Cass Ballenger: “today, we have before us the very important Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act. I say it is important because it…”

“today, we have before us the very important Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act. I say it is important because it would provide desperately needed disaster relief funds for those in my home state of North Carolina and others who have suffered the ravages of Hurricane Floyd. It also contains the Colombian aid package which will serve as a critical component in winning the war on drugs. As you may recall, Mr. Chairman, Congress approved some disaster relief funding last fall to help eastern North Carolina recover from the disaster left by Hurricane Floyd. But, if you also remember, that funding did not cover all of the outstanding needs. The FY 2000 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act addresses some of the shortfalls by providing over $1 billion in emergency disaster assistance to areas ravaged by Hurricane Floyd, especially eastern North Carolina. For example, the emergency supplemental contains $81 million for the Commodity Credit Corporation, funding which was removed from last year's disaster bill despite the efforts of the North Carolina delegation to include it. The measure also would provide $77 million for the Farm Service Agency, $13 million for the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, $37 million for the Coast Guard and $600 million for the Administration for Children and Families. While the measure will not cover all of the disaster relief needs, it will address some of the most pressing ones. So, I urge its passage.”