[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 161 (Wednesday, October 1, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6894-S6897]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                    Anniversary of Hurricane Helene

  Mr. TILLIS. Mr. President, on Saturday, I was in Western North 
Carolina for the day because that marked the 1-year anniversary of the 
landfall of Helene in a place that a hurricane has never really been 
before, about 200 miles inland in the Smoky Mountain Range.
  In North Carolina alone, it had an impact landwise equivalent to the

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State of Massachusetts. About a dozen river basins were at historic, 
100-year flood levels, and the damage was tremendous. The loss of life: 
108 people in North Carolina alone, more than 250 people by the storm, 
and $59.6 billion in damages.
  It is actually the most expensive storm in North Carolina's history, 
breaking the previous record of $30 billion by Hurricane Florence back 
in 2018: 74,000 homes damaged or destroyed; 5,000 miles of roads 
damaged or destroyed, including major portions of I-40, which are still 
only one lane in each direction for about a 20-mile stretch between 
North Carolina and Tennessee; I-26 was damaged; Blue Ridge Parkway has 
just opened up; 848 bridges damaged and destroyed; 20,000 farms and 
800,000 acres of timber damaged; 163 water systems damaged, with 
Asheville not having drinkable water for almost 2 months after the 
storm.
  When I was in Western North Carolina, I heard someone say that the 
one community I was in was back on its feet. But for every community 
that is back on its feet, there are still several communities that are 
on their knees or flat on their back. In fact, there are some 
communities that we wonder whether or not they ever will come back.
  And the reason I talk about it, in addition to being the 1-year 
anniversary, we have got real problems in the FEMA Disaster Relief Fund 
and resources available.
  The President, rightfully, acknowledged that there was a release of 
money about a month ago, but all of that is money that is already--
those are reimbursements. Those are costs that have already been 
incurred. We haven't even gotten to a point where we are trying to 
become more resilient or to prepare for the next storm.
  When I was riding from Old Fort to Chimney Rock, I was going down a 
stretch of highway--not a stretch of highway, a stretch of State road. 
There are still cars in the creekbeds. There are roads that are in the 
creekbed because they are trying to figure out where they are 
ultimately going to put it, back on a hillside, when they can get 
stabilization there and actually have the funding to build the roads.
  I know a lot of people have moved on, but in Western North Carolina, 
we haven't moved on. We are suffering as much today as we were the day 
or 3 or 4 days after the storm last year.
  According to the latest FEMA Disaster Relief Fund monthly report, the 
major disasters account balance right now is at $1.4 billion. That is 
dangerously low.
  Last month, FEMA approved 7.5 billion from the major disasters 
account.
  In 2024, there were 90 FEMA-declared major disasters, nearly double 
the 30-year average of 55 declarations per year.
  Already this year--and we are really ramping up in the hurricane 
season right now--we have had 40 major disaster declarations in 22 
States. FEMA simply doesn't have the funding needed to respond to a 
major disaster.
  Ladies and gentlemen, we are in a shutdown posture right now. We have 
storms in the Atlantic and more storms forming off the coast of Africa, 
and we are not prepared for another major disaster should it hit this 
weekend, nor do we have the money that we need to help communities 
across this country, especially in Western North Carolina, recover from 
Helene.
  The House-passed continuing resolution that we tried to vote on this 
week had $22\1/2\ billion for the FEMA Disaster Relief Fund. But that 
money is not here today because we are in a shutdown posture. We are 
not funding any area of government, but we are especially hurting the 
Disaster Relief Fund and FEMA. And the only thing standing in our way 
is a simple vote to continue funding at levels that my Democratic 
colleagues have agreed to before.

  Ladies and gentlemen, we don't have a CR that the President or that 
the majority leader has decorated with ornaments. We call it decorating 
some of these spending bills like a Christmas tree. This is a simple 
continuing resolution to spend at the level we were spending yesterday. 
There is nothing more to it. There is money in here to help with 
disaster relief, but there is nothing more.
  This shutdown is hurting people in North Carolina. This shutdown will 
hurt more people. We lost the season last year--the tourist season--in 
the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Great Smoky Mountain parks. That was a 
hurricane. That was an inland hurricane disaster. This year, it is the 
disastrous vote of the Democrats, not allowing us to continue to fund 
at the levels that we did yesterday.
  We are not asking for anything more than that. We are asking for time 
to negotiate the premium tax credits, the ACA credits. I am on record 
saying we do need to find a good place for that. It is not about 
canceling them. But, folks, we can't even get to that if we can't agree 
to something as basic as this: Can we spend today what we did 
yesterday?
  And I know that there are several Members on that side of the aisle 
that would like to move with a clean CR and get to that negotiation. I 
am just speaking on behalf of people in North Carolina, particularly in 
Western North Carolina, who are struggling mightily. I hope that we can 
get back to funding the government where we can plus-up the Disaster 
Relief Fund and that I won't have to come to the floor next week to see 
who is going to be against this unanimous consent for doing just that.
  Let's do our job. Let's get back in business. Let's get the 
government funded. Let's help the people in North Carolina and in 
dozens of disaster-declared places all across this country.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Sheehy). The Senator from Massachusetts.
  Ms. WARREN. Mr. President, in July, when Republicans voted on the 
first spending bill for 2026, with cuts that would knock 15 million 
people off healthcare, I stood right here, and I asked my Republican 
colleagues in the Senate to grow a spine and stand up for Americans.
  We are here today because the Republicans refused. Instead, 
Republicans bowed down to Trump, and, now, people all across this 
country will suffer.
  Let's be clear: Republicans shut down the government because they 
would rather make healthcare more expensive than keep the government 
running. That is literally where we are right now.
  Republicans control the House. Republicans control the Senate. 
Republicans control the White House. They are in power. It is their job 
to keep the government running for the American people, and they have 
failed. Donald Trump and the Republicans own this shutdown.
  Don't take it from me. Listen to Donald J. Trump. In 2013, Trump 
himself said about a potential government shutdown:

