Congressman Harold Ford today voted for an independent commission to investigate the federal government's response to Hurricane Katrina and to assess our ability to respond to future catastrophic emergencies. Congressman Ford also voted against a Republican measure for an investigation by members of Congress.
In a statement, Congressman Ford said:
"Government cannot effectively investigate itself. That is why I voted to form an independent commission, similar to the one that investigated the 9/11 attacks, to examine what went wrong with our response to Hurricane Katrina. The purpose of the commission is not to place blame. Rather, the purpose is to make sure we do everything necessary to ensure that the same mistakes are not repeated.
"After a thorough investigation over the next 45 days, the commission should send specific recommendations to Congress and the President, who then should work together to develop legislation to put those proposals into action.
"The American people deserve prompt action so the next time disaster strikes, the federal government is prepared to respond effectively."
