[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 4 (Tuesday, January 15, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H99-H108]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 152, DISASTER RELIEF APPROPRIATIONS
ACT, 2013
Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call
up House Resolution 23 and ask for its immediate consideration.
The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:
H. Res. 23
Resolved, That at any time after the adoption of this
resolution the Speaker may, pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule
XVIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the
Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of
the bill (H.R. 152) making supplemental appropriations for
the fiscal year ending September 30, 2013, and for other
purposes. The first reading of the bill shall be dispensed
with. All points of order against consideration of the bill
are waived. General debate shall be confined to the bill and
shall not exceed one hour equally divided and controlled by
the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on
Appropriations. After general debate the bill shall be
considered for amendment under the five-minute rule. It shall
be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose
of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the
nature of a substitute printed in part A of the report of the
Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution. That
amendment in the nature of a substitute shall be considered
as read. All points of order against that amendment in the
nature of a substitute are waived. No amendment to that
amendment in the nature of a substitute shall be in order
except those printed in part B of the report of the Committee
on Rules. After disposition of such amendments, the Chair
shall put the question on the amendment in the nature of a
substitute.
Sec. 2. If the amendment in the nature of a substitute
printed in part A of the report of the Committee on Rules
accompanying this resolution is not adopted, the Committee
shall rise and report that it has come to no resolution on
the bill. If the amendment in the nature of a substitute is
adopted, the amendment in the nature of a substitute shall be
considered as the original bill for the purpose of further
amendment. No further amendment shall be in order except the
amendments printed in part C of the report of the Committee
on Rules. At the conclusion of consideration of the
amendments printed in part C of the report of the Committee
on Rules, the Committee shall rise and report the bill to the
House with such amendments as may have been adopted. Any
Member may demand a separate vote in the House on any
amendment adopted in the Committee of the Whole to the bill,
to the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in
part A of the report of the Committee on Rules, or to
amendment number 1 printed in part C of the report of the
Committee on Rules. The previous question shall be considered
as ordered on the bill and amendments thereto to final
passage without intervening motion except one motion to
recommit with or without instructions.
Sec. 3. Each amendment printed in part B and part C of the
report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution
may be offered only in the order printed in the report, may
be offered only by a Member designated in the report, shall
be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time
specified in the report equally divided and controlled by the
proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment
(except as specified in the report), and shall not be subject
to a demand for division of the question
[[Page H100]]
in the House or in the Committee of the Whole. All points of
order against such amendments are waived.
Sec. 4. In the engrossment of H.R. 152, the Clerk shall--
(a) add the text of H.R. 219, as passed by the House, as
new matter at the end of H.R. 152;
(b) conform the title of H.R. 152 to reflect the addition
of the text of H.R. 219, as passed by the House, to the
engrossment;
(c) assign appropriate designations to provisions within
the engrossment;
(d) conform cross-references and provisions for short
titles within the engrossment.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Oklahoma is recognized
for 1 hour.
{time} 1230
Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the
customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter),
pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume.
During the consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for
the purpose of debate only.
General Leave
Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have
5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Oklahoma?
There was no objection.
Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, the Rules Committee met and
reported a rule for consideration of H.R. 152, the Disaster Relief
Appropriations Act of 2013.
The rule is a structured rule that allows the House to work its will
and decide the appropriate amount of aid for the devastation as a
result of Hurricane Sandy. It allows for an up-or-down vote on the
first $17 billion in aid, along with an amendment by Mr. Mulvaney which
would offset the cost. Additionally, the rule allows the House to
consider Mr. Frelinghuysen's amendment for an additional $33 billion.
The rule also makes in order 11 other amendments.
Additionally, this rule directs the Clerk of the House to add H.R.
219, a bill to improve and streamline disaster assistance for Hurricane
Sandy, which passed the House yesterday by a vote of 403-0, as a new
matter at the end of H.R. 152.
Mr. Speaker, as I review the rule and the underlying legislation, my
own opinion is shaped by a variety facts:
First, there's no question that an enormous disaster has taken place
and hit the northeastern portion of the United States and that the
dimensions of that disaster are truly extraordinary. There's a lot of
different estimates that are floating around about how much, but one is
as high as $85 billion, and that doesn't begin to calculate the human
suffering in addition to the enormous financial cost.
Second, there's clearly a Federal responsibility to act in this case.
We've always acted after disasters. We acted quickly after Hurricane
Katrina, after the Oklahoma City bombing, and after the horror of 9/11.
In countless other instances where a Federal response was in order,
we've quickly moved to that responsibility, and we need to do so again
in this case.
Third, frankly, and I think this is too often overlooked in this
discussion, we have a national interest in getting this region on its
feet as quickly as possible, not only because it's the right thing to
do, and it certainly is that, but because it's the smart thing to do.
Over 13 percent of our citizens lived in the four most affected States
that were damaged by Hurricane Sandy, and collectively, they produce
over 17 percent of the wealth of this country. Having that area up,
operational, and prosperous is critical to the prosperity of the entire
country.
As an American and as an Oklahoman, I know that my State has often
benefited from Federal disaster relief in the past. I think of the
Oklahoma City bombing in particular, where I served as Secretary of
State and chief liaison to the Federal Government, and know firsthand
how critical it is and how helpful it is to have the resources of the
Federal Government at hand when you're dealing with an unanticipated
disaster.
Again, it's pretty unusual in my State to go through a year without a
tornado disaster, and it's pretty unusual to go through a year without
a drought disaster. Each time, we've come and asked for help from the
Federal Government; each time, we received that help. Undoubtedly,
we'll be doing that again in the near future. It would be hypocritical,
in my view, to fail to do for people in the affected region what I and,
I know, many others have routinely asked for our own regions.
I do think, as I look forward, we should do a better job in budgeting
for disasters, and frankly, we've taken steps in that direction. To the
credit of this body and the executive branch, under the Budget Control
Act, we actually set aside money for disaster relief; and had we not
had the disaster of Hurricane Sandy, we would have actually finished
the year with a surplus in that account. This disaster, though, was so
large and so sweeping that it used all that surplus and still demands
more.
So going forward, I hope we can look at different mechanisms to
budget in a more responsible and consistent manner. However, to not
allow whatever shortcomings are in the mechanisms of disaster relief,
to stand by and allow Americans to suffer while we sort all that
through, we have never done that in the past during a disaster, we
certainly shouldn't do so now.
In closing, I want to admit a personal debt to the Frelinghuysen
family. I owe them a great deal. Almost 183 years ago today, in April,
actually, of 1830, one of Rodney Frelinghuysen's distinguished
forebears, Theodore Frelinghuysen, rose on the floor of the Senate to
protest Indian removal, removal of my tribe from Mississippi and many
other tribes to what's now Oklahoma. And he held the floor for 3 days
defending a people that had no right to vote, had no ability to defend
themselves, and tried valiantly to make sure that they were allowed to
retain their homeland, retain their identity and their rights. He
wasn't successful in that fight, but he fought it nonetheless. And,
frankly, it would be incredibly ungrateful for me now not to, at the
time of his people's greatest need, return the favor.
So I urge the passage of the rule, I urge the passage of the Rogers
bill, and I urge the passage of the Frelinghuysen amendment to that
bill.
With that, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the
customary 30 minutes, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I really appreciate the words of my colleague and the generosity--we
were very happy last night at the Rules Committee that all members of
the Rules Committee recognized that this is America in need. It's a
fascinating story, and knowing Rodney Frelinghuysen, no one could be
surprised about the action of his ancestor. Of course, we all apologize
for what happened to you. That should not have happened to your
ancestors.
But throughout our modern history, the United States Congress has
always responded swiftly to help the victims of natural disasters. It
is today 78 days since Hurricane Sandy absolutely devastated the
Northeast. We never hesitated as Americans because we know that all of
us are in it together and that when any American is hurt, we all hurt,
and when communities are devastated by earthquakes, tornadoes, or
hurricanes, we all feel our duty to respond.