       If there is a shutdown, I think it would be a tremendously 
     negative mark on the President of the United States. He's the 
     one that has to get people together.

  That is Donald J. Trump.
  Now, at the same time, Trump said:

       The President has to lead. You have to get people in a 
     room, and you have to just make deals for the good of the 
     country.

  Donald Trump today should listen to Donald Trump from yesterday. 
Instead, Trump, Mr. ``Art of the Deal,'' hasn't been able to cut a deal 
for the most basic government functions. Wow.
  As Trump said, that is ``a tremendously negative mark on the 
President of the United States.''
  Let me say it again. Democrats are fighting to roll back the 
Republican cuts that would take away healthcare from millions of people 
and raise health insurance premiums for millions more. That is it. That 
is what we are asking for. We have been asking for months to negotiate 
over this, and the Republicans have said no.
  What are they doing right now? Are they making counteroffers? Are 
they saying, ``We could go this far, not this far''? Nope. They are 
simply saying no.
  So now, when a family is forced to the brink of bankruptcy from one 
bad medical diagnosis, Trump and the Republicans own it. Republicans 
insist that those healthcare cuts go through. When community hospitals 
have to shut down, Trump and Republicans own it. When kids with cancer 
can't get treatment because potentially lifesaving research grants come 
to a screeching halt, Trump and Republicans own it. When insurance 
premiums skyrocket, Trump and Republicans own it.
  Healthcare in America was already broken, but Trump and Republicans 
are making it much, much worse. They ripped away money that covers 
mamas

