Steven Holt: “my thoughts and prayers today, and for the last few days, have been with the people of Louisiana, Mississippi and…”

“my thoughts and prayers today, and for the last few days, have been with the people of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama and their family members. The Gulf Coast region has experienced what will long be remembered as one of the worse natural disasters in our country's history. In the weeks, months and years to come a massive clean up will occur and then we will work to rebuild the homes, roads, businesses, and schools affected. But we will not be able to forget the death, the destruction or the emotional toll this terrible tragedy has inflicted on the people affected and across the Gulf Coast. I am glad that we in Congress are providing the Federal Emergency Management Agency with the additional funds required to ensure that the needed rescue and recovery mission continues unimpeded. We have all seen on the television and read in the newspapers about the current situation in the Gulf Coast. The images and stories are heartbreaking and deeply troubling, but they are of people we know and they are our fellow citizens. Many of us know people who live in New Orleans, might have been vacationing there, or were supposed to return to college this fall. These are our family members, our friends, and our neighbors, and we cannot let them down. My own sister lives in the heart of New Orleans and as we meet now she still waits for evacuation--for the fifth day without running water or power.…”