Senator promotes bi-partisan decisions
Sally Nicely
Special to The DM
Issue date: 4/30/07 Section: News
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Collins is the first female to speak for the Trent Lott Leadership Institute lecture series.
In her speech she stressed the importance of leadership and bi-partisanship within the government while addressing the underlying issues involving Hurricane Katrina, homeland security and Iraq.
According to Collins, a lack of communication and leadership at all the levels of government after Hurricane Katrina led to a 7-month investigation on disaster response by the Committee on Homeland Security and Government affairs. The committee explored the failures within the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the preparations of the Coast Guard and the private sector.
"There are always going to be ways that you could improve structure, organization and resources, but if you don't have good leaders, the best organization in the world won't be sufficient," Collins said.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Collins said she saw a major difference in the lack of leadership and organization in Louisiana's and Mississippi's ability to communicate between all levels of government.
"I've often thought if John McCain or Rudy Giuliani had been the mayor of New Orleans, or the governor of Louisiana, or the head of FEMA or the Secretary of Homeland Security, it would have been a different response," Collins said.
The large investigation led to legislation to improve disaster response, but Collins said the legislation would not have passed without bi-partisan support.
Collins needed support of both political parties when she teamed up with Joe Lieberman in July 2004 to create the Collins-Lieberman Intelligence Reform Act to implement the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.
Junior business management major J.C. Flemmins said he thought Collins provided a lot of "behind the scenes" information on incidents that are normally blamed solely on the president while making valid points about leadership and FEMA.
Freshman marketing major Ashley Harral said she enjoyed Collins' speech.
"Collins proved she has done her best to gain bi-partisan support in the Senate," Harral said.
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