[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 17]
[House]
[Page 23801]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



           CONGRESS SHOULD HELP FLOOD-RAVAGED NORTH CAROLINA

  Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I represent the Third 
District of North Carolina that sustained unprecedented damage from 
Hurricane Floyd. I believe I echo the feelings of my North Carolina 
colleagues in Congress who also represent storm-damaged areas when I 
say that the amount of devastation that we have witnessed is almost 
impossible to comprehend.
  While the storm itself has passed, the flooding has wreaked havoc on 
homes, farms, businesses, and entire communities. Some families lost 
their homes, jobs, and vehicles; and they are financially and emotional 
stressed and shattered.
  Many of our rivers did not fully crest until days after Floyd hit and 
the additional rainfall last week only added to the problem.
  But despite the amount of devastation that surrounds the citizens of 
eastern North Carolina, everyone is working together in a spirit that 
reminds us of the strength of this great Nation.
  I want to thank the individuals, communities, businesses and 
organizations in North Carolina and across the country that have 
stepped up to the plate to help the citizens of eastern North Carolina. 
It has been a tremendous encouragement to our people.
  Madam Speaker, just let me list some of the companies that are 
assisting: BlueCross/BlueShield of North Carolina, Food Lion, Lucent 
Technologies, Glaxo Welcome, International Paper, AJT and Associates of 
Florida, Mt. Olive Pickle Company, Sara Lee, Winn Dixie, Anheuser-
Busch.
  These and many other companies have sent help to eastern North 
Carolina. The charitable agencies and relief organizations have also 
been wonderful. The Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwestern North 
Carolina collected more than 100,000 pounds of food in one week. 
AmeriCares donated cleaning supplies. The Red Cross, Salvation Army, 
and the United Way are also coordinating donations of clothing and food 
drives. Religious communities across the country are also donating time 
as well as money to help their brothers and sisters across our district 
and the country.
  All branches of the armed services, especially the United States 
Coast Guard and the United States Marines, Air National Guard, Army 
National Guard, and Air Force were tireless with their time and 
resources rescuing residents stranded by flooding. Their dedication to 
the State and Nation is second to none, and their efforts have been 
critical in saving and protecting human life.
  Madam Speaker, now Congress must do its part. This Congress has an 
obligation to help the American people first when they are in trouble. 
We have a moral contract with the taxpayers. Madam Speaker, every year 
we send money to countless countries across the globe in foreign aid 
and we know through a variety of sources and reports sometimes billions 
of these dollars never reach the people they were sent to help. 
Billions of dollars in U.S. aid to Russia has reportedly been laundered 
through foreign banks including possible IMF funds. Now the President 
has pledged to forgive the debt of 36 countries owed to the United 
States in order to help these countries finance basic human needs. To 
forgive this debt would cost the American taxpayer $5 billion.
  I would say to the President, there are families in North Carolina 
who have lost everything. They are living in shelters dependent upon 
the goodwill of friends and neighbors to provide them with the most 
basic human needs. Imagine what the community of eastern North Carolina 
could do with even $1 billion to help rebuild and repair the 
devastation.
  Now Congress has appropriated over $12 billion in foreign aid for 
fiscal year 2000. Madam Speaker, I understand that we have strategic 
obligations to allies in the Middle East such as Israel; however, I 
cannot justify voting for a foreign aid package when families in my 
district are hurting so badly. Madam Speaker, we must help the American 
taxpayer first. I will not break faith with our own American citizens 
in their time of need. Not one dime of foreign aid should be 
appropriated until we take care of the people of our United States of 
America.
  Madam Speaker, if this sounds like ``America first,'' so be it. The 
people in flood-ravaged eastern North Carolina need our help now, not 
next year. They are striving to exist each and every day. I call on the 
leadership of both parties to work together in a bipartisan effort to 
bring much-needed relief to these families in eastern North Carolina 
immediately.




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