``As chairwoman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Collins investigated FEMA`s Miami-Dade payments and is now leading a congressional inquiry into the federal response to Katrina.

FEMA declined to answer questions about the newspaper`s findings.

``Disaster assistance is provided at the specific request of a governor and we are constantly evaluating our programs,`` FEMA spokeswoman Nicol D. Andrews said in an e-mail to the paper. ``While always mindful of the generosity of the nation`s taxpayers, FEMA`s first priority remains the health and safety of disaster victims.``

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/sfl-femamain1sep18213216,0,7781414.story

He`s in the thick of it

doni