Donald M. Payne: “We have seen how climate change has made natural disasters, such as hurricanes and tornadoes, more frequent and much…”

“We have seen how climate change has made natural disasters, such as hurricanes and tornadoes, more frequent and much more severe. This is not the time to debate climate change. This is the time to act on it. And the best time to act, the best time to prepare for natural disasters is before they occur. September is National Preparedness Month. It is the perfect time to celebrate the brave men and women who respond when a crisis happens and the perfect time to coordinate our emergency response efforts. We need to be ready for the next emergency before it strikes. As chairman of the Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery Subcommittee of the Committee on Homeland Security, I want FEMA and other Federal agencies to have the power and resources to coordinate relief efforts before, during, and after an emergency happens. We do not have to relive the horrors of Hurricanes Andrew, Katrina, and Maria. Let us be proactive about the next disaster instead of waiting until it strikes. ____________________”