[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 21, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S3946]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             MONTANA FLOODS

  Mr. TESTER. Madam President, I wish to talk a little bit about the 
flooding that is going on in Montana and has been going on for 
basically better than the last month. The picture I have is that of the 
Musselshell River east of Roundup. The river channel is not in this 
area. In fact, it is on the far side of this river.
  My guess is--I have not seen this--this picture was taken about 10 
days ago. But my guess is, it is still flowing like this and for a 
number of reasons I want to address in my speech today.
  Over the past few months, we have seen severe flooding in Montana 
that has impacted our homes and businesses. It has devastated farmland 
and ranch land. It has displaced families across our State.
  The flooding has tested thousands of Montanans and the basic services 
and infrastructure they rely on every day. But when disaster hits 
Montana, we rise to the occasion. When I meet the families and the 
community leaders affected by flooding and when I tour their towns, I 
do not see resignation or hopelessness. I see resilience. I see our 
traditions of hard work and working together. I see communities that 
are rebuilding and moving forward, ordinary people and local officials 
working diligently with local, State, and Federal partners to address 
urgent and ongoing needs they are unable to address alone.
  Thanks to that spirit of working together, neighbor to neighbor, 
Montana communities are rebuilding and businesses are reopening. We are 
looking to account for the severe crop damage and livestock loss 
suffered by Montana's farmers and ranchers, and we are looking for 
resources to make up for the $8.6 million in damages to our State's 
infrastructure. Sadly, that number is only getting bigger.
  Montana's resiliency is going to be tested because we are not out of 
it yet--not even close. Given the unusually significant snowpack in the 
Rocky Mountains that has yet to melt, our rivers and streams will 
continue to swell. The cost to Montana communities and families will 
continue to mount, and more and more of them will look to emergency 
assistance to provide timely services and assistance to those most in 
need, to help them get back on their feet.
  That is why I am particularly alarmed by the looming shortfall in 
FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund, which the House left dangerously unfunded, 
even amid a string of weather-related disasters across this country 
that have led us to 45 declared disasters. We are now looking at 
estimates of a $2 to nearly $5 billion shortfall for fiscal year 2012 
alone.
  The total need is estimated to be as much as $6.6 billion. Montana is 
still tallying the damage. The risk of further damage is still very 
high. Yet we do not know right now if there will be enough money left 
over to meet the needs this disaster has already created in our State 
of Montana.
  The House thinks we should pay for past disasters with funding 
allocated for current and future disasters and by cutting assistance to 
firefighters and other first responders. In Roundup, Billings, and 
elsewhere in Montana, the folks who are rescuing stranded residents in 
boats to take them to get urgent medical care are not from FEMA; they 
are the same men and women who fight to protect our communities every 
day--the cops and firefighters who are part of these communities.
  Taking away the resources they need will not fly. It is irresponsible 
and unacceptable. I want all my colleagues to understand the importance 
of what we are facing, not just in Montana but across this country. 
There are 45 declared disasters around the country. It is time to do 
our part for communities all across this country that are facing 
unprecedented disasters from floods, tornadoes, to wildfires.
  Let's make sure this Nation's emergency responders have what they 
need to do their jobs. They are doing their part for all of us. Tough 
economic times have forced us all into some very difficult decisions. 
There is no doubt about that. But it is critical that we do everything 
we can on behalf of the communities and families across our Nation who 
are simply looking to pick up the pieces, to rebuild their homes, their 
schools and businesses, and to get back on their feet.
  When small businesses cannot get back on their feet and when our No. 
1 industry, agriculture, gets a punch during the growing season, our 
entire economy will be impacted in a negative way. Montanans will 
continue to be resilient, and they will continue looking out for one 
another. But there are some burdens that are simply too big for them to 
bear alone. It is time for Congress to stand, do its part, and the 
sooner the better.
  I look forward to working with Chairman Landrieu and Ranking Member 
Coats on the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee to make sure 
that no community from Montana or anywhere else in the country is left 
wondering if the government will make good on a commitment to help them 
rebuild.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Tester). The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. GRASSLEY. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum 
call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. GRASSLEY. I ask unanimous consent that the time during the quorum 
call be equally divided.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. GRASSLEY. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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