Kent Conrad: “I have been advised that an objection will be raised when we make the request to go to this bill. I deeply regret that.…”

“I have been advised that an objection will be raised when we make the request to go to this bill. I deeply regret that. I cannot tell colleagues how deeply I regret that because we have tried to meet now every objection that has been raised. We were told that the only objection left to this legislation was that there were provisions that could conceivably help someone not damaged by natural disaster, even though they had been damaged by the sharp runup of energy costs. The legislation as previously passed by the Senate could aid those who were not hurt by natural disaster. So we took out those provisions, with a savings of $1.9 billion. Now what is left are the most basic disaster provisions that have been provided by Congress in disaster after disaster. This is national legislation; it is not regional. It is national. Nobody gets any assistance unless they have had at least a 35-percent loss. And if they have had at least a 35-percent loss, they get no help for that first 35-percent loss. They get nothing. Zero. It is only if they have had a loss of more than 35 percent that they get any help, and the assistance only then applies to after they have had the loss of 35 percent. Once you get beyond that, then assistance begins. No one is made whole. No one is enriched. What people are given is a chance to make it to next year. That is what is in doubt.”