[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 2 (Friday, January 4, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H39-H48]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TEMPORARY INCREASE IN BORROWING AUTHORITY FOR NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE
PROGRAM
Mr. GARRETT. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 41) to temporarily increase the borrowing authority of the
Federal Emergency Management Agency for carrying out the National Flood
Insurance Program.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 41
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
[[Page H40]]
SECTION 1. TEMPORARY INCREASE IN BORROWING AUTHORITY FOR
NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM.
(a) Section 1309(a) of the National Flood Insurance Act of
1968 (42 U.S.C. 4016(a)) is amended by striking
``$20,725,000,000'' and inserting ``$30,425,000,000''.
(b) The amount provided by this section is designated by
the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section
403(a) of S. Con. Res. 13 (111th Congress), the concurrent
resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2010, and as an
emergency pursuant to section 4(g) of the Statutory Pay-As-
You-Go Act of 2010 (2 U.S.C. 933(g)).
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Garrett) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.
General Leave
Mr. GARRETT. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend the remarks
and include extraneous material on this bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
Mr. GARRETT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
The list of cosponsors to this legislation submitted this morning
should be treated as original cosponsors, reflecting their intent to,
in fact, be on the legislation when it was introduced last night.
I rise today to continue the process of this House of seeking to aid
and help those American citizens who have been devastated by Hurricane
Sandy. This storm has left literally millions without power, thousands
without homes, and the total area is destroyed.
So the piece of legislation before us today is very simple. It
temporarily increases FEMA's borrowing authority for carrying out the
National Flood Insurance Program. And so this legislation is really
vital to ensure that the homeowners in my State of New Jersey, as well
as in New York and Connecticut and any other affected areas, will be
able to continue to have their contractual flood insurance policies
with the NFIP honored.
So by temporarily increasing this borrowing authority, it will
provide to both homeowners and insurance companies handling the claims
that the Federal Government will meet its contractual obligations.
People who have been devastated by the storm will be able to continue
to move forward and onward with their lives.
I want to take a moment just to commend the gentleman from New York
(Mr. Grimm), who led a group of Members and other volunteers to help
clean and repair some of the devastated areas. I was pleased to
personally join the gentleman in their volunteer activity.
While we witnessed much devastation and destruction, we also saw
determination and friendly faces of local residents and volunteers from
across the country who are committed to restoring and rebuilding this
area.
So while it's easy for Members to come to the floor and vote for a
piece of legislation to help the area, it's a lot more difficult to be
on the ground physically working, scrubbing, lifting, building, and
cleaning. And while the Congress can and does help, it is the hard
work, the grit, and the determination of the citizens of the area and
the volunteers and the workers from all over the country that will
ultimately be the driving force in this area.
So to conclude, I again commend the gentleman from New York (Mr.
Grimm) for his efforts, and the others around who have volunteered in
this effort, and look forward to continue to work with him and others
in the area, both here in Congress, for the people of New Jersey, New
York, and Connecticut and the affected area.
With that, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may
consume.
I'm pleased that today on this floor, though it may be a little late,
that we'll finally act on a piece of legislation that's vital to the
Superstorm Sandy disaster relief legislation to increase the borrowing
authority by FEMA on behalf of the National Flood Insurance Program.
By increasing financing by $9.7 billion, this bill will enable the
provisions of a central relief of 120,000 flood victims who have waited
for far too long for the payment on the claims.
{time} 1010
I support today's bill as an important step for recovery from
Superstorm Sandy. When taken as a whole, the House's actions today, I
believe, still are slow--67, 68 days have gone by--and I know we've got
some commitments, but we're moving forward, and I'm hopeful that we
will get the full entitlement that the individuals from New York, New
Jersey, and Connecticut vitally need. Some of the programs, of course,
that need essential funding include the Army Corps of Engineers, who
worked to protect New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut shorelines in
coastal communities, and the Small Business Administration so they can
provide loans to help small businesses.
But let me, before I yield back my time, take some special time to
thank Mr. Garrett. I want to thank every member of the New York,
Connecticut, and New Jersey delegation for working collectively
together to try to make sure that our people--because this is an issue
that affects the American people--that our people receive the kind of
aid that they need. I particularly want to say to my friends Mr. Grimm
and Mr. King of New York, and I've seen several times that they've sat
and worked together collectively with our Governor, whom I also want to
give a special thank-you to, Governor Mario Cuomo, and Governor Chris
Christie from New Jersey, for working cooperatively, not as a Democrat
or a Republican, but working as an elected official to come together to
the aid of people who need aid, aid from a terrible storm.
And so I'm hopeful as we move forward--we do the $9 billion today,
and do what we need to do by January 15--that we get certain things
done and finally the people of this region receive the kind of aid that
they need.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GARRETT. I thank the gentleman for his comments and also
recognize that this legislation helps not only those people in his neck
of the woods, but across the country, as we resume the money in the
fund for FEMA and for the Flood Insurance Program.
I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hensarling), the
chairman of the Financial Services Committee.
Mr. HENSARLING. There's no doubt that Hurricane Sandy rendered
unspeakable damage to both lives and property on our east coast. It
represents truly one of the great natural disasters of recent history.
For millions of our fellow citizens, the devastation has been
unspeakable and unfathomable. It is time, obviously, to rebuild homes,
buildings, and lives. For the victims who paid for flood insurance
policies with the National Flood Insurance Program, their claims need
to be paid, and paid now.
But, Madam Speaker, here's the tragic reality: The National Flood
Insurance Program is broke. It is beyond broke. It is now taxpayer-
bailout broke. Regrettably, not unlike our Nation, broke, trillions in
debt--debt to the Chinese, the shameful bill sent to our children and
grandchildren.
So right here, right now, Madam Speaker, Members are faced with a
tragic choice of not paying contractual claims to victims who paid
premiums or adding $9.7 billion to an insane national debt that
threatens our national security, our economic well-being, and our
children's future. Emergency bills like this should not come to the
floor without offsets to pay for it or structural reforms to ensure
that taxpayer bailouts are never needed again. Regrettably, less than
24 hours into a new Congress, there is simply not time for this.
As many in this body know, I have long been critical of the National
Flood Insurance Program. For more than four decades, this experiment in
government-provided flood insurance has proven to be ineffective,
inefficient, and indisputably costly to hardworking American taxpayers.
Last Congress, we passed a reauthorization bill with modest reforms
to begin eliminating outdated subsidies and get the program on a path
towards actuarial soundness.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
[[Page H41]]
Mr. GARRETT. I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.
Mr. HENSARLING. But Sandy has hit before many of these provisions
could take effect.
As chairman of the Financial Services Committee, I wish to inform all
Members in this Congress our committee will take up legislation to
transition to a private, innovative, competitive, sustainable flood
insurance market, one that serves the needs of all of our countrymen
but ends the unsustainable taxpayer bailouts once and for all. A great
fiscal tragedy of today should never become an even greater fiscal
tragedy for our children tomorrow.
Mr. MEEKS. I yield 2 minutes to the gentlelady from New York, Mrs.
Carolyn Maloney.
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. I thank the gentleman for his
leadership and for yielding.
Madam Speaker, the victims of Superstorm Sandy can wait no longer.
