John Shaw: “Florida did not receive the devastation that the gulf coast did with Katrina. Katrina's track came across Florida, got…”

“Florida did not receive the devastation that the gulf coast did with Katrina. Katrina's track came across Florida, got into the gulf, and actually affected my district on its way through Florida, but in a very slight manner. When it got into the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, it grew into a category 5 storm and just wreaked devastation on the New Orleans/southern Mississippi area. I support this bill and all it does. But then this was followed by two other storms, Rita and Wilma. Wilma, of course, came across Florida, and in Broward County delivered the most powerful winds that we have seen in over 40 years. And Palm Beach County, as well as Dade County. And coming across the State the way it did from the gulf to the Atlantic made it most unusual as far as the power that it gained, or retained, coming across the Florida Everglades. We have been damaged in Florida as well. But of course our devastation and our problems are overshadowed by the tragedy of Katrina in Louisiana and Mississippi. This bill is a reasonable bill. It sets forth incentives and some relief in the Tax Code because of the devastation delivered by these three storms. I urge the Members to support this bill and expedite its passage as quickly as possible.”