Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I will vote in support of the legislation before us because we have a responsibility to help our fellow Americans who have lost homes and businesses through no fault of their own. Natural disasters are something we can attempt to prepare for, but the destructive force of nature can overwhelm us, even when efforts are made in advance of devastating storms, floods, droughts, or other disasters. Further, the bill provides permanent reforms to the Stafford Act that will help to eliminate bureaucratic roadblocks that have caused problems for local communities in rebuilding after a disaster and in mitigating risks from future disasters. Hurricane Sandy was one of those disasters that overwhelmed us with its damage. Over 125 people lost their lives, thousands of people were displaced, millions lost power, and fuel deliveries were disrupted. Tens of thousands of homes and businesses were destroyed, and public infrastructure was devastated. The storm is estimated to have caused such damage that it is projected to be the second or third most costly disaster in U.S. history. We need to provide the assistance to those impacted by Hurricane Sandy. Other natural disasters have also pummeled the U.S. this year, including the wildfires in the West and Hurricane Isaac in the Gulf Coast region. The bill includes some funding for these other natural disasters, which I support. While Hurricane Sandy was most devastating, we also should be responsive to these other disasters.…”