Political Quotes

“Mr. President, as the chairman and ranking member of the Transportation-HUD appropriations subcommittee are aware, I, along with Senators Hoeven, Leahy, Sanders, Blunt, Menendez, Lautenberg, Gillibrand, Baucus and Scott Brown have filed an amendment, Senate amendment No. 839, to add $600 million in supplemental community development block grant, CDBG, funding. We deeply appreciate the inclusion of $400 million in supplemental CDBG funds to aid communities impacted by disasters this year. However, given the magnitude of the damage just in my State of North Dakota from flooding this year, I am deeply concerned that this level of funding will not meet the needs. As many of my colleagues know, the city of Minot, ND, was devastated by a historic flood that impacted more than 4,100 homes and forced the evacuation of 11,000 people. The road to recovery will be long. CDBG offers an important component of the flood recovery effort to assist with buyouts and assistance to homeowners and businesses to repair the damage. My State alone has identified a need of at least $235 million for CDBG funds. We would like to work with the chairman and the ranking member of the subcommittee in conference to make sure there are sufficient resources for CDBG to meet the needs that exist in my State as well as others most impacted by this year's disasters.”