Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8416. This legislation, introduced by Subcommittee Chair Dina Titus, significantly improves disaster assistance programs for individuals and families. It is undeniable that climate change has transformed the nature and severity of natural disasters in the United States. This has caused real and devastating impacts for those who find themselves living in the path of these disasters. Their lives will be upended by the loss of savings, homes, loved ones, and peace of mind. Survivors turn to their government, especially to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, for support after what may have been the worst day of their lives. We know this by firsthand experience in my home State of Louisiana. In Congress, we must do everything in our power to ensure that Federal Government offers a hand of support that is fair, capable, and compassionate. This package includes several key provisions to improve disaster assistance programs and survivor outcomes. First, this package will create universal application for direct Federal assistance and enable Federal agencies to share relevant disaster assistance information with each other. The bureaucracy of the current application and evaluation process can leave survivors so overwhelmed that they give up hope on accessing the aid they are, in fact, entitled to. I have heard this from my own constituents. It is a travesty.…”