It's been 11 weeks. Haven't they suffered and waited long enough? The
people whom we represent, who sent us to Washington to serve and who
are now not merely crying out for help but screaming for assistance,
demand that we act without further delay and pass this bill to
immediately increase the borrowing authority of FEMA and carry out the
intended purpose of the National Flood Insurance Program. That help is,
embarrassingly, overdue. Right now, if we fail to act and do not pass
this bill, there's a total of 120,000 flood insurance claim payments
that will be delayed and not paid.
This bill before us now will temporarily increase the borrowing
authority for the National Flood Insurance Program by $9.7 billion--
much more is needed--and a vote has been promised of $51 billion on
January 15. That absolutely needs to happen. Funds for Katrina passed
this House in less than 2 weeks. We have been waiting for 11 weeks.
Funds for Ike and Gustav passed very quickly. Again, the northeast
corridor has been waiting for 11 weeks.
It should not take much imagination to appreciate what it's like at
this very moment for those who have been waiting who have been affected
by the flooding caused by the superstorm. For 11 weeks, they have been
waiting while this body sat on a bill that should have long ago been
signed, sealed, and its help delivered to those in desperate need. They
wait for the billions that they need to rebuild. They need it for the
transportation system. They need it to make sure that this doesn't
happen again and to prevent floods in the future. They wait, many
shivering tonight in the cold of New York, where temperatures are,
again, below freezing. They are in homeless shelters and hotels,
staying with friends. They are waiting.
This body needs to act, and needs to act today. It is long overdue.
They wait on us to act, their lives on hold. They dream of re-
building their homes, their businesses, their lives. And all the while
we sit here comfortably and have failed to act.
They wait for our colleagues across the aisle to at long at last
listen hear their cries and to the demands of decency. They wait for us
to treat the storm tossed victims of an unprecedented natural disaster
at least as well as we have always treated others when tragedy struck.
They are becoming the forgotten while we bicker.
They wait for the help only this bill can bring.
How long must those suffering wait for help? I say no longer!!
It is with strong conviction and urgent concern that I support the
bill currently before us, and urge my colleagues to act NOW and pass
this bill.
Mr. GARRETT. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr.
King), who recognizes that the people from the area have not been
waiting. Their insurance claims have been paid from day one. We are
just here today to ensure that those payments continue, going forward.
Mr. KING of New York. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this legislation.
This legislation is the first necessary step that's needed to provide
the assistance and relief and aid that the people of New York, New
Jersey, and Connecticut require after the most devastating storm in the
history of our region, in many ways, one of the top two or three,
unfortunately, most severe storms in the history of our Nation.
This legislation is essential because people are suffering, and the
suffering increases each day. And as I said, this is the first major
step that we're taking. Hopefully, this process will be completed on
January 15.
I want to thank the leadership of both parties for coming together on
this.
I want to emphasize that this legislation is vital. This is not a
handout. This is not something we're looking for as a favor. What we're
asking for is to be treated the same as victims in all other storms,
all other natural disasters have been treated.
Also, I think it's important to lay out, because this is part of a
process, that, in the legislation that was originally going to be
introduced in this House, there was never an earmark in the bill; there
was never any extraneous spending the bill. I think it's important for
the Members in both parties to realize that. The House of
Representatives' bill was always targeted toward victims of Hurricane
Sandy. It does not go beyond that. It's important to lay that out.
It's also important to realize that, again, as we are talking here
today and as the vote goes forward and as we go forward toward January
15, the real suffering is out there. My own neighborhood in Seaford,
homes are devastated. There's a woman who lost two sons in 9/11. She
lost her home now. This is a crisis of unimaginable proportions unless
you're there. The national media is not following it, but if you went
to these homes, if you saw the suffering that's going on, if you saw
the people who don't have food and shelter, you would realize how
horrible this is.
So it's important we act. It's important we put past recriminations
behind us. Let's all stand together as one, all as Americans, Democrats
and Republicans. I think Governor Christie and Governor Cuomo have set
that model and that tone in New York and New Jersey. So let's follow
their example here. Let's go forward standing as one.
Again, I urge my colleagues to strongly support this legislation
today and also as we go forward on January 15.
{time} 1020
Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I'd like to now yield 1 minute to a young
man who has been a leader in this from New Jersey, the Honorable Frank
Pallone.
Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from New
York.
Madam Speaker, this action by the House Republican leadership is too
little and too late. I have to say I'm still very upset--and I think it
was deplorable--that the Speaker did not bring this bill up and the
whole package that addresses Hurricane Sandy relief in the lame-duck
session in the last 2 days of Congress. It would have been passed; we
had the votes. It would have been on the President's desk; he would
have signed it; and we would have started to rebuild the shore.
Now we have another delay. I don't know how many weeks--it's 9 weeks,
10 weeks, whatever it is. I have no idea what the Senate is going to
do. My understanding is that the Senate is mired in filibuster over the
next 3 weeks and isn't even coming back until after the inauguration.
So that means we could be waiting another 3 weeks. The rest of the
package--which is the most important part of it--might not even come up
until we return after a week's break. We're going to be on recess, and
then we come back on the 15th and--hopefully--the rest of the package
comes out that day. But that means now that we have three separate
votes on this package that could have been passed and signed into law
over the last couple of days--three separate votes. It is not
acceptable, Madam Speaker.
Mr. GARRETT. I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the other young gentleman from
New Jersey (Mr. Smith).
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of
H.R. 41. I want to thank leadership for posting it today, and
especially thank Chairman Scott Garrett for authoring this critically
important legislation, boosting the NFIP's borrowing authority by $9.7
billion, and I'm very proud to be a cosponsor.
Madam Speaker, the devastation unleashed by Sandy is without
precedent, and the impacted communities are in
[[Page H42]]
dire need of comprehensive assistance. Nowhere is this more evident
than in the sheer magnitude of the housing damage and the subsequent
housing need.
According to Governor Christie's office, Sandy damaged or destroyed
346,000 housing units. Of that number, some 72,397 were covered by the
National Flood Insurance Program, whose owners have submitted claims
and are awaiting the insurance payout for comprehensive repairs. Thus
far, only 18 percent have received funds pursuant to their claims. Over
80 percent of my constituents are waiting in limbo--an intolerable
situation that is making a bad situation worse. Moreover, Madam
Speaker, throughout the region there are a total of 115,000 insurance
claims related to Sandy; many of them are waiting as well.
This is must-pass legislation. We have an obligation--we have a duty
to meet this compelling need and contractual obligation. This
legislation takes us in that direction. Again, I want to thank Chairman
Garrett for his leadership.
Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I apparently missed it earlier; I want to
thank Mr. Garrett especially for his request earlier to make sure that
we included on this bill every Member from the New York, New Jersey and
Connecticut delegations as sponsors of this bill, and every member of
the committee. I want to thank the ranking member, Ms. Waters, for
agreeing to be an original cosponsor on this bill. It shows that we're
all working at this together. And I want to thank Mr. Garrett for his
cooperation in allowing everybody from this delegation, both Democrats
and Republicans, to be a part of this bill.
Now I'd like to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished whip of the
Democratic Conference, the individual who walked with me in Breezy
Point and up and down Rockaway Beach, the Honorable Steny Hoyer.
Mr. HOYER. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
I want to congratulate all of the Members who represent New York, New
Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and other jurisdictions who have
been united in a bipartisan way to say, let us reach out; let us act
now to help those who have been savaged by Sandy.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this bill that will help ensure
flood insurance benefits will be available for those still struggling
to recover from Superstorm Sandy. But I agree with Frank Pallone: while
it is never too late to do the right thing, it is late that we are
doing this thing--and we are doing only the bare minimum, because the
flood insurance will expire. But Frank Pallone is absolutely right, the
Senate, hopefully, can act by unanimous consent--hopefully--on this
small portion. But as we did in Katrina, we should have acted almost
immediately to meet the pain and suffering and loss of the citizens--
our fellow citizens, our fellow Americans--who were the victims of
Sandy, but should not have been the victims of our delay.