{time} 1240
When Sandy plunged communities into darkness and left them without
power or water for weeks, countless Americans volunteered their own
resources to help the victims of Sandy, just as they had helped the
victims of Hurricane Katrina and the victims of the Joplin tornado.
Yet, no matter the generosity of our Nation's people, there is no
replacement for a swift and well-organized Federal response. From
military-grade trucks, helicopters, and supply planes, to Federally
backed small business loans, our Federal Government is absolutely vital
to rebuilding efforts.
That is why we were so sad, all of us from the Northeast, that it
took so long for the House to respond. While the Senate acted soon
after Sandy occurred to pass a comprehensive aid package, there was
nothing done in this House for months. This Congress responded to
Hurricane Katrina in 10 days. As I pointed out, it's been 79 days for
Sandy.
[[Page H101]]
When the majority did act, they passed a partial aid package that
could be described as a starting point at best. And while we appreciate
that we're taking action to help Sandy victims, the piecemeal approach
has hurt our disaster response efforts. Without knowing whether more
aid is absolutely going to come, the governors and the mayors can't
sign contracts with construction companies, can't complete their plans,
and cannot prioritize repair efforts and provide effective aid. It
simply does not do to give out money in tranches without a guarantee of
the actual money needed to be coming. In addition, the majority's
demands that any Federal aid include offsets has delayed and endangered
the aid from getting into the hands of those who need it.
Yesterday, the Rules Committee was presented with almost 100
amendments for inclusion in today's bill . More than 40 of those 100
amendments proposed by the majority attempted to cut, hinder, and
offset the aid that is contained in today's bill. Many of the
amendments contained extreme and ideological proposals that should
never have been considered for inclusion in a disaster aid bill.
Mr. Speaker, it is now entering the cold parts of winter. There are
families up and down the eastern seaboard who are still homeless, while
thousands more are still working to get back on their feet, and many
small businesses and restaurants have been forced to close because of
the slowness of aid. Meanwhile, important institutions such as the NYU
hospital in New York City struggle to repair the flood damage, and
countless restaurants, as I've said, have been forced to close.
After being battered and bruised by natural disaster, the victims of
Sandy are now at the mercy of the House of Representatives.
I urge my colleagues to show fundamental humanity and pass the bill
today that does not include unnecessary amendments that are little more
than political ransom for the majority.
It's time the Chamber passes a bill that can and will be signed into
law and gives the victims of Sandy the help they need to rebuild.
With that, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished Member
from New York, the former chairman of the Homeland Security Committee
and one of the most distinguished Members of this body, Mr. King.
Mr. KING of New York. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the rule and equally strong
support of the underlying legislation, particularly the Frelinghuysen
amendment, which is so vital to the people of New York, New Jersey,
Connecticut, and especially my area on Long Island in Nassau County and
Suffolk County.
To put this in perspective, there were 305,000 homes in New York
damaged, 2.2 million people lost their power. That's more than the
population of 15 States. That's 2.2 million people that lost their
power. In Nassau County and Suffolk County, 95,000 buildings were
damaged. More than 38,000 had more than 50 percent damage. In Nassau
County--and the county executive, Ed Mangano, is here today--they had
more than $6 billion in recovery costs. That's $6.1 billion for one
county. In Suffolk County, under County Executive Steve Bellone, there
were $1.8 billion in recovery costs. These are two adjoining suburban
counties with almost $8 billion in recovery costs.
I was here in 2005 for Katrina. In fact, I had become chairman of the
Homeland Security Committee just several weeks after Katrina. Within
days of being chairman, I went to Louisiana with Ranking Member
Thompson and to Mississippi. Congressman Reichert was with me, as well.
That was less than 3 weeks after Katrina. Ten days before that, the
House of Representatives had passed two appropriations bills totaling
$63 billion. The first appropriations bill was introduced, passed on a
voice vote, passed unanimously by the Senate, and signed by the
President all in one day. Four days after that, another bill came up
for the balance of the $63 billion, which passed the House by a vote of
410-11, was passed unanimously by the Senate and was signed by the
President in one day.
Now, 11 weeks have gone by. There's a lot of reasons for that. For
one thing, Governor Cuomo, Governor Christie, and Mayor Bloomberg, they
submitted the most detailed summaries ever, the most detailed
accounting ever. It took them about 30 days to get that in. Then the
White House held it for several weeks. They went through it. That was
their prerogative. The Senate finally voted on it just before
Christmas. And, as you know, I wish that this had passed our House 2
weeks ago on New Year's Day. The fact is it didn't, and that's behind
us.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. COLE. I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman from New
York.
Mr. KING of New York. Right now we are standing together as one in a
bipartisan show of support. The time for recriminations is over. Let's
stand together as Americans, and let's get the aid to the people who
need it because in my district alone, in my community, people are
homeless, people are cold, people are without food. This is a serious
matter we have to address, that we have to do as quickly as possible.
I'm proud to stand here today with all of us united. There may be
divisions in the vote, but all of us are committed to getting this
done.
I want to thank the gentleman from Oklahoma, I thank the chairman of
the Rules Committee, Mr. Sessions, and the great job that they've done
in bringing it here with a fair rule and allowing for an up-and-down
vote.
Again, I urge support of the Rogers bill and the underlying, and the
accompanying Frelinghuysen amendment--absolutely essential to the
people of our region, and most importantly, essential to the people of
our country.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to
the gentlewoman from Connecticut, a member of the Committee on
Appropriations, Ms. DeLauro.
Ms. DeLAURO. I rise to express my strong support for this long
overdue, this much-needed $51 million in disaster relief.
Sandy was one of the most severe storms to hit Connecticut in our
history. We are asking, we are pleading--and we shouldn't have to beg--
for money for the Northeast to be able to survive this tragedy that hit
us.
We need to make available the disaster aid. Families in the Northeast
need to recover, repair from Superstorm Sandy, just as we have in the
past from other disasters across the country. This is one of the
central responsibilities of this institution, to act on behalf of the
American people after a natural disaster.
I hope that we make sure that all the States affected by this storm
are eligible to receive Community Development Block Grant funding,
vital aid, so places like Milford, Connecticut, which saw hundreds of
homes wiped out by the storm, can fully recover.
I also urge the defeat of an amendment that cuts funding for the
rebuilding of seawalls and research buildings at the Stewart McKinney
National Wildlife Refuge in Connecticut.
I might remind my colleague from Louisiana that between Rita, Wilma,
and Katrina, this institution appropriated $130 billion, not $3.9
billion, in disaster relief.
The families affected by Sandy are in their hour of need. They have
waited too long for this institution to act. I urge all my colleagues
to support this disaster aid funding to help the Northeast rebuild.
Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my friend from
California, one of the most consistent and thoughtful conservatives in
the House, Mr. McClintock.
Mr. McCLINTOCK. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, this rule brings a suspending package of more than $50
billion that is supposed to be for emergency repairs in the wake of
Hurricane Sandy. That averages about $450 from every household in
America.
These families have a right to expect that this money will be used
for genuine emergency relief, but it's not. According to the
Congressional Budget Office, more than 90 percent of this money won't
even be spent this year. That's not emergency relief.
There is $16 billion to quintuple the size of the Community
Development Block Grant program. That's the slush fund that pays for
such dubious projects as doggy day care centers, and
[[Page H102]]
it doesn't even have to be spent in the hurricane area. Two billion
dollars is for highway repairs anywhere in the country, including up to
$20 million each for Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana
Islands that aren't even in the same ocean as Hurricane Sandy.
I offered amendments to restrict funding for emergency relief this
year. Future-year expenditures should be included in the normal
appropriations process where they can be given scrutiny and be
evaluated in relation to all of the other demands on spending.
{time} 1250
These amendments were refused.
Worse, this rule overrides the House rules requiring spending offsets
against unauthorized appropriations and, most telling of all, against
mixing nonemergency funding in an emergency bill. A tragedy like
Hurricane Sandy shouldn't be used as an excuse for a grab bag of
spending having nothing to do with emergency relief. At the Rules
Committee hearing, I was told, Well, you have to understand that that's
just the way things are done around here.
