Davis Seeks Disaster-Preparedness Hearing

Press Release

Davis Seeks Disaster-Preparedness Hearing

Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., ranking member on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, asked today for a hearing to address shortcomings in federal disaster response.

In a letter to Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., Davis asked for a hearing to examine steps taken to address shortcomings identified by the Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina.

The February 2006 report from the Select Committee, which Davis headed, pointed to failures in organizational structures, decision-making procedures, resource policies, logistics systems and inter-agency protocols to emergency response.

"Correcting those systemic organizational deficiencies requires sustained initiative by federal departments and agencies," Davis wrote. "And we should show the same initiative in conducting timely oversight of what is being done to improve disaster response."

Davis suggested the hearing focus on changes to the National Response Plan, communications and interoperability, Federal Emergency Management Agency contracting reform and overall response capability. He said he has become concerned about recent reports that personnel and resource shortcomings could hinder hospitals' ability to meet demand during large-scale emergencies. Also, questions have arisen over whether National Guard units, depleted in personnel and equipment by long and repeated deployments to Iraq, are prepared for disaster response.

"Given our committee's broad jurisdiction over all federal government operations and our unique purview over intergovernmental relationships, a hearing would give us the opportunity to hear from local, state and national emergency response officials on these pressing issues," Davis wrote.

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