Donald Payne Jr.

This budget abandons my district and, we feel, the country, while throwing money toward the construction of the border wall.

I oppose the privatization of the air traffic controllers.

I really think that Mr. Capuano really captured the sentiments of a lot of us.

Thank you Congressman Payne, you have been a stalwart champion raising attention to these needs.

Thank you Mr. Donovan, for cosponsoring the PREPARE Act with Mr. Payne last Congress.

I invited Save the Children to testify today because too often the special needs of children are overlooked in disaster planning activities.

I look forward to working with the Chairman to take the feedback we receive at today's hearing as well as the follow-up hearing later this month and use it to help FEMA better serve its State and local partners and disaster survivors.

I would first like to thank Chairman Donovan for holding today's hearing.

You have to plan what can happen. That is not always going to be based upon your history or your experiences.

I think your statement is absolutely correct. We try not to waste people's time.

Funding for these important grant programs has been delayed repeatedly in past years because we have not adhered to a regular budget and appropriations schedule.

We should never make our community fit our plans. Our plans should be inclusive, not exclusive to the citizens who we serve.

To keep America safe, prepared, and resilient, the emergency response community must have a voice in informing the administration's policies and priorities.

you must!! And we hope you will join us in that effort.

I have no doubt that FEMA is in capable hands with the interim administrator, but I am concerned that the Trump administration has issued Executive Orders that affect the agency's activities before permanent leadership has been put in…

We need to plan for the communities we live in, not what fits our plan.

It is not a Muslim ban.

You know, there has been a lot of discussion today in reference to the Muslim ban on these seven countries that, you know, the--my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are citing incidents now of refugees from those countries.

Generally speaking, these criminals who are here illegally are generally going through a criminal justice system in the States.