Don Nickles: “Is this an emergency? I don't think so. I have been informed that the administration requested this $1.6 billion…”

“Is this an emergency? I don't think so. I have been informed that the administration requested this $1.6 billion yesterday. Wait, these disasters have happened for the last several months. They requested this yesterday. Gravy train. The Senate is in the process of moving an appropriations bill, and they are calling it an emergency bill. If the Senate was having 'pay fors,' which we probably should do, they wouldn't be doing this, in my estimate. Maybe I am wrong. I know in the past this committee has already made some changes on section 8 to pay for it. I compliment them for that. I am not faulting my colleagues on this subcommittee. I am faulting the Senate, I am faulting the Budget Committee, because we have gotten this historical, sloppy budgeteering process for FEMA that we will be funding at $300 million a year when it averages $2 billion or $3 billion a year. I agree entirely with my colleagues from both Missouri and Maryland. They say we need to reform the FEMA funding process. That is exactly right. Maybe now that I have had a chance to look at it, I can help you with that. Let us give it a little attention. We need to give it attention. This is ridiculous.”