katrina. All who have watched these tragic events unfold before us on TV are inspired by, and in awe of, the resilience of the New Orleanians, their courage under adversity, their extraordinary self-sacrifice in mutual assistance, their love of their city, and their determination to rebuild their lives. I pledge my enduring efforts--and I know that my colleagues on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure join in this pledge--to provide New Orleans and the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, the resources necessary for the reconstruction efforts. Today we must remain focused on the recovery from the devastation wrought by Katrina.…”