Donald Payne Jr.

But I mean going from 55 to 5 seems dramatic at best, drastic.

Unfortunately, FEMA chose not to attend this hearing to hear directly from those who have been working on the ground to make disaster response more equitable.

One life lost is too many and I am committed to a full and thorough investigation to ensure the safety of the 737 MAX before it is back in the air.

It is the Federal Government that under-funds the territories to begin with, putting arbitrary caps on our access to Federal safety net programs.

That is fundamentally unfair to these Americans.

If that empty chair isn't a perfect metaphor for this administration's response to Hurricanes Irma and Maria, I don't know what is.

3,500 people that took the time to lodge a complaint is probably just the tip of the iceberg.

Proper disaster contracting is crucial to successful response efforts.

It is absolutely unacceptable. I am sorry. I have gone over, but I felt that had to be borne out.

Well, I hope that FEMA has the urgency that I feel that this needs to be rectified.

You don't have any evidence that they haven't?

I think this needs to be expedited.

I am particularly concerned about FEMA's contracting for disasters.

You haven't on either side, right, and you have no evidence that they haven't been, correct?

Emergency preparedness, response, and recovery is too important of a mission for this agency to consistently struggle with disaster contracting.

We need to have an honest conversation today about how FEMA should proceed with preventing future contracting missteps.

I pledge my allegiance to a flag every single day that says that we all are created equal and are allowed to be citizens and justice is meted out equally.

This is an effort by the President to control this Department to the degree he wants to control it.

I mean, you know, when was asylum right now that it--like, wants to be vilified?

We see that we have gotten into this habit of locking children in cages, in fences, and feeling that that will deter people from coming here.

People are fleeing. They are not simply coming because they want a better car. They are fleeing for their lives and for their children's lives.

Well, I would like to thank the gentleman. It is duly noted. I respect your concern in that area, and we will continue to try to work toward our goal, which is to keep the country safe.

Scientists from all over the world are clear, if we don't start taking steps to address this issue, it will soon be too late.

I think there--apparently there is a common thread from our colleagues on the other side of the aisle. Climate change is causing a lot of these disasters to be magnified.

Despite controlling the House for the past 8 years, Republicans in Congress did nothing to address, what scientists agree, will be the devastating effects of climate change.