[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 11971-11972]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




URGING THE PRESIDENT TO DECLARE AN EXPEDITED MAJOR DISASTER AREA IN THE 
                            STATE OF INDIANA

  (Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PENCE. Madam Speaker, across Indiana, Hoosiers are picking up the 
pieces from a week of extraordinary weather. My own hometown of 
Columbus is in the midst of a cleanup of the worst flooding since the 
Great Flood of 1913, and I come to the floor today to urge the 
President of the United States to take immediate action and declare an 
expedited major disaster area in the

[[Page 11972]]

State of Indiana as a result of these severe storms, tornadoes and 
torrential downpour.
  Following the harsh impact of tornadoes 1 week ago today, on Saturday 
parts of my district experienced approximately 10 inches of rain in a 
matter of hours. This is more rainfall than Hoosiers typically see in 2 
months during this time of year, and the results have been 
catastrophic.
  I commend the President for his action on Sunday evening speeding 
relief to community governments, but this government must act and act 
now to bring relief to Hoosier families, small businesses and family 
farms. We need additional declarations like those requested by Governor 
Mitch Daniels of the President, support from FEMA and the Department of 
Agriculture, and we need it now.
  Hoosier families and communities are hurting, and they deserve to 
know that help is on the way. I urge this administration and all of my 
colleagues to focus their attention on this urgent Midwestern need for 
emergency relief.

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