U.S. Senate committee to visit Gulf Coast on Thursday

New Orleans CityBusiness, Jan 17, 2006 by CityBusiness Staff Report

Members of the Senate's Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will visit the Gulf Coast on Thursday as part of the committee's investigation into the preparation for and response to Hurricane Katrina.Committee members will hold a Senate field hearing in Gulfport, Miss., a roundtable discussion in New Orleans and tour devastated areas in both states.The Senate hearing will take place at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, Jefferson Campus, in Gulfport from 10:15 a.m.

to noon. Donald Powell, Gulf Coast recovery coordinator for the Department of Homeland Security, will attend the meeting with Gulfport Mayor Brent Warr, Bay St. Louis, Miss., Mayor Edward Favre and Dr. Gavin Smith, director of the Mississippi Governor's Office of Recovery and Renewal.The public is invited to attend but will not be allowed to ask questions.Senators will then fly in to the New Orleans Lakefront Airport at 1:15 p.m. for a bus tour of the city, followed by a roundtable discussion with Mayor C. Ray Nagin and other local officials and business leaders at 4:30 p.m. at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.