I support this legislation. I urge the Speaker and all of us on both
sides of the aisle to ensure that on the 15th of this month we act for
the balance of the initial dollars that will be available to assist
those who have had this loss.
I will be very supportive on the 15th. I know that the people of
Connecticut, of New Jersey, of New York, of Pennsylvania, and of all
America will hold the Speaker and all of us to the promise that no
later than the 15th of this month--some 11 days from today--that we
will make a full contribution to those people.
Mr. GARRETT. I once again yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen), who also recognizes that there have been
absolutely no victims of delay when it comes to the flood insurance
program because their payments have been made continuously because that
program has been funded and we continue to fund it today.
Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I thank my colleague from New Jersey for yielding.
Madam Speaker, it's been 70 days, and the residents of the Northeast
have been--many of them--living in misery and heartache. I'm pleased
that we are taking this step to support the National Flood Insurance
Program, which has met the needs of Americans across our Nation when
there has been flooding crises. We in the Northeast have been facing
this crisis now for 70 days. I'm glad that this essential program is
going to be supported.
There are about 125,000, from what I understand, Sandy-related claims
that can be met by raising this cap, and I think it's good that we're
about to do that. This, as others have said, is the first step of what
we need to do to sort of rebuild lives, to put aside the misery that so
many families and businesses have been suffering for this length of
time. It's the right step.
On January 15, we will be considering a much larger supplemental, a
total of $60 billion, which will meet the needs--not all the needs--of
Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and the region. There are
considerable needs. But the National Flood Insurance Program is a good
program. It needs supports. This is a good first step. Let's get about
it, and let's do it in a bipartisan manner.
Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the ranking member and
the fighter for small businesses throughout America, the honorable
Nydia Velazquez.
(Ms. VELAZQUEZ asked and was given permission to revise and extend
her remarks.)
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Madam Speaker, Hurricane Sandy has devastated New York, and thousands
and thousands of my constituents lost their homes and their businesses.
It is a shame--an embarrassment for this institution--that the House
Republican leadership continues playing games with this essential
assistance more than 2 months after the storm struck.
It is indefensible that as Americans continue to suffer from Sandy's
impact, that the House majority could not get their act together to
bring the entire aid, Senate-passed package to a vote. Talk about
``fiddling while New York City burns.''
This is also the case with today's legislation. While I fully support
providing FEMA with additional funding, it is just another sign of the
majority's dysfunction. With FEMA just days away from being unable to
pay flood claims, the Republicans argue among themselves about what to
do. That is a sad situation.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Mr. MEEKS. I yield the gentlewoman an additional 20 seconds.
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. So today we're talking about flood insurance.
{time} 1030
The job creators in our community are getting nothing. We, as an
institution, come together when there are natural disasters across this
Nation. My constituents deserve nothing less.
Hurricane Sandy has devastated New York and it is a shame--an
embarrassment for this institution--that the House Republican
leadership continues playing games with this essential assistance more
than two months after the storm struck. It is indefensible that as
Americans continue to suffer from Sandy's impact that the House
majority could not get their act together to bring the entire aid
Senate-passed package to a vote. Talk about ``fiddling while New York
City burns.''
And this is also the case with today's legislation. While I fully
support providing FEMA with additional funding for the National Funding
Insurance Program, it is just another sign of the majority's
dysfunction. With FEMA just days away from being unable to pay flood
claims, the Republicans argued among themselves about what to do. This
is a sad situation for those Americans that count on their government
to have their backs after a disaster.
While this bill will help homeowners insured through the Flood
Insurance program, it does nothing for our small businesses and
infrastructure needs. Providing this broader assistance is so overdue
that it is a disgrace, and even more so now, we are in the dawn of the
113th Congress, and about to vote on just a sliver of what was
promised. To many who are already suffering from the impact of Sandy,
this feels like a punch to the gut. And while I would have rather voted
earlier this week on the entire $60 billion package approved by the
Senate, the House majority has given us no choice. I hope that the
additional funding to help our residents and small businesses--and to
repair our infrastructure--will be brought to a vote as quickly as
possible.
Mr. GARRETT. I'm now pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
New York, who has actually led the efforts on the ground putting the
shoulder to the grindstone, so to speak, to
[[Page H43]]
actually help and restore some of these people's homes.
Mr. GRIMM. Madam Chair, I'd like to just take 15 seconds to tell
Chairman Garrett how much I appreciate his bringing this bill to the
floor today. He and his wife came to my district. He came to Midland
Beach and was in one of the homes, several of the homes, that were
completely devastated, pulling out moldy sheetrock and bringing a
little hope to people in complete despair. For that, I will eternally
be grateful. And I really do thank my chairman for that compassion in
letting the people, even outside of his own district, know that he's
there and he cares about them.
I would also like to share with you: I called someone this morning
from Staten Island that lives in New Dorp Beach. They have a teenaged
son named Dylan. And they haven't been back in their home since the
storm. And I asked, ``How are your two sons doing?'' And they said,
``They are doing great, but Dylan, he hasn't gone back to the house to
help with the construction because he gets choked up.'' And it's that
that I want to emphasize here. These are human beings--human beings,
children--that have been completely displaced. And it's up to us to get
them back on their feet.
So today is one of those steps that I'm proud to be a part of and
tell Dylan that he's going to be okay, we're getting him back in his
house. And I would ask that as we go forward with the other parts of
Sandy relief that my colleagues will stand with me and tell Dylan that
he's going to be okay and we're going to get him back in his house.
With that, again, I want to thank all of my colleagues across the
aisle. It's been a pleasure to work with you, and we have a lot of work
to do. And I want to thank Chairman Garrett one more time. Thank you,
Chairman.
Mr. MEEKS. I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished ranking member from
the Appropriations Committee and a hard fighter, the one and only Nita
Lowey.
Mrs. LOWEY. I thank the distinguished, distinguished ranking member,
Mr. Meeks, for your eloquence, as always.
Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation, and I
would like to thank Chairman Garrett for introducing this legislation
and for his efforts to bring it to the floor with bipartisan support.
The National Flood Insurance Program has hit its limit. Without an
increase in borrowing authority, it will be unable to pay for claims as
early as next week. And that means that 120,000 flood insurance claims
payments will be delayed, nearly all of which are due to Hurricane
Sandy.
However, this bill is just not enough. It's not adequate. In
December, the Senate passed an emergency assistance package to aid in
the Sandy recovery, which included this legislation. Earlier this week,
I expected, as did my colleagues, that the House would vote on a
complete emergency assistance package to aid those in Connecticut, New
Jersey, and New York who have lost homes, businesses, and their
livelihoods. Sadly, the 112th Congress ended without action, and now we
are starting over on important legislation which is absolutely critical
to help storm-affected areas that should have and could have been
signed. We know that there's no reason it wasn't signed in 2012.
However, we have now been promised a vote on the Sandy emergency
assistance package by January 15, and families in my district and
throughout the region are looking to Congress and asking, ``Why are you
making it so difficult for us to rebuild? Why are you making us wait to
rebuild?''
