[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 15, 2025)]
[House]
[Page H175]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  GRAPPLING WITH HORRIBLE DEVASTATION

  (Ms. BALINT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. BALINT. Mr. Speaker, as families in Los Angeles and the 
surrounding areas grapple with horrible devastation, loss of homes, 
community, loss of life and livelihoods, I am disgusted to hear that 
Republican leadership--Speaker Johnson--is planning to use this tragedy 
for political gain and withhold aid from California.
  Americans are evacuating their homes, watching their communities 
burn, and the Speaker and Trump and some of my Republican colleagues in 
Congress want to punish Americans for not voting their way in November? 
This is morally bankrupt.
  Californians obviously need this help now. I am standing up here 
because I am a Vermonter who just endured two horrible summers of 
devastating floods. I know what it feels like to go house to house and 
talk to people who have lost everything.
  I remember talking to one man who had lost his home and his 
livelihood and was out of his home. He said to me: I didn't vote for 
you. I said: It doesn't matter that you didn't vote for me. I am still 
showing up for you.
  We need to show up for all Americans, regardless of political party.

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