[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 38 (Monday, March 4, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S1611]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                    Tornadoes in Alabama and Georgia

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I know the entire Senate joins me today 
in offering deep sympathies to the communities affected by yesterday's 
spate of tornadoes in east Alabama and Georgia. As first responders 
continue to search for survivors in the rubble, we know that at least 
23 innocent lives were lost to this disaster all in Lee County, AL. Our 
condolences are especially with their loved ones, and our gratitude is 
with the emergency personnel and local officials who spearheaded 
evacuation and rescue efforts.
  The people of Alabama are all too familiar with the pain caused by 
devastating storms like yesterday's. The entire region has been hit 
hard in recent years, seemingly by one disaster after another. They 
continue to brace against the threat of tornadoes and the flooding that 
so often impacts communities in my State of Kentucky.
  At every step of the way--from response and recovery to resilient 
achievement--Alabama has benefitted from the devoted leadership of 
Senator Richard Shelby. On the specific issue of disaster recovery, his 
hard work and steady hand have helped to lead the charge. When 
supplemental funding for natural disaster relief receives floor time 
here in the Senate, it will be thanks to the hard work of our 
colleagues like Senator Perdue, Senator Isakson, and others, and, 
certainly, Chairman Shelby.
  Of course, this is far from the only area in which Richard Shelby has 
delivered results for his State and for our Nation. For years, he has 
made a personal mission out of restoring and improving our Nation's 
infrastructure. He has brought wise and decisive leadership as our 
chief appropriator, and the State of Alabama bears countless signs of 
Senator Shelby's dedicated service--from supporting the missile defense 
and space exploration programs in Huntsville to helping to establish 
the National Water Center in Tuscaloosa, where researchers forecast 
floods and work to mitigate water-related hazards.
  It is fitting today to praise Senator Shelby's continued service. It 
also happened that, over the weekend, the senior Senator from Alabama 
became the longest serving senator in the history of his State. I 
couldn't be happier to recognize my friend Richard Shelby on this 
occasion, and I know each of our colleagues will join me in 
congratulating him on the years of faithful service to Alabamians that 
have made this recognition possible.