Today's legislation is a start, but only a first step, toward
providing relief for those who suffered as a result of Hurricane Sandy.
We don't need a piecemeal approach. That is not the way that Congress
acts. We need a comprehensive Sandy recovery bill passed today.
We hold you to your commitment of January 15 and not a day later. We
need this complete bill.
Mr. GARRETT. At this time, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Runyan), who has seen firsthand the
devastation to our State.
Mr. RUNYAN. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Garrett for yielding some
time.
Madam Speaker, it's been 68 days since Hurricane Sandy devastated the
Northeast and over 2 months of suffering for my constituents. While it
is unfortunately long overdue, I'm pleased that we're finally here
acting to help the people of New Jersey recover. This hurricane has
caused billions of dollars in damage, uprooting individuals and
families from their homes, forcing businesses to close and resulting in
job loss and revenue loss.
My constituents need help now recovering. I've witnessed firsthand
the devastation in places like Seaside Heights, Normandy Beach,
Lavallette and Silverton, and I can honestly say that these places look
like war zones after the storm. Whole communities have been wiped out.
Governor Christie estimated the damage in New Jersey to be over $36
billion. I applaud his swift action on Sandy recovery and join him and
all local, State, and Federal leaders in New Jersey to ensure that all
relief funds get to New Jersey families and businesses as quickly as
possible. This includes adequate funding for the flood insurance
program we are voting on today, and I urge passage of this essential
legislation.
Mr. MEEKS. At this time, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New
Jersey, a member of the Ways and Means Committee, Mr. Bill Pascrell.
Mr. PASCRELL. You would think, Madam Chair, that we're having a Sadie
Hawkins dance here today and we're patting each other on the back. The
real sponsor of this legislation are the people who have been hurt. And
let's be honest about it. It took only 10 days after Katrina until
President Bush signed $60 billion in Katrina aid passed by the Congress
of the United States.
How dare you come to this floor and make people think everything is
okay. In fact, one of the gentlemen from New Jersey said that we've not
waited at all. Well, the insurance runs out in 1 week. What were we
going to do, wait for 1 week and then act? We wouldn't even be here.
Who the heck are you kidding?
So we all come together very nicely this morning for breakfast and
eggs. And we know what has happened over the last 10 days. This is a
total, total disaster in helping those people that we are pompously
saying today and pontificating about we're helping them. Isn't that
wonderful? What are our jobs? We're not doing anybody favors. That's
why we were sent here. Try it once in a while. Democracy--you may like
it.
Madam Speaker, it's now been 68 days since Hurricane Sandy landed. By
the time the rest of the $60 billion in aid requested by Govs. Christie
and Cuomo comes up for a vote, as the Speaker has promised, on Jan.
15th, it will be nearly 80. Who knows how much longer after that until
the new Senate gives their approval?
$60 billion in Katrina aid was passed by Congress and signed by
President Bush just 10 days after that storm.
Why is there a double standard? People in New Jersey, in my district,
are suffering and they cannot afford to wait a day longer for the aid
that they are entitled to as taxpayers of this nation? If we had just
voted on Wednesday, it could already be on the way.
I'm pleased that today we are approving more funding for the National
Flood Insurance Program, which is going to run dry within a week, but
we need to approve the rest of this aid as soon as possible. To not do
so would be cruel and unconscionable.
But this is only the beginning of rebuilding the most important
economic region of our country.
Two weeks after Katrina, this House passed a serious tax relief
measure dedicated to helping those that our disaster aid programs
cannot reach, on a voice vote. I and many bipartisan cosponsors,
introduced similar measure in the last Congress.
I call upon the Speaker to bring this legislation up for a vote as
soon as possible. There are thousands of individuals, small businesses,
municipalities and utilities that need our help to rebuild, and it's
our responsibility to deliver.
Mr. GARRETT. At this point, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland) who realizes it's not just what we do on the
floor but it's also the volunteering and the dedication to help these
people as well.
Mr. WESTMORELAND. I want to thank the chairman for recognizing me. I
just want to say that I support this bill not because I support the
increased borrowing that we are doing
[[Page H44]]
for our flood insurance program of $9.7 billion, but it is a
contractual agreement that we owe to these policyholders to pay these
claims. It's not their fault that we in the government are not good
managers of our money.
In 1968, when this policy and this program was put into place, it had
a borrowing authority of $1.5 billion. It wasn't until Katrina that we
raised that borrowing authority up to $20 billion. We still owe $20
billion. We're now raising that borrowing authority to $30 billion. In
2017, which is 4\1/2\ years away, the borrowing authority goes back to
$1.5 billion. Now I'm sure we'll address that at 11:59 on September 30
of 2017.
But I'd like to ask both sides, on both sides of the aisle, let's
start working on that now. This cost to the government is $17,063 for
every policyholder who has flood insurance. The average premium is
about $600. We have paid people 10 and 20 and 30 times for claims that
live in the same house in the same floodplain.
I had an amendment to the flood insurance bill that said if you had
two claims due to flood and you did not take the payout, then you would
have to pay a rate-based premium. It didn't pass.
{time} 1040
We've got to get into reality what this flood insurance program is
for. It's mandatory. If you have a government-backed loan and you live
in a floodplain that's likely to flood in 100 years, you have to have
the insurance.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. GARRETT. I yield an additional 15 seconds to the gentleman from
Georgia.
Mr. WESTMORELAND. We need to make sure that what we're doing is
something that can manage itself without continually having to raise
the borrowing authority for this part of our government.
With that, I do support the bill. It's a congressional obligation
that we have to these policyholders. I ask that everyone support it.
Mr. MEEKS. At this time, I yield 1 minute to the ranking member of
the Foreign Affairs Committee, the Honorable Eliot Engel from the great
State of New York.
Mr. ENGEL. I thank my friend from New York, and I rise in strong
support of this legislation.
I must say Tuesday night when I found out that we were not taking
this legislation up in the previous Congress, it was the angriest I've
been since I've been a Member of Congress.
In the last 20 years, this is the longest that people affected by
natural disasters have waited for Congress to provide them the needed
relief. It's really not acceptable. I have voted for aid for all areas
of the country, wherever there has been a natural disaster. The
Northeast now deserves the same. I would remind my colleagues that New
York has been a donor State. We give more to the Federal Government
than we take back. Now we need help. Politics should not be played with
the help that we need.
We should be supporting the entire package. I'm sorry we are not
voting for the entire package today. As was mentioned before, we now
have to wait for the Senate to pass whatever we pass. This could have
been done and gone on Tuesday night, and the aid would have been
speeding to the people. This simply is not acceptable, and I hope
there's no further delay.
My constituents are suffering. The people of New York, New Jersey,
and Connecticut are suffering. Congress needs to get out of the way now
and send not only this $9.7 billion in flood insurance, but the entire
package.
Mr. GARRETT. First of all, I yield myself 15 seconds just to set the
record straight.
With regard to the legislation before us, which is a flood insurance
program, the aid under this program is going and has been going to the
recipients in the affected area because there was funding in this
program before. What we're doing right now is to make sure that that
aid will continue to go to those people who have contracts for
insurance.
With that, I now yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr.
Gibson), who also is very familiar with the devastation that was caused
to constituents.
Mr. GIBSON. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the legislation.
Indeed, as was intimated moments ago, in the summer of 2011, my
district was struck by Hurricanes Irene and Lee. We came together as a
body to support my constituents; and with that assistance provided, we
are in the process of rebuilding--and still rebuilding, I might add.
