Virginia Foxx: “soon after the country became aware of the devastation that Katrina caused on the Gulf Coast, the personal attacks on…”

“soon after the country became aware of the devastation that Katrina caused on the Gulf Coast, the personal attacks on our Nation's leaders began. We have heard constant criticism of the Federal Government for the past week, and we need to get past pointing fingers. The fact of the matter is that progress is being made. We know that. More than 45,000 lives have been saved, including over 23,000 saved by the U.S. Coast Guard alone. Over 273,000 citizens have been evacuated. Nearly 600 shelters have been established, housing 182,000 people, and more than 71,000 personnel are on the ground who have helped deliver more than 11 million meals and 18 million liters of water. We are making progress, but the task is not over. Water is being pumped out of the city, and the evacuation of New Orleans is almost complete. Our personnel are working 20-hour days to ensure that every person is safe and sound. The bottom line, Mr. Speaker, is that while some people choose to point fingers, America is doing what it does best: coming together for one another and helping each other during times of disaster. ____________________”