Scalise: The Story, Ten Years Later, Is One Of Strength And Resiliency

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This evening,Congressman Steve Scalise (R-La.) led a Special Order on the House floor in remembrance of the tenth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Reflecting on the Gulf Coast’s remarkable recovery since Hurricane Katrina made landfall almost a decade ago, Rep. Scalise’s compelling story shared how tragedy has turned in to triumph, and how this historic recovery is due to the strength and resiliency of the people in these Gulf Coast states.

Click here to watch his remarks

A partial transcript of his floor remarks is below:

“August 29 of this year will mark the 10-year anniversary of that Hurricane Katrina struck ground, causing massive devastation throughout southeast Louisiana, as well as other parts of the Gulf Coast, Mississippi and Alabama.

Mr. Speaker, tonight we're going to talk about the devastation that was caused by Hurricane Katrina and of course it starts with the more than 1,800 lives that were lost. People from Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama and Georgia, who all lost their lives through this devastating storm. But, Mr. Speaker, we're also going to talk about something else. That's the strength and resiliency of the people of the Gulf Coast who persevered, who rebuilt and ultimately, Mr. Speaker, we're going to talk about the recovery of the people of the Gulf Coast from this devastating storm.

So much of the national attention on Hurricane Katrina focused on the city of New Orleans and we all remember the pictures, the visuals of people that were displaced of floodwaters that sat, in many cases for two, three weeks, but then, of course, we also remember the many things that happened along the way for people who rebuilt, who came back, who persevered.

The devastation in those 1,833 lives that we lost throughout the Gulf Coast, still live with us. We still remember the people that gave their lives, that lost their lives in this devastating storm. But, Mr. Speaker, some of the things that you saw from the people of southeast Louisiana. I know I saw firsthand, the strength the resiliency of the people, back in the time, not long after the storm hit where there were people questioning whether or not New Orleans would be rebuilt or should be rebuilt. You saw that conversation start around the country. But, Mr. Speaker, that didn't last long before you saw the nation come together and make a commitment and you saw the people of New Orleans make a commitment that the city would be rebuilt. This is where the story of recovery comes out so bright and strong, Mr. Speaker, and that is how the people of the Gulf Coast, how the people of New Orleans responded. People didn’t say they were going to rebuild what was broken. You saw people demanding, demanding Mr. Speaker, that we rebuild better, stronger, more efficient. People started demanding that government work different, that government work better.

Those levees that failed, Mr. Speaker, caused so much of that devastation. People said ‘we need to reform the way that levees are built.’ You saw a citizen uprising in fact that led to dramatic changes in state law. I was in the state representative at the time. We changed the constitution of Louisiana to require that people who serve on levee boards actually have experience. Things like engineering, hydrology. You saw groups, citizen groups, like Women of the Storm, emerge. Where over 50,000 people signed a petition not long after that demanded that laws be changed, Mr. Speaker, to make those kind of reforms in levee boards. And when you look at the levees that were built today and the work of my colleagues up here in Congress and the work of FEMA and other agencies. When you look at those levees, they are dramatically better. The flood protection systems are better in southeast Louisiana.

That didn't happen by accident. The people demanded those kinds of changes. You look at the political reform. And as we all know, every state has got its problems. But Louisiana had a bad history of political corruption, going back over 100 years. And the people of Louisiana demanded a better political system. You actually saw citizens picking up the telephone calling the F.B.I. If they saw an ounce of political corruption. That was zero tolerance for political corruption. People went to jail. But it was because the public said ‘we demand better’ and ultimately that helped lead to the recovery that we see today, ten years later.

Look at the school system, Mr. Speaker. Before Katrina struck, New Orleans had one of the most failed and corrupt public school systems in the country…We had a high school valedictorian who couldn't pass the state exit exam. After Katrina, people said we are going to rebuild but we are going to demand a better public school system. And you saw sweeping reforms move through the state legislature setting up a system of charter schools in the New Orleans area that are touted as model reforms in education systems. That didn't happen by accident. That happened because the people demanded better from government. We saw government fail at every level. Federal, state, local. It’s well documented.

But the story of New Orleans today, 10 years after this storm is a story of a strong and resilient people who said we will absolutely will rebuild. We aren't going to rebuild the same way as it was before with all of the flaws and problems that existed. We are going to demand better. You can see better today. You can see the recovery. It’s not over. There are still some neighborhoods that are working to rebuild. But so many neighborhoods that are stronger today, that are more thriving today. Young people coming in from other states to be part of this renaissance, to be a part of this recovery.

It’s an exciting time to be in the New Orleans region today. But, obviously as we reflect upon the devastation of Katrina 10 years ago, we know how far we’ve come and how much it took it people pulling together and working with groups like the Pastors Resource Council, pastors from all around the country who came together to say, while government had its failings, individuals, communities, and churches came together, and faith-based groups stood up like we know they have done in so many other disasters. Help to get food to people, shelter to people. So, we obviously reflect on and pray for the lives that were lost and remember the devastation that was horrific, but also celebrate the recovery that is still evident in the people of Louisiana.”