Political Quotes

“I rise today to describe the devastating spring breakup flooding affecting my home State of Alaska. As we just heard about Kansas, weather patterns are affecting long-term droughts in farmlands, while in Alaska it is warm weather that is actually going in the opposite direction. Over the last several weeks our country has witnessed devastating tornadoes in Oklahoma. Our hearts go out to the families of Moore, Oklahoma City, and many others that have been affected, as they rebuild their lives. Disasters such as these remind us of the importance of family and community, and it should make us again examine the work being done by FEMA and other agencies to help communities prepare for natural disasters. While it didn't make national news, Alaska's families along the Yukon River are putting their lives back together after record flooding last week. Thick river ice, high temperatures, and fast melting combined to flood the community of Galena during what we call ``breakup'' in Alaska. For those who have never witnessed it, breakup on Alaska's biggest and mightiest river is a spectacle almost beyond description. As the ice begins to move, buckle, and crack, you can sometimes hear it from miles away. The trouble is, in the wrong conditions, the moving ice can get caught where the rivers make their natural bends.…”