Sheila Jackson Lee: “I want to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for guiding us and providing us an opportunity to really speak from the…”

“I want to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for guiding us and providing us an opportunity to really speak from the heart. I, likewise, want to acknowledge the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus for his leadership as well, Chairman Richmond, and, of course, Congressman Evans, Congressman Veasey, and Congresswoman Beatty, who are conducting this CBC Special Order. I would also like to ask for them to beg my pardon for I wish to start with a commentary on those who are suffering and to bring attention to our friends in the Virgin Islands and in Puerto Rico. Before I came on the floor, the cable news was reporting again the kinds of vision--or the kinds of visions and scenes that we had in the early stages of Hurricane Harvey: Come help me; but also a reminder of those in Katrina with the big, large sign: Is somebody going to help me? Now, in Puerto Rico, where I am understanding in many parts of Puerto Rico, no government help has come, probably the same in St. Croix. The picture I have here is a picture in my congressional district where we were attempting and did rescue about 60 people who were surrounded by water and certainly concerned, as others were, having to flee for their lives and looking for high ground.…”