10/27/09 4:38 PM EDT

FEMA says it can’t show return on $29 billion in spending

By: MARK TAPSCOTT

Editorial Page Editor

Federal Emergency Management Agency deputy administrator Timothy Manning told a congressional panel today that his organization had spent $5 million during the last 18 months reviewing how it spent $29 billion since 2002, but still doesn’t know what it got for the money.

Testifying before the House Homeland Security Emergency Communications subcommittee, Manning said he is confident the $29 billion was well-spent but “existing data tells us very little about the return on investment.”

In response, subcommittee chairman Rep. Henry Ceullar, D-TX said: “Free advice: For $5 million, I think we can do better,” according to Congress Daily’s Terry Kivlan.

via FEMA says it can’t show return on $29 billion in spending | Washington Examiner .