House leader: Keep feds out of disaster response

  • Congress Daily
  • September 26, 2005
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House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, is disagreeing with President Bush and others considering how and when the military should take greater control of relief efforts during national disasters.

"I don't want the federal government to take over disaster response, believe me," he told the Associated Press.

DeLay said he could not support a system that did not allow local first responders to remain in charge during a catastrophe. Asked why, he responded: "Bureaucracy. Bureaucracy. Bureaucracy."

The White House and some lawmakers say the Pentagon has the ability to respond quickly and with enough manpower.

"If you have a situation like a Hurricane Katrina where the state and local first responders, to a large extent, are victims themselves and somewhat overwhelmed, then what do you do in a situation like that," said White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan.

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