[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 81 (Wednesday, June 11, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H3667]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PASS DISASTER RELIEF

  (Ms. DeLAURO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, last night House Democrats joined our 
colleagues from the other body in an all-night vigil to protest the 
majority party's failure to pass disaster relief legislation. I think 
the public has some idea of the incomprehensibility of my Republican 
colleagues' view of this piece of legislation. They just do not get it.
  We worked through the night to send a simple message to our 
Republican colleagues: Democrats are serious about disaster relief, and 
we are willing to work around the clock if necessary to do that to get 
the job done. There are thousands of families in the Midwest. They are 
desperately waiting for Federal assistance so that they can begin to 
rebuild their lives again. Families in Minnesota, the Dakotas and in 
over 30 States across this country are waiting for these disaster 
relief funds. It is a disgrace that the majority party has chosen to 
load the bill up with extraneous provisions. They know it. They have 
acknowledged it.
  The gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Gingrich], the Speaker, has said this 
is a bill to embarrass the President of the United States. This debate, 
these issues ought to be debated another time. Pass the disaster relief 
bill. Help people in the United States make their way.

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