Politics > La. Rep.: U.S. Must Ask Tough Questions

Louisiana Congressman Says Americans Must Ask Tough Questions About Safety in Katrina's Wake

Flood victims walk to the Louisiana Superdome to be evacuated from New Orleans on Friday, Sept. 2, 2005. A huge military presence has arrived in the city, restoring order and bringing with them food and water to feed the thousands of victims of Hurrican

"We are engaged in a massive effort under difficult circumstances to save lives and stabilize this crisis so that we may begin to restore our communities," Rep. Charlie Melancon said. "This is job one."

"We must also be about the job of asking tough questions, my fellow Americans questions about the health of our infrastructure and emergency response capabilities," Melancon said. It was an apparent reference to the federal government's widely criticized handling of relief efforts after New Orleans levees broke and flooded the city.

The freshman lawmaker said "long-sought-after coastal restoration projects matter not just for commerce, but safety."

"We have always known these things along the Gulf Coast," he said. "Resources for these crucial projects are not just something nice to do, they are essential."

2005-09-04