Mr. Speaker, Republicans were supposed to change the way things are
done around here. Clearly, we have not.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to
the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone).
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I want to respond to my Republican
colleague who just spoke. I respect him tremendously, but I want him
and everyone to understand that this really is emergency relief that
we're talking about, and I want to give you some examples from my
district.
For example, he talked about the Community Development Block Grant. I
have a town like Sea Bright, New Jersey, where only two businesses in
the business district right now are operating. The problem is that,
oftentimes, their flood insurance doesn't cover the damage, and even
the money coming from FEMA, which is probably only for some type of
loan fund, doesn't cover it. So the Community Development Block Grant
in Sea Bright will be used to help those businesses come back. It will
be grants to the businesses and grants to the homeowners so that they
can rebuild.
The same is true of the Army Corps of Engineers projects. We need the
Rogers amendment. We also need the Frelinghuysen amendment because the
Frelinghuysen amendment has all of the Army Corps projects as well as
those of the Community Development Block Grant. Those Army Corps
projects basically let us put back the beaches, put back the dunes, put
back the flood control devices so that we don't have another storm in
the future, which could happen at any moment, that would destroy the
towns again and wreck even more of our businesses or our homes.
Also, the money that's in the $17 million initially is the public
assistance money that allows us to rebuild our boardwalks, bring back
our tourism. We can't delay any longer because, if we don't get our
tourism industry back in place--our businesses, our homes, our
boardwalks, our infrastructure back in place--by Memorial Day, then the
jobs and the economy that are linked to tourism will be gone. We need
this entire package.
Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my good friend from New
Jersey (Mr. Smith), one of the most consistent and distinguished
defenders of human rights in Congress.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I thank my good friend for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the rule. When emergencies strike,
large or small, Americans can always be counted on to assist and to
support the victims. At our core, we are a Nation of Good Samaritans.
After Superstorm Sandy came ashore in New Jersey and devastated the
region, first responders courageously rescued people trapped in homes
and cars. They often had minimal regard for their own personal welfare,
safety and well-being. Everyone rallied around the clock.
Governor Chris Christie, Emergency Management personnel, the National
Guard, police and fire, elected officials, the Monmouth County OEM
director Sheriff Shaun Golden were absolutely tenacious and effective,
and our local mayors were like NFL quarterbacks--running the plays,
making calls day by day, hour by hour. Faith-based organizations helped
feed and clothe and shelter. Private voluntary organizations were on
the scene in droves. Our neighbors to the north, west, and south poured
in to the State to help restore power and remove fallen trees. Words
are inadequate to convey my--our--appreciation.
Within weeks, however, the emergency phase seamlessly matriculated
into the recovery phase--the flip side of the same coin. Now the big
question is this: will the feds have our backs as we strive to recover?
It is an absolutely arduous process. I believe that we will. Any delay
in appropriating sufficient funds will likely stall a comprehensive and
robust recovery.
Sandy was the most destructive storm ever in our region and,
arguably, the second or third most costly in America's history. The
Governor's office has estimated the damage in my State alone to be
$36.9 billion. Homes like this one--22,000 homes like this one--
completely and totally destroyed. Another 324,000 homes damaged; 41,000
people can't return to those homes--they're still not fixed. Businesses
also took it on the chin: 19,000 New Jersey businesses suffered damage
of a quarter of a million dollars or more.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. COLE. I yield the gentleman an additional minute.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Three-quarters of New Jersey businesses were
hurt by Sandy. When asked, they put the small business loss at $8.3
billion. No wonder 100,000 storm-related unemployment claims have been
filed. The Governor's office points out that public facilities and
infrastructure sustained the same losses of some $7 billion. Boardwalks
were snapped like toothpicks, beaches have eroded, and some have been
radically reconfigured.
Significantly more funds are needed if New Jersey and our good
friends in New York and other Sandy impacted areas are to recover. The
Frelinghuysen amendment is absolutely crucial. We are not crying wolf
here, I say to my colleagues. There are huge gaps. People who have
filed for insurance claims find insurance has covered only this much.
How do they ever recover? The same goes for the infrastructure in New
Jersey. 860,000 people every single day use New Jersey transit. That
infrastructure has been demolished--locomotives, cars, tracks as well
as stations. Critical Army Corps projects need to be reconstructed and
repaired, while new initiatives need to be funded. We need this money.
And we need it now.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to my new
colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Jeffries).
Mr. JEFFRIES. On October 29, when Superstorm Sandy struck with
devastating ferocity, at home, people died; businesses and homes were
destroyed; families were torn apart. In times of disaster, the American
people have come to expect that Congress will respond with swiftness
and compassion, but the victims of Superstorm Sandy have been forced to
languish in agony and languish in uncertainty.
Our response has been characterized by delay, obstruction,
postponement, obfuscation. It's unacceptable given the nature of the
disaster that people at home have experienced. We have defaulted on our
obligation to provide assistance to Americans in need. We're a day late
and a dollar short. In fact, we're 78 days late and $51 billion short.
New York, one of the original 13 colonies, has given much to the
Republic over the last 236 years. Our sons and our daughters have died
in each and every war. FDR, a tremendous statesman, helped us get
through the Great Depression, and we regularly give more to the
government than we get back in return. I urge a ``yes'' vote on the
entire package.
Mr. COLE. I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to
my colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks).
Mr. MEEKS. I thank the ranking member from the Rules Committee.
I stand here today as we deal with an American issue. It is an issue
that is unique to America. It is an issue in which American people are
saying we need help. It is an issue in which the American people say we
want hope. I had the opportunity to look at Webster's Dictionary to see
what ``hope''
[[Page H103]]
meant. It said: ``Hope'' means to cherish a desire with anticipation.
``Hope'' means to trust. ``Hope'' means to expect with confidence.
Our people in New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey have hope today--
hope that their Members of Congress and that the Members of Congress
from all across this great land will come together and help them; hope
that the Members of Congress will do like their people in their various
States because the hope that came to many of the individuals who were
victimized by the storm came from people from all over this country.
Whether you come from the East or the West or the North or the South,
the American people came to help.
So I'm here today for John Corey, a man in our community who works
hard, a civic leader. I'm here for Josephine and Gary Robinson, small
business owners of Goody's Restaurant. I'm here today for Joann Shapiro
at Elegante Pizzeria. I'm here today for Peter Corliss, a homeowner
whose entire home was damaged and had to leave it. I'm here for Julia
Blair and Lou Simon, who have lost everything and want to know a better
hope for tomorrow. I'm here today for Barbara and Richard Rampy, who
have to move away from their home because they can't stay there. I'm
here for Americans. Let Congress be here for our American people.
{time} 1300
Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Runyan).
Mr. RUNYAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support today of this rule. If you
look next to me, you'll see damage from Seaside Heights, New Jersey, in
my district. My constituents in Seaside have suffered for well over 2
months in trying to clean up the mess that was left behind by Hurricane
Sandy.
In the past, taxpayers in New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut have
gladly stepped up to foot the bill for the disasters of other States.
Whether it was Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, or Texas, we didn't ask
questions; we just stopped and delivered aid to those in need. It is
important that Members who have been the benefactor of our goodwill in
the past remember this generosity when voting today.
Almost 3 months later, and my constituents continue to suffer. I urge
passage of the rule and the underlying bill.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to
the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews).
(Mr. ANDREWS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. ANDREWS. I thank my friend for yielding.
Seventy-eight days ago, a tremendous force of fury hit the
northeastern region of the United States. Today we make an act of
national interest. This is not an act of excess or an act of charity.
For those who claim that there is excess in this bill, I would
suggest that they read it. Throughout this bill, the bill says that the
spending is limited to ``necessary expenses related to the consequences
of Hurricane Sandy.'' This is throughout the text of the bill.
