John Rice Carter: “I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, my district is suffering, our Nation is suffering, and Congress has the…”

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, my district is suffering, our Nation is suffering, and Congress has the duty to alleviate it. This year, record-breaking storms have wreaked havoc on homes, businesses, families, farms, and more. Right now, the West Coast is battling a catastrophic bomb cyclone, dumping as much as 1 foot of rain on impacted communities. On the East Coast, this year's hurricane season was especially destructive. Hurricanes Debby, Helene, Milton, and Beryl, just to name a few, brought destruction to the Southeast, the likes of which I have never seen in my more than 60 years living in the great State of Georgia. We aren't talking about temporary inconveniences. Communities, particularly ag communities, are experiencing generational damage. Our fellow Americans have lost loved ones and property at an alarming rate. Among those casualties is Blackshear Assistant Fire Chief Leon Davis from Pierce County, who was killed during Hurricane Helene while selflessly clearing debris in an attempt to keep his community members safe. My thoughts and prayers continue to be with the Davis family as they mourn this immense loss. There is nothing we can do to bring our loved ones back, but we can make life better for those who still are with us. We need disaster relief, and we need it yesterday. The number one responsibility of the Federal Government is to protect our citizens from foreign and domestic threats.…”