[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 19, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H2555-H2556]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                WORKING TO HELP LOUISIANA STAND BACK UP

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Louisiana (Mr. Higgins) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, it has been 9 months since 
Hurricanes Laura and Delta devastated southwest Louisiana.
  Our region has endured natural disaster after natural disaster. This 
past year has been incredibly challenging: two very powerful, major 
hurricanes; a crippling ice storm; and this week, ongoing, a severe 
rainfall event that is causing homes and businesses to flood.
  Many families will have to again restart the difficult process of 
rebuilding their lives. Our people have been resilient in the face of 
great adversity, a show of incredible strength.
  But the need for help from the Federal Government is dire. While much 
work has been done, southwest Louisiana has long-term recovery needs. 
To date, we have worked with our Federal partners to deliver well over 
$1 billion in disaster relief to Louisiana, with more on the way.
  We have worked with President Trump and President Biden to secure 
increased Federal assistance through cost-share adjustments, now at 
levels of 90 and 100 percent.
  These resources have supported southwest Louisiana's most immediate 
needs: housing and rental assistance, utility repairs, debris removal, 
hazard mitigation, and other disaster response costs.
  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related bills, these Federal 
disaster accounts have received supplemental funding well beyond normal 
appropriations and are still available to the people of southwest 
Louisiana.
  However, our region requires additional support in the form of long-
term

[[Page H2556]]

recovery resources, primarily through community block grant funding.
  Louisiana's Governor issued a formal request to the Biden 
administration in January of this year. My office has supported our 
Governor's request in every way through every channel. We worked for 
months to build support in Congress for long-term recovery resources, 
and our efforts to build that coalition has been successful.
  While that support exists broadly, the Biden administration must 
first respond to our Governor's official request for supplemental 
disaster funding. President Biden must formally request specific 
supplemental disaster relief from Congress. Only then can our 
brotherhood of support take action here in the House of 
Representatives. That is the way it works. We have communicated these 
extreme needs directly to the Biden administration and House 
leadership.

  Additionally, the State must do more to ensure private insurance 
companies are treating Louisiana citizens fairly. This has been a 
significant issue that has frustrated Louisiana citizens and hindered 
our recovery efforts.
  I will not stop fighting for the citizens of south Louisiana, and I 
ask that my colleagues here in this body stand with us. I ask that our 
President stand with the people of Louisiana. We are one Nation. As a 
Republic of sovereign States, we have never failed to come to each 
other's rescue in the wake of natural disaster. Now is one of those 
moments.
  This is a time when Americans must stand together as one. Every day, 
we are working to help Louisiana stand back up.

                          ____________________