Durbin: FEMA Director Should Resign

DURBIN: FEMA DIRECTOR SHOULD RESIGN

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that Michael Brown, Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has mismanaged the federal government's response to the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina and should resign.

"I believe Michael Brown should step down as the head of FEMA," Durbin said "It is clear that Mr. Brown was not prepared to lead the federal rescue and recovery effort necessary to cope with this disaster. As a result of his inexperience and mismanagement, thousands of Americans have suffered."

"The events of the last ten days have shown that Mr. Brown has repeatedly exercised poor judgment and has failed in his basic responsibilities. His continued presence in this critical position endangers the success of the ongoing recovery efforts. The individual in charge of FEMA must inspire confidence and be able to coordinate hundreds of federal, state and local resources. Mr. Brown simply doesn't have the ability or the experience to oversee a coordinated federal response of this magnitude."

Durbin noted that Brown was appointed by the President to oversee FEMA despite his limited emergency management experience. Prior to coming to FEMA, Brown spent more than a decade working for the International Arabian Horse Association as the commissioner of judges and stewards.

"I agree with the President and others who say now is not the time for finger-pointing. Now is the time to continue aggressive relief efforts in the coming weeks and months," Durbin said. "But we cannot expect those efforts to be successful if we allow the same individuals who mismanaged the initial response to Hurricane Katrina to now direct the spending of billions of dollars in recovery efforts."

http://durbin.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=245365&&