[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 17]
[House]
[Pages 23563-23566]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




EXPRESSING SYMPATHY AND PLEDGING SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS OF SEVERE FLOODING 
                           IN EASTERN KANSAS

  Mr. WELCH of Vermont. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 544) expressing the sympathy and 
pledging the support of the House of Representatives and the people of 
the United States for the victims of the devastating thunderstorms that 
caused severe flooding in 20 counties in eastern Kansas beginning on 
June 26, 2007.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 544

       Whereas, on June 26, 2007, a storm system lasting several 
     days was responsible for bringing heavy and torrential 
     rainfall to eastern Kansas;
       Whereas communities in eastern Kansas received up to 21 
     inches of rain within a four-day period, resulting in 
     devastating floods throughout the region;
       Whereas the flooding led to one person's death and more 
     than 3,100 homes and businesses destroyed or sustaining major 
     damage;
       Whereas communities in at least 20 counties were evacuated;
       Whereas flood waters caused a petroleum refinery tank 
     system to overflow into the Verdigris River, releasing an 
     estimated 71,000 gallons of crude oil into the Coffeyville 
     community and surrounding area;
       Whereas, on June 30, 2007, Kansas Governor Kathleen 
     Sebelius declared a state of disaster for Allen, Anderson, 
     Bourbon, Butler, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Coffey, Cowley, Elk, 
     Franklin, Linn, Miami, Montgomery, Neosho, Osage, Wilson, and 
     Woodson counties;
       Whereas, on July 2, 2007, President George W. Bush declared 
     a major Federal disaster for the State of Kansas that 
     included Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Butler, Chautauqua, 
     Cherokee, Coffey, Cowley, Elk, Franklin,

[[Page 23564]]

     Linn, Miami, Montgomery, Neosho, Osage, Wilson, and Woodson 
     counties;
       Whereas other surrounding counties in Kansas also suffered 
     damage from heavy flooding; and
       Whereas areas in Oklahoma and Texas experienced devastating 
     floods that resulted in loss of human life and millions of 
     dollars in damage to homes and businesses: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
       (1) expresses its heartfelt sympathy for the victims of the 
     devastating thunderstorms that caused severe flooding in 20 
     counties in eastern Kansas beginning on June 26, 2007;
       (2) conveys its gratitude to the local, State, and Federal 
     officials and emergency personnel who responded swiftly to 
     the crisis, including members of the Kansas National Guard 
     and Kansas Highway Patrol;
       (3) recognizes the generous support of volunteers, private 
     and corporate donors, religious groups, and charitable 
     organizations that have given generously toward the relief 
     efforts following the destructive flooding; and
       (4) commends the spirit of the people of Kansas, who 
     consistently demonstrate an outpouring of compassionate care 
     for neighbors facing adversity and hardship.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Vermont (Mr. Welch) and the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Vermont.


