Peter Welch: “Vermonters are experiencing a lot of anguish now. This photograph depicts flooding that we had in Barre a year ago and…”

“Vermonters are experiencing a lot of anguish now. This photograph depicts flooding that we had in Barre a year ago and is here with us again. A year to the day, we had a return of flooding. We had devastating flooding in 2023. Parts of the Northeast Kingdom, 2 weeks later, would flood again. They were hit with 8 inches of rain--heavy rain--which caused more flash floods in the Northeast Kingdom. And today--today--6 more inches of rain is in the forecast. I come to the Senate floor tonight, when Vermont is in crisis, and I am asking for my colleagues, on both sides of the aisle in the Senate and in the House of Representatives, for us to come together and approve the President's supplemental disaster funding request. It will help Vermonters rebuild from heavy rains, flash flooding, and mudslides that have brutally devastated our State. It will help other communities around the Nation that have had their own weather events that have done so much harm to their communities. One year ago this month, the heavy rainfall required 214 swift boat water rescues--literally, some of our first responder folks showing up in boats to help people get out of their homes. Infrastructure was really hit hard, with 409 miles of rail, 64 State bridges, and 46 State roads closed. Madam President, 139 of our municipalities experienced flood-related damage. There was $553 million in public assistance need reported and $118 million for businesses on their damages.…”