Political Quotes

“Mr. President, this amendment would allow for better coordination of our flood mitigation programs to meet the unmet needs of victims of disaster. As homeowners along the Jersey Shore seek to recover from Superstorm Sandy, they are not just faced with the task of rebuilding, they also have to comply with new, incredibly costly elevation requirements. Seniors who have lived in their modest homes their entire lives now face tens of thousands of dollars in unanticipated costs, all in addition to the costs of rebuilding. And while there are Federal programs available to help coordination among these programs, it is incredibly poor and leads to a lot of victims never being helped. For example, there are hazard mitigation grants available, but homeowners will lose eligibility if they begin work before their application was approved, even if they complied with every other rule and regulation. My amendment would allow coordination and fine tuning of these mitigation programs so they operate more effectively and meet the unmet needs of disaster victims. The amendment would not cost any money, nor would it add another penny to the deficit. It just encourages the use of current programs in a more wise and coordinated fashion. I urge my colleagues to vote for the amendment. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator's time has expired. The Senator from Alabama.”