[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 18660]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         HURRICANE SANDY RELIEF

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
New York (Mrs. Lowey) for 2\1/2\ minutes.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, the Republican do-nothing leadership has an 
opportunity to do something--something very important--today to help 
the more than 17 million Americans who were devastated by Hurricane 
Sandy, one of the worst storms in U.S. history, more than 9 weeks ago. 
The Senate has sent us a good bill. We are ready to act. We have the 
bipartisan votes to pass it. And yet the House Republican leadership 
has said there will be no votes today, the last day to pass this 
legislation without delay before we have to start all over again in the 
new session of Congress tomorrow.
  Let me be very clear. Republican leadership has turned their backs on 
New Yorkers. They have turned their backs on those suffering without 
homes and businesses struggling just to get by. They have no valid 
reason for this delay--only the dysfunction with which they lead this 
body.
  This record storm resulted in the deaths of over 100 Americans. The 
coasts of New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut have been devastated. 
Other surrounding States have sustained significant damage. In 2005, 
this body came together and passed a Federal disaster assistance bill 
to help the gulf recover from Hurricane Katrina 2 weeks after the 
storm. Congress acted to assist those who suffered damage in Hurricane 
Gustav and Ike within 1 month.
  The Governors of our States, Democrat and Republican, have assessed 
over $82 billion in damages. The Senate bill would have provided $60.4 
billion--not everything that was requested, but a detailed, thoughtful 
disaster assistance plan to help these communities rebuild. More than 9 
weeks since the storm hit, House Republican leadership is doing 
nothing, after giving us nearly virtual assurance just yesterday that 
we would consider this assistance bill today.
  When a disaster hits on American soil, we as a Congress have the 
responsibility and tradition of working together, Democrat and 
Republican, to help communities rebuild. Our citizens are counting on 
us to help them recover from the storm and mitigate future disasters. I 
respectfully urge House leadership to reconsider their decision. 
Support the victims of Hurricane Sandy. Put politics aside. Do the 
right thing. People are waiting. People need this assistance. Let's 
bring the bill to a vote today.

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