This is not an act of charity. These three States--New York, New
Jersey, and Connecticut--these three States pay almost 16 percent of
the taxes collected in the United States of America. Three States, 16
percent of the taxes.
You ask the question: Who suffered because of Superstorm Sandy?
Certainly our neighbors in New York and New Jersey and Connecticut
suffered the most, but all Americans will suffer if this economic
engine is not rebuilt.
The three States that pay nearly 16 percent of the taxes need this
reconstruction, and so does the United States of America. All Members,
Republican and Democrat, should vote ``yes'' in favor of this
legislation.
Mr. COLE. I reserve the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to
the gentleman from New York (Mr. Bishop).
Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend,
Representative Slaughter, for yielding me this time. I would also like
to thank Representatives Lowey and King for their leadership on this
issue, and I commend my colleagues in the New York and New Jersey and
Connecticut delegations on both sides of the aisle for working so well
together to advance the interests of our States at this critical time.
And I would also like to thank my friend, Mr. Cole, for his support.
I rise to support the rule and urge my colleagues to support H.R. 152
and the Frelinghuysen amendment and to oppose the Mulvaney amendment.
It has been 2\1/2\ months since Superstorm Sandy hit communities in
New York, New Jersey, and neighboring States which continue to face the
almost insurmountable task of cleaning up and rebuilding homes,
businesses, and lives. I'm grateful we've finally had the opportunity
to consider a relief package to those who are most in need.
In my district on the eastern half of Long Island, businesses, farms,
and homes fell victim to intense flooding. Ferocious winds caused
substantial damage to property, vehicles, and businesses; and along the
coast, Sandy created breaches in the coastline and severely eroded
other parts of the beach. In New York and New Jersey, at least 651,000
homes were damaged or destroyed, and approximately 463,000 were
impacted.
Mr. Speaker, our States are not asking for anything more than for
help to get back on their feet and rebuild. We are asking for nothing
more than to respond to this disaster as we have for Hurricane Katrina
and other natural disasters that have brought damage upon our fellow
Americans.
I urge my colleagues to support this package without any damaging
amendments.
Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell).
Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I heard the words a few moments ago about
a grab bag. I can assure you that the Governors who introduced itemized
lists went into them very deeply with the consultation of local
officials. It's no grab bag. That's an insult to the northeastern
States that were hit by this tremendous storm. And it's ironic, of
those who oppose this legislation, that many of them--and I have the
list here, Mr. Speaker, if you want to see it--supported not only
disaster aid for their own areas, but some of them got disaster aid
personally. The gentleman from South Carolina, he personally took a
small business loan, Federal loan, as part of a disaster relief
program, yet he comes here and to the Rules Committee to question what
we're submitting?
I want to say to the chair and the ranking person in the Rules
Committee, you did a good job yesterday. Going through 92 amendments, I
don't know how you did it. Of course you dismissed some of them pretty
quickly, which was very good. I also want to say, Mr. Rogers and Mr.
Cole and Louise Slaughter have been particularly outstanding, along
with Rodney Frelinghuysen's amendment, which I will definitely support.
There are two towns wiped out in my district: Little Ferry and
Moonachie. Water came over the banks because of the surge. Thank God we
didn't have that much rain or else we would have had a far worse
disaster.
We stood on this floor after Katrina and voice voted billions of
dollars--voice voted. We didn't even take an individual vote.
I think that the record is very clear on what is needed. We have
taken out the extraneous and we've taken out what we call earmarks, and
I think that those who put this legislation together deserve a
tremendous amount of credit.
Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. I'm pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin).
(Mr. LANGEVIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this rule which
prevents consideration of critical amendments offered by me and my
colleagues from disaster-affected States.
I'm particularly disappointed that my amendment was not even allowed
a vote, as it would ensure that all States that received a major
disaster declaration due to Hurricane Sandy are able to receive EPA
State and tribal assistance grants. The failure of the House bill to
provide this assistance to every State receiving a Presidential
disaster
[[Page H104]]
declaration following Sandy is troubling and, quite frankly, extremely
disappointing. The refusal of the majority to allow this amendment to
come for a vote is even worse.
The Senate passed a fair and balanced relief package last year
providing assistance for all of our communities and industries affected
by a major disaster declaration, including our fishing industry. I'm
deeply disappointed that this legislation before us reverses course,
denying assistance to certain communities affected by Sandy,
particularly after the House Republicans have delayed nearly 3 months
in bringing even this flawed bill to the floor.
In this Congress, we've made it clear that we help our communities
when they're in need when disaster strikes, and this bill doesn't
adequately address assistance to all communities that have been
impacted.
For these reasons, I will vote against the rule in the hope that we
can improve the overall bill to include these critical amendments. But
with that being said, should that rule pass, as flawed as it is, I
won't let the perfect be the enemy of the good, and I would urge my
colleagues to act in good faith and pass the disaster assistance bill
free from additional legislative gimmicks that will only further
imperil its success.
With that, I thank the gentlelady for yielding. This bill is by no
means perfect, but our States can't afford to wait another 3 months.
Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, first let me yield myself 30 seconds.
This is legislation, obviously, that I support, but I want my friend
to be aware, the House did not sit on this for 90 days.
{time} 1310
The administration of the States concerned took over a month,
appropriately, in my opinion, to assess the damage. The administration
sat on it. We didn't get this bill until just before Christmas. We're
actually acting on it with a deadline of Congress and proceeding more
rapidly than anybody else has. So we've not been part of the delay.
Actually, we've been trying to expedite things.
With that, I yield 2 minutes to my friend from New Jersey (Mr.
LoBiondo), the distinguished Member from the affected area.
Mr. LoBIONDO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in very strong support of the rule
and the underlying legislation. But I'd ask my colleagues, because we
seem to be very mixed and divided on some of this, think of the human
face.
My constituents, the constituents of the Northeast, they're not just
whining. They're not just uncomfortable. They are devastated. They've
had everything ripped from them.
Imagine getting up in the morning, hearing there's a storm coming,
not knowing what to expect, and realizing, within 24 hours, you have
lost everything. That's not something any of us wants to imagine for
ourselves or for our constituents, but that's the place we find
ourselves in.
These are senior citizens, sometimes with no family. They've been
displaced from their homes, living in a rented room on a rented cot for
months.
These are families with young children who are trying to get their
lives back together.
These are businesses, small businesses, the backbone of the country,
who don't know how to get back up and running.
Disaster means disaster and emergency means emergency.
Sure, we can say, let's wait, let's do something differently. But we
were there for you. We were there, Florida, when you had your
hurricane, and God bless you if you think you're not going to have
another hurricane. We need this and we need it now.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler).
Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Hurricane Sandy
supplemental appropriations bill, and the Frelinghuysen amendment to
provide the funds necessary to start rebuilding and recovering from the
storm.
Hurricane Sandy hit the east coast almost 3 months ago. Never before
has the House of Representatives taken so long to meet its obligations
following a major disaster. I'm relieved that we're finally considering
this bill today; but I'm disappointed, once again, that some are still
playing politics by trying to add poison pills and offsets that
jeopardize this aid package.
As the current debate over the pending sequestration shows, finding
offsets is no easy task, and it makes no sense to put that on the back
of emergency aid. It defies the very nature of emergency aid, and it
impedes the Federal Government from doing its most important job,
protecting its citizens when calamity strikes.
On the surface, Mr. Speaker, New York City appears to be back up and
running; but many people are still homeless, and the lack of long-term
housing is a problem for which we do not have an adequate answer. The
restoration of heat and power remains a challenge.
There are increasing reports of people, including small children,
getting sick from exposure to toxic mold, sewage, or other hazardous
substances. Entire neighborhoods are still dark and largely abandoned.
Many small businesses in Lower Manhattan are still paying off
disaster assistance loans secured after the attack on the World Trade
Center 10 years ago. Many of these businesses were already operating on
thin profit margins. Now they've been hit again; and without additional
resources and a faster rebuilding process, many of these small
businesses may close for good.
