Earl Blumenauer: “the FY 2001 Supplemental Appropriations bill should be an opportunity for Congress to address some important funding…”

“the FY 2001 Supplemental Appropriations bill should be an opportunity for Congress to address some important funding shortfalls facing our country. Instead, we are seeing self- fulfilling prophecy played out that is the direct result of the misguided Republican strategy to disconnect spending for tax policy. The $389 million FEMA disaster relief cut in the FY 2001 Supplemental Appropriations bill is the first manifestation of what's wrong with the Republican budget strategy. Today's rule limits debate on the bill and prevents important Democratic alternatives from being brought to the floor, rather than having an open debate on the trade-offs that Congress has made to cut taxes and limit spending. We are prevented from voting on amendments aimed at restoring funding to assist the thousands of people needing disaster relief, ensuring that low-income families have access to affordable energy and heating, or addressing the energy crisis that is crippling the West Coast. The FEMA cut, in particular, could not come at a more inopportune time. Earlier this month we witnessed an example of the type of destructive results that may be a result of global climate change. We are seeing an increase in both frequency and intensity of extreme weather incidents. The devastating efforts of Tropical Storm Allison on Texas, Louisiana, and Florida killed almost 60 people, dumped 3 feet of rain in 6 days, and damaged 20,000 homes.”