Maria's Monday Memo

Maria's Monday Memo

Senator Maria Cantwell's Weekly Update for Washington State

Helping Victims of Hurricane Katrina

I remain deeply saddened by the recent devastation wrought along the Gulf Coast by Hurricane Katrina, and am concerned by the destruction and hardship facing the region's residents. The many Americans who have already contributed to relief efforts deserve our utmost thanks. However, the job is just beginning, and I am committed to working with my colleagues to help victims of this tragedy get back on the path to a bright and successful future. The $10.5 billion emergency aid bill passed on September 1, and the $51.8 billion relief package passed on September 8, are important initial steps I strongly support.

It is critical to back ongoing hurricane response efforts, and I will continue to work with my Senate colleagues to provide the resources needed by thousands of our fellow Americans impacted by this horrific disaster. I will also work to figure out what went wrong. Four years after 9/11, the government was supposed to be prepared for a crisis like Katrina, yet it was not. The American people deserve to find out why. An independent commission worked four years ago, and there is no reason we should not turn to one now.

In the mean time, as we confront the immediate needs of the Gulf Coast, many members of the military based in Washington, as well as our National Guard and Reserves, have already been dispatched to the impacted area or are getting ready to be deployed. McChord Air Force Base personnel flew five C-17 cargo planes to the region last week to transport hurricane victims out of the area, and additional C-17s remain on "standby" for anticipated deployments. On September 2, KC-135R Aircraft from the Washington Air National Guard (ANG) 141 st Air Refueling Wing based at Fairchild began flying missions into Naval Air Station New Orleans carrying Oregon National Guard soldiers on the first of many expected transport missions. Governor Gregoire has readied 600 soldiers/airmen to be committed and I am proud of the role that the Washington National Guard has played in the initial response. The men and women of our State's National Guard will remain poised to respond to future requests for aid during the coming weeks.

There is a great deal of work ahead, and I am encouraged by the outpouring of support and unity expressed by so many of my constituents for the victims of this tragedy. Your help is of great value to those in need. For information on how you can help, visit FEMA at http://www.fema.gov . For a list of other organizations involved in relief efforts, and ways in which you can donate to them or volunteer, visit http://www.fema.gov/press/2005/katrinadonations.shtm .
Standing Up to Price Gouging

When disasters strike, we need to make sure we have a plan to protect American consumers. With drivers in Washington state paying 97 cents a gallon more than last year, we need to put oil companies on notice that profiteering at the gas pump will not be tolerated—especially during national emergencies. To prevent price gouging at the pump, I am introducing legislation that will ban manipulation in the oil and gasoline markets and implement new investigation and enforcement mechanisms. My bill will ban zone pricing, promote transparency by requiring full disclosure of wholesale gas pricing policies, and enact stronger enforcement authority for the Federal Trade Commission, Department of Energy, and Department of Justice. It will also allow the President to put into place price mitigation to control costs during times of crisis.

According to the latest data from the federal Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline prices are averaging about $2.96 a gallon in Washington state—97 cents higher than last year. Even before the hurricane struck, prices had reached $2.73 a gallon, or 74 cents higher than at the same time in 2004.

We know that the oil companies are racking up record profits and we need to demand some accountability . Markets cannot function without transparency. We learned our lesson with Enron, and there's no reason the oil industry should not be subject to the same rules as other types of energy companies.

High gas prices can have the same negative impact on our economy as inflated prices in other energy sectors. To promote stability and predictability in a region dependent on reliable sources of affordable fuel, we need to take steps to ensure that the President has the tools needed to prevent price gouging and keep us on the path to economic recovery.

http://cantwell.senate.gov/updates/weekly_update.html