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Washington, D.C. - Congressman Maurice Hinchey today released the following statement regarding the fourth anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks.
"While it is hard to believe that four years have passed since the horrific terrorist attacks of September 11th, the images of that day and the memories of those we lost are seared into our minds forever. Our thoughts and prayers remain with those who lost loved ones on that fateful day and those who were injured in the attacks.
"Today, we must redouble our efforts to fight terrorism around the world to ensure that such a tragedy never repeats itself. As we saw this summer with the London bombings, there are still those in the world who wish to kill, harm, and terrorize our allies and us.
"Nearly four years after the September 11th terrorist attacks, our nation experienced another great tragedy. This time it was a natural disaster in the form of a hurricane, which has devastated much of the Gulf Coast. Just as we saw on September 11th, when our fellow Americans are in need, the rest of our country comes to their side.
"While these two tragedies are very different, we must draw lessons from both that will help strengthen our country against all future disasters. The federal government's response to Hurricane Katrina has been abysmal. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in particular, along with direction from the top of the Bush Administration, has failed the people of the Gulf Coast and all Americans.
"I am extremely concerned that four years after September 11th, this country's ability to respond to a disaster is inadequate. We've all heard the doomsday scenarios of a major American city being wiped out by a terrorist attack. In the case of Hurricane Katrina, we witnessed a disaster in which a city was in fact essentially wiped out. Yet despite days of warning that a massive hurricane was approaching, the federal government could not adequately handle the situation and millions of people have to directly suffer the consequences. We cannot help but wonder what would happen if a terrorist attack of the same scope were to take place with no warning at all. What this means is that we must quickly and efficiently reorganize FEMA and truly prepare for the unexpected. We cannot allow the deaths of the victims of September 11th and Hurricane Katrina to be in vain. We must recognize that there is much progress to be made so that the federal government can adequately respond to disasters of all kinds.
"So today we reflect on the lives lost, we pray for their surviving loved ones and friends, and we look forward to a future in which all Americans will live peacefully in this great country of ours, knowing that their government is protecting them and prepared to keep them safe."
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