Eva M. Clayton: “Hurricane Floyd was the worst natural disaster in the history of our State, North Carolina. Six weeks after the flood…”

“Hurricane Floyd was the worst natural disaster in the history of our State, North Carolina. Six weeks after the flood waters reached the roof tops of almost 50,000 homes, destroying more than 6,500 homes, an excess of 72,000 North Carolina citizens have now applied to FEMA for help. That is why I am a cosponsor of this resolution. We need the President to step up to the plate, and he has. We need the Congress to step up to the plate, and we have. But existing FEMA and Department of Agriculture resources are not enough. More is needed if North Carolina is to recover and then rebuild. While I support this resolution and commend the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Taylor) for introducing it, I want to disassociate myself with some parts of it. The resolution calls for the findings of offsets to fund the immediate need of hurricane victims. Such a requirement is inconsistent with the focus of current discussion about providing help. Both Congress and the President must work together, cooperate and pass emergency supplemental legislation. Mr. Speaker, we all know that emergency legislation does not require offsets. Moreover, emergency legislation does not require the President to act, but the Congress can act. The people of North Carolina face major modifications in life as they have known it. Families have been uprooted. Farmers have been disrupted. Homeowners and business owners have been displaced. They need our help now, not in January.”