Frank Lucas: “last Thursday, I addressed the House about a situation very important to the rebuilding efforts in Oklahoma City…”

“last Thursday, I addressed the House about a situation very important to the rebuilding efforts in Oklahoma City following last year's bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. Eight days later, the clock continues to tick, and money desperately needed by the people of Oklahoma City continues to not be fully utilized for disaster relief purposes. I am here today to remind the President that he, and he alone, has the statutory authority to follow up on his declaration of the bombing as a national emergency, by suspending the Davis-Bacon Act for these funds. I stress the word ``remind'' because I have already sent him two letters on this subject, and this is now my second speech on the floor of the House. The President witnessed first hand the devastating destruction caused by the bombing and had the chance this past April to see how little progress has been made in rebuilding Oklahoma City despite enactment of the $39 million in CDBG funds last July. If the President agrees with me that the people of Oklahoma City should be able to fully utilize the funds we granted them, then he should agree to suspend the Davis-Bacon Act and treat this situation as nearly all other disasters and emergencies have historically been treated.”