The needs are great, and yet the House has still failed to act. Back
in December, the Senate passed a $60.4 billion disaster aid package
that tracked very closely to the administration's request, which was
based on conservative assessments of the needs across the region.
The House should have passed the Senate bill back then. There is
simply no justifiable reason for the delay, unless you believe that
when disaster strikes we are all on our own. Let us, once and for all,
reject that notion and meet our obligations to get emergency aid in the
hands of those who need it urgently.
I urge my colleagues to end this madness and vote for the underlying
bill, for the Frelinghuysen amendment, and against all restrictive
amendments.
Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
distinguished chairman of the Rules Committee, my friend, Pete
Sessions, and the person who crafted the rule that allowed us to move
this expeditiously through a difficult process and bring this important
matter to the floor.
Mr. SESSIONS. I appreciate the gentleman from Oklahoma leading, not
just this exercise on behalf of the Rules Committee, but actually on
behalf of the Appropriations Committee.
The Rules Committee, I know that the gentlewoman, Louise Slaughter,
and I have great confidence, not only in Tom's leadership, but really
his insight into what needs to be done. And, Tom, I want to thank you
for your strong leadership in this endeavor on behalf of the
Appropriations Committee, as well as the Rules Committee.
Mr. Speaker, today what I'd like to do is take just a minute, if I
can, and kind of reset where we are. We've had lots of debate today
about what we're doing and why we're doing this. But the bottom line is
that our Speaker, John Boehner; our majority leader, Eric Cantor; and
the minority leader, Nancy Pelosi, understand that we must approach a
national disaster such as a superstorm together.
And as a body, whether it was Nita Lowey, whether it was Jon Runyan,
Rodney Frelinghuysen, Chris Smith, Michael Grimm, Frank LoBiondo, we,
as a body, understood we had a job to do. The gentlewoman from New
York, the ranking member of this committee, Louise Slaughter, and I
understand the responsibility because we had people back home like
Mayor William Akers of Seaside Heights, New Jersey, who talked to Jon
Runyan, or perhaps Sylvia Petillo for Hopatcong, New Jersey, talked to
her Congressman, Rodney Frelinghuysen, about the needs of the
communities, one Nation under God, the United States coming together at
a time of extreme difficulty. And that's what we have done.
We have worked well together. We have worked with the Governors,
Governor Corbett from Pennsylvania, Governor Cuomo from New York,
certainly Governor Christie of New Jersey, Mayor Bloomberg of New York,
people who got together and worked.
[[Page H105]]
We did wait for the President's declaration of a national emergency;
and we did, after 40 days and some few hours after that, receive the
bill. But I think this House of Representatives, on a bipartisan basis,
Members working together, Louise Slaughter, Michael Grimm, Tom Cole,
others coming together; and we are now getting behind a bill. One of
the amendments is called the Rodney Frelinghuysen amendment, and it is
an amendment that meets the needs of these States and these people.
So for those who would say we've taken our time, I'd like to say, I
think we're trying to do it right. For those who would say, well, we're
not sure exactly how much should be in here or not, this body will
determine it by the votes. Every Member of this body, I believe, will
have a fair and open opportunity, not just as a result of the rule, but
us working together.
And I'm very proud of that process, very proud of Hal Rogers, our
Appropriations chair, who came to the Rules Committee yesterday and
said that he placed before this body what he felt like was an equal
opportunity for us to help people, this time in the Northeast--perhaps
it will be people in other places--but he wants to make sure that
fairness is done.
The Speaker of the House, John Boehner, cares deeply about the people
of the Northeast and all the people of this country.
I think this rule today, and I think this bill, is an adequate
opportunity for Members to speak clearly and that is, we care about our
country, and we care about the people of this country.
Mr. Cole, thank you for yielding me time. I want you to know that we,
the Rules Committee, appreciate the time that you have spent on this;
and the results, I think, will come to bear for all of us.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to yield 3 minutes to the
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. McCarthy), a fellow New Yorker.
Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. I appreciate the time.
Mr. Speaker, I also want to say thank you to Tom Cole for bringing
this forward. And I want to say also to Congressman Sessions I
appreciate his words.
We always fight down here; but I always knew that, in my heart, we
would come together to help our constituents. We've heard from
Republicans and Democrats Hurricane Sandy was not discriminating
against whether you were a Republican or a Democrat. And we as New
Yorkers, and people in Jersey and Connecticut, we've always been there
for other parts of the country.
I think people have to understand; and by the way, a number of
Republicans came into the district and they saw the disaster.
{time} 1320
One of your Members came and looked at Long Beach Hospital, which was
underwater and will not be able to open for months. You have to
understand, Long Beach was one of the areas that was hit the hardest.
Thousands of people there are without their homes. I can't even tell
you what these homes looked like.
I know we always hear at times that New Yorkers are rich. Let me tell
you, these are little cottages. These are regular homes, blue-collar
workers, hard workers, and because of this storm, their lives have been
torn apart. I have seen the pain within my constituents and my small
businesses, and, by the way, my health care workers, because not only
were they taking care of everybody during and after the storm, they're
taking care of people today because they're coming in with upper
respiratory illnesses because of the mold that's in this area.
We need to do everything we can. We don't ask for much--we're pretty
tough people--but we do need the help of the American people right now.
We here in this body, we are representing the American people.
I just want to say thank you to everybody. I truly, truly do mean
that. I always knew that we would come together. But I'm saying thank
you from my constituents, because the pain that they are all suffering
is unbearable for us as Members of Congress.
Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield 3 minutes to the
distinguished gentleman from Florida, the former chairman of the
Transportation Committee, Mr. Mica.
Mr. MICA. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and hopefully I can
shed a little light on some of the commentary in this debate.
First of all, the Congress always has and always will respond to
disasters, and it is important in the Northeast superstorm that we do
so, and we do so responsibly. Anyone who says that we did not act
responsibly, the Republicans didn't act or our leadership, is wrong.
First of all, let me recount. After the disaster, our committee,
Transportation and Infrastructure, which oversees FEMA, we went to New
York. We met with officials. We assessed the damage. We came back and
we did a hearing and hauled in FEMA personnel. We asked specifically,
Is there enough funding available to provide disaster relief? The
answer was yes. There was $6 billion in the continuing resolution that
Congress had passed and another $1 billion left from the previous year,
a total of $7 billion. The question at that time is how much would be
spent. They said approximately $3 billion, leaving $4 billion, that
would take us--in the disaster relief fund account--till February.
We worked with the Senate and others in trying to look at reforms,
because the last word from Mayor Bloomberg and the President of the
Staten Island borough when I left them was, Can you help me get money
from Hurricane Irene, which they still couldn't get reimbursed because
of the bureaucracy and red tape from current FEMA policy.
Yesterday the Congress--and we passed it twice before--passed those
reforms that are so necessary so that New York and New Jersey and the
others affected won't have the same problems in securing that money.
So, first, there was enough money and is enough money available in
the disaster relief fund. There wasn't enough money in the flood
insurance account, and that is a reimbursable. It will come back.
Before we left, we put $7 billion to ensure that they would be taken
care of, and they are taken care of.
There was enough money, there is enough money, and there will be
enough money. This rule is constructed because, when the Senate passed
their bill over to us at the last minute and the last hour, they porked
it down. They put things in there that didn't need to be in there,
thinking that they could pull one over on the House of Representatives
and slide in with disaster relief a whole host of earmarks, and I won't
go into the details to embarrass anyone. The record will reflect that.
So we acted responsibly, our leadership acted in a responsible
fashion, and today this committee, the Rules Committee, is bringing
this out in, also, a responsible fashion to deal with the disaster.
We'll do it right, and we'll protect the American people in the process
and their hard-earned taxpayer dollars.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the
gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Tierney).
Mr. TIERNEY. I thank the gentlelady for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this rule. I heard
comments over there from the chairman of the Rules Committee and others
about how this was a fair rule and a fair process and how it's one
nation under God and everybody trying to help everybody out, how they
believe there's an opportunity for every Member to consider the matters
that are in this bill.
