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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) delivered a speech on the U.S. Senate floor commemorating the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and emphasizing the significant progress made since the storm to rebuild and strengthen our infrastructure.
“It is a heartbreaking anniversary. Hurricane Katrina destroyed lives, separated families, and stole belongings we thought would be cherished forever,” said Dr. Cassidy.
“As the 20th anniversary approaches, we are reminded of these losses, but also that—in the worst times—Americans come together,” continued Dr. Cassidy.
Cassidy’s remarks as prepared for delivery are below:
Mr. President, I want to mark the upcoming anniversary of one of the worst disasters my state has ever faced—Hurricane Katrina.
20 years ago this August, Louisiana—and much of the Gulf Coast region—suffered a devastating blow that required such a response.
It is a heartbreaking anniversary.
Hurricane Katrina destroyed lives, separated families, and stole belongings we thought would be cherished forever.
The devastation was felt in every community across my state.
People in South Louisiana sought refuge at the Bossier City Civic Center and the Hirsch Coliseum in Shreveport.
They flocked to emergency shelters in Monroe, Alexandria, and everywhere in between.
In Baton Rouge, I led a group of volunteers to convert an abandoned K-Mart building into an emergency health care facility for evacuees.
Shortly after, in 2006, I decided to run for public office, and have been working to prevent another disaster of this scale ever since.
Since then, we’ve invested $15 billion in the levee systems, which have stood the test multiple times.
I provided millions in coastal resiliency grants through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and millions more in flood mitigation assistance grants for Louisiana.
As an example, if you go from LaPlace toward Baton Rouge, they’re doing all kinds of work on a huge flood control structure which I helped get the money for.
You go to Lake Pontchartrain, and you can see what over 50 million dollars can do for local restoration efforts.
All because I went to bat for Louisiana priorities in the infrastructure bill.
Improving highways and evacuation routes, hardening our electric grid, and investing in flood mitigation are all direct results of my involvement in IIJA.
And the reason I did it is we can’t prevent another hurricane, but we can prevent some of the bad things that happen afterwards.
As the 20th anniversary approaches, we are reminded of these losses, but also that—in the worst times—Americans come together.
We are seeing the same reaction following the devastation in Texas this month.
In the weeks following Katrina, people from all over the country stepped up to assist with disaster relief.
Florida, Kansas, Pennsylvania, California, Texas, Nebraska, Illinois, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio, Kentucky, Iowa, South Carolina, Virginia, Arizona, Montana, and Nevada all sent National Guard to help.
Similarly, people from different states all went to Texas to help: Indiana, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Missouri.
Because when tragedy hits anywhere, Americans from everywhere respond.
We may not be able to take away the pain of loss—I wish we could.
But Congress can help ease the financial burden of recovery.
An essential way to do that is with affordable insurance.
Americans deserve that support.
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