Now we come together in the wake of this devastating natural disaster,
Sandy. My State, along with our neighbor States, was struck again.
Making certain that our communities have the resources they need has
brought me to the floor today again to advocate for New York families,
businesses, and farms.
Today's vote is a step forward, the National Flood Insurance Program
exists for circumstances like this, but more remains. We must come
together at the outset of this legislative session to address both the
immediate recovery needs and the longer-term rebuilding efforts. I'm
committed to this recovery effort. I'm proud of the work our
delegations have achieved to date. We need to continue that.
I want to thank the gentleman from New Jersey for bringing this bill
to the floor today, and I urge my colleagues to support it.
Mr. GARRETT. Madam Speaker, I inquire as to the time remaining on
both sides.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from New Jersey has 4\3/4\
minutes remaining, and the gentleman from New York has 6\3/4\ minutes
remaining.
Mr. MEEKS. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr.
Andrews).
(Mr. ANDREWS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. ANDREWS. Madam Speaker, the delay in helping the victims of
Hurricane Sandy is obviously inexcusable and unjust, but it's equally
obvious that the time has come to do what we can to help solve the
problem. That's why I'm for the passage of this bill today. It will, in
fact, help flood insurance claims be honored and paid so that people
can go about the work of rebuilding their homes.
We've heard about the January 15 vote that is coming on the rest of
the plan. I think we shouldn't be holding out false hope about that
because here's the reality: I'm certain we will vote on January 15. Of
course, the Constitution says the other body has to vote too. They have
to start all over again, and then the President has to sign the bill.
It is my strong hope that the leadership between now and January 15
will reach out to the leadership of the other body and try to
prenegotiate a bill that the Senate would quickly and expeditiously
take up so we can solve this problem.
The House taking a vote on January 15 is lovely. It is also utterly
meaningless if the other body does not act.
Mr. GARRETT. At this time, I yield 2 minutes to a gentleman from a
State which is not immune to natural disasters, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Issa).
Mr. ISSA. Madam Speaker, today we're doing the important thing, the
critical thing. I wish today that this had been what we'd voted on in
the previous session, to recharge the flood insurance that needs to be
there so that men and women in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and
the like will not question whether or not their country can provide
them with the resources that are expected to be there in the time of a
natural disaster like that.
Madam Speaker, I rise today to say that January 15 is critical; and
as the previous speaker said, we do need to prenegotiate with the
Senate. We need to get the pork out. None of that pork we're talking
about is in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut. In fact, it's as far
away as Alaska. The pork that we will not vote on today is, in fact,
the pork that was in this bill from the Senate. My hope is that we will
see on January 15 a negotiated and clean bill that only deals with the
men and women and families on the eastern seaboard that need to be
taken care of.
I think that it's the President's responsibility and our
responsibility and the Senate's responsibility when we do emergency
supplementals to make them only about the emergency. I believe today we
are buying a little bit of
[[Page H45]]
time; but I think for people on the eastern seaboard who are suffering,
that time is running out and all of our leaders need to make sure that
the next vote, the vote on January 15, as the previous speaker said,
will be a vote that will be prenegotiated, that will run through the
Senate, and will deal only with the people suffering on the eastern
seaboard.
Mr. KING of New York. Will the gentleman yield?
Mr. ISSA. I yield to the gentleman.
Mr. KING of New York. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
I think it's important to point out that the House bill never
contained any of those extraneous provisions. When the bill came over
here, our leadership agreed that all that was taken out so that there
was nothing about any other State other than those directly affected by
Sandy.
Mr. ISSA. I reclaim my time to say the gentleman is absolutely right.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. GARRETT. I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from
California.
Mr. ISSA. Had we been able to pass what we intended to be the House
bill and send it back to the Senate and the Senate would have then
taken that up, although they had left town, we could have done this in
the previous Congress.
The gentleman from New York has been a champion to make sure that's
clearly understood. I want to be an equal champion that, in fact,
whether it's Louisiana or California, when the next earthquake occurs
or now our friends and colleagues from the eastern seaboard actually as
far south as where we stand, we do need to make sure--we owe them that.
And I want to thank the gentleman from New York for, in fact, working
so hard to make sure that we do get to a clean bill.
With that, I thank the gentleman.
Mr. MEEKS. Madam Chair, I yield to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms.
Kaptur) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.
(Ms. KAPTUR asked and was given permission to revise and extend her
remarks.)
Ms. KAPTUR. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise in support of
Hurricane Sandy relief wherever it is needed.
I want to offer my voice of support to the people of New York, New
Jersey, Connecticut and all others impacted by Hurricane Sandy. Its
devastation was vast.
Yesterday, President Obama declared Cuyahoga County, Ohio a federal
disaster area as a result of the damage of Hurricane Sandy.
Cuyahoga County private, nonprofit groups, local governments and
State agencies are eligible for more than $17 million to cover the cost
of storm-related work caused by Hurricane Sandy on Oct. 29 and 30, the
Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Thursday.
Cuyahoga County was the only one of Ohio's 88 counties to be eligible
for the money from FEMA's Public Assistance Program.
Additionally, Hurricane Sandy did over $13 million in damage to the
Lake Erie Ports of Cleveland and Lorain. Storm swells on Lake Erie were
massive as the system rolled through and caused extensive damage. While
the property damage and displacement was nothing compared to what our
citizens in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut
experienced and are living with, Congress must address these emergency
needs brought on by Mother Nature. It is incumbent upon this Congress
to rebuild and restore the might of our Nation's communities so
severely impacted by natural disasters.
Mr. MEEKS. I now yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York on the
Judiciary Committee, the Honorable Jerry Nadler.
{time} 1050
Mr. NADLER. I thank the gentleman for yielding the time.
Madam Speaker, obviously, I support this bill today to replenish the
hurricane insurance fund, which would otherwise run dry for the entire
country next week, but it does not excuse the callous action of the
House leadership the other night for taking the $60 billion of relief
off the table. Now we're told we'll get a vote on the 15th, and I hope
they're as good as their word, although they haven't been in the past.
Even so, it will take God knows how long for the Senate because the
bill they had passed is now dead, this being a new Congress. That
action the other night delayed relief for the long suffering people,
for the businessowners whose businesses are going under, for the
homeowners whose homes are suffering from mold. All of this was delayed
by at least 3 weeks, maybe longer, on top of the fact that we had gone
already 9 weeks--Katrina was 10 days--with a lack of aid, and now it
will be another 3 or 4 or 5.
This is the most callous action I've ever seen. The leadership of
this House should be condemned for it. I hope they have the
determination to make sure that this, indeed, comes to a vote on the
15th, that it passes and that the Senate is induced to match it
quickly. That would be the least that decency would demand.
Mr. GARRETT. In recognizing that some on the other side of the aisle
can't take ``yes'' for an answer, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New
Jersey, the Honorable Mr. Sires.
Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, as I sat here, I was thinking that maybe
there is a bias against the northeastern States of this country. This
devastation can happen to any State, and no one State has the money to
make sure that the people who were injured in this storm can move
forward. I would remind all those Members who are not here supporting
this bill that this could happen to your State. As I sat here and
supported Alabama, as I supported Mississippi, as I supported Texas, I
was hoping that, by now, with regard to the northeastern part of the
country, this Congress would have acted. It has been 77 days. These
people are hurting. People in my district still can't get back to their
homes, and here we are. In the last Congress, we just didn't do
anything about it. Now we are moving forward, and hopefully, on January
15, we can get the rest of this money so that the people who are
suffering in all of these States that were hit by this storm can get
their lives back together again.
