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Sen. Clinton Demands a 'Katrina Commission'
By Susan Jones
CNSNews.com Senior Editor
September 6, 2005

(CNSNews.com) -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) has sent a letter to President Bush, urging him to appoint an independent national commission to review hurricane relief efforts.

Sen. Clinton also said she would introduce legislation to once again make the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) an independent agency with cabinet-level status.

In her Sept. 4 letter to President Bush - posted on her website -- Sen. Clinton criticized the federal government's response to the disaster:

"It has become increasingly evident that our nation was not prepared to launch an effective federal response plan to an emergency such as Hurricane Katrina," she said.

Sen. Clinton said members of the proposed "Katrina Commission" should have "significant experience, knowledge, training, and planning for natural disaster preparedness and response" so they can "fully examine the adequacy of federal response efforts..."

She said the Katrina commission should be modeled after the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, a panel whose findings have come under fire amid allegations that key information may have been overlooked (see earlier story).

Sen. Clinton said any investigation of the hurricane and its aftermath should include a full assessment of the nation's preparedness for natural disasters and "mitigation" resources; organizational changes that may be needed; why assistance was delayed in getting to people in the impacted areas; and what long-term recovery efforts will be needed for people who survived the initial destruction.

"It is now incumbent upon you Mr. President to ensure that our nation is prepared to handle this disaster and any and all future disasters and I hope you seriously consider my call for an independent Katrina Commission," Sen. Clinton wrote.

"The people of the Gulf deserve an explanation and we must ensure all our citizens that our nation is prepared."

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