David Obey: “Mr. Speaker, we are asking the House of Representatives today to approve three items which are supported by the…”

“Mr. Speaker, we are asking the House of Representatives today to approve three items which are supported by the Republican administration. Number one, FEMA. The Director of the Federal Emergency Management Administration tells us we are going to need more money. The OMB Director is quoted in print as saying we will need more money for disaster assistance. Yet this House, without this motion, will be supporting a proposition that cuts from existing funds $389 million for disaster assistance. This issue is not about spending more money, it is about telling the truth about what our spending plans are. Secondly, the administration has asked for the money to protect us from foot-and-mouth disease and from mad cow disease. The gentleman from Texas said our system works well. 'Do not worry, no worry.' Well, I would ask my colleagues to recognize what the administration itself has said. 'Given the various foreign animal disease outbreaks in other parts of the world this year, USDA has been conducting a top- to-bottom review of its core programs to ensure we have the necessary resources to protect American agriculture from devastating animal diseases.'”