Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support today of S.J. Res. 44, ``Granting the Consent of Congress to the State and Province Emergency Management Assistance Memorandum of Understanding'', a bill introduced by Senator Kohl of Wisconsin. This bill is non-controversial and passed the Senate in September under unanimous consent with the full support of the National Emergency Management Association. According to the Congressional Budget Office, this legislation would not affect direct spending or revenues and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. S.J. Res. 44 gives our northern states the ability to enter into an agreement with Canadian provinces to facilitate cross border emergency management assistance through mutual aid. The purpose of this legislation is to provide mutual assistance among entities that have entered into these agreements for the management of any emergency or disaster when requested. This bill will allow states to coordinate relief efforts with their Canadian counterparts in order to better respond to any disaster that may impact both jurisdictions. Mr. Speaker, my Congressional district is very familiar with the financial and emotional impact that a natural disaster can cause to our communities. We must ensure that we leverage all of our resources to better prepare, coordinate, and respond to any such disasters when they arise.…”