                             General Leave

  Mr. WELCH of Vermont. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Vermont?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. WELCH of Vermont. On June 26, 2007, a storm system lasting 
several days was responsible for bringing heavy and torrential rainfall 
to eastern Kansas. The affected communities received up to 21 inches of 
rain within a 4-day period, resulting in devastating floods throughout 
the region.
  The flooding forced at least 20 counties to evacuate and led to the 
destruction of more than 3,100 homes and businesses. It caused a 
petroleum refinery tank system to overflow into the Verdigris River, 
releasing an estimated 71,000 gallons of crude oil into the Coffeyville 
community and surrounding area.
  This resolution expresses heartfelt sympathy for the victims of the 
devastating thunderstorms that caused flooding in eastern Kansas.
  Madam Speaker, I commend my colleague, Representative Todd Tiahrt, 
for introducing this legislation and urge the swift passage of this 
resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  The massive floods that devastated 20 counties in eastern Kansas this 
past June left thousands of residents out of their homes. Torrential 
thunderstorms pounded the area beginning on June 26 and continued for 4 
days. In the end, the area was hit with 21 inches of rain, causing 
rivers to flood, forcing county-wide evacuations, schools and 
businesses to close, as well as causing a local oil refinery to 
overflow and release 71,000 gallons of crude oil into an already-
flooded area.
  The floods left one person dead and more than 3,100 homes and 
businesses destroyed or damaged. On June 30, Kansas Governor Kathleen 
Sebelius declared a state of disaster for 17 counties, which President 
Bush later declared as Federal disasters.
  Through the help of local, State and Federal officials and emergency 
personnel, evacuations were carried out quickly and safely. Order was 
maintained in the area with the help of the Kansas National Guard and 
the Kansas Highway Patrol.
  It is important that we recognize the general support of the many 
volunteers, private and corporate donors, religious groups and other 
charitable organizations who assisted the communities in their time of 
need. The actions of many public servants, neighbors and community 
leaders helped thousands through this hardship.
  This resolution expresses our sincere sympathy for the victims of 
this devastating storm.
  Madam Speaker, I would give the gentleman from Kansas as much time as 
he may consume, my good friend (Mr. Tiahrt).
  Mr. TIAHRT. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Vermont 
(Mr. Welch) for his contributions and the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. 
Westmoreland) in helping me through this process of getting recognition 
to the people of Kansas who have suffered under this flood.
  Madam Speaker, we have had a lot of trouble in Kansas this year. Out 
of our 105 counties, 102 have been declared a disaster at one time or 
another. It started in January with a 100-year event, an ice storm. We 
lost a lot of cattle. Power was down in half of the State. It was a 
very difficult time.
  Later on in the year we had a series of tornadoes that were 
considered another 100-year event. It included a level 5 or T-5 tornado 
that hit Greensburg, Kansas, and the small community of 1,500 was 
completely wiped out by that tornado.
  This was the third wave of natural disaster that has hit Kansas this 
year. It actually encompassed about 21 counties when it was all said 
and done. As you heard earlier, we lost 3,100 homes.
  I have been in this flood area about five times since the flooding 
has occurred. I have been through the refinery that is now back up and 
running. The small community of Coffeyville seemed to be the worst hit. 
We have had quite a bit of difficulty getting through the problem, 
complicated by the oil that was spilled into many homes in that area.
  Coffeyville resources is in the process of trying to rectify that 
situation; but I am very pleased that the jobs have never ceased at 
that refinery. They started the cleanup process right away, and they 
will continue to remain in that community. It is 1 of 3 refineries that 
we have in Kansas, and it does bring a lot of jobs to the area. It is 
also unique in that it is 1 of 2 refineries in the world that takes the 
by-product of making petroleum or gasoline from petroleum and it turns 
it into fertilizer for farmers in the area. So it is a very progressive 
refinery, and it has been a good source of jobs in that area.
  I would like to acknowledge a few people who were very instrumental 
in bringing that community and other communities, like Independence, 
Kansas, back to their feet: Independence Mayor Rick Mott; Independence 
City Manager Paul Sasse; Independence Police Chief Ken Parker; 
Independence Fire Chief Dale Rail; Coffeyville Mayor Virgil Horn; 
Coffeyville City Manager Jeff Morris; Coffeyville Police Chief Joe 
Humble; Coffeyville Fire Chief Greg Allen; State Senators Derek Schmidt 
and Dwayne Umbarger; Kansas Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Tod M. Bunting; 
Governor Kathleen Sebelius; State Representatives Jeff King, Virgil 
Peck and Kasha Kelly; and Montgomery County Commissioners Billy Lewark-
Wood, Tony Fowler and Gene Tucker.
  There are other people that were involved like Jim Miller with 
Emergency Management and the Kansas National Guard and the Kansas 
Highway Patrol that did a great deal of work during that time to make 
sure we had minimal casualties.
  The one story I remember is the gentleman who was notified to get out 
of the area because the floodwaters were rising.

