Political Quotes

“We had a disaster in our State last year, caused by tornadoes. Senator Robb and I and others interceded. We were not able to get full FEMA assistance. We are puzzled as to why it goes to California, but not there. I am very pleased to learn today that the distinguished chairman of the Appropriations Committee, the President pro tempore, wants to constitute within this body a group of Senators to work on, presumably, some future pieces of legislation relating to disaster. I hope, I say to my colleague from West Virginia and the two distinguished colleagues from California, that a part of that study will relate to a question I have to answer, which is: How many times do the American taxpayers have to rebuild the same freeways that are collapsing as a consequence of the earthquakes? How many times do the American taxpayers have to rebuild a levee that has been taken out by a flood? How many times do we keep, for example, a military base open, as we did in Florida, when hurricane after hurricane practically destroyed the base? In other words, is there a point we reach when we have to recognize that there are geographical areas in this country that are highly vulnerable to disaster, and somehow recognize that we cannot go back to the American taxpayer time after time to rebuild the freeways, to restore the military bases, to rebuild the levees, but we have to recognize that we have to do something besides that rebuilding program? Could my distinguished colleagues comment on that?”