Bernie Sanders: “This amendment impacts Vermont today, but it can impact any and every State in this country if it experiences a major…”

“This amendment impacts Vermont today, but it can impact any and every State in this country if it experiences a major flood or a natural disaster. We all know FEMA compensates communities for rebuilding bridges and culverts damaged during storms such as Irene, but what is not widely known is that FEMA insists that local communities, in order to get reimbursed, must build culverts and bridges to the same standards that already failed and are likely to fail again. It is not terribly sensible. That is what this amendment deals with. I yield to my colleague from Vermont, Senator Leahy. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Vermont, Mr. Leahy.”