Donna Shalala: “By providing more than $12 billion in disaster relief to various Federal departments and agencies, we can ensure that…”

“By providing more than $12 billion in disaster relief to various Federal departments and agencies, we can ensure that communities have the resources and funds that they need to rebuild. H.R. 268 confirms our commitment to communities like my district and my State that are often hardest hit by natural disasters. This rule funds crucial infrastructure projects that will better equip our hurricane centers in tracking, predicting, and forecasting large storms. It increases nutrition assistance programs, including $600 million for Puerto Rico. In addition, over $1 billion will be available to cover crop losses in many parts of the country. But critical to implementing this bill is an amendment to reopen the government. Without the government open, Federal agencies, States, and communities are having difficulty accessing disaster aid. Anyone who cares about disaster relief should be voting for this bill, which will end the shutdown, open the government, and help people across this country who have been victims of national disasters.”