Pelosi to Hastert: Congress Should Establish Select Hurricane Relief Task Force

Pelosi to Hastert: Congress Should Establish Select Hurricane Relief Task Force

Thursday, September 1, 2005

Contact: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. â€" House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi sent the following letter to Speaker Hastert this afternoon requesting that the House establish a Select Hurricane Relief Task Force to quickly respond to the crisis caused by Hurricane Katrina:

September 1, 2005

The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert
Speaker of the House of Representatives
H-230 The Capitol
Washington, D. C. 20515

Dear Mr. Speaker:

The unfolding tragedy along our Gulf Coast demands that Congress organize quickly to address the emergency assistance and recovery needs of millions in our affected coastal areas.

We face an extraordinary challenge in providing this assistance; I strongly recommend that a Select Hurricane Relief Task Force be legislatively empowered to respond to the crisis. The Task Force would be composed of Members of the respective leaderships, Chairmen and ranking Democrats of committees with jurisdiction, as well as Members from the region and others. Waiting for multiple committees to act on a crisis of such breadth is not acceptable.

The scope of this crisis crosses so many jurisdictional lines that a special Task Force is required. We must focus on critical areas including public health and sanitation, public safety, housing, energy supplies, national transportation infrastructure, commerce, and the safety and adequacy of food supplies.

Mr. Speaker, time is of the essence. Millions of Americans who have been devastated by this disaster and the entire American family are turning to their elected representatives to respond with expedited policies. We must assure a prompt and thorough response by creating a Select Hurricane Relief Task Force.

Sincerely,

Nancy Pelosi