Robert Wexler (D) Tells Bush To Fire FEMA's Brown

Robert Wexler's Office | 9-06-05 | Robert Wexler

[My Favorite Headache]

September 6, 2005

President George W. Bush The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear President Bush:

I am writing to renew my request that you remove Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response from his current position at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). When I first called for Under Secretary Brown's replacement, in the aftermath of Hurricanes Frances, it was undeniable that Under Secretary Brown had been responsible for a massive misallocation of recovery aid funds. Given the federal government's weak response in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and FEMA's failure to adequately address the catastrophe in New Orleans, I am even more convinced that Under Secretary Brown must be removed immediately.

Statements by Under Secretary Brown and FEMA officials that they would have been unable to anticipate or were justifiably ill-prepared to respond to a major hurricane hitting New Orleans are not plausible. As you well know, in 2001 FEMA cited this very disaster in New Orleans as a horrific possibility. It is a stain upon the record of FEMA and the Administration that the groundwork was not laid to prepare for a hurricane of this magnitude -- either as an advance plan from 2001 or in the days leading up to Katrina's landing when experts predicted it would hit the Gulf Coast as a Category 5 storm. As the director of FEMA, Under Secretary Brown should not only be in the business of responding to natural disasters, but should have put in place critical preventative measures and contingency plans that would have better enabled local, state and federal officials to respond to the physical destruction of Katrina as well as the humanitarian needs of millions of citizens in the region.

Last year in Florida, FEMA experienced some difficulties establishing an adequate supply chain to meet the needs of the all areas of Florida given the severity of the damage to such a significant portion of the state. Given the overall damage of the four hurricanes to hit Florida in succession, this failure to bring needed supplies may have been understandable; however, I said at the time that it was remarkable that FEMA is not set up to provide complete wide-spread assistance for a prolonged period of time as was required in the aftermath of Florida's hurricanes. What is more astonishing and totally unacceptable is that in the year since these devastating series of hurricanes barreled through Florida, FEMA did not undertake a comprehensive review of its overall disaster preparedness. The people of the Gulf Coast are suffering greatly for this failure.

I wrote you in January that the fraud permitted in Miami-Dade County, Florida detracted from the invaluable work FEMA has carried out. I continue to believe that FEMA does valuable work; however, under the leadership of Under Secretary Brown, it became embroiled in fraud in Miami-Dade and tarnished by gross incompetence in the immediate aftermath of Katrina. Despite these two major debacles over the past year, Under Secretary Brown has yet to take responsibility for the actions of FEMA. Mr. President, it is time for you to hold Under Secretary Brown to account for the inexcusable failure of his agency in responding to the crippling disaster of Hurricane Katrina.

In addition to removing Under Secretary Brown from his position as FEMA's director, I believe that the enormity of the government's failures in responding to this disaster necessitates a thorough investigation by an independent commission similar to that which took place after 9/11. Katrina's devastation is an unfortunate wakeup call for all Americans who deserve to know that the federal government, in conjunction with state and local authorities, is doing everything it can do to prevent a similar calamity. In this vein, I stand ready to work with your Administration and my colleagues in Congress to make necessary changes to FEMA so that the Agency and the federal government is fully prepared and able to address a disaster of this magnitude in the future.

Thank you for your time and careful consideration of my concerns.

With warm regards,

Robert Wexler,

MEMBER OF CONGRESS

Lale M. Mamaux Communications Director Office of Congressman Robert Wexler 213 Cannon House Office Building (202) 225- 3001 lale.mamaux@mail.house.gov

[atomicpossum]

You mean Blanco DuBois?

Well, she has apparently always relied on the competence of strangers...

[Muzzle_em]

I agree with you.
He's dragging the president down.
Also, the governor and mayor NEED TO BE FORCED to answer for their criminal negligence! The media is COMPLETELY ignoring it! I just want to scream.

[andyk]

*With Warm Regards*

LOL, I immediately scrolled down to see how he'd close it.

[Clemenza]

It's too bad Florida voters don't fire Wexler. He is one major PITA.

Wexler has one of the safest Democratic districts in the country. It stretches from Tamarac and Coral Springs all the way up to West Palm Beach, with its core in Boca Raton. It is referred to by some as the "bagel belt" due to the large, secular Jewish population transplanted from the Northeast. Wexler isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

[hflynn]

You mean Blanco DuBois?

Er, I mean Governor Blanco. Do you mean Tennessee Williams's Blanche DuBois?

[Eagle Eye]

I've had dealings with his office. They are shrill. I've never had any other congressional office yell into the phone an hang up on me.

But what does wexler (and some freepers) want FEMA to do? Compete with Walmart as a logistical and supply supergiant?

[My Favorite Headache]

Old stompin ground ping

[Howlin]

Yes, but after all, she IS at the mercy of the kindness of "the federal government," isn't she?

[TexasGreg]

I wish Bush could somehow fire Wexler.

[scottdeus12]

Amen Cutter

[timydnuc]

Isn't Wesler the one with the large naris (nose holes). If so, he can shove it there.

[RasterMaster]

I thought this bozo was fired a few years ago....hadn't heard any of his ranting since 2000.

[shhrubbery!]

Robert Wexler (D) Tells Bush To Fire FEMA's Brown

And 52% of Americans tell Wexler to stuff it.

[righttackle44]

On what basis? That the leadership of Louisiana violated state law and didn't provide for the evacuation of the people or the provision of transportation of the poor or didn't provide transportation for poor people to leave the area or that Landrieu physically threatened to assault the President or that the governor broke down and cried on national TV or the mayor of New Orleans had a nuclear breakdown?

[mountainfolk]

Oh my! So original. Rats demands for the firing by Pres Bush of Chaney, Rumsfeld, etc. have become so frequent that I am surprised this even makes the papers. Of course it is an opportune time for Bush bashing and the RATS think every little bit helps. SLIMERS.

[Califelephant]

If Wexler is fur it, I'm agin in.

[hflynn]

Yes, but after all, she IS at the mercy of the kindness of "the federal government," isn't she?

I think Governor Blanco is playing it exactly in reverse. This incompetent bafoon thinks the federal government is at the mercy of the kindness of Governor Blanco but when the story of her "I need 24 hours to think it over." response to George Bush's offer to have the federal government act immediately gets out Blanco is gonzo.

[Logical me]

I wish I call you for being so stupid, but I won't. Brain dead is a disease of the left.

[river rat]

I SHOCKED that Wexler "the idiot" is complaining again...

Has this feckless imbecile EVER done anything of merit to be referred to as the "Honorable" Congress Critter from Florida..

It breaks my heart to see SO MANY assholes in Congress.

Semper Fi

[U.H. Conservative]

They could, after the story had become national news, have been aware of the situation at the Civic Center. I mean someone, even a janitor there, had to be watching the TV or listening to radio.