[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.

                          ____________________