Once again, some members of Congress (Republican and Democratic alike) fail to "get" it, regarding the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

A bipartisan Senate panel is calling for the abolishment of FEMA, with Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) saying it is in "shambles and beyond repair."  The panel recommends the creation of another agency, the "National Preparedness and Response Authority," that would oversee relief missions during domestic disasters.

As I was reading the article on CNN, it reminded me of the debate that took place over the creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DH).  As some people will recall, the creation of the Department of Homeland Security was originally propopsed by Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Connecticut).

George Bush was against the creation of DHS.  And surprisingly, this was an area that I agreed with him on. I thought, why another government bureaucracy?  Just make the existing agencies with intelligence oversight talk to one another and share information!  (Imagine that, right?!)

Now I say, why abolish FEMA and create another bureaucracy?

FEMA does not need to be abolished!  Rather, the Director of FEMA needs to be restored to the cabinet-level position it was under President Clinton.  By making it a cabinet-level position and appointing James Lee Witt (largely credited with revitalizing the agency), President Clinton helped restore confidence in FEMA.

The organization should be removed from it's parent, the Department of Homeland Security, and be made a stand-alone organization in which its head reports directly to the President of the United States.

Equally important, the President of the United States must be truly engaged when the Director of FEMA needs their ear.  When people are literally drowning and dying in a major American city, the President should not be partying it up at a United State Senator's birthday celebration.  And their Communications Director should not have to make them a DVD of newcasts to help them understand the magnitude of what's happening on the ground.

Senate panel calls for abolishing FEMA

Bipartisan investigation finds disaster agency beyond repair