WASHINGTON -- Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman, ID-Conn., and Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery Chair Mary Landrieu, D-La., have released a series of four Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports detailing problems with post Katrina-Rita recovery efforts in the Gulf Coast region. The reports, co-requested by Lieberman and Landrieu, lay out problems across a wide swath of areas, ranging from slow distribution of federal funds, to barriers receiving adequate health care, to poorly coordinated case management programs.

Lieberman and Landrieu requested the GAO reports as part of their oversight efforts on Gulf Coast recovery from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

"Program flaws and recovery delays since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita provide valuable lessons as we prepare for future disasters," Landrieu said. "From strengthening case management, to untangling housing funds from bureaucratic red tape, to increasing access to mental health and other primary health care services, these GAO reports shed light on several concrete steps our government must take to improve response and recovery. These reports make it clear that without fundamental reform, progress along the Gulf Coast could be further delayed. I look forward to working with Chairman Lieberman and other committee members to address these findings and to make FEMA, HUD, HHS and our other federal partners stronger, smarter agencies going forward."

"Four years after Hurricane Katrina struck, many of its survivors continue to struggle, which means that we must continue to fight for more effective programs to help those in need," Lieberman said. "These reports will help us understand what has, and what hasn't worked, and all of us—Congress, FEMA, the Administration—must learn our lessons so that Americans who are struck by disaster receive the support they need to rebuild their lives, and taxpayers receive their money's worth for their generous support of their fellow Americans who are struck by disaster."

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Ranking Member Susan Collins, R-Me., was also a co-requestor on the report, "Community Development Block Grant Program Guidance to States Needs to be Improved" (GAO-09-541). In May, Sen. Landrieu held a hearing with Gulf Coast officials and housing advocates testifying on the effectiveness of the Community Development Block Grant program in disaster recovery. CDBG funds usually support housing, infrastructure or economic development for low to moderate-income individuals and communities. Congress has appropriated about $26.2 billion in CDBG funds to help with the recovery from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, and Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008. Louisiana received $13.4 billion in CDBG funding as a result of the 2005 Hurricanes.

The other three reports are part of a series of seven that GAO is issuing on Hurricane Katrina/Rita-related issues. These include:

•Disaster Coordination and an Evaluation of Programs Outcomes Could Improve Disaster Case Management (GAO-09-561). In this year's Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill, Sen. Landrieu helped secure language that instructs FEMA to continue the reimbursement of case management for families participating in the Disaster Housing Assistance Program through March 2010. This GAO report will help improve the effectiveness of those case management programs.

•Barriers to Mental Health Services for Children Persist in Greater New Orleans, Although Federal Grants Are Helping to Address Them (GAO-09-563). Sen. Landrieu will convene the Disaster Recovery Subcommittee next week for a hearing on disaster evacuation planning and mental health services for children. The Subcommittee will receive testimony from a GAO official who will discuss this report requested by Sens. Landrieu and Lieberman.

•Federal Grants Have Helped Health Care Organizations Provide Primary Care, but Challenges Remain (GAO-09-588).