NEWS ARTICLES | January 05, 2009

Landrieu meets with homeland security pick

KATC  |  Link to article

NEW ORLEANS -- U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu says she had a positive meeting with President-elect Barack Obama's pick to be homeland security secretary.

Landrieu met with Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano on Monday. She said Napolitano, who faces a confirmation hearing, committed to visiting the Gulf Coast region before hurricane season.

Landrieu, a Louisiana Democrat and frequent critic of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said the two discussed what Landrieu sees as a need for continued FEMA reforms.

Landrieu also said she recommended extending the office of federal coordinator for Gulf Coast rebuilding if the office were given clear powers to finish the work. For example, she believes appeals on project funding levels should be made outside FEMA and that there should be nonbinding arbitration for such matters.