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Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate, center, arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012, to testify before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing on the preparedness and response to Hurricane Sandy. At right is Robert Latham Jr., executive director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, who was to testify. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Robert Latham says after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Mississippi officials were frustrated that the federal government required separate environmental and historic preservation reviews for some projects. He says the duplicated efforts slowed recovery and a single review would suffice.
Latham testified Tuesday in Washington before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The panel is reviewing preparation, response and recovery surrounding Superstorm Sandy, which struck the East Coast in October.
Latham says the Federal Emergency Management Agency should allow states to spend slightly more to manage recovery projects. He says doing so would allow the hiring of additional employees for recovery, freeing up regular government employees to focus on providing basic services.