Ernest Istook: “Everyone in the Nation, of course, is aware of what has happened in Oklahoma City this week with the tornado that has…”

“Everyone in the Nation, of course, is aware of what has happened in Oklahoma City this week with the tornado that has left thousands of people homeless and a number of people dead and a great amount of devastation. We are appreciative of the assistance and the care and the prayers and the concerns of people all over the country. This particular amendment is only dealing with one small portion of this particular disaster. I offer this amendment not only on my own behalf but also on behalf of the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. J.C. Watts) in whose district most of the devastating damage has occurred. Mr. Chairman, part of the damage done by the tornado was to Tinker Air Force Base, one of our premier Air Force installations. In fact, as terrible as it was, it could have been worse had that tornado gone through Tinker as it was headed to do. At the last moment, when it came to Sooner Road that tornado veered to the north rather than heading across the air force base.”