[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 238]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 15, 2013

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, due to a family emergency, I was unable 
to be in Washington, D.C. for the votes that occurred on January 3, 
2013 and January 4, 2013 and was not sworn in as a Member of Congress 
until January 14, 2013. As a result, I missed the votes listed below. I 
regret missing these votes but it was necessary to be in Portland for 
my family. Had I been in Washington, D.C., I would have voted as 
follows:

  H. Resolution 5: A resolution providing for the House Rules of the 
                             113th Congress

  I would have voted no on H. Res, 5. The House Rules package maintains 
the House of Representative's discriminatory stance on the Defense of 
Marriage Act, which I have opposed, restricts the District of 
Columbia's electoral representation, prohibits the House of 
Representatives from acting on health care recommendations from a 
nonpartisan scientific panel, and supports the partisan and unnecessary 
attacks on Attorney General Eric Holder.

H.R. 41: To temporarily increase the borrowing authority of the Federal 
    Emergency Management Agency for carrying out the National Flood 
                           Insurance Program

  I would have voted yes on H.R. 41. To limit the danger of future 
storms, it is important to ensure the careful reconstruction of areas 
damaged by Hurricane Sandy. That effort will take many years, however, 
and should not unnecessarily limit access to resources provided by the 
National Flood Insurance Program. I support the increased lending 
authority to that program to ensure adequate support to victims of 
Hurricane Sandy.

            H.R. 219: Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013

  I would have voted to approve this legislation, which combines 
several changes the House had previously supported to improve recovery 
projects for Hurricane Sandy.

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