                              {time}  1230

  He chose to go back to his home to save his coin collection. I don't 
know what he was carrying his coins in, but he was later rescued by the 
Coffeyville Fire Department, and he lost all his coins.
  So I think there was a good time for people to respond to the need, 
the disaster, and get out, but those that chose to stay behind did so 
at their own peril. I think it's a good lesson for all of America when 
emergency situations arise and our first responders are telling you to 
please leave the area, don't go back for your coin collection or 
anything else. Your personal safety is first.

[[Page 23565]]

  Coins can be replaced, possessions can be replaced, but our human 
lives are one thing that cannot be replaced. So I'm very pleased that 
we had minimal casualties and only one fatality in that situation. 
Incidentally, that one fatality was a gentleman who chose not to 
respond to the warnings and stayed in his dwelling against the will of 
the people who were trying to rescue him.
  There's another piece of legislation that I would like to mention 
that is the first step of reaching out to other areas, other Members of 
Congress who have had similar flooding since July. Now, they have been 
in States like Indiana, in their counties. It's been in Illinois, been 
in Texas, Nebraska. I have a bill that will help Kansas get back on its 
feet, but I would like to reach out to the other Members of Congress 
who have experienced flooding and ask them to join with me to help 
Kansas, as well as their areas.
  I think we should have one bill that would address all the needs 
because they're very similar. The communities need to have the cleanup. 
They need to have some rehabilitation of historic buildings. They need 
to have infrastructure rebuilt. They need to have businesses supporting 
the cleanup.
  So the bill that I have is H.R. 3444, and if we can work with those 
Members of Congress, Madam Speaker, that have had similar flooding 
problems and have one bill, I think it would be easier for the House to 
schedule. Plus, we would meet the needs of all our communities.
  Again, I want to thank the gentleman from Georgia. There was one 
thing that I failed to mention, and that is that Coffeyville Resources, 
which is the refinery, has made plans to make things right. They've 
responded to the community. Those homes that were damaged by the spilt 
oil, they have asked to purchase those homes. They're going to turn 
that land back over to the city. They're going to make a park in that 
area.
  So I think it's significant to note that when some corporation is a 
good public citizen, a good corporate citizen, that we ought to 
acknowledge that publicly because we need more of that.
  I thank you for the time.
  Mr. WELCH of Vermont. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to another 
gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moran).
  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
Georgia for yielding me the time, and I am here to lend my support for 
the gentleman from Kansas' efforts in regard to once again disaster 
striking our State.
  We come from a State, Mr. Tiahrt and I and the rest of the Members of 
the Kansas congressional delegation, that really has known tough times 
over a long history. But especially within the last few months, really 
within the last year, Kansas has had winter storms that involved hail 
and freezing rain, ice, snow, as well as tornados. Greensburg, Kansas, 
became a national location, known by people around the world for a 
tornado that destroyed an entire town, and now most recently a large 
portion of our State has been struck by tremendous rainfall resulting 
in flooding.
  I appreciate the gentleman from Kansas' (Mr. Tiahrt) leadership in 
bringing attention to this plight that we face in our State.
  In fact, there are 69 counties in the First Congressional District. 
All but four of them have been declared natural disaster areas this 
year, since January 1 by the President, and FEMA and other emergency 
responders are at work.
  The encouraging thing about our State is that local folks respond, 
and we've seen tremendous efforts by individual citizens from across 
the State arriving to help their neighbors, and we've seen the 
collection plates passed on Sunday morning, money being raised, 
response being had, and we've had tremendous support from our law 
enforcement community, from our emergency preparedness officials, as 
well as State and Federal officials. In many instances, I would report 
that FEMA has responded in a very noble and adequate way, and we're 
very grateful for that help.
  Again, all the disaster has caused many Members of Congress to stop 
and talk to us from Kansas and wish us well. We've had encouragement 
and support from leaders around the world, in fact, due to the 
tremendous natural disasters that have occurred.
  And so I'm here to express my support for Mr. Tiahrt's efforts and 