That is simply not the reality that was expressed for the nine States
that suffered from fishing quota failures and threats to their fishing
that were declared disasters back in 2012, when the Commerce Department
said that the fishery disaster in those nine States was leading to
people losing their job and the collapse of an industry, one of the
oldest and most historic industries in our country.
There was an opportunity for this bill to allow an amendment to be
brought before the floor for a discussion about whether or not we ought
not to do what the Senate did, which is put $150 million in that bill
specifically for those States, specifically to deal with that aspect of
disaster and move forward with that relief.
This Rules Committee in this House decided that Members would not
have
[[Page H106]]
the opportunity to take that vote. The Members in this House would not
be able to work, Republicans and Democrats and Independents, to discuss
a disaster that cut across at least nine States, that dealt with people
who were going to lose their job, lose their industry and shatter
communities. Instead, they would do this on a partisan basis.
Although this was a bipartisan amendment that was proposed to the
Rules Committee, and although every one of those communities that are
in that disaster-declared area have Republicans and Democrats, and
although they have mayors and Governors that are from both parties, the
Rules Committee, on a straight party-line vote, decided that this
Congress would not have the opportunity to even consider and debate and
discuss and then vote on whether or not we would follow the path of the
Senate and allow for $150 million in disaster relief to those
communities.
This is not acceptable. This is not acting like there is one country
under God. This is not acting as if there is fairness and that every
Member of this particular body is being allowed a voice to represent
their constituents.
I think we should vote against this rule. I think we should allow for
an amendment to be brought. We should have these amendments come to the
floor and provide for an opportunity to debate and discuss and include
in this disaster relief those people that are suffering the disaster in
the fishing communities of our country.
Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my
gentlewoman friend from New York (Mrs. Maloney).
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. I thank my colleague and good
friend from New York for yielding and for her extraordinary leadership
in this body.
I rise in support of the rule and the two underlying bills.
As a region, the Northeast should not be held to a different
standard. The Northeast was there when other States were struck with
disasters. We were there with the aid. We didn't delay. We didn't put
roadblocks. We didn't put forward all types of requirements to be met.
We voice voted. We moved swiftly.
The Northeast, which is suffering from the second worst natural
disaster in the history of our great country, the residents there have
been suffering for 2\1/2\ months. Over 2\1/2\ million people lost all
their electricity; some still don't have it. We need the aid and we
need it now so that we can start rebuilding.
The Northeast is important. These amendments are important, not only
for this region, but for the entire country.
The New York metropolitan area produces an estimated 11 percent of
our gross domestic product. The country is better off when our Nation's
economic engine is working at 100 percent.
These three States pay 16 percent of the taxes of our great country,
but they can't produce if their subways are broken, if their schools
are flooded, if the hospitals have been evacuated and the money is not
there to help them rebuild. They can't produce. They can't be part of
the great economic engine of this country.
I just plead with my colleagues not to have a double standard, not to
vote tornado relief to Alabama, to Louisiana, to Mississippi, Missouri,
with Ike, Gustav, Katrina, Rita, but when it comes to the Northeast
with the second worst storm in the history of our country, to delay,
delay, delay. We need the aid. We need it now. We need the entire
package. You can't rebuild a subway station with one brick; you have to
do the whole thing.
{time} 1330
Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 30 seconds.
Again, I associate myself very much with the substance of the
gentlelady from New York's remarks.
There's no question there's a disaster here. There's no question
there needs to be aid. I do differ with the speed with which the House
has dealt with this. Let's remember, it took 30 days for the affected
areas to assess the damage themselves. It then took the administration
an additional couple of weeks to assess that--appropriately so, in my
opinion. It then took the United States Senate a considerable period of
time to deliver us something--essentially on Christmas Eve, with a
deadline coming.
The House has actually moved expeditiously here. We have the issue
before us now, certainly no intention to delay.
Mr. Speaker, with that, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to
the gentleman from New York (Mr. Israel), my fellow New Yorker.
Mr. ISRAEL. I thank my very good friend and colleague from New York
for the time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this rule.
It has been 80 days. For 80 days New Yorkers and other Americans have
been waiting for help. Their businesses have been damaged, their homes
have been damaged, their land has been damaged, their co-ops and condos
have been damaged. They need the help.
It is one thing to be devastated by a weather storm; it is another
thing to be devastated by a political storm. We need to put both storms
behind us and move on and provide this help.
We have shown bipartisanship in my area, Mr. Speaker. The gentleman
from New York (Mr. King), a Republican, and I and other members of our
delegation have worked with Governor Cuomo and Governor Christie and
with Mayor Bloomberg to move forward, despite the politics and despite
the political winds.
We have our two county executives from Long Island--County Executive
Bellone and County Executive Mangano--in Washington today, with
residents who are Democrats, Republicans, conservatives, liberals, and
independents. This isn't about party; this is about solutions.
This is not the time for recriminations about what went wrong. It is
the time for recovery, about how to get this right. This is not the
time for partisan posturing. It is a time for solutions.
We are cautiously optimistic that in a few hours both the political
storm and the weather storm will finally be behind us, that the help
will come, the assistance will be provided, that all Americans will
provide the help that we provide them when times get tough for them,
and that people back home who are counting on us will get the help they
need.
I thank the gentlewoman again.
Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey).
Mr. MARKEY. I thank the gentlelady.
I rise in opposition to the rule.
From Cape Cod to Cape Ann, New Bedford to Newburyport, Massachusetts'
fishing families are hurting. I, along with the gentlemen from
Massachusetts, Congressman Tierney and Congressman Keating, offered
three amendments to this bill to restore disaster funding for fishermen
in Massachusetts and around the country. And to those three amendments,
the House Republicans said no, no, no.
The House Republicans have cut a lifeline to our struggling
Massachusetts fishermen. The Republicans in Congress are telling
Massachusetts fishermen to take a long walk off a short pier.
The economic disaster declared for parts of the New England fishery
industry last year was in large part a result of the same forces that
made Superstorm Sandy so damaging--the forces of climate change. It hit
New York, it hit New Jersey, it hit Massachusetts.
Climate change is increasing temperatures; it's raising sea levels;
it's strengthening storms. That means more stress on New England's
iconic cod and other species.
I support getting help to the people of New Jersey and New York and
Connecticut, but we cannot forget the other Americans who suffered last
year. The fishermen of Massachusetts, the fishermen of our country
cannot be forgotten. This bill says no to them, no to their needs. I
urge a ``no'' vote on the rule.
Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to inform my colleague I have no
further requests for time and I am prepared to close.
[[Page H107]]
Mr. COLE. I am prepared to close as well.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, this process that has led us up to this
point has been distressing. Indeed, this Congress has failed time and
again to really look at what's happening here, and that is climate
change. Because of that, and our inability to deal with it, there will
be more and more disasters. We must be prepared for them in the future
and not hold any area of the State up for 90 days to try to get the
help for them that they require and that they need--80 days, actually,
to be perfectly accurate.
I urge my colleagues to stop the political games today. Let's pass a
bill that is free of unnecessary amendments and get the aid into the
hands of those who need it most, those who have suffered the most.
As many of my colleagues have said, it's not just the Northeast that
suffers. When an area that large and that populated suffers, the Nation
suffers.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I'd like to say that I believe
we've had a good debate on the rule. I believe the importance and
timeliness of this legislation couldn't be more self-evident.
This bill has been carefully crafted and worked in a way to ensure
that those Americans in need can access the resources necessary to
begin the rebuilding process. This rule has brought this issue in a
manner which allows this body to consider it responsibly and
thoughtfully, but quickly.
Personally, I want to add that I hope every Member reflects on the
situation of our fellow Americans in the Northeast. There's no question
they've been overtaken by a disaster of historic importance. They've
been there for us in the past; we certainly need to be there for them
today.
Each Member ought to recognize at some point his or her area will be
hit by some disaster, and they will be here seeking support. So I would
ask that they consider this request from our fellow Americans in the
Northeast in the same way they would want their requests considered at
the appropriate and necessary time for them.
