[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 15077-15078]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         THE OUTPOURING OF VOLUNTEERS IN REBUILDING NEW JERSEY

  (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to point out to my colleagues that 
the damage in my district and throughout my State in the aftermath of 
Hurricane Sandy was nothing less than catastrophic. But I really want 
to talk about the rebuilding effort today and what we need to do over 
the long term.

[[Page 15078]]

  The amount of outpouring, if you will, from volunteers, from just 
regular people in the district, was just overwhelming. I want to thank 
FEMA. I want to thank the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and all the 
different groups that are out there and continue to be out there today 
helping with this effort. The outpouring of volunteers from our own 
district and from New Jersey was just incredible.
  Just a few days ago, I remember going to Union Beach, which was one 
of the towns that was hardest hit, and seeing so many people bring in 
food and clothing and cleaning supplies. One guy who owns a pizza place 
brought in a pizza oven and was making pizzas, and another guy brought 
in a TV so people could watch TV at the center where people come to 
sign up for FEMA. It was just amazing. It showed the spirit, if you 
will, of the people that they were willing to do that.
  Thank you all again. Obviously, we're going to work on rebuilding, 
which is certainly the next step here in Congress and elsewhere.

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