Observing the fifth anniversary of the date on which Hurricane Rita devastated the coasts of Louisiana and Texas, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague from Florida for his kind words, and we share the same sentiments with regard to hurricanes, and we've both dealt with them. I appreciate his work as well and his leadership for the State of Florida.

Madam Speaker, September 24 marks the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Rita's landfall in my southwest Louisiana district. This category 3 storm came ashore with wind speeds of more than 120 miles per hour and 115 feet of storm surge, causing an estimated $11.3 billion in damages, making it the third most expensive natural disaster in U.S. history.

Hurricane Rita caused widespread destruction to our communities, fragile working wetlands, and critical energy infrastructure in Vermilion, Cameron, and Calcasieu Parishes.

On a personal note, I'd like to thank all of my colleagues who traveled to southwest Louisiana in the months after the storm to witness firsthand the devastation and to offer assistance. I also want to thank Chairman Oberstar, Ranking Member Mica, and the committee staff, as well as the entire Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, who all worked with our delegation to help address some of the problems we faced in this storm's aftermath.

In the past 5 years, I've worked hard to ensure that Rita is not the forgotten storm and to further assist in the region's recovery and building. I'm proud we have initiated the first-ever hurricane protection plan for southwest Louisiana and included provisions in the 2007 WRDA bill to help expedite the Corps of Engineers' work to ensure projects are not delayed.

Rita exposed the critical state of our coastal wetlands and the role they play in supporting the U.S. energy industry. These wetlands serve as a critical buffer against hurricanes and protect industries and cities located further inland. Before the 2005 storms, the projected land loss in Louisiana was 24 square miles per year. After Katrina and Rita, the national wetland center reported 217 square miles of Louisiana coastal lands were transformed to water.

Protecting and strengthening our coasts is not only a Louisiana problem--it's an American problem. Families and businesses rely on the energy we produce in Louisiana and transport throughout the country each day. We were just starting to regain our way of life along the gulf coast, and Louisianans now face new challenges.

The current moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico threatens good-paying jobs and our economic livelihood. This moratorium has idled 33 rigs and the workers on these platforms, and it's hampering south Louisiana's recovery. There are also thousands more support workers affected by this, including welders, electricians, mariners, caterers, and engineers, that aren't directly employed by the drilling operator.

The ramifications of the deepwater moratorium and the de facto shallow water moratorium are being felt as layoffs have begun along the gulf coast. The same hardworking citizens who stayed in south Louisiana to rebuild their homes with their own hands after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita are now experiencing economic devastation.

American energy production in the gulf can be done safely, and we need to work together to quickly implement improved safety standards to put gulf coast residents back to work delivering the energy that this Nation relies upon.

Louisianans are resilient, and I'm proud to work with my community as we continue the long recovery process.

Madam Speaker, I want to salute the dedicated first responders, volunteers, and professionals who offered assistance to those affected by the storm and recognize the progress southwest Louisiana has made in 5 years of restoring and rebuilding our coastal communities.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1583, as amended, observing the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Rita. Hurricane Rita made landfall just east of the Texas-Louisiana Boarder as a category three hurricane on September 24, 2005. Hurricane Rita directly caused the deaths of at least seven people, damaged or destroyed hundreds of thousands of homes, and left over one million people without electricity. In addition to the devastation the storm caused in Louisiana and Texas, it also caused flooding and tornadoes in the States of Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

Before making landfall, Hurricane Rita was the second hurricane in 2005 to become a category 5 hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico. Hurricane Rita broke Hurricane Katrina's record as the most intense hurricane ever in the Gulf of Mexico. The storm also climbed from a category 2 to a category 5 storm in less than 24 hours with the fastest intensification of any tropical cyclone in history.

Coming less than a month after Hurricane Katrina, this storm forced 3,000,000 million residents to evacuate their homes. In many instances, those who were evacuating from Hurricane Rita were already evacuees displaced by Hurricane Katrina. We also witnessed the unfortunate deaths of 23 nursing home residents who perished when the bus evacuating them caught fire.

As I have mentioned previously, since Hurricane Rita and the other storms of the 2005 hurricane season, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has passed legislation and held numerous hearings to improve not only the recovery from these storms, but also our nation's preparation for, response to, recovery from and mitigation of disasters from all hazards. These efforts continue on September 22, 2010, when the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management will hold a hearing entitled: ``Five Years after Katrina: Where We Are and What We Have Learned for Future Disasters.''

Prior to the 2005 hurricane season, when our nation faced large or unusual disasters, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was quick to adapt and provide solutions to unique problems that would arise, often working with Congress on those solutions.

However, by 2005, things were very different. FEMA was an agency within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and not an independent agency that reported directly to the President and Congress. As I have said previously, FEMA's performance as an agency has suffered since its inclusion in the Department of Homeland Security in 2003.

Even long after the response to the 2005 hurricane season, the agency's placement in DHS had a detrimental effect on the residents of the Gulf Coast. There were delays in decision making, which delayed delivery of critical assistance to citizens. While things appear to be improving with the recovery in the Gulf Coast, this improvement was far too long in coming. I am still deeply concerned that, even with the new leadership at FEMA, if FEMA remains in DHS it will not be able to respond to future disasters in the manner the nation needs and expects.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 1583.

