[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 21, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S2986]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            DISASTER RELIEF

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, on another matter, as I have 
discussed many times on the floor, powerful natural disasters have 
devastated communities across America. Many are still in need of aid as 
they struggle to rebuild.
  My colleagues know all too well the destruction that was brought to 
States across the Southeast, the gulf coast, and Puerto Rico by a bad 
hurricane season: tens of billions of dollars in damage to buildings 
and infrastructure and thousands of people left without shelter or 
access to clean water and electricity.
  We remember the record wildfires that swept across our western 
regions, the tornadoes that tore through the Deep South, and the 
rampant flooding that sunk entire communities across the Midwest and 
affected many of my fellow Kentuckians as well.
  We have seen the pain caused by nature's worst. Now it is time for 
Congress to finally--finally--demonstrate our commitment to America's 
best. It is time to deliver supplemental resources for the rebuilding 
efforts that, in many cases, have been inching--just inching--along for 
months. It is well past time to show the relief workers, the 
volunteers, and the families still picking up the pieces that we have 
their backs.
  In recent days, important progress has been made to deliver on this 
overdue commitment. Chairman Shelby, Ranking Member Leahy, our 
colleagues on the Appropriations Committee, and their counterparts over 
in the House are continuing their hard work to reach a bipartisan 
solution that meets the most pressing needs of all of these affected 
communities. That includes promising steps toward bipartisan agreement 
to deliver critical resources to address the ongoing humanitarian 
crisis at our southern border. The status quo is completely--
completely--dysfunctional, so I am glad the agreement seems to be 
converging on more resources.
  I expect to discuss our progress in greater detail as the week 
unfolds, but it is my sincere hope that in both parties and in both 
Chambers we will finally--finally--be able to reach a meaningful 
consensus that can become law and deliver on the priorities of 
communities that are in need all across our country.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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