[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 82 (Thursday, May 16, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E613]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2019

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. AL LAWSON, JR.

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 10, 2019

  The House in the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the 
Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2157) making supplemental 
appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for 
other purposes.

  Mr. LAWSON of Florida. Madam Chair, I rise to express my support for 
H.R. 2157, the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2019. This $17.2 
billion package is essential to providing critical relief to 
communities that were hit by natural disasters in 2018 and 2019, 
including my Congressional District, Florida's Fifth.
  More than seven months has passed since Hurricane Michael made 
landfall in Florida and citizens are still reeling from the historic 
Category 5 storm. Our community has a long way to go on the road to 
recovery, including our timber industry and forests.
  My support for this disaster supplemental package comes in part 
because of an understanding that the language within Title I of this 
bill grants the Secretary of Agriculture the discretion to provide 
assistance to producers who suffered timber loss due to Hurricanes 
Michael and Florence.
  In the 11 counties in Florida hit by Hurricane Michael, more than 
16,000 forest land owners reported damage to their timber. The storm 
destroyed more than 72 million tons of timber, totaling over $1.3 
billion in economic loss.
  Forest lands are essential to North Florida's economy and ecology, 
and we must do everything to ensure we get it back on track. I look 
forward to working with my colleagues in both Chambers of Congress, as 
well as with the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, to ensure that North 
Florida's forestlands are supported as we recover from Hurricane 
Michael.

                          ____________________