[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 191 (Thursday, December 8, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S7045]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



           One-Year Anniversary of Western Kentucky Tornadoes

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, Kentucky is approaching the 1-year 
anniversary of one of the deadliest tornado outbreaks in our 
Commonwealth's history--1 year since 80 lives were lost and a deep scar 
was cut through Western Kentucky. We still remember the lost and pray 
for their loved ones.
  A few days after the storm, I visited some of the hardest hit towns. 
I saw how the pictures of the damage in the newspaper and on television 
didn't even begin to capture the local devastation in places like 
Mayfield, Campbellsville, Bowling Green, and Dawson Springs. Homes were 
literally ripped off their foundations; trees scattered like twigs; 
whole neighborhoods gone in an instant. The pain is still fresh, but as 
I have seen in multiple return visits, slowly but surely, Western 
Kentucky is coming back.
  This weekend, Kentuckians are carving out time to honor those whose 
lives were lost and continue helping those whose lives were severely 
disrupted. Dawson Springs just erected a beautiful, solemn memorial to 
the 19 residents that the city lost that day. In Bowling Green, an 
organization is delivering handmade Christmas ornaments to storm 
victims. In Mayfield, even as members of the high school football team 
fought to rebuild their families' lives off the field, the community 
cheered the team to an undefeated regular season. Even in tough times--
actually, especially in tough times--Kentuckians stick together.
  I am thankful to all the volunteers and charities helping us in 
Kentucky remember this tragic anniversary and for all the men and women 
who spent days and weeks working tirelessly to remove debris and to 
rebuild.
  Things are looking hopeful in the region this Christmas. Homes and 
businesses are coming back. Families will gather again under one roof. 
The road to recovery remains quite long, but Kentuckians will stand 
shoulder to shoulder until the rebuilding is done, and I will keep 
standing right beside them.