Jack Kingston: “I am surprised, as I listen to these Democrats, that they are against it because it was President Clinton's idea. I…”

“I am surprised, as I listen to these Democrats, that they are against it because it was President Clinton's idea. I wanted to make sure that folks know we are doing exactly what President Clinton called for and that no Democrats have expressed any outrage until suddenly tonight. Mr. Speaker, on July 27, 1995, President Clinton signed Public Law 104-19 which appropriated $39 million in Community Development Block Grants [CDBG] to assist citizens of Oklahoma City with meeting the financial hardships created by the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal building. This truly was the proper Federal response to a presidentially-mandated national emergency. Never before had Congress passed, and the President signed, legislation utilizing CDBG funds in this manner. An act of terror of this magnitude forces all of us to reflect on the standard operating procedures under which we, as a government, react to national emergencies.”