Mr. GARRETT. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MEEKS. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York, Mr. Sean
Patrick Maloney, for his initial floor debate.
Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, my name is Sean
Patrick Maloney. I'm new here. I don't know all the rules of
Washington, but it sure seems like the rule here is to put off until
tomorrow what should be done today--even when our fellow Americans are
suffering.
A long time ago, I learned from my mom and dad, Jim and Joan Maloney,
and our parish priest, Father Bill Nolan, a much better rule. It's
called ``the golden rule.'' Americans by all parties live by it. The
people of New York, New Jersey, and the Hudson Valley live by it. Bart
and Diana Tyler of Kelloggs & Lawrence Hardware Store in Katonah, sure
live by it. They led storm victims by flashlight through the darkened
aisles of their hardware store for critical supplies at the hour of
maximum danger and greatest need, and they consoled them as if they
were their own family. Bart and Diana didn't make their neighbors wait
68 days for help, and they didn't say they could do more later. They
acted with speed and with caring.
This new Congress can start anew today. We can act with speed and
caring. We don't need to wait. I urge my colleagues to bring this
additional relief to the floor as soon as possible and to support the
bill today.
Mr. GARRETT. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, how much time do I have remaining?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from New York has 2\3/4\
minutes remaining.
Mr. MEEKS. I yield 30 seconds to the gentlelady from Texas (Ms.
Jackson Lee).
Ms. JACKSON LEE. I thank the gentleman very much, and I thank the
proponent of this legislation. It is obviously needed.
I come from the gulf region. We lost thousands and thousands and
thousands from hurricanes. Hurricane Ike saw this Congress give us $3
billion. I stand here today to remind you that a police officer died, a
13-year-old died from debris falling on her, and a mother saw her two
children drawn from her hands and drowned in Hurricane Sandy. It is
long overdue.
I stand here as someone who has been a beneficiary, who has cried
with those
[[Page H46]]
who have lost. I demand that this money be passed today, but more
importantly, I demand that we pass the total amount of money right now,
today. Let's help the American people. Let's help those impacted by
Sandy. Let's help my fellow Americans.
Madam Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 41, ``To Temporarily
Increase The Borrowing Authority of the Federal Emergency Management
Agency for Carrying Out National Flood Insurance Program.''
I urge this new 113th Congress to start the New Year off right by
acting swiftly in support of legislation to fund disaster relief
assistance for the victims of Superstorm Sandy.
Since this historic storm devastated the east coast in late October,
the people impacted by the storm, particularly those in the Tri-State
area of New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut, have been waiting
patiently for the federal government to act as they continue to engage
in efforts to rebuild their communities.
However, the time for patience has long since expired, and these
Americans can no longer wait for Congress to act.
68 days have passed since the storm surged onto the shores of
Atlantic City, New Jersey. It has been a long 67 days for families
without a home, and for businesses without a storefront or customers.
For 67 days, these neighborhoods have struggled to pick up the pieces
and put their communities back together, and Congress must step in--
immediately--to lend a helping hand.
As the representative for the 18th District in Texas, I know the
massive and protracted destruction that storms like this can cause both
to property and, more importantly, to the lives of citizens who are
left to rebuild their lives and restore all that they have lost.
After the initial disaster response and search and rescue phases, we
must begin to rebuild, a process that calls for a long-term commitment
from officials in state, local, and federal government.
We can all recall Hurricane Ike in 2008, which heavily impacted many
constituents in my district. At least 74 people lost their lives in the
State of Texas, with 28 in Harris County and 17 in Galveston. Over
200,000 homes in the Houston-Galveston region were left damaged or
destroyed as a result of Ike.
Congress appropriated $3 billion to Texas to help finance the
infrastructure and housing recovery, which included individual and
household assistance, disaster unemployment assistance, public
assistance grants to state and local government and nonprofit
organizations to pay for debris removal, emergency protective measures
and road repairs, and low-interest disaster loans provided by the Small
Business Administration.
My visits to the affected areas fundamentally evidenced the need for
long-term recovery and to get people back on their feet. My
constituents and others in the affected areas needed and greatly
appreciated the federal assistance they received, and so now that
Americans in other parts of our nation need our help, we must move in a
bipartisan fashion to provide it.
As a nation, we continue to mourn the loss of at least 125 people in
the United States and a total of 253 people due to Superstorm Sandy (60
in New York, 48 New York City; 34 in New Jersey; 16 in Pennsylvania, 7
in West Virginia).
As devastating as Hurricane Ike was, the damage to property it caused
(an estimated $29.5 billion) the costs associated with Superstorm Sandy
are expected to be significantly higher. While we do not yet know the
final numbers, the total amount of property damage resulting from
Superstorm Sandy exceeds $62 billion. In terms of dollars of property
destruction, this ranks Superstorm Sandy second only to Hurricane
Katrina ($128 billion, adjusted for inflation)(note: Hurricane Ike
ranks 3rd).
Food, shelter and clothing are basic necessities, and right now far
too many people are without access to them during these holidays and in
brutally cold weather. With more cold weather in sight, things are not
going to get any easier for residents of those communities.
Economic conditions in many affected communities are stagnant;
stalled because the federal government has yet to provide funding. It
took 10 days for Congress to approve roughly $50 billion in aid for
Katrina, but Congress has not provided aid for those affected by Sandy
for more than two months.
We need to restore a sense of calm and stability in the lives of
people affected by Superstorm Sandy. We need to ensure that small
businesses in the affected areas are able to rebound as expeditiously
as possible so that they can get the local economies moving again.
I am encouraged that relief for Superstorm Sandy has received
bipartisan support, but now we must follow through with action. We know
that disasters affect all of us at one point or another, and we must
come together as one nation to give people access to relief that,
realistically, only the federal government can provide. However, this
should have been done no less than 5 days after the horrible Hurricane
Sandy--now we are only during half way--let's vote today on the full 60
billion dollars in relief today. Let's not watch people died and people
are suffering after hurricane! We can not wait until January 15, 2013--
now is the time to help the people suffering in the aftermath of
Hurricane Sandy.
Mr. GARRETT. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MEEKS. I reserve the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Does the gentleman from New York have any
additional speakers?
Mr. MEEKS. I have one additional speaker.
Mr. GARRETT. I have no further requests for time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from New Jersey has the right
to close.
Mr. MEEKS. I yield 1 minute to the ranking member of the Financial
Services Committee, a fighter for the people, the gentlelady from the
great State of California, the Honorable Maxine Waters.
Ms. WATERS. Thank you very much, Congressman Meeks.
I am so proud of the Members of this Congress from both sides of the
aisle who have been real advocates--who have been on television, who
have been fighting. Members on the opposite side of the aisle have
criticized their own leadership for the delay.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am from California. I have witnessed
earthquake disaster. I have been involved in trying to help with
Katrina and in making sure that the people who were the victims of
Katrina were compensated, were taken care of. This is unconscionable
that this has had to take so long. I watched Congressman Meeks up in
Rockaway. I watched the people who cried. I watched the people who
begged for help, who begged for assistance.
This is so late in coming, so I support this bill today. I am one of
the coauthors of the flood insurance reauthorization bill, along with
Mrs. Biggert, who reauthorized flood insurance for another 5 years.
