Bill Clinton: “last Friday, on July 25, just as it was preparing to leave town and recess, the House of Representatives sent to the…”

“last Friday, on July 25, just as it was preparing to leave town and recess, the House of Representatives sent to the Senate an emergency supplemental appropriations bill that fails to meet the needs that have been outlined by the President and by the majority of Members of the House and the Senate. I rise to express my profound disappointment with the House leadership for their action. It put the Senate in the objectionable position of having to adopt or reject the House version because any effort to amend that bill would delay urgently needed disaster aid. The House-passed bill includes only $984 million for disaster emergency spending, even though the President requested $1.55 billion for disaster relief and emergency assistance. These funds are needed to cover the unexpected costs of the winter storms, as well as tornadoes and hurricanes which are affecting Texas and other southern States. Just last week we saw the streets of Denver flooded so high, cars were floating in the streets. The House bill also leaves out $289 million to fight fires in the West even though this is proving to be one of the driest seasons on record. At this time there are 45 large fires burning in the West, a total of almost 400,000 acres of active wildfires. If they continue to rage, these fires will take more lives--five were lost in the last week alone--and ruin homes and even communities.”