[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 133 (Tuesday, October 1, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H6058-H6059]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DISASTER RELIEF FOR COLORADO
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
Colorado (Mr. Gardner) for 5 minutes.
Mr. GARDNER. Mr. Speaker, over the weekend, this House worked to find
a solution to the impasse over the continuing resolution, sending over
various options to the Senate to try to jump-start negotiations to work
through an agreement to find a solution to keep our government funded.
In the early hours of this morning, we finally said to the leader of
the U.S. Senate, Harry Reid, let's find a way to meet face-to-face,
through a conference committee, to negotiate a solution and avoid a
government shutdown. We've passed, three times now, measures to keep
the government funded and a way to find solutions to this critical
issue.
But there are many people in Colorado who are struggling now because
of the shutdown and who are worried about what happens to their
situation, particularly those who may have been impacted by the flood.
And that is why we must find a way to get government funded to find a
solution to get government going back on track, while preventing
policies that we know are bad for the economy.
So let's work together and find solutions but also, at the same time,
ensuring certainty to people who are suffering from Colorado's greatest
natural disaster.
[[Page H6059]]
That's why I bring to your attention a statement that the Vice
President made on September 23 in Greeley, Colorado, after touring the
damage and devastation that those floods caused.
I stood 2 feet away from the Vice President of the United States as
he addressed the people of Colorado and said this:
None of the Federal assistance that we're providing, none
if it is going to be impacted even if there is a government
shutdown.
So while people may try to use this as a scare tactic, try to
politicize a disaster, the Vice President himself stood before the
people of Colorado and said there will be no impact on flood recovery.
And yet we have seen in the newspaper people are trying to scare
people to try to take away any kind of certainty that exists, but you
can't take those words back.
That's why I also sent a letter this morning to the White House
reminding the White House, Mr. Speaker, of the promise that the Vice
President made to the people of Colorado. And we, as elected officials
in Congress, in the Senate, the Governor of Colorado, we have a
responsibility to make sure that the Vice President and the President
keep their word, they're true to the people of Colorado; that we make
sure that, indeed, this statement:
None of the Federal assistance that we're providing, none
of it is going to be impacted, even if there is a government
shutdown.
So while we work to resolve this issue before the government right
now, while we work to make sure that policies are put in place to
return to normal operations, we cannot let this be politicized. We
cannot let the people of Colorado be forgotten, and we must hold the
Vice President and the President accountable and true to their word.
Mr. Speaker, I submit for the Record the letter that I sent to the
White House this morning, and also the statement, in full, of the Vice
President's comments.
Congress of the United States,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC, October 1, 2013.
President Barack Obama,
The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. President: As you know, Colorado is recovering
from some of the most devastating floods in state history.
Catastrophic water levels caused over $1 billion in damage to
infrastructure and property throughout my district and other
areas in the state. More than 20,000 homes were damaged or
destroyed, eight individuals lost their lives, and
overflowing rivers left a path of devastation. I am grateful
for the recovery efforts led by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA), National Guard, and others involved
in this process. Federal assistance is critical in this time
of need and I have fought to ensure that funds are available
for disaster relief. On September 30th, my legislation that
would raise the cap on disaster-related transportation funds
successfully passed the House.
Unfortunately, Congress has not yet come to an agreement to
fund the federal government and the nation is now facing the
effects of a government shutdown. While I am working
diligently with my colleagues to resolve this funding gap, it
is vitally important that the people of Colorado do not
suffer as a result of gridlock in Washington. To this end, I
was pleased to hear Vice President Biden pledge to the people
of Colorado that ``none of the federal assistance that we're
providing--none of it--is going to be impacted even if there
is a government shutdown.'' This commitment from the White
House is reassuring for my constituents and others in the
state worried about the impact a shutdown might have on
disaster funds. I appreciate your support in this recovery
and look forward to working on behalf of the thousands
affected by these recent events.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to
contact my office. Thank you for your attention to this
matter.
Sincerely,
Cory Gardner,
Member of Congress.
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Vice President Biden in Colorado--9/23/13
Now a lot of you will hear probably on the national news
about the potential for a government shutdown. And it's
probably going to scare the living devil out of you. Well the
truth of the matter is there is reason to be scared but not
in terms of disaster relief. None of the federal assistance
that we're providing, none of it is going to be impacted even
if there is a government shutdown. I don't want folks that
are here in shelters watching on TV seeing the dysfunction of
Congress thinking that all, all the relief efforts that they
are now benefiting from or (inaudible) are likely to continue
to benefit from are going to shut down. They will not
shutdown even if the Congress doesn't fund the federal
government in a continuing resolution.
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