Let's put the money in it. Let's do what is right. Let's take care of
this disaster.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) has
1\1/4\ minutes remaining, and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr.
Garrett) has 2\1/4\ minutes remaining.
Mr. MEEKS. I yield myself the remaining time.
It's 70 days. It is unprecedented that this region has not been
treated like the other regions when they were in need of help. It's 70
days. Now we are going with this bill today, and what we are receiving
is a promissory note, a promissory note that on January 15 we will be
able to say to the people from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut
who were victimized by this storm that their United States Congress--
their House of Representatives--is going to be by their side.
So we have a promissory note. I will be concerned until we have the
votes that are necessary for the people of this region and until the
promissory note has been put into the bank and stamped with sufficient
funds. The people have been suffering. They have suffered long enough.
They need to hear from their government that their government is with
them just as it has been with everybody else in this country.
I, for one, wherever the disaster may be, want to say that we've got
the support. To this Congress, let's make sure we put forward this
promissory note because I don't think a Democrat or a Republican can go
back home after January 15 and say that the promissory check has
bounced. We have to come back collectively and say to the people who
are suffering that they, in fact, have been helped by their government,
by their people.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GARRETT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the remaining time.
In closing, I thank all of those who have come to the floor to
address this situation.
For those of us who live in the affected area, our heart goes out to
the families--the moms, the dads, the little children, the senior
citizens--who have lost everything: homes that have just been inundated
with water so they're not recognizable anymore; homes that have to be
totally knocked down or homes that have to be totally
[[Page H47]]
refurbished, stripped down to their studs and started from the
foundations back up again to rebuild them; homes that have been simply
washed out to sea and will never be seen again; homes that have been
destroyed; trees that have crashed through homes; electricity that has
been out for weeks. Our heart goes out to the people who have suffered
so much and for so long and who continue to suffer.
I commend Members from both sides of the aisle for coming to the
floor today to support this legislation.
I also thank those people, the volunteers, who took it upon
themselves without any government mandate or edict or pay, or what have
you, to go out and to rescue these people and to work for these people
day in and day out--from the very beginning, the OEM people, the
management people, the fire department, the rescue squad, and just
rank-and-file folks who came out and tried to help and continue to do
so. They've run the food banks, groups liked Samaritan's Purse. They've
been out there on the front lines and have supported these people in
their hours of need.
{time} 1100
And I extend an invitation to every single Member of Congress who has
come to the floor and said that they, too, support these people, to put
on their work shoes and their work boots and their jackets and to get
out of this Congress and to get out of this city and to go into the
affected area, and not just give speeches and not just pass legislation
of other people's money, but to actually come to our State and to join
us in the field and actually do the work that's necessary to get done.
And so I extend that invitation to each and every one, and I look
forward to hearing from each and every one of you, and I ask for your
support of this legislation.
I extend an invitation to Ms. Waters to work further on the
legislation with regard to flood insurance because we heard the number
earlier--this is a nonsustainable program. We're taking in something
like 75 cents and we're paying out about a buck in claims. That can't
go on. We need to work together on this, and I look forward to that,
and I look for a ``yes'' vote on this legislation.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair will remind all persons in the
gallery that they are here as guests of the House and that any
manifestation of approval or disapproval of proceedings is in violation
of House rules.
Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 41. I am a
cosponsor of this must-pass bill and I urge my colleagues to vote for
it.
FEMA announced yesterday that its ability to pay claims under the
National Flood Insurance Program would be exhausted by the second week
of January. Congress must act now to approve additional borrowing
authority and bring much-needed relief to the hundreds of thousands of
Americans who have suffered in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy flood-
related damages to their homes and property.
While I strongly support passage of H.R. 41, I want to reiterate that
our fellow citizens affected by Hurricane Sandy have already waited far
too long for help from Congress. In other natural disasters, such as
Hurricane Katrina, Congress acted swiftly, and aid reached those in
need. And yet earlier this week, the 112th Congress adjourned before
passing a much-needed disaster relief package. The Senate had already
acted to pass a well-constructed aid package bill. The only reason that
this bill is not law today is that House leadership refused to act.
This devastating storm has left many people hurting in many different
ways--shopkeepers, homeowners, fisherman, hotel and restaurant owners--
and has damaged the entire economy. The Senate-passed Sandy relief
package responds to this variety of needs and concerns. I urge Speaker
Boehner to bring the Senate disaster relief package to the floor
without delay.
Ms. CLARKE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask all of my colleagues
to support H.R. 41, a bipartisan proposal to replenish the National
Flood Insurance Fund which will increase its borrowing authority and
allow the program to continue paying claims from those affected by
Hurricane Sandy.
Without the enactment of this bill, the NFlP might reach its ceiling
and could no longer pay out claims. The families in my district and the
States of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are suffering.
Even as I am excited that we are considering this bill today, I am
disappointed that there were seventy days of inaction by Congress.
Congress has a history of providing assistance to the American people
in times of disaster and devastation--in this country, we help our
neighbors.
Since 1989, Congress has approved $290 billion in disaster relief
aid. Indeed, only two weeks after Hurricane Katrina devastated parts of
the Gulf Coast, Congress appropriated $62 billion in disaster aid.
Those impacted by Superstorm Sandy have been waiting for more than two
months, and cannot afford to wait any longer. The recovery depends on
this emergency funding.
Again, I ask that all of my colleagues support the first portion of
the Superstorm Sandy Disaster Relief package. Through enactment of this
critical bill, many home and business owners flooded out by Superstorm
Sandy will soon be able to get flood insurance payments.
Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of HR 41, a
measure to increase by $9.7 billion the borrowing authority of the
National Flood Insurance Program, enabling the program to continue
paying the tens of thousands of claims related to the destruction
caused by Hurricane Sandy.
Across this country from the Appalachians to the Great Lakes to
northern coast of Maine, dozens of people have lost their lives, the
homes of thousands of families were destroyed and millions of people
have suffered from the cold and exposure of winter because they lost
power. The suffering touched the people of my state of Maryland as
well--hitting hardest the county of Somerset, where the poverty rate is
among the highest in the State and where more than 500 homes were
affected by the storm.
After more than two months of waiting, it is only now that the House
has chosen to act. And by only considering a bill to increase the Flood
Insurance Program's borrowing authority by $9.7 billion, we are only
making a down payment on the problem. There are estimates that the full
cost of recovery will be more than $60 billion.
I had hoped that we would have voted for a relief package during the
last Congress. But it is only now that the House Leadership is bringing
Sandy legislation to the floor. In the meantime, the people affected by
the hurricane have had to wait and will continue waiting as the Senate
passes what we pass here today.
Delaying for months the aid for the victims of Hurricane Sandy is
unjust and I am disappointed that we are not meeting today to consider
a bill to address the full cost of the Hurricane's destruction.
I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the swift passage of
this bill so that those suffering around the country can get the relief
they so desperately need. I also hope the Republican leadership follows
through on its promise to consider additional legislation on this
subject when the Congress reconvenes later this month.
Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, today I rise in support of
H.R. 41, to temporarily increase the borrowing authority of FEMA for
carrying out the National Flood Insurance Program.
This bill would provide FEMA with an additional $9.7 billion in
emergency funding to immediately assist those affected by the storm.
In late October 2012, Hurricane Sandy struck the East Coast of the
United States, affecting millions of Americans and killing over 100.