To close, I would urge my colleagues to support this rule and the
underlying legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the
previous question on the resolution.
Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rule. It
continues the absurd denial of climate change that has blinded the
House for the last two years.
This bill directs the Army Corps of Engineers to study the
vulnerability of these coastal populations to future flood risks. I
submitted a sensible amendment to the Rules Committee. My amendment
would have required the Corps to consider projected sea level rise from
climate change. With scientific consensus that sea levels are rising
rapidly due to human-caused climate change, it would be nonsensical to
ignore this critical factor.
But this rule does not make my amendment in order. Apparently, it is
taboo to mention the words ``climate change'' in this body.
This is the height of irresponsibility. We have a very short window
to act. And if we don't, storms like Sandy will grow in frequency and
intensity.
We have a moral obligation to protect the planet for our children.
That is why my amendment should have been made in order.
Ms. MENG. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the H.R. 152, made in order
by this rule. But the rule itself is flawed. It allows amendments that
would negatively impact the middle class. We should not offset disaster
aid by cutting funding for veterans, food safety and education.
I am also disappointed that the Committee did not make in order an
amendment I proposed, or a similar amendment offered by my new
Colleague Chris Smith, that would help churches, synagogues, mosques
and other houses of worship recover from the destruction left by
Hurricane Sandy.
These amendments would have given houses of worship the same chance
for aid that other private nonprofit facilities receive. Superstorm
Sandy was an exceptionally rare event with immense destructive force,
and these establishments provided extraordinary service to the
community during the hurricane. It would be unfair not to give them
FEMA support and an opportunity to rebuild.
Because of the severe crisis experienced by Queens and the rest of
New York, houses of worship should be able to receive the same
consideration for aid that other private nonprofits do.
I am grateful that the Committee is allowing us to consider the
Frelinghuysen amendment, which would provide thirty-three billion
dollars in much needed aid to the states devastated by Sandy. I urge
the my colleagues to support the Frelinghuysen amendment and to support
H.R. 152 on final passage.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on ordering the previous
question.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that
the ayes appeared to have it.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XX, the Chair
will reduce to 5 minutes the minimum time for any electronic vote on
the question of adoption of the resolution.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 293,
nays 127, not voting 12, as follows:
[Roll No. 11]
YEAS--293
Aderholt
Alexander
Amash
Amodei
Bachmann
Bachus
Barber
Barletta
Barr
Barton
Benishek
Bentivolio
Bilirakis
Bishop (NY)
Bishop (UT)
Black
Blackburn
Blumenauer
Bonner
Boustany
Brady (TX)
Bridenstine
Brooks (AL)
Brooks (IN)
Broun (GA)
Buchanan
Bucshon
Burgess
Bustos
Calvert
Camp
Campbell
Cantor
Capito
Carter
Cassidy
Castro (TX)
Chabot
Chaffetz
Coble
Coffman
Cole
Collins (GA)
Collins (NY)
Conaway
Conyers
Cook
Cotton
Courtney
Cramer
Crawford
Crowley
Cuellar
Culberson
Daines
Davis (CA)
Davis, Danny
Davis, Rodney
Delaney
Denham
Dent
DeSantis
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Dingell
Duffy
Duncan (SC)
Duncan (TN)
Ellmers
Engel
Enyart
Eshoo
Farenthold
Fincher
Fitzpatrick
Fleischmann
Fleming
Forbes
Fortenberry
Foster
Foxx
Franks (AZ)
Frelinghuysen
Gabbard
Garcia
Gardner
Garrett
Gerlach
Gibbs
Gibson
Gingrey (GA)
Gohmert
Goodlatte
Gosar
Gowdy
Granger
Graves (GA)
Graves (MO)
Grayson
Griffin (AR)
Griffith (VA)
Grimm
Guthrie
Hahn
Hall
Hanna
Harper
Harris
Hartzler
Hastings (WA)
Heck (NV)
Heck (WA)
Hensarling
Herrera Beutler
Higgins
Himes
Hinojosa
Holding
Hudson
Huelskamp
Huizenga (MI)
Hultgren
Hunter
Hurt
Israel
Issa
Jeffries
Jenkins
Johnson (GA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson, Sam
Jones
Jordan
Joyce
Kelly
King (IA)
King (NY)
Kinzinger (IL)
Kline
Kuster
Labrador
LaMalfa
Lamborn
Lance
Lankford
Latham
Latta
LoBiondo
Loebsack
Long
Lowey
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Lujan Grisham (NM)
Lummis
Maffei
Maloney, Carolyn
Maloney, Sean
Marchant
Marino
Massie
Matheson
McCarthy (CA)
McCarthy (NY)
McCaul
McClintock
McCollum
McHenry
McIntyre
McKeon
McKinley
McMorris Rodgers
Meadows
Meehan
Meng
Messer
Mica
Miller (FL)
Miller (MI)
Miller, Gary
Mullin
Mulvaney
Murphy (PA)
Nadler
Negrete McLeod
Neugebauer
Noem
Nugent
Nunes
Nunnelee
O'Rourke
Olson
Owens
Palazzo
Pallone
Pascrell
Pastor (AZ)
Paulsen
Pearce
Perry
Petri
Pittenger
Pitts
Poe (TX)
Pompeo
Posey
Price (GA)
Quigley
Radel
Rangel
Reed
Reichert
Renacci
Ribble
Rice (SC)
Rigell
Roby
Roe (TN)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rogers (MI)
Rohrabacher
Rokita
Rooney
Ros-Lehtinen
Roskam
Ross
Rothfus
Royce
Ruiz
Runyan
Rush
Ryan (WI)
Salmon
Sanchez, Linda T.
Scalise
Schneider
Schock
Schweikert
Scott, Austin
Scott, David
Sensenbrenner
Serrano
Sessions
Sewell (AL)
Shea-Porter
Sherman
Shimkus
Shuster
Simpson
Sinema
Sires
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (TX)
Southerland
Stewart
Stivers
Stockman
Stutzman
Terry
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (PA)
Thornberry
Tiberi
Tipton
Turner
Upton
Valadao
Vargas
Vela
Visclosky
Wagner
Walberg
Walden
Walorski
Walz
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Wenstrup
Westmoreland
Whitfield
Williams
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Wolf
Womack
Woodall
Yoder
Yoho
Young (AK)
Young (FL)
Young (IN)
NAYS--127
Andrews
Barrow
Bass
Beatty
Becerra
Bera
Bishop (GA)
Bonamici
Brady (PA)
Braley (IA)
Brownley (CA)
Butterfield
Capps
Capuano
Cardenas
Carney
Carson (IN)
Cartwright
Castor (FL)
Chu
Cicilline
Clarke
Clay
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly
Cooper
Cummings
DeFazio
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Deutch
Doggett
Doyle
Duckworth
Edwards
Ellison
Esty
Farr
Fattah
Frankel (FL)
Fudge
Gallego
Garamendi
Green, Al
Green, Gene
Grijalva
Gutierrez
Hanabusa
Hastings (FL)
Holt
Honda
[[Page H108]]
Horsford
Hoyer
Huffman
Johnson, E. B.
Kaptur
Keating
Kennedy
Kildee
Kilmer
Kind
Langevin
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lee (CA)
Levin
Lewis
Lipinski
Lofgren
Lowenthal
Lujan, Ben Ray (NM)
Lynch
Markey
Matsui
McDermott
McGovern
McNerney
Meeks
Michaud
Miller, George
Moore
Murphy (FL)
Neal
Nolan
Payne
Pelosi
Perlmutter
Peters (CA)
Peters (MI)
Peterson
Pingree (ME)
Pocan
Polis
Price (NC)
Rahall
Richmond
Roybal-Allard
Ruppersberger
Ryan (OH)
Sanchez, Loretta
Sarbanes
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schrader
Scott (VA)
Slaughter
Smith (WA)
Swalwell (CA)
Takano
Thompson (MS)
Tierney
Titus
Tonko
Tsongas
Van Hollen
Veasey
Velazquez
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watt
Waxman
Welch
Wilson (FL)
Yarmuth
NOT VOTING--12
Brown (FL)
Costa
Crenshaw
Emerson
Flores
Jackson Lee
Kingston
Kirkpatrick
Moran
Napolitano
Schwartz
Speier
{time} 1359
Messrs. TAKANO, NOLAN, HASTINGS of Florida, KENNEDY, PAYNE, Ms. ESTY,
and Ms. CLARKE changed their vote from ``yea'' to ``nay.''
