Landrieu chastises Senate for focusing on defense, not Katrina

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Landrieu chastises Senate for focusing on defense, not Katrina


WASHINGTON -- Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu chastised the Senate on Thursday for working to pass defense legislation while refusing to deal with the immediate needs of victims of Hurricane Katrina.

"Our war is right here at home," Landrieu, a Democrat, said in an emotional speech on the Senate floor. "Our war is right here in the Gulf Coast."

Landrieu said two-thirds of the $63 billion that Congress already has provided in hurricane relief has not been spent by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, even though cities are having to lay off workers and tens of thousands of evacuees are still in shelters and lack health care.

Landrieu said Congress should redirect $14.7 billion of the money already appropriated to provide health care for evacuees, pay the salaries of public employees, and provide relief and help to public schools, hospitals and small businesses.