[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 159 (Tuesday, September 15, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5592-S5593]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                            Hurricane Laura

  Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. President, at the forbearance of my colleagues, if I 
can interpolate, if you will, and I will yield back. Thank you very 
much.
  As I speak, Hurricane Sally threatens the gulf coast, including parts 
of Louisiana. Our prayers are with those in the path of Sally. I just 
spoke with the Coast Guard admiral in charge, and the Coast Guard is 
ready should there be a need.
  But in the concern over Sally and other issues, we must remember the 
aftermath of Hurricane Laura, which made landfall August 27 in Cameron, 
LA, as a category 4-5 hurricane. In terms of wind speed, this is 150 
miles an hour. A more powerful storm in that regard is Katrina, Rita, 
Gustav, Ike, and others.
  As you might imagine, a storm of such magnitude left death, 
destruction, and pain from Southwest Louisiana into Texas to North 
Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi.
  There were 25 people who died directly or indirectly because of 
Hurricane Laura, and hundreds of thousands of lives have been upended. 
As one example--one measure--as of yesterday, 145,000 people in 
Louisiana have filed for assistance with FEMA. That is expected to grow 
to roughly 2,800 people a day applying for assistance.
  Now, the sentiment at home is if you are without electricity, as 97 
percent of Cameron Parish goes without electricity, and you are without 
internet, as most people are, the fear is that

[[Page S5593]]

folks have forgotten about Hurricane Laura, that recovery efforts will 
be stalled, and things will be ignored as attention turns to other 
issues--COVID-19, Presidential race, et cetera. And, anecdotally, there 
is, of course, evidence that public opinion has slipped.
  Last week, I spoke with Gail McGovern, the president of the American 
Red Cross, who told me that donations are lagging well below that which 
the Red Cross had hoped to receive to cover the cost of their response. 
She assured me, though, that the Red Cross would still do everything 
needed. I saw testimony of that, by the way. I flew from Louisiana to 
Washington, DC, yesterday, and the jet was full of Red Cross 
volunteers. We are so appreciative.
  I assure folks back home, just to say, that I did get a call from 
President Trump just as the hurricane hit. He assured me that whatever 
resources were needed, he would make sure they were there. As I told 
folks in Louisiana, there was an audience of one paying attention, a 
very important audience, and that is the President.
  In this speech, I hope to continue to bring this hurricane and its 
aftermath to the attention of other fellow Americans because fellow 
Americans take care of ourselves and take care of each other. So I am 
here to be a voice for the people of Louisiana and share a story so 
that you may know what we are facing at home.
  Again, I am appreciative of the United Way, American Red Cross, 
President Trump, and others for swiftly doing all they can do to help 
us through this recovery, but let's tell the story.
  Here is a wonderful story from Lake Arthur, LA. She probably doesn't 
like the fact that I am showing this. She didn't like how she looked. I 
think she looks fantastic. This is Bethel Boudreaux, a great American 
patriot and a great Louisiana name. If you look at this picture, there 
is a tree that has fallen over the guy's house. There is a fellow in 
the tree cutting down limbs that is on top of his house. Here she is 
with a tree behind her and all the debris associated with it holding up 
an American flag. Now, her concern was that if we showed this picture, 
we recognize that her husband, a veteran, is familiar with how damaged 
flags should be destroyed, but this had been fluttering during the 
hurricane, and she just wanted to show it.
  She has got a smile. This is 1 or 2 days after this devastating 
hurricane. With all this, in the spirit of Americans, she is holding 
that flag, and she is smiling. She is a great American patriot, but it 
also shows the attitude of Americans and the attitudes of people in 
Louisiana. We are resilient in the face of adversity.
  There is more than enough adversity to go around. Let me just give 
you a couple of stories that are on our Facebook page. Mike Williams 
from Lake Charles gave our office a tour of his home. His metal roof 
was completely ripped off. Water came all through his house. The 
ceiling is falling in, and every single room has extensive water 
damage.
  There is 20-year-old Hannah Vinson, who shared that her childhood 
home was gone. The roof collapsed, flooded, and a tree fell in her 
mother's bedroom and all across their yard. She has this semester off 
from school because of lack of access and expenses she cannot cover, 
even though she works.
  She told us:

       It's overwhelming. People say why even go back when your 
     school is destroyed? I start a new career, and that has to 
     come to an end because where I work is gone now.

  There are thousands more stories like theirs. But amid the 
devastation, there is hope. I am inspired by those who rushed to help 
however they could.
  The Cajun Navy is an organization of volunteers who respond to 
disasters. They deployed immediately and continue to help today, 
delivering thousands of meals, clearing debris, helping people meet 
energy needs, and assisting where they can.
  I recently went to Central Louisiana to hand out supplies and meet 
with storm victims and volunteers. I met a woman named Mandy in 
Hineston. Mandy has been loading up trailers of donated groceries. She 
takes them to the rural parts of the State, where folks can't access 
critical supplies in Central and Western Louisiana. This is a critical 
service because folks on the back roads couldn't get out, and there was 
a gas shortage in some storm-affected areas.
  While I do believe Hurricane Laura recovery needs more attention 
nationally, I am so thankful for the thousands of workers who came to 
rebuild the electrical grid, as well as individuals and churches and 
nonprofits who came to help. There is a Facebook video from YAIPaks--a 
nonprofit organization in Clarksville, TN--who came down to Lake 
Charles with portable showers and trailers of supplies. The lady in the 
video said they handed out so many meals that they lost count.
  I cannot say thank you enough to our fellow Americans and those from 
Louisiana who saw a need and answered the call to serve. Now I ask my 
colleagues to do the same.
  Local governments' resources have been stretched to the limit because 
of COVID-19--tax base destroyed. Damage assessments are still underway, 
but we will likely need a disaster supplemental from Congress to 
continue the recovery. I ask my fellow Senators to consider the plight 
of Hurricane Laura victims and support such a bill, which should 
include California due to the terrible wildfires and perhaps those 
affected by Sally. Our prayers are with all of those as well.
  Local government resources have been stretched to the limit because 
of COVID-19 in Louisiana, but I suspect in California and Alabama and 
Mississippi as well.
  In June, I introduced legislation to do away with the FEMA cost share 
for local governments for 2020--for this year--given the strain on 
their budgets caused by COVID. I urge my colleagues to pass this bill.
  Lastly, let's just reassure my constituents in Louisiana that they 
are not forgotten. The largest storm in our State's history made news 
for about 2 days with hardly a mention after. Don't forget about 
Hannah, who lost her childhood home and her job, or about Mike, who 
lost his house to the rain and wind, and about the nearly 150,000 
people asking for help.
  Americans are at our best when we help those in need. The time is now 
to extend that support once more.
  Thank you.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Mexico