[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 173 (Wednesday, January 2, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H7579]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HURRICANE SANDY RELIEF

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
New York (Ms. Clarke) for 1 minute.
  Ms. CLARKE of New York. I rise today to express my feelings of anger, 
frustration, and disbelief that the Republican leadership has failed to 
fulfill this promise on emergency supplemental disaster aid for the 
victims of Superstorm Sandy. Even though we were able to put our 
political differences aside to prevent an economic disaster, I am 
stunned and saddened that this compromise came at the expense of much-
needed relief. Like my colleagues from the Northeast, I feel betrayed. 
There were 305,000 housing units destroyed and 265,000 businesses 
affected. I'm a proud native of Brooklyn, New York, and it pains me to 
see the travesties that have affected my hometown.
  I'm in disbelief at the callousness with which this matter has been 
dispensed with. It is truly an embarrassment and a sad day that the 
House of Representatives has become a body so entangled in political 
one-upmanship that it is unable to come to the aid of Americans whose 
lives have suddenly been destroyed and turned upside down. This funding 
would have not only rebuilt the community's infrastructure but begun 
the healing process so sorely needed.
  Mr. Speaker, we need your leadership today. Please bring this matter 
to the floor for a vote.

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