[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 14]
[House]
[Pages 19443-19444]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           HURRICANE KATRINA

  (Mrs. CAPITO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today 
to show compassion and readiness to work with our neighbors who are in 
crisis. I represent a State, West Virginia, that has had numerous 
flooding disasters. Collectively, we will do everything we can to help 
those in need. The number one priority now is the families and children 
who are affected. The photos from these areas are gut wrenching, and I 
am sure we are just beginning to hear the heartbreaking stories. Our 
responses must be quicker and stronger. I know our compassion as a 
Nation is incredible and we are frustrated by the enormity of this 
crisis.
  As West Virginians, we have been helped time and time again. Like 
those affected in this disaster action, we are hardworking, country-
loving, patriotic, respectful citizens. We now wish to return our 
compassion to those in need. Our State has started fund drives, 
deployed utility professionals, our National Guard, and other means of 
help. We will continue. Our hearts are joined in prayer to those who 
need prayers the most, to give them the strength and the willpower to 
rebuild and go on. We will stand together to recover and rebuild the 
lives and the cities. This is the nature of our country and its people.
  It is with a heavy heart that I rise today to show compassion and 
readiness to work to help our neighbors who are in crisis. I represent 
a state, West Virginia, that has had numerous flooding disasters and 
collectively we will do everything that we can to help those in this 
devastating situation.
  The number one priority right now is the welfare of the families and 
children in their time of need. The photos from the area are gut-
wrenching and we have only just begun to hear the heart breaking 
stories of the destruction of lives and properties.
  Our responses must be quicker and stronger as we reach out to the 
despair. I know that our compassion as a nation is incredible and we 
are frustrated by the enormity of the crisis. The funding we provide 
today will be significant but will only take us so far.
  In recent disasters around this Nation we have seen the worst of 
destruction that can come from both man and from nature: but the best 
of society. We have seen the power of this Nation when it comes 
together to assist those in need. In the coming hours and days, we have 
got to press forward to help in every way.
  As West Virginians, we have been helped time and again. Like those 
affected in this disaster, we are hard working, country loving, 
patriotic, respectful citizens. We now wish to return our compassion in 
your hour of need. Our State has started fund drives, deployed utility 
professionals, sent our National Guard and other means of help. We will 
continue. Our hearts are joined in prayers to give those in need the 
strength and willpower to rebuild and go on.
  To that end, the Red Cross and the Salvation Army need our support to 
continue their efforts on the ground. We are grateful to those who are 
on the ground from all emergency organizations in the Gulf Coast area 
to assist those who have been affected.

[[Page 19444]]

  We will stand together to recover and rebuild the lives and cities. 
That is the nature of this country and its people.

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