[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 26, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[Congressional Record: January 26, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
REGARDING FEDERAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE
(Mr. NUSSLE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. NUSSLE. Mr. Speaker, as a Representative from Iowa, we recognize
what it's like to be devastated by natural disaster. This summer we
experienced the floods, the great floods, the 500-year floods of 1993.
Now it's California's turn.
We need to provide and we must provide assistance to our fellow
citizens in southern California. And I believe we as Federal
Representatives of the taxpayers must also answer the questions--how
much does it cost and where will we come up with the money to pay our
bills.
We can and must do both--provide and pay.
I believe we need to support offsets for the assistance and we can do
so in a very fiscally responsible way to the victims. I sent three
letters to the Speaker of the House this year to reform the system of
disaster assistance. Three letters that have yet to receive a reply. To
set up a bipartisan task force. A task force to study the way we
disastrously fund and deal with disasters in this country.
I think it is time for action Mr. Speaker. I think it is time to
reform our system. I think it is time to provide the assistance. And it
is also time to pay.
Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record the letters to which I
referred.
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC, January 24, 1994.
Hon. Thomas S. Foley,
Speaker of the House, House of Representatives, Washington,
DC.
Dear Mr. Speaker: Over the past six months, I have
contacted you twice to urge you appoint a bi-partisan
Leadership Task Force to examine the current procedures for
responding to disasters and to make recommendations for
responding to future disasters (my letters of July 27th and
October 14th are attached). You may recall Congressman Tim
Penny and I worked together last summer to identify spending
cuts to offset the cost of the disaster assistance provided
to the Midwest.
At this time, I have not received a response to either of
my letters. Now, six months later, we are faced with another
disaster, this time in California.
When Congress returns, one of the first items on the agenda
will most likely be providing disaster assistance for the
victims of the earthquakes that recently hit Southern
California--as well we should. For the reasons illustrated in
my previous correspondence, I urge you to consider my
recommendation to appoint a bi-partisan task force to examine
the issues related to disaster assistance. Additionally, I
would be interested in serving on the task force in any
capacity.
Thank you again for your consideration of this matter.
Sincerely,
Jim Nussle,
Member of Congress.
____
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC, October 14, 1993.
Hon. Tom Foley,
Hon. Bob Michel,
The Capitol, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Speaker and Mr. Minority Leader: After the great
floods struck the Midwest this summer, I contacted you in
late July and urged you to appoint a bi-partisan Leadership
Task Force to examine the current procedures for responding
to disasters and to make recommendations for responding to
future disasters in a more timely, responsible and effective
manner.
I am writing again to urge you to consider appointing a bi-
partisan Leadership Task Force. Even though federal disaster
assistance was provided without delay to thousands of flood
victims, this summer's floods illustrate the weaknesses that
exist in our system for responding to natural disasters. That
is why I believe it is critical for such a task force to be
appointed so it can begin examining how Congress and the
federal government can best respond to such disasters--
whether they be floods, hurricanes, droughts or earthquakes.
In fact, some of the issues that need to be of immediate
attention to the task force include reforming our flood
insurance and federal crop insurance programs.
I am interested in knowing whether you have given any
consideration to forming such a task force or addressing how
our system can better respond to natural disasters.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. Please do not
hesitate to contact me if I can be of any assistance.
Sincerely,
Jim Nussle,
Member of Congress.
____
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC, July 27, 1993.
Hon. Tom Foley,
Hon. Bob Michel,
The Capitol, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Speaker and Mr. Minority Leader: The entire nation
has witnessed the House of Representatives attempting,
through its normal legislative process, to respond to the
great disaster that has stricken the Midwest this summer. The
debate on this matter, while quite spirited at times, has
been very productive in illustrating the weaknesses that
exist in our system of responding to natural disasters and
national emergencies such as the flooding in the Midwest.
While the system cannot be overhauled and reformed quickly
enough to affect our relief efforts for this year's floods, I
believe the House of Representatives must act quickly on this
issue.
I have witnessed first-hand the damage of the floods that
have ravaged through the Midwest this summer, any my district
has been greatly affected by these floods. While I believe
that the Congress must respond to a disaster of this
magnitude in a timely manner, many Representatives have
respectively disagreed on the manner in which the Congress
accomplishes this task.
I believe the events of the past several days are a strong
testimony to the need for Congress to evaluate its practices
and procedures for responding to natural disasters and
emergencies. Accordingly, I urge you to appoint a bi-partisan
Leadership Task Force to examine the current procedures for
responding to disasters and to make recommendations for
responding to future disasters in a more timely, responsible
and effective manner.
I believe the Leadership's Task Force can help the House of
Representatives avoid potential disagreements over disaster
relief, such as those between regions of the country and
those over how to pay for disaster assistance. Moreover, the
formation of this task force is not intended to replace any
of the efforts to respond to the floods in the Midwest.
While the Leadership's Task Force may not be able to help
the process in responding to the disaster in the Midwest, I
believe that the Leadership's Task Force should be given a
deadline for reporting back to the House of Representatives.
This will hopefully allow us to respond to the next natural
disaster in a more timely, responsible and effective manner.
Finally, I believe my experience in coping with this
disaster will be very valuable to such a task force, and I am
interested in taking a leadership role in this effort. While
the size of the Leadership's Task Force can be determined at
a later time, I believe it should be comprised of an equal
number of Representatives from both parties.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward
to working with you on this important project.
Sincerely,
Jim Nussle,
Member of Congress.
{time} 1410
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the
gentlewoman from Illinois [Mrs. Collins] is recognized for 5 minutes.
[Mrs. COLLINS of Illinois addressed the House. Her remarks will
appear hereafter in the Extensions of Remarks.]
____________________