Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Small State and Rural Rescue Act. I thank my friends, Chairman DeFazio and Ranking Member Graves, for their efforts to bring this bill to the floor today. My constituents in central New York are all too familiar with the significant challenges that come with accessing Federal aid in the wake of a disaster. Rural communities along Lake Ontario's southern shore in my district have seen historic flooding in recent years, and in the aftermath, local authorities have struggled to navigate the complex bureaucratic malaise which is the Federal disaster declaration process. Similarly, across the country, rural communities and relatively small States are forced to grapple with red tape and often struggle to demonstrate the severe localized impact of these disasters. In these instances, FEMA's Small State and Rural Advocate plays a critical role in helping underserved communities access disaster relief. The Small State and Rural Advocate's office is intended to help ensure fair access to FEMA assistance for all disaster-impacted areas, and it is essential that Congress reinforce its role in facilitating the delivery of essential aid. That is why I was proud to introduce the Small State and Rural Rescue Act alongside Chairwoman Titus and Representatives Gimenez, Pappas, Guest, and Delgado--a bipartisan bunch.…”