[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 172 (Tuesday, January 1, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H7563]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  2350
                         HURRICANE SANDY RELIEF

  (Mr. PLATTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. PLATTS. As a retiring Member, I am proud to stand with my 
colleagues on both sides of the aisle from New Jersey, New York, and 
Pennsylvania to urge action on this important issue.
  Over the past 2 years, I've often been frustrated by the actions of 
the Senate--or the inactions, I should say, of the Senate--where we 
would send bill after bill over there. Not that they would vote it 
down, but they just wouldn't vote. They wouldn't allow the will of the 
people to be expressed by a vote's being taken.
  If we conclude this session of Congress at noon on Thursday of this 
week without voting on this important issue, we are denying the will of 
the people to be expressed. We're not allowing that to happen. I would 
contend of the will of the people of America that the one thing they're 
comfortable in spending their money on is in helping their fellow 
Americans, and there is great need in New Jersey, in New York and 
elsewhere.
  We need to stand together, and I hope that we will come to the 
decision that it's never too late to do the right thing. The right 
thing is to allow the will of the people to be expressed, for this 
issue to be voted on and to let the Members express their opinions 
through their votes. I'm certain, if that's the case, if that happens, 
the will of the people will be to send the aid that is so badly needed.

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