Thomas Daschle: “I want to also indicate my strong support for the amendment just offered by Senator Byrd. Like many States in the West…”

“I want to also indicate my strong support for the amendment just offered by Senator Byrd. Like many States in the West and throughout the country, South Dakota has suffered this year, especially from fires that have devastated many parts of the Black Hills in particular. Thousands of acres have been lost. So, clearly, this legislation is needed. I am pleased the administration recently indicated, for the first time, its willingness to support, on an emergency basis, additional funds for firefighting. So I am grateful to the distinguished chairman for his amendment. I strongly support it. I am mystified, however, that the administration, while willing to support, on an emergency basis, the funds necessary to fight fires, has, at least up until now, expressed opposition to providing assistance to those who are suffering from drought. In many cases, drought can be just as devastating economically as fires. The response on the part of the Federal Government is every bit as important as it is for fires. There appears to be a disconnect between those who support funding to fight fires and those who oppose funding for purposes of fighting drought.”