Colorado Senator Ken Salazar has sided with the Democrats in calling for an independent panel to investigate Government failures in responding to Hurricane Katrina.

Salazar said an independent panel like the one that reviewed events surrounding the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks should be formed to examine the bungled response to Hurricane Katrina....He said the government needs to focus on the three Rs of disaster preparation -- readiness, response and recovery.

Sen. Salazar made the comments yesterday when he visited with evacuees at Lowry.

Salazar visited the Red Cross Family Assistance Center, where evacuees sign up for services such as help with housing, getting a job or accessing health care or mental health services. He then visited the former military dormitory, now property of the state's community college system, where many evacuees are living until they find other housing. He said most of the evacuees he talked to said they wanted to return "home," in most cases, to Louisiana.