IS CONYERS THE ONLY SENATOR OR REPRESENTATIVE WITH A CONSCIENCE...? Are there any other progressive voices in Congress with the courage to speak out and take action...?
rawstory.com
Conyers readies gas price gouging, hurricane bankruptcy bills
RAW STORY
John Conyers, the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, will introduce legislation next week in response to gas price gouging and bankruptcies related to Hurricane Katrina, RAW STORY has learned.
Democrats inserted provisions into the bankruptcy bill last year to provide for similar emergencies, but they were stripped out of the final bill.
"I plan to introduce legislation explicitly giving the federal government authority to pursue price gouging actions -- price gouging is a national problem, and it warrants a national response," Conyers quipped. "Second, I am introducing a law to amend the Bankruptcy Code so that the most onerous provisions of the new law, scheduled to take effect October 17, do not inflict damage on the millions of victims of Hurricane Katrina and their families.
"While these steps won't save lives, they will help alleviate the massive financial burdens in the Gulf and around the nation," he added.
He also criticized the government's response to the disaster.
"There is no sugarcoating how we got here," he remarked. "There is little doubt the Administration has underfunded flood protection in New Orleans. There is little doubt FEMA and the military did not prepare adequately for the likelihood of flooding in a city below sea level that is in a hurricane prone area."
"The task before us today is alleviating the ongoing hardship we see every day. At some point the president will also need to reevaluate the individuals he has placed in charge of FEMA. Clearly, it is unacceptable to have a director who is unaware that the New Orleans Convention Center is being used to house hurricane victims, and a deputy director who asserts that FEMA's performance is "probably one of the most efficient and effective responses in the country's history." |
