It has been just two months since the full congressional takeover by the Democrats. 

The intense activity since that moment has been as furious as a hurricane.

The White House is reeling from the Iraq War quagmire.  How do we win?  Can we win? How do we get out? How many more must die?

There is also the scandal of the US Attorney firings.  The sinister scenario of firing someone for not building up a case for prosecution, factual or fictitious, against political foes is a little too much to stomach for the normal human being.  But there it is and presidential aids and an attorney general have their jobs and reputations on the line.  Congress is not going to let them slide by.

We also have the shock of the White House “dropping a dime” on a CIA undercover operative.  Is there no shame or boundaries?  Democratic chaired committees are anxious to find out.  One White House official is bound for jail because of this matter.

One thing about this 110^th Congress is the fact that there have never been more committee and subcommittee chairs who are Black, Hispanic and/or female.  The Congressional Black Caucus alone has 5 committee chairs and 17 subcommittee chairs.  This is not a bad thing!  It appears that a lot of neglect and inequities are about to be addressed and that is good for America.  The volatile and change making congressional hearings are again popping up and Black advocates are getting back into the action.  Change is indeed coming and change is good.

The SBA has been shrunk to a skeleton and when Katrina and Rita hit the agency was simply too overwhelmed to adequately address the needs of the disaster victims – persons and businesses.  Now, the new congress is increasing its staffing and funding even though the agency is trying to resist.  It’s like forcing money and authority down its throat.  However, it is going to happen and the next time disaster strikes we won’t be left helpless.  Also, contracting to small minority businesses is going to turn around and go upward at long last.  Fraudulent reporting and anemic results will no longer be tolerated by the new Small Business Committee in the House of Representatives and Senate.  When this happens economic development and job growth are going to spurt in the Gulf and in urban neighborhoods.

Oh, the quiet halls of the office buildings around Capitol Hill are once again busy with thousands of people walking fast with authority and a purpose.  It is purely intense and everyone can sense a big change coming.  Thank you Lord!

Now let’s talk about the biggest change of all.  The Chair of the Homeland Security Committee for the House is the Honorable Bennie Thompson (Mississippi) and he is not going to tolerate a FEMA that ignores Black folk and treats them like a stepchild.  There is a new “sheriff” in town and he is not going to play around like the last one.  The transformation of the Gulf Recovery has now begun and the people of Louisiana and Mississippi finally have reason to hope.

The Housing Subcommittee has a new chair also.  It is the undeniable warrior, the Honorable Maxine Waters, and she has already started blitzing southern Louisiana.  The slow and miserable pace in financing and housing replenishment has turned for the better.  One congressional hearing and a “come to Jesus” meeting with the principals in the New Orleans housing situation has already resulted in positive change.  As she has said to them, “Some say you should be afraid of me, indeed you should”.  Malfeasance, incompetence and lack of concern will not be tolerated by this Congresswoman.  The money is starting to flow and she considers that a start.  Her demand is that the funding and progress start rolling to the people like the mighty Mississippi River. It is her tenacity and vision for what is right that is going to do it.  We must support her.

From now until the job is finally done she has pledged to do this:  Every Monday morning while she flies back from her home base of Los Angeles to DC, she will make a stop in New Orleans and inspect the progress of the Gulf Recovery.  Each and every Monday there must be signs of progress or those in charge of federal funding will have hell to pay.  She is going to, as we say in my old hood, “kick butt and take names”.  It is rough, ruthless and hard but it is what’s needed and this sister is the one who can do it.

The heat is on and that is good for the people.