Political Quotes

“this is an amendment offered by myself and cosponsored by Senators Webb and Wyden. It would provide for the approval of an agreement between the United States and the Republic of Palau in response to Supertyphoon Bopha. Few people are aware that as Hurricane Sandy was making its landfall in the northeastern part of our country, the United States, a supertyphoon known as Bopha was tracking a path of destruction across the western Pacific. The Republic of Palau, which is one of our closest allies and with which we are tied by a strategic alliance known as the Compact of Free Association, was struck by Bopha on December 2, causing extensive damage. The President of Palau declared a state of emergency, and the U.S. President, acting through the Department of State, issued a disaster declaration for Palau. This massive storm went on to kill over 1,000 people in the Philippines. Fortunately, there were no deaths in Palau, but high winds and storm surge and torrential rains caused widespread damage. A week ago the Ambassador from Palau, the Honorable Hersey Kyota, wrote to me as the chair of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, which has jurisdiction for assistance to nations that are in free association with the United States. The Ambassador asked for my help in responding to the disaster, but he did not ask for additional funding.…”