[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 166 (Wednesday, November 2, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S7061]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND 
                  RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT


                              CDBG Funding

  Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, as the chairman and ranking member of the 
Transportation-HUD appropriations subcommittee are aware, I, along with 
Senators Hoeven, Leahy, Sanders, Blunt, Menendez, Lautenberg, 
Gillibrand, Baucus and Scott Brown have filed an amendment, Senate 
amendment No. 839, to add $600 million in supplemental community 
development block grant, CDBG, funding. We deeply appreciate the 
inclusion of $400 million in supplemental CDBG funds to aid communities 
impacted by disasters this year. However, given the magnitude of the 
damage just in my State of North Dakota from flooding this year, I am 
deeply concerned that this level of funding will not meet the needs. As 
many of my colleagues know, the city of Minot, ND, was devastated by a 
historic flood that impacted more than 4,100 homes and forced the 
evacuation of 11,000 people. The road to recovery will be long. CDBG 
offers an important component of the flood recovery effort to assist 
with buyouts and assistance to homeowners and businesses to repair the 
damage. My State alone has identified a need of at least $235 million 
for CDBG funds. We would like to work with the chairman and the ranking 
member of the subcommittee in conference to make sure there are 
sufficient resources for CDBG to meet the needs that exist in my State 
as well as others most impacted by this year's disasters.
  Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, we have seen flooding of historic 
proportion in North Dakota this year, and, as you know, other States 
have also sustained severe damages from hurricanes, tornadoes, 
wildfires and a range of natural disasters. In Minot, my hometown, 
friends and neighbors were forced to evacuate their homes and live day-
to-day in makeshift accommodations. Some are not yet in temporary FEMA 
housing as winter approaches. Almost as severe as the impact of the 
floodwaters, however, is the anxiety of not knowing when and how much 
help is forthcoming from the federal government. The State of North 
Dakota, local communities, and the Federal Government are already 
providing extensive assistance, but uncertainty over housing and 
infrastructure persists in the aftermath of this disaster. We took an 
important step forward in the Appropriations Committee 6 weeks ago when 
we approved $400 million in supplemental CDBG funding, which goes 
directly to help with housing for people who have lost their homes. We 
are grateful to the subcommittee for approving that appropriation, but 
I am here to tell you there is more to be done. We look forward to 
working with subcommittee Chairwoman Murray and Ranking Member Collins 
to ensure that we do all we can to maximize CDBG assistance to those in 
need, not just in North Dakota, but across the Nation.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, some of the worst damage caused by 
disasters around the country has been to the houses, mobile homes and 
apartments where families have built their lives and made their homes. 
In Vermont, entire mobile home developments were washed away in 
Hurricane Irene's fury. Where homes once stood, now lies a path of 
damage, destruction and heartbreak. Our small State's ability to build 
new homes depends greatly on support from Federal safety net programs, 
like the $400 million in emergency community development block grant 
funding that we have worked to include in this bill. While this 
emergency funding is a first step in addressing the urgent housing 
needs of States like Vermont that have been struck by natural 
disasters, we know that much more will be needed to help our decimated 
towns and communities, and their citizens, get back on their feet. I 
look forward to working with the chairman and ranking member of the 
subcommittee to ensure that homeowners, businesses and towns have the 
assistance they need to begin the long rebuilding process. I have not 
seen damage and destruction of this magnitude in Vermont in my 
lifetime. Vermont and other states that were hit by Irene are stretched 
to the limit right now, and just as the victims of past disasters 
throughout the country were able to rely on their fellow Americans' 
help in their time of need, so should Vermonters be able to count on a 
helping hand when they need it most.
  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I recognize the incredible impact of the 
disasters in your States and other States across the country this year 
and agree that CDBG is an effective tool in helping aid recovery 
efforts. The Senators from North Dakota and the Senator from Vermont 
have been strong advocates for this badly needed assistance. I pledge 
to work with them to ensure that communities impacted by this year's 
disasters have the support they need to recover.
  Mr. BLUNT. Mr. President, over the past year, Missouri and the entire 
country have faced numerous natural disasters that devastated the 
livelihoods of people in our communities. As we work to rebuild, the 
scope of these events has placed unusual logistical and financial 
pressures on rebuilding efforts. Disaster community development block 
grants provide communities with vital short-term and long-term recovery 
funds that pick up where FEMA funding leaves off. The $400 million that 
is included in the transportation; housing and urban development 
appropriations bill is a step in the right direction. I am thankful for 
the opportunity to join with Chairman Murray, Ranking Member Collins 
and my other colleagues in expressing the importance of these funds for 
the communities rebuilding after disaster. I look forward to continuing 
our work together to make sure that disaster community development 
block grants get the funds necessary to meet disaster needs in Missouri 
and throughout the country.
  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, disasters have affected nearly every 
State this year, and several States were hit particularly hard with 
devastating tornadoes and historic flooding. CDBG disaster recovery 
funding is an important tool that has helped States and communities 
address recovery needs related to infrastructure, housing, and economic 
development. I recognize that supplemental CDBG funding is important 
for communities recovering from disasters, and I look forward to 
working with my colleagues to help communities throughout the Nation.
  Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I thank the chairman and the ranking 
member for their support. We look forward to working with them to 
ensure our communities have the resources necessary to recover from 
these devastating disasters.

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