Ted Poe: “when hurricane disaster hit Louisiana and Texas, many people suffered, and many people profited on this misfortune. To…”

“when hurricane disaster hit Louisiana and Texas, many people suffered, and many people profited on this misfortune. To the rescue was FEMA. But the phrase itself brings fear and trepidation into the hearts and souls of those affected by this disaster. Why? Many people that needed help never got it and never will. But some people did get help, and they profited on this disaster, and FEMA paid for it. The GAO says FEMA wasted $1.6 billion of taxpayer money, or 16 percent of all funding. Thieves used unlawful money to get season football tickets, vacation at Hawaiian resorts for 2\1/2\ months, paid for a divorce lawyer, go to topless clubs, and, get this, even pay for a sex change operation. FEMA even sent money to prison inmates pretending to be hurricane victims. Mr. Speaker, this ought not to be. FEMA should only be responsible for passing out toothbrushes to these thieves, because that is all they will need when they go to prison. If employees at FEMA are accomplices they should go to jail too. Hurricane season is back. But do not expect FEMA to help in the next disaster, they are the disaster. And that's just the way it is. ____________________”