Political Quotes

“I strongly support this supplemental appropriations bill to provide much-needed aid to the thousands of victims of the Northridge, CA earthquake, and I commend the chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Byrd, for moving this legislation so quickly. All of America was gripped by the 6.6 earthquake that struck the San Fernando Valley on the morning of January 17. We watched with horror how people had lost their homes, their communities, and in 57 instances, their very lives, because of this act of nature. Now is the time to get aid to those victims as rapidly as possible. FEMA tells us that its disaster relief fund is very close to running dry. That means that FEMA will have to withhold providing aid to all disaster victims--not just in California but also victims in the Midwest and other States which have had major disasters--until this bill is signed into law. Madam President, the Northridge quake is the costliest major natural disaster in modern American history. This legislation will go a long way to helping people recover from that tragedy.”