On the recordMay 2, 2017
I thank my friend for yielding. As we speak, communities in southern Illinois are contending with rising flood waters. While we may not be able to prevent the water rising, there is a lot that we can do to help our communities rebuild following a disaster. Unfortunately, too many rural areas find that the help that they need is not there for them because of arbitrary Federal rules. In my district, rural communities suffered significant damage from the 2015 holiday floods, but did not qualify for assistance because of these rigid rules. This legislation addresses these problems and ends the unfair treatment of rural areas. It is better to ensure that FEMA gives greater weight to localized disasters when determining assistance. I support the legislation authorized by my friend and Illinois colleague, Rodney Davis, and cosponsored by Cheri Bustos, because the victims shouldn't be punished for living in a small town in a rural area.
