On the recordJune 20, 2001
Eleven days ago I had a shovel in my hands and I was in my backyard trying to clear drains to save my own house. My neighbors were not as lucky as me. Nine days ago I joined the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Bentsen) and some of my other colleagues, along with Joe Allbaugh, the Administrator of FEMA, to tour the devastation we saw throughout southeast Texas. We saw lost businesses, lost houses, lost research, wrecked lives, lost lives, and yet today we are having a debate on allocating disaster funds. Unbelievable. Our question is do we put back into the budget the $339 million the Committee on Appropriations took out. How can any cut be justified in light of the fact that we just had a $4 billion disaster in one part of our country? My colleagues of the House, please do not turn your backs on these people or anyone else who needs help recovering from a catastrophe. Support the Bentsen amendment or support the Obey recommittal.
Source
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