Political Quotes

“Thank you very much. Madam Speaker and Members of Congress, we should not have to even debate this any further. It is outrageous that we have learned what we have learned about the failed implementation of FEMA with the Biggert- Waters plan and that we will not do something about it. Let me just say this: I joined with Mrs. Biggert, and we tried to reform the National Flood Insurance Program. We went about it in a way that we thought would make it possible for people to be able to afford--to pay for--the National Flood Insurance Program and not in a way that would cause them to lose their homes. It passed through this House. It passed through the other body. It went out to FEMA. What did FEMA do? It did not do what we instructed it to do. First of all, we said: Have a study on affordability. The second thing we said was: Look at the way you do mapping and remap it. We encouraged them to get good data to be able to do this work. They have failed us, and they have failed the citizens of this country. Not only have they failed the citizens of this country, but middle class people in this country--homeowners--are now about to lose their homes. A California family is facing a flood insurance premium increase from $1,700 per year up to $22,000 per year--an increase of over 1,100 percent. I have traveled around the country. I was down in Louisiana. We have Members across the country who are representing Florida and New York and California, on and on and on.…”