Jennifer Dunn: “today I want to express my strong support of the Balanced Budget Downpayment Act II and to urge the President to sign…”

“today I want to express my strong support of the Balanced Budget Downpayment Act II and to urge the President to sign this legislation as soon as it comes before him. This legislation makes a critical and significant downpayment toward finally achieving a balanced budget. Additionally, the bill includes emergency funds that Washington State needs in the worst way. In December of 1995 and again in February of 1996 the Pacific Northwest was hit by devastating floods. Roads and bridges and homes that were constructed above the 100-year flood plain were totally washed out. Many of our residents living in both rural and urban areas had their lives shattered. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration called the November storm the ``most significant storm affecting the Western United States during 1995'' and compared it to the Columbus Day storm of October of 1962, which was the most destructive wind storm to ever hit the Pacific Northwest. While Federal Emergency Management Agency in conjunction with other agencies was scrambling trying to help counties, States, businesses, and individuals put their lives back together after the December storm, Mother Nature dealt us another devastating blow in February. Washington State's office of Financial Management has stated that the February storm will go down in history as the State's costliest. Preliminary figures estimate $319 million in uninsured and underinsured damage.”