On the recordApril 27, 2018
I thank the distinguished ranking member and the manager of this fourth en bloc and rise to support the Jackson Lee amendment that has been included in the en bloc legislation. And I am thankful to Mr. DeFazio and the chairman for that. My amendment, made in order, deals with a GAO report of 240 days following any disaster, a long-term recovery efforts plan. These disasters are examples of the most challenging and catastrophic events in our Nation. And I am reminded of August 2018 in Houston, Texas. Hurricane Harvey has been defined as the singular most catastrophic incident and natural disaster in the continental United States. We are still suffering. People are still in hotels, still without their homes. So to the list of long-term recovery experiences, this GAO study would have us learn a lot. We need to learn from our past to do better to secure our future. This GAO report would define the Federal disaster long-term recovery, define the stages of a long-term recovery, and report on the competence and capacity of FEMA to manage two or more disasters of the magnitude that happened at the same time. I do want to take note of the fact that my amendment that did not authorize the FEMA Office of Response and Recovery was not made in order. I look forward to introducing legislation that would respond to that. I am also concerned that two amendments dealing with the endangered species the Rules Committee did not make in order.…
