[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 17 (Thursday, January 26, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H340]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   ACKNOWLEDGING STORM DAMAGE ACROSS ALABAMA'S SEVENTH CONGRESSIONAL 
                                DISTRICT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Malliotakis). The Chair recognizes the 
gentlewoman from Alabama (Ms. Sewell) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. SEWELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to the 
storm damage impacting Alabama's Seventh Congressional District 
following the devastating tornadoes that struck our State earlier this 
month.
  On January 12, severe storms, including multiple tornadoes, tore 
through the Southeast, ravaging communities in Alabama, Mississippi, 
Georgia, and destroying over 16,000 homes. In my district alone, 6,000 
properties sustained damage, many to the point of irreversible repair.
  Across Alabama's Black Belt, rural communities that were still 
recovering from financial ruin of COVID-19 were once again devastated.
  Hale County, with less than 15,000 residents, lost over 92 homes with 
an estimated $2 million worth of damage. Greene County and Sumter 
County, also in my district, sustained damage.
  Just outside of my district, in Autauga County, seven precious lives 
were lost that day. In my beloved hometown of Selma, Alabama, an EF-3 
tornado tore through the town center, leveling homes, businesses, 
churches, and community centers in the Queen City.
  I spent much of last week in Selma, boots on the ground, to survey 
the damage and to assist with the recovery effort. I will never ever 
forget the scene as I entered Selma that evening. It was pitch black as 
I crossed the bridge; no lights, just street after street of complete 
devastation.
  The following morning, I was joined by Governor Ivey, Senator Britt, 
Selma Mayor James Perkins, and State and local officials to tour the 
wreckage. My heart broke to see the depth of destruction in the light; 
trees uprooted from the ground, homes destroyed, lives destroyed.
  It is not lost on me that this devastation struck our community on 
MLK weekend. But despite the debris and the horrific scenes that we 
saw, I did see a vision of what Dr. King meant by a beloved community. 
I saw neighbor helping neighbor and community members lending a hand to 
take care of the place that we call home.
  I am thankful that President Biden heard our cries and expedited a 
major disaster declaration for the State of Alabama. This designation 
will provide critical Federal resources.
  I am endlessly grateful to our partners at FEMA who are on the ground 
right now helping my constituents. Today, the Alabama congressional 
delegation is sending a letter to President Biden requesting an 
increase in disaster assistance to Alabama, increasing the Federal 
share to 100 percent of the total eligible costs. We need this. We need 
this desperately.
  I also thank the many mayors and residents of surrounding communities 
who offered a helping hand. We are indeed resilient people in Alabama's 
Seventh Congressional District, and nothing about that will change. Out 
of this destruction, I know that we have a unique opportunity to 
reimagine Selma and surrounding areas and to build back better and 
stronger than before.
  We will do all we can, working together at all levels of government 
to bring every resource at our disposal to those who have been 
affected.
  This evening, at 6:30 Central Time, I will be hosting a live 
telephone townhall about disaster assistance to answer questions, and 
for my constituents to hear directly from FEMA and the Alabama EMA on 
disaster assistance.
  I am asking my colleagues to keep Alabama's Seventh Congressional 
District and all of Alabama that was affected in your thoughts and 
prayers as we recover and rebuild. But for the grace of God go all of 
us.
  We do need to make sure that our Federal resources are adequate to 
help those who have been impacted by disasters. We are, indeed, Selma 
Strong.

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