The economic cost of the storm is still being assessed, but it has
been estimated to be in excess of $60 billion, which would make it the
second-costliest storm in history, after Hurricane Katrina.
Our nation has a responsibility to rebuild the areas that were
devastated by this terrible tragedy and I am committed to making sure
that Congress helps provide the necessary resources to help those
individuals and communities which were harmed by this disaster.
It is important to recall that four years ago, Congress, with my
strong support, provided nearly $23 billion in disaster relief for
communities like our own due to the devastation from Hurricane Ike.
I stand with my colleagues from the East Coast, especially from New
York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to get the funding necessary to aid
the recovery from Hurricane Sandy. As Americans, we all have a
responsibility to help each other during times of need.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Garrett) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 41.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. GARRETT. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, this 15-
minute vote on the motion to suspend
[[Page H48]]
the rules on H.R. 41 will be followed by a 5-minute on approval of the
Journal, if ordered.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 354,
nays 67, not voting 8, as follows:
[Roll No. 7]
YEAS--354
Aderholt
Alexander
Amodei
Andrews
Bachmann
Bachus
Barber
Barletta
Barrow
Barton
Bass
Beatty
Becerra
Bera
Bilirakis
Bishop (GA)
Bishop (NY)
Bishop (UT)
Black
Bonamici
Boustany
Brady (PA)
Brady (TX)
Braley (IA)
Brooks (IN)
Brown (FL)
Brownley (CA)
Buchanan
Bucshon
Burgess
Bustos
Butterfield
Calvert
Camp
Campbell
Cantor
Capito
Capps
Capuano
Cardenas
Carney
Carson (IN)
Carter
Cartwright
Cassidy
Castor (FL)
Castro (TX)
Chaffetz
Chu
Cicilline
Clarke
Clay
Cleaver
Coble
Coffman
Cohen
Cole
Collins (NY)
Connolly
Conyers
Cook
Cooper
Costa
Courtney
Cramer
Crawford
Crenshaw
Crowley
Cuellar
Culberson
Cummings
Davis (CA)
Davis, Danny
Davis, Rodney
DeFazio
DeGette
Delaney
DeLauro
DelBene
Denham
Dent
Deutch
Diaz-Balart
Dingell
Doggett
Doyle
Duckworth
Edwards
Ellison
Ellmers
Emerson
Engel
Enyart
Eshoo
Esty
Farenthold
Farr
Fattah
Fitzpatrick
Fleischmann
Forbes
Fortenberry
Foster
Frankel (FL)
Frelinghuysen
Fudge
Gabbard
Gallego
Garamendi
Garcia
Gardner
Garrett
Gerlach
Gibbs
Gibson
Gingrey (GA)
Granger
Grayson
Green, Al
Green, Gene
Griffin (AR)
Griffith (VA)
Grijalva
Grimm
Guthrie
Gutierrez
Hahn
Hall
Hanabusa
Hanna
Harper
Hartzler
Hastings (FL)
Hastings (WA)
Heck (NV)
Heck (WA)
Hensarling
Herrera Beutler
Higgins
Himes
Hinojosa
Holt
Honda
Horsford
Hoyer
Huffman
Huizenga (MI)
Hunter
Hurt
Israel
Issa
Jackson Lee
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson, E. B.
Johnson, Sam
Jones
Joyce
Kaptur
Keating
Kelly
Kennedy
Kildee
Kilmer
Kind
King (IA)
King (NY)
Kingston
Kinzinger (IL)
Kirkpatrick
Kline
Kuster
Labrador
LaMalfa
Lance
Langevin
Lankford
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Latham
Latta
Lee (CA)
Levin
Lipinski
LoBiondo
Loebsack
Lofgren
Long
Lowenthal
Lowey
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Lujan Grisham (NM)
Lujan, Ben Ray (NM)
Lummis
Lynch
Maffei
Maloney, Carolyn
Maloney, Sean
Marino
Markey
Matheson
Matsui
McCarthy (CA)
McCarthy (NY)
McCaul
McCollum
McDermott
McHenry
McIntyre
McKeon
McKinley
McMorris Rodgers
McNerney
Meehan
Meeks
Meng
Messer
Mica
Michaud
Miller (FL)
Miller (MI)
Miller, George
Moore
Moran
Murphy (FL)
Murphy (PA)
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Negrete McLeod
Noem
Nolan
Nugent
Nunes
Nunnelee
O'Rourke
Olson
Owens
Pallone
Pascrell
Pastor (AZ)
Paulsen
Payne
Pelosi
Perlmutter
Peters (CA)
Peters (MI)
Peterson
Pingree (ME)
Pittenger
Pitts
Pocan
Poe (TX)
Polis
Posey
Price (NC)
Quigley
Radel
Rahall
Rangel
Reed
Reichert
Renacci
Rice (SC)
Richmond
Rigell
Roby
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rogers (MI)
Rohrabacher
Rooney
Ros-Lehtinen
Roskam
Ross
Ruiz
Runyan
Ruppersberger
Rush
Ryan (OH)
Sanchez, Linda T.
Sanchez, Loretta
Sarbanes
Scalise
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Schock
Schrader
Scott (VA)
Scott, Austin
Scott, David
Serrano
Sessions
Sewell (AL)
Shea-Porter
Sherman
Shimkus
Shuster
Simpson
Sinema
Sires
Slaughter
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (TX)
Southerland
Speier
Stewart
Stivers
Stockman
Swalwell (CA)
Takano
Terry
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Thompson (PA)
Tiberi
Tierney
Tipton
Titus
Tonko
Tsongas
Turner
Upton
Valadao
Van Hollen
Vargas
Veasey
Vela
Velazquez
Visclosky
Wagner
Walberg
Walden
Walorski
Walz
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watt
Waxman
Webster (FL)
Welch
Westmoreland
Whitfield
Wilson (FL)
Wittman
Wolf
Womack
Yarmuth
Young (FL)
Young (IN)
NAYS--67
Amash
Barr
Benishek
Bentivolio
Blackburn
Bridenstine
Brooks (AL)
Broun (GA)
Chabot
Collins (GA)
Conaway
Cotton
Daines
DeSantis
DesJarlais
Duffy
Duncan (SC)
Duncan (TN)
Fincher
Fleming
Flores
Foxx
Franks (AZ)
Gohmert
Goodlatte
Gosar
Gowdy
Graves (GA)
Graves (MO)
Harris
Holding
Hudson
Huelskamp
Hultgren
Jenkins
Jordan
Lamborn
Marchant
Massie
McClintock
Meadows
Mullin
Mulvaney
Neugebauer
Palazzo
Pearce
Perry
Petri
Pompeo
Price (GA)
Roe (TN)
Rokita
Rothfus
Royce
Ryan (WI)
Salmon
Schweikert
Sensenbrenner
Stutzman
Thornberry
Weber (TX)
Wenstrup
Williams
Wilson (SC)
Woodall
Yoder
Yoho
NOT VOTING--8
Bonner
Clyburn
McGovern
Miller, Gary
Ribble
Schwartz
Smith (WA)
Young (AK)
{time} 1122
Messrs. GOWDY, FLEMING, FINCHER, DesJARLAIS, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Messrs.
ROE of Tennessee, NEUGEBAUER, WEBER of Texas, GRAVES of Missouri and
BARR changed their vote from ``yea'' to ``nay.''
Messrs. ROONEY, HALL, and RUSH changed their vote from ``nay'' to
``yea.''
So (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and
the bill was passed.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________