[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12673]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       IMPACT OF FLOODING IN IOWA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. LEONARD L. BOSWELL

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 17, 2008

  Mr. BOSWELL. Madam Speaker, Iowa, the State I am proud to represent 
in this great body, is facing one of the worst natural disasters it has 
ever witnessed. Record flooding has affected hundreds of communities, 
devastated hundreds of businesses, displaced thousands of our fellow 
citizens, and has done billions of dollars in damage.
  The waters are beginning to recede in some parts of the State, but we 
are not out of the troubles yet. The level of devastation has not yet 
been fully realized, and probably won't for some weeks. I saw firsthand 
the damage done as I toured my district this weekend, and words cannot 
begin to illustrate just how damaging the floodwaters have been.
  I rise today to salute my fellow Iowans, and salute the sense of 
community that is so strong in Iowa. In preparation for the floods, 
there were countless instances where Iowans banded together, from all 
walks of life, from all ages, to work together to do whatever was 
necessary to save the communities we all love to call home.
  And this is what Iowans will continue to do. We will continue to work 
together to rebuild our communities and heal the wounds the flood 
waters opened. We will continue to work together and fight on because 
our families, our communities, and our State are worth nothing less.
  But Madam Speaker, Iowa will need generous Federal assistance to get 
back on its feet. Iowans will do whatever they can, but the fact is the 
flooding that has hit Iowa has never been witnessed, ever, and the 
damage and challenges presenting themselves are simply too much for the 
State and local governments to handle by themselves. Iowans will do 
their part, but we must do ours.
  Madam Speaker, Iowans continue to display what is best in the 
American spirit as we continue to face the challenges that are 
presented to us today, and we will persevere, for as Iowa goes, so goes 
the Nation.

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