[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 21]
[House]
[Pages 30791-30792]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



        PROVIDING HOPE AND HELP TO FLOOD-RAVAGED NORTH CAROLINA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Clayton) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Members and the 
Congressional and administrative staff numbering more than 500 who 
boarded 12 buses on Saturday, November 6, to provide hope and help to 
flood-ravaged Eastern North Carolina. On that day we cleaned up and 
fixed up places that 6 weeks after the hurricane were still saturated 
with water.

                              {time}  2045

  As a result of the flooding, lives have been disrupted, disturbed, 
and disordered. Tens of thousands were forced from their homes. Mr. 
Speaker, 11,000 homes were destroyed, and hundreds are living in a 
state of virtual homelessness. One-third of our population continues to 
suffer from a disaster that is unprecedented in the entire history of 
the State of North Carolina.
  Mr. Speaker, we faced record high floodwaters covering more than 
20,000 square miles, a land area greater than the size of the whole 
State of Maryland. Many people lost everything, their homes, their 
farms, their business, and their loved ones. The full amount of damage 
is still yet unknown.
  As we begin to move from the phase of immediate relief to the phase 
of recovery and then rebuilding and reconstruction, many in the private 
sector have been helping as well. Certainly, the Red Cross and 
Salvation Army have been at work. Business enterprises have stepped 
forward with their support. Individual citizens from across the Nation 
have helped. The church community is doing its part and will do more. 
In fact, on December 19, the church community across the country will 
hold a nationwide effort to gather support from various denominations 
to help with the housing needs, especially for those who are the 
working poor, disadvantaged and senior citizens.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe those Members and staffers who joined us on 
the November 6 now have a clear view of the needs of the people of 
eastern North Carolina. I believe those Members and staff now 
understand why this Congress must indeed pass an emergency rebuilding 
and reconstruction package when we return in January.
  When Congress returns, I and others will put before the Congress a 
comprehensive rebuilding and reconstruction bill. At that time, we will 
seek the support of our colleagues in the House and Senate, as well as 
the support of the administration.
  One aspect of the legislation we will introduce will be the provision 
of grants rather than loans for those homeowners and businessowners who 
simply cannot be helped by loans alone. Unless we are able to provide 
grants, there are many, many who owned homes before the storm will not

[[Page 30792]]

be able to afford replacement houses after the storm. Unless we are 
able to provide grants, there are many businesses, especially small 
farmers who were in business before the storm, but will not be able to 
return or remain in business because of the storm.
  Over the years, America has come to the aid of many in foreign 
countries, as we should and as we must continue to do. We have helped 
to rebuild Europe. We have helped to boost the recovery of Japan. We 
have come and will continue to come again and again to the aid of 
Kosovo. Surely, Mr. Speaker, we can come to the aid of our fellow 
citizens in eastern North Carolina.
  Mr. Speaker, America is at its best when conditions of our fellow 
citizens are at their worst. America was at its best on November 6 when 
those Members and staffers gave of their hearts and time and hands to 
those storm-torn communities and to the flood victims.
  In the budget agreement we just voted on, Congress did indeed provide 
some immediate relief, for which I am very appreciative, although I was 
forced to vote against the bill because it did not contain $81 million 
promised by the Senate leadership for the agriculture cooperative that 
would have aided our tobacco farmers, our peanut and cotton farmers. 
There were indeed provisions in there that will provide a response to 
the Housing needs and additional resources for agriculture and loans 
and grants. I also want to thank the administration for its support.
  With this budget, we have made a significant step, but only a step. 
Much, much more is needed before we can say that Congress has done its 
part. We must, indeed, do more.

                          ____________________