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giving birth and neighbors who need wheelchairs and home health aides, 
and they handed it over to giant corporations and billionaire CEOs.
  Democrats believe that no one should go bankrupt because they got 
sick and needed to see a doctor. So Democrats are here to say we are 
willing to fight for families who need healthcare. If Congress is going 
to pass a budget for the U.S. Government, then Democrats want saving 
healthcare for millions of Americans just to be part of that deal. 
Democrats have made that clear, and Republicans have refused even to 
talk about it.
  Trump is already doing his best to shut down government or at least 
to shut down the parts of government that he doesn't like. Since day 
one, Trump has been trying to illegally wipe away millions of dollars 
for programs that Congress already agreed to fund. Trump and his buddy 
Elon Musk have fired tens of thousands of Federal workers. Trump is 
declaring American cities as ``war zones'' and sending troops to invade 
communities.
  Trump is playing King time and time again, and Republicans in 
Congress are bowing down and letting him do it.
  While all of that is going on, Republicans in Congress want Democrats 
just to sign a blank check and hand it over to Trump and let him 
continue to shut down whatever he doesn't like and to destroy our 
democracy. They want us to agree to a budget, knowing full well that 
Trump will then turn around tomorrow and delete this part or that part 
or whatever he doesn't like, just like he has already done.
  Why would we play along with that farce? Why would we throw our 
support behind a deal that, any time, any day, Trump could just decide 
he doesn't feel like honoring it? And why would we do that without 
getting anything in return to help American families who are struggling 
with high costs, particularly the healthcare costs that Republicans are 
driving up? To do that would be a betrayal of the American people.
  Senate Democrats are holding the line for families. Senate 
Republicans decided they would rather take orders from a wannabe King 
and shut down the entire government instead of helping out families who 
are getting squeezed on healthcare costs. It really is that simple.
  Make no mistake, this Trump shutdown will hurt people. Because of 
Republicans, children across this country could lose access to 
childcare through Head Start. Because of Republicans, the National 
Institutes of Health Clinical Center will now stop enrolling patients 
in clinical trials that could be their only shot at treatment. Because 
of Republicans, air traffic controller hiring will stop, at a time when 
we are already dealing with a dangerous shortage. Because of 
Republicans, park rangers and thousands of other civil servants won't 
get paid. Because of Republicans, Donald Trump's corruption and chaos 
will continue.
  So what is next? Well, Democrats want to keep the government open, 
and we want rollbacks of the Republican cuts that will cost 15 million 
Americans their healthcare coverage and drive up insurance costs for 
everyone else.
  This isn't partisan. This is a righteous fight on behalf of everyone 
who needs healthcare, everyone who might need to go to the hospital, 
everyone who counts on a community clinic or a home health aide, 
whether they are a Democrat, a Republican, an Independent, or a ``none 
of the above.''
  We are in this fight for Americans and for American healthcare, and 
it is only the Senate Republicans, led by Donald Trump, who stand in 
the way.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from West Virginia.
  Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. President, as I was sitting and listening, I feel 
like I am living in an alternative universe here sometimes. I am sure 
the American people feel this way.
  Are people being hurt today? You are doggone right they are. They are 
being hurt because Senator Schumer and his following will not, quite 
simply, reopen the government so we can begin negotiations on some of 
the issues that are a part of this disagreement.
  I am a senior member of the Appropriations Committee. One of my most 
important responsibilities is to make sure that the government stays 
open and working for the people that we represent. That is why I am so 
deeply disappointed to be standing here today in the midst of a totally 
avoidable government shutdown, all because the Senate Democrats refused 
to join us, as Republicans, in supporting a commonsense, short-term, 
nonpartisan continuing resolution.
  We have seen Leader Thune pick it up in his hands. It is very simple. 
Let's just keep the government open until November 21, discuss key 
issues, finish the appropriations process, and move on.
  Let me be clear on what that short-term continuing resolution was 
designed to do. It is not a gimmick. It is not a gimmick. It is the 
same legislation that the Senate Democrat leader brought before this 
body 13 times and had it passed. It is not a partisan maneuver. It is a 
straightforward measure to keep critical services in operation, while 
giving Congress the time that we need to finish our work on 
appropriations through regular order, the way that we used to do it. 
Some of our Democratic colleagues have agreed with us in the last 
several votes.
  So the bottom line: We don't have to be where we are, and we really 
shouldn't be here because this position is untenable. We have a path 
forward. It is so easy. It is so easy.
  When people are watching this, they are hearing us try to blame one 
person or the other. The easy thing is to turn around and vote to 
reopen up the government, and we can begin to have other conversations. 
We have a path forward. It requires the Democrats to come to their 
senses, quite frankly, and vote for this reasonable measure.
  The Senate has already passed three appropriations bills, which is 
three more than we passed under their leadership last year. And we have 
five more that have received heavy bipartisan support in committee and 
are ready for a full Senate vote. That would be CJS, Defense, Interior, 
Labor, which I chair, and T-HUD, which is the Transportation, Housing, 
and Urban Development bill.
  That is progress. That is responsibility. That is what we are here 
for. That is us doing our job. But in order to complete the process, we 
need time. The continuing resolution is that bridge of time to keep the 
government open while we finish our work.
  So, unfortunately, the Democrats have chosen a different path. They 
have chosen to shut down the government. That is where we are today. 
The government is shut down. They made a political calculation all 
based on politics, appeasing their far-left base instead of doing the 
right thing for the American people.
  Unfortunately, hard-working families all across this country who rely 
on critical government services are the ones who are suffering. 
Government shutdowns have real consequences. In West Virginia, our 
businesses and our Federal workers face uncertainty about their pay. 
Families who rely on essential benefits are put in limbo. It is scary 
for people. Some people with children with disabilities or folks that 
rely on services daily are concerned about where this is going to lead. 
Small businesses are waiting on Federal permits or loans. They are 
going to have to wait longer.
  And so many others are told, yet again, as we see, that the politics 
of Washington come before the people.
  My State of West Virginia has the third largest number of Federal 
employees, and we are situated quite close to the District of Columbia.
  So, to all of those public servants who are bearing the brunt of this 
nonsense, please know how much I value your contribution every day and 
that I will work tirelessly to get you back to work, to get you back to 
that certainty that you need.
  You know, this shutdown is just so avoidable, and it is so 
unacceptable. But do you know what? As Republicans, we are not giving 
up because we never do. As Leader Thune has indicated, we will continue 
bringing forward opportunities for the Democrats to join us in 
reopening the government. We will keep voting to do the right thing and 
giving them a chance to do the same.
  The American people expect Congress to be responsible stewards of 
their tax dollars. I know that is what my constituents in my home State 
of West Virginia want me to do. They expect us to keep the government 
functioning. I

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can't even believe I am having to say this because it is just such a 
given: They want the government open while we debate our differences. 
That is what we are supposed to be doing. We are supposed to be 
debating, not shutting down the government, and that is what the 
Republican CR would have allowed us to do.
  So I urge my colleagues across the aisle to quit playing the 
political games, to end the shutdown, and join us in funding the 
government. Let's finish our work on the appropriations process, and 
let's return to the regular order process that we had begun at the 
beginning of the summer because it brings transparency, accountability, 
and bipartisanship back to the appropriations process. We have it in 
committee. We need to have it on this floor. That is what West 
Virginians deserve. That is what the American people deserve. It is 
what they expect, quite frankly. That is what they expect every day.
  These young people on the floor are getting to hear a debate. I am 
sure it is one that they will remember, and I am sure they are thinking 
to themselves: It is a simple thing. Reopen the government. Reopen the 
government. Why was it closed in the first place? For a political stunt 
that is not working. They are boxed in.
  Let's just say: OK. Let's open. Let's begin our discussions, and 
let's solve the problems that we have in front of us.
  With that, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nevada.