Hurricane Katrina

HURRICANE KATRINA -- (House of Representatives - September 15, 2005)

(Ms. FOXX asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)

Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, many people have spent time since Hurricane Katrina devastated the gulf coast attempting to place blame on various agencies and elected officials. I would like to take a moment to focus instead on the positive developments that are occurring down there. Day by day, we are seeing improvements, both big and small.

After Katrina, 80 percent of New Orleans was covered in water; now the flood waters have receded to 30 percent and are continuing to recede. Over the weekend, trash collection began in the city, and those who remained behind are already cleaning up their neighborhoods.

In Biloxi, Mississippi, the harbor opened for the first time since Katrina hit. The Coast Guard is now allowing limited commercial traffic, an important step in the recovery of the region. Utility companies are now reporting that around 131,000 homes and businesses are still without power, down from over 800,000.

I am hopeful that some of the other side of the aisle will set aside their partisan barbs and start focusing on the progress that is being made. Finger-pointing does not help the families who lost their homes or loved ones.

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