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Continues call for more accountability

Today United States Rep. Virginia Foxx (N.C.-5) renewed her call for more accountability and commended President Bush for responding to calls for disaster oversight by naming FDIC Chairman Donald Powell the federal coordinator of Gulf Coast reconstruction.

“I am pleased that the administration has heard the calls my conservative colleagues and I have made for more accountability in disaster response. I am hopeful that Mr. Powell will provide the type of oversight we need,” said Rep. Foxx. “It appears President Bush has taken an important step to protect American taxpayers and ensure greater responsibility in our relief efforts. However, we must continue to take additional steps to increase financial oversight and to examine the federal government’s fundamental role in disaster relief.”

Earlier this fall, Rep. Foxx was one of 11 Members of Congress who voted against a $51.8 billion Katrina supplemental bill, citing high potential for the waste, fraud and abuse of federal tax dollars. She has long pushed the administration to provide greater oversight and accountability. Rep. Foxx co-sponsored legislation to create a Chief Financial Officer to oversee the federal government’s relief efforts. She also voted to create a bi-partisan committee to investigate the government’s response to Hurricane Katrina and to determine the appropriate role of the federal government in disaster relief.

Since the $51.8 billion supplemental bill passed Congress, less than half of the funds have been spent. There have been numerous reports of waste and misuse of funds. Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) has called on Congress to re-program the money because she claims the money is not going to help those in need, as intended. President Bush has also indicated that he will ask Congress to re-direct some of the funds to reconstruction efforts.

“When Congress was asked to approve the massive $51.8 billion supplemental, I was very vocal about my concern that the money be spent wisely,” said Rep. Foxx. “I am pleased that the President and my colleagues in Congress are taking steps to correct this mistake and better guard our taxpayers.”

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