Security - What's New - Archive
WomenMatter will continuously post updates on all this and other issues as we monitor the continuing philosophical and practical debates nationwide.
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Laws-to-go? Lawmaking in a Time of Urgency
Disasters can happen anywhere. How secure are you in your area’s emergency response system and capabilities for long-term rebuilding? The 9-11 and Katrina disasters have encouraged us to rethink the meanings of homeland security and the role of government.
New Orleans revisited
Louisiana officials and residents are feeling left behind. Many in the Gulf Coast region have been complaining about stalled relief legislation in Congress and lack of leadership from the White House.
Authorities in Louisiana want funding to restore coastal wetlands and reconstruct levees that could withstand Category 5 hurricanes. Without such legislation, investors are hesitant to finance and plan projects in the damaged region. Hesitation today creates economic decline tomorrow, officials say, and those who will lead reconstruction, like town planner Keith Villere, say that "people want government to speak with one voice," to unite and make a commitment to rebuilding.
But the lawmaking process was designed to negotiate varying points of view from various parts of the country, and compromise can take a long time. Our representative government is comprised of many voices, including cries of dissent. For example, some legislators worry about the cost of reconstruction, an important issue since the U.S. suffers an enormous budget deficit.
That’s not to say that bills are never passed quickly. After Katrina, Congress hurriedly provided billions in aid. But it will take some time to pass legislation that plans for long-term relief and considers controversial issues such as whether or not to rebuild the Ninth Ward.
However, to hurricane victims, the system is disorganized and slow. They need a commitment from Congress now. They say that Congress responded to 9-11 efficiently and they want the same response to their tragedy. Some say that other political issues have taken priority, such as the Supreme Court nominations, the budget, Iraq, and the CIA leak investigation.
The contradiction between urgent need and a deliberate, careful, and political lawmaking process presents an interesting question; should pressing security matters be decided in a different way?
Most recent Katrina bill
Although hurricane victims do not feel relieved, Congress is making some progress in the relief effort. On Monday, November 21, 2005, President Bush signed a bill that will fund more federal flood insurance claims.
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) provides flood insurance for about 4.6 million home and business owners across the country, and the agency’s funds are already exhausted by hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma.
The bill will allow NFIP to borrow $18.5 billion from the Treasury to pay flood insurance claims.
Since 1986, NFIP has been able to support itself financially because losses have not exceeded premiums that are paid by home and business owners. However, hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma overpowered the NFIP along with the Gulf Coast.
This year, the NFIP will have to borrow in order to pay claims, and the Congressional Budget Office expects the agency to be in debt for more than ten years.
Are you willing to pay more taxes to pay for hurricane relief and reconstruction? Should there be a special lawmaking process for emergencies? Some would say that our health care and education systems are in a state of emergency as well. What issues do you consider emergencies? Do your representatives know your priorities?
What do you think?
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Update Posted on: 11/26/2005
