[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 79 (Monday, May 13, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S2777]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                            Disaster Relief

  Mr. President, as we continue our efforts in the personnel business, 
work is also ongoing to reach an agreement for providing supplemental 
relief funding to communities hit hard by natural disasters.
  Last year's deadly hurricane season swept away thousands of homes 
across the Southeast and left hundreds of thousands more without power. 
The recent spate of tornadoes killed 23 and injured dozens more in 
Alabama and Georgia, and the devastating floods created more than $1 
billion of damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure all across 
the Midwest this spring.
  Bipartisan efforts are ongoing to provide aid to cover those in 
need--from our Territories to those who suffered west coast wildfires 
and east coast hurricanes. Disaster assistance in the past has not been 
a partisan issue. It has been over a half-year since many of these 
disasters hit, and our country is in need.
  I am grateful to Chairman Shelby and our colleagues on the 
Appropriations Committee for continuing to push toward a bipartisan 
solution that addresses these most urgent needs. I would urge Democrats 
and Republicans, in the House as well as the Senate, to identify our 
common ground and produce an outcome for the American people. They have 
been waiting entirely too long.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Ernst). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.