Fiscal Responsibility in Katrina's Wake

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY IN KATRINA'S WAKE -- (House of Representatives - October 19, 2005)

(Mrs. SCHMIDT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mrs. SCHMIDT. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I attended a Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee meeting entitled ``A Vision and Strategy For Rebuilding New Orleans.'' I found it to be interesting, and I am excited for the opportunity to help rebuild one of America's great cities. It is an undertaking that we must take seriously.

Amid the allegations that Katrina evacuees' relief supplies were found in the garages of government officials, it is obvious that there is a lot of potential abuse for misspending $100 billion of Federal money. It is with this in mind that I felt the need to urge my colleagues to exercise discretion when authorizing additional funding.

Following yesterday's subcommittee meeting, I knew that I had a duty to speak on behalf of the American taxpayers. Only after intense scrutiny and with due diligence should we appropriate additional funds, making sure that government is doing its job, rebuilding the schools and infrastructure.

There were two statements given in testimony that were particularly troubling to me. First was the mayor, who wants now to have a light rail system to facilitate future evacuations. Now, I am all for rebuilding New Orleans, but this is not an opportunity to get your Christmas list out and go fishing on pet projects.

The other was the statement from the Governor. Someone on the committee asked how much money Louisiana had spent to date. She had no idea. No idea of how much money her State has spent? How can we trust this government with our money when it cannot account for its own?

We have limited resources. This is the American taxpayers' money. We need to spend it prudently and wisely. I ask for caution in spending American taxpayer dollars.

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