First of all, I want to thank my colleague and mentor from Florida for his tremendous support of me in the last 2 years, and I hope to continue working with him in the future.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1583 offered by my good friend and colleague from Louisiana, Dr. Boustany.

House Resolution 1583 observes the fifth anniversary of the devastation and destruction caused by Hurricane Rita. On September 24, 2005, Hurricane Rita made landfall along the Louisiana and Texas border as a category 3 hurricane. Rita's landfall was less than 1 month after Hurricane Katrina had ravaged multiple areas along the Gulf Coast, including in Louisiana's Orleans and Jefferson Parishes, which I represent.

Following the heroic work of first responders, our Armed Forces, and countless volunteers in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans was unbelievably scheduled to reopen on September 19. Hurricane Rita's approach, however, made that impossible, and instead the city once again was vulnerable. Levees surrounding New Orleans were damaged extensively by Hurricane Katrina, and were far from repaired. Thousands of blue FEMA tarps remained atop roofs throughout the city, offering only provisional or temporary protection.

On Friday, September 23, the day before Rita made landfall, her outer bands began raising water levels around New Orleans, and the patches on the Industrial Canal and the London Avenue Canal were unable to hold back the rising water. Once again, we were faced with the same flooding which had wreaked so much havoc less than a month before.

New Orleans' Gentilly and Ninth Ward neighborhoods, two of the hardest hit by Katrina, were again flooded, and in some locations the waters rose to a depth of 8 feet. For many, this was a worst nightmare situation happening all over again.

Hurricane Rita resulted in the death of seven individuals and forced the evacuation of 3 million Gulf Coast residents. It also cost an estimated $11.3 billion in damages. Madam Speaker, as the gulf coast continues its recovery from the recent devastating oil spill, I wish to remind us that only a city, State, and a region of great character and determination can rise from devastation to persevere and recover. And that is what we will do.

On this anniversary, I offer my heartfelt sympathy to the families of the

victims of Hurricane Rita, and I offer my deepest thanks to those who assisted in the recovery process. I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 1583, as a reconfirmation of this body's commitment to rebuild, renew, and restore the gulf coast region not only from Hurricane Rita, but also Hurricane Katrina.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1583) observing the fifth anniversary of the date on which Hurricane Rita devastated the coasts of Louisiana and Texas, remembering those lost in the storm and in the process of evacuation, recovery, and rebuilding; saluting the dedication of the volunteers who offered assistance in support of those affected by the storm, recognizing the progress of efforts to rebuild the affected Gulf Coast region, commending the persistence of the people of the States of Louisiana and Texas following the second major hurricane to hit Louisiana that season, and reaffirming Congress' commitment to restore and renew the Gulf Coast region, as amended.

I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and add any extraneous material on H. Res. 1583.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1583, observing the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Rita.

Hurricane Rita made landfall as a category 3 hurricane just east of the Texas and Louisiana border with wind speeds of 120 miles per hour unleashing devastating destruction.

Hurricane Rita directly led to the deaths of at least seven people, left over 1 million people without electricity, and damaged or destroyed hundreds of thousands of homes. In addition to this devastation the storm caused in Texas and Louisiana, it also caused flooding and tornadoes in the States of Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Total damages from the storm are estimated to be over $11 billion.

Hurricane Rita also led to one of the largest evacuations in United States history. Prior to making landfall, Hurricane Rita set a record as the most intense hurricane ever in the Gulf of Mexico. The storm also set a record for the most rapid intensification for any tropical cyclone, as it strengthened from a category 2 hurricane to a category 5 hurricane in less than a day.

All of these factors, coming less than a month after Hurricane Katrina, prompted 3 million residents to evacuate their homes. In many instances,

those who were evacuating from Hurricane Rita were displaced, having evacuated from Hurricane Katrina.

The good news today is the gulf coast is coming back.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 1583.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

I have no further requests for time, I simply ask for support, and I yield back the balance of my time.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

This resolution recognizes the fifth anniversary of the devastation caused by Rita.

Madam Speaker, as a Floridian, I understand the impact that storms like Rita have on individuals and families and on communities. It's so important that we do remember, that we do not forget.

This resolution was introduced by Representative Boustany of Louisiana and is cosponsored by the entire Louisiana delegation. I want to thank the gentleman from Louisiana for his work on this resolution and, frankly, on all issues related to Louisiana's recovery from this disaster. He has been a great leader on issues for his State, and this is one more example of that.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, at this time I would like to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Boustany), the sponsor of this resolution and a leader on these issues.

Madam Speaker, in the subcommittee that I am ranking member of, I've had the privilege of working with this next gentleman from Louisiana. He is, frankly, almost single- handedly responsible for releasing billions of dollars that were stuck in the Federal bureaucracy that should have gone, and now are moving because of his efforts, to rebuild parts of Louisiana.

And so at this moment, it is a privilege to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Cao).

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.