Landrieu: Federal Government Failed To Protect American Lives
POSTED: 1:41 pm CDT September 8, 2005
UPDATED: 1:55 pm CDT September 8, 2005
WASHINGTON -- Sen. Mary Landrieu took to the Senate floor today to accuse the federal government of failing in its "greatest responsibility" -- protecting the lives of Americans after Hurricane Katrina left New Orleans flooded.
Landrieu, who lost her family home in the storm, was surrounded by Senate Democrats as she spoke for 30 minutes in the hushed chamber about her experiences over the past two week. Only one Republican, Sen. Thad Cochran of Mississippi, was on the floor.
Landrieu joined her Republican colleague, Sen. David Vitter, in calling for a bipartisan response to the disaster.
But she led Senate Democrats today in proposing a broader aid package than the one Bush proposed.
It would largely bypass the Federal Emergency Management Agency and provide relief funds directly to disaster victims.
Vitter is in Louisiana today.
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