let him know that we all care about the portion of the State that has 
now been affected by these floods and will work closely with him, 
following his leadership to see that the response is appropriate from 
the Federal Government and that Kansans once again rebound from this 
significant natural disaster.
  I, too, would like to commend Coffeyville Resources for their 
response. It's caused significant losses within the community of 
Coffeyville. It's also had a consequence upon all Kansans. It's one of 
our three refineries, and so gas and diesel prices have been affected 
as a result of the closing, at least temporarily, of a refinery in our 
State. But their responses, both in getting back into business and 
their response to being a good corporate citizen within the community 
of Coffeyville, should be recognized.
  And finally, I thank the support we have had from my colleagues here 
in the United States House of Representatives. I thank the gentleman 
for yielding.
  Mr. WELCH of Vermont. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and so I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. WELCH of Vermont. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
Kansas (Mr. Tiahrt) and the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moran) and my 
colleague Mr. Westmoreland and urge the passage of this resolution.
  Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. 
Res. 544, recognizing the victims of floods in Kansas.
  On June 26, a storm brought several days of torrential rainfall to 
Kansas, leading to major damage, including the destruction of 3,100 
homes and businesses, and even more tragically, one person's death.
  Within a 4 day period, some communities received 21 inches of rain. 
Communities in 20 counties were evacuated.
  This resolution simply expresses heartfelt sympathy for the victims 
of these devastating thunderstorms, in addition to conveying gratitude 
to the local, State, and Federal officials and emergency personnel who 
responded swiftly to the crisis, including the Kansas National Guard 
and Kansas Highway Patrol and recognizing the generous support of 
volunteers, private and corporate donors, religious groups, and 
charitable organizations that have given generously toward the relief 
efforts following the destructive flooding.
  Most importantly, this resolution commends the spirit of the people 
of Kansas, who consistently demonstrate their strength, not only in 
rebuilding their own lives in the face of adversity and hardship, but 
also through their outpouring of compassionate care for neighbors.
  ``Ad astra per aspera,'' is our Kansas motto--``to the stars through 
difficulties.''
  I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 544, acknowledging the 
destruction left behind by recent severe weather in Kansas, yet 
celebrating the resilience of the Kansans rebuilding homes, businesses, 
lives, and dreams.
  Mrs. BOYDA of Kansas. Madam Speaker, on June 26th, rains began to 
fall in eastern Kansas, and they barely paused for the next 3 days. 
Storms dumped as much as 21 inches of rain in some places, triggering 
floods that washed over dozens of counties.
  When the rains finally stopped, I joined Mr. Moore, Mr. Tiahrt, Mr. 
Moran, and our governor, Kathleen Sebelius, to tour the flood-damaged 
regions. We saw heartbreaking sights: homes covered in water, streets 
rendered inaccessible by floods, and the populations of whole towns 
camping in middle schools. We also saw countless acts of kindness, from 
the very large to the very small. Friends and neighbors gave generously 
of their time, their shelter, their food, and their hearts. As 
devastating as the floods were, they brought out the very best in 
Kansans.
  I'm pleased that the House is pausing today to reflect upon what 
we've lost and to honor the hard work of rebuilding Kansas. Votes such 
as this are sometimes called ``symbolic,'' but that is not the same 
thing as ``meaningless.'' To the Americans who have heard little news 
from Kansas since the flood waters receded, this vote serves as notice 
that we're

[[Page 23566]]

rebuilding, stronger than ever before. And to the thousands of Kansans 
who lost everything, it is a show of support from their community and 
their country.
  Today, 2 months after the rain stopped, eastern Kansas is well on its 
way to recovery. For that, we owe our deepest thanks to our friends and 
neighbors, to the emergency personnel who worked so tirelessly for so 
long, and to FEMA for its helping hand. You've shown us how to meet a 
disaster with courage and compassion, and you've shown America the very 
best of Kansas.
  Mr. WELCH of Vermont. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Welch) that the House suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution, H. Res. 544.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. WELCH of Vermont. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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