As the new chair of the Homeland Security Committee, Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford) says he is determined to find out why local and federal governments failed to respond quickly to Hurricane Katrina. The situation, he said, sets a bad example for what could happen if there's another terrorist attack.
"We're a lot more ready than we were before Sept. 11. ... But we're not ready enough," said King, adding that if terrorists bomb the New Orleans levees it can't take four days before federal officials respond. "Seventy-two hours is way too long. What we have to do is really re-evaluate the whole concept of a national response."
With only a day under his belt as chairman, King - the first Long Islander to chair a House committee in at least 25 years - is outlining his agenda, including a review of how federal officials can fix the problems with the Katrina response before the next natural disaster or terrorist attack. King is traveling to the region Tuesday.
King, 61, steps into the post as the Department of Homeland Security and the White House are under fire for their handling of the hurricane disaster. His committee also oversees the beleaguered agency and takes the lead on an issue Republicans call a national priority.
"Thoughtful, detailed leadership is critical right now," said Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), soon after Republicans yesterday confirmed King's chairmanship.
Since the Sept. 11 attacks, King, a seven-term congressman, has been out front on homeland security issues, including the stalled battle to give more federal money to states vulnerable to terrorism attacks. Before being elected to Congress, he was Nassau County comptroller.
In Congress, King has chaired Homeland Security's Emergency Preparedness, Science and Technology subcommittee.
At times, the outspoken congressman has bumped heads with Republican leaders. On homeland security, however, he has been in lockstep.
Yesterday, King said he talked with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, whom he plans to meet with next week. One issue on the table is FEMA's role in the Katrina crisis.
King said FEMA, which is the lead agency for the disaster, should stay under the umbrella of Homeland Security, but be given more autonomy. He also said there should be more coordination between FEMA and other agencies.
Another issue to explore is when federal officials should take over in a disaster, said King.
"We have to almost assume that the local government can't do all that it should be doing. ... If they do, that's fine," said King, adding that the federal government "has to step in and be ready and not 72 hours later."
King said New York's response to the 9/11 terrorist attack could serve as a model. Police and firefighters were first to respond, then the federal government stepped in.
King plans to hold hearings on Katrina, but New York Democrats have called for an independent, non-partisan commission similar to the 9/11 panel.
"Let's face it, many Americans no longer trust their elected officials to set politics aside and come up with objective conclusions," said Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-Mineola).
King argues that lawmakers should handle the investigation. "That's what we're elected to do ... not to pass it off to somebody else," he said.
Meanwhile, King said he's trying to head off jurisdictional and partisan bickering. He met yesterday with Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), the committee's ranking member.
"I'm not in this to build turf," King said. "In the last four years, there has been the two worst disasters in our history. There's enough for all the relevant committees to do without getting into each other's way."
Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.), the ranking member on King's subcommittee, said King can put politics aside. "Congressman King has always looked over partisan boundaries to put security first," Pascrell said.
Despite the financial impact of Katrina, King said the government must devote resources to fighting terrorism. "We can't in any way back off on the war of terrorism," he said.