Messrs. PASTOR of Arizona, COURTNEY, HIMES, CONYERS, NADLER, RANGEL,
Ms. ESHOO, and Ms. McCOLLUM changed their vote from ``nay'' to ``yea.''
So the previous question was ordered.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Stated against:
Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, January 15, 2013, I was
absent during rollcall vote No. 11 due to a death in my family. Had I
been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on ordering the previous
question on H. Res. 23, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R.
152) making supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 2013, and for other purposes.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the resolution.
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that
the ayes appeared to have it.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. This will be a 5-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 367,
nays 52, not voting 13, as follows:
[Roll No. 12]
YEAS--367
Aderholt
Alexander
Amash
Amodei
Andrews
Bachmann
Bachus
Barber
Barletta
Barr
Barton
Bass
Beatty
Becerra
Benishek
Bentivolio
Bilirakis
Bishop (GA)
Bishop (NY)
Bishop (UT)
Black
Blackburn
Blumenauer
Bonamici
Bonner
Boustany
Brady (PA)
Brady (TX)
Bridenstine
Brooks (AL)
Brooks (IN)
Broun (GA)
Buchanan
Bucshon
Burgess
Bustos
Butterfield
Calvert
Camp
Campbell
Cantor
Capito
Cardenas
Carter
Cartwright
Cassidy
Castor (FL)
Chabot
Chaffetz
Cicilline
Clarke
Cleaver
Clyburn
Coble
Coffman
Cohen
Cole
Collins (GA)
Collins (NY)
Conaway
Connolly
Conyers
Cotton
Courtney
Cramer
Crawford
Crowley
Cuellar
Culberson
Daines
Davis (CA)
Davis, Danny
Delaney
DeLauro
DelBene
Denham
Dent
DeSantis
DesJarlais
Deutch
Diaz-Balart
Dingell
Doggett
Doyle
Duckworth
Duffy
Duncan (SC)
Duncan (TN)
Edwards
Ellison
Ellmers
Engel
Enyart
Eshoo
Esty
Farenthold
Fattah
Fincher
Fitzpatrick
Fleischmann
Fleming
Flores
Forbes
Fortenberry
Foster
Foxx
Frankel (FL)
Franks (AZ)
Frelinghuysen
Fudge
Gabbard
Gallego
Garamendi
Garcia
Gardner
Gerlach
Gibbs
Gibson
Gingrey (GA)
Gohmert
Goodlatte
Gosar
Gowdy
Granger
Graves (GA)
Graves (MO)
Grayson
Green, Al
Griffin (AR)
Griffith (VA)
Grimm
Guthrie
Hahn
Hall
Hanabusa
Hanna
Harper
Harris
Hartzler
Hastings (FL)
Hastings (WA)
Heck (NV)
Heck (WA)
Hensarling
Herrera Beutler
Higgins
Himes
Holding
Honda
Horsford
Hoyer
Hudson
Huelskamp
Huizenga (MI)
Hultgren
Hunter
Hurt
Israel
Issa
Jeffries
Jenkins
Johnson (GA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson, Sam
Jones
Jordan
Joyce
Kaptur
Kelly
Kildee
Kilmer
Kind
King (IA)
King (NY)
Kinzinger (IL)
Kline
Kuster
Labrador
LaMalfa
Lamborn
Lance
Lankford
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Latham
Latta
Levin
Lewis
Lipinski
LoBiondo
Loebsack
Lofgren
Long
Lowenthal
Lowey
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Lujan Grisham (NM)
Lummis
Maffei
Maloney, Carolyn
Maloney, Sean
Marchant
Marino
Massie
McCarthy (CA)
McCarthy (NY)
McCaul
McCollum
McDermott
McHenry
McIntyre
McKeon
McKinley
McMorris Rodgers
Meadows
Meehan
Meeks
Meng
Messer
Mica
Miller (FL)
Miller (MI)
Miller, Gary
Miller, George
Moore
Moran
Mullin
Mulvaney
Murphy (FL)
Murphy (PA)
Nadler
Negrete McLeod
Neugebauer
Noem
Nolan
Nugent
Nunes
Nunnelee
O'Rourke
Olson
Owens
Palazzo
Pallone
Pascrell
Paulsen
Payne
Pearce
Pelosi
Perry
Peters (MI)
Peterson
Petri
Pittenger
Pitts
Pocan
Poe (TX)
Pompeo
Posey
Price (GA)
Price (NC)
Quigley
Radel
Rahall
Rangel
Reed
Reichert
Renacci
Ribble
Rice (SC)
Richmond
Rigell
Roby
Roe (TN)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rogers (MI)
Rohrabacher
Rokita
Rooney
Ros-Lehtinen
Roskam
Ross
Rothfus
Royce
Ruiz
Runyan
Ruppersberger
Rush
Ryan (OH)
Ryan (WI)
Salmon
Sanchez, Linda T.
Sanchez, Loretta
Sarbanes
Scalise
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Schock
Schrader
Schweikert
Scott (VA)
Scott, Austin
Scott, David
Sensenbrenner
Serrano
Sessions
Sewell (AL)
Sherman
Shimkus
Shuster
Simpson
Sinema
Sires
Slaughter
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (TX)
Southerland
Stewart
Stivers
Stockman
Stutzman
Swalwell (CA)
Takano
Terry
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Thompson (PA)
Thornberry
Tiberi
Tipton
Titus
Tonko
Tsongas
Turner
Upton
Valadao
Vargas
Veasey
Vela
Visclosky
Wagner
Walberg
Walden
Walorski
Walz
Waters
Watt
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Wenstrup
Westmoreland
Whitfield
Williams
Wilson (FL)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Wolf
Womack
Woodall
Yoder
Yoho
Young (AK)
Young (FL)
Young (IN)
NAYS--52
Barrow
Bera
Braley (IA)
Brownley (CA)
Capps
Capuano
Carney
Carson (IN)
Castro (TX)
Chu
Clay
Cooper
Cummings
DeFazio
DeGette
Farr
Green, Gene
Grijalva
Gutierrez
Hinojosa
Holt
Huffman
Johnson, E. B.
Keating
Kennedy
Langevin
Lee (CA)
Lujan, Ben Ray (NM)
Lynch
Markey
Matheson
Matsui
McClintock
McGovern
McNerney
Michaud
Neal
Pastor (AZ)
Perlmutter
Peters (CA)
Pingree (ME)
Polis
Roybal-Allard
Shea-Porter
Smith (WA)
Tierney
Van Hollen
Velazquez
Wasserman Schultz
Waxman
Welch
Yarmuth
NOT VOTING--13
Brown (FL)
Cook
Costa
Crenshaw
Davis, Rodney
Emerson
Garrett
Jackson Lee
Kingston
Kirkpatrick
Napolitano
Schwartz
Speier
Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore
The SPEAKER pro tempore (during the vote) (Mrs. Capito). There is 1
minute remaining.
{time} 1408
Messrs. KEATING and LYNCH changed their vote from ``yea'' to ``nay.''
So the resolution was agreed to.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Stated for:
Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 12, I
was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted
``yea.''
Stated against:
Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Madam Speaker, on Tuesday, January 15, 2013, I was
absent during rollcall vote No. 12 due to a death in my family. Had I
been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on agreeing to the resolution
H. Res. 23, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 152) making
supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30,
2013, and for other purposes.
____________________