[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 10]
[House]
[Pages 14764-14768]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            AUTHORIZING FUNDS FOR EMERGENCY RELIEF PROJECTS

  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 3174) to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to obligate 
funds for emergency relief projects arising from damage caused by 
severe weather events in 2013, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3174

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. EMERGENCY RELIEF PROJECTS.

       The Secretary of Transportation may obligate any funds made 
     available to implement section 125 of title 23, United States 
     Code, for emergency relief projects arising from damage 
     caused by severe weather events in 2013, without any 
     limitation on obligations for such projects resulting from a 
     single natural disaster or a single catastrophic failure in a 
     State.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) and the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia 
(Ms. Norton) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin.


                             General Leave

  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the bill before us.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Wisconsin?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  H.R. 3174 is a bill with a clear and simple goal. This legislation 
allows the Department of Transportation to obligate previously 
authorized and appropriated funds for emergency relief projects without 
limitation to the amount a State can receive for a particular severe 
weather event. This bill does not increase spending and only applies to 
funds that have been previously authorized or appropriated.
  This bill is consistent with the authorizing language in MAP-21, 
which we passed with bipartisan support last summer. MAP-21 does not 
limit how much a State can receive from the emergency relief program 
for a particular severe weather event.
  This bill restores the flexibility provided in MAP-21 to the 
Department of Transportation to determine how funds that have already 
been authorized and appropriated should be spent. This bill has 
bipartisan support.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of H.R. 3174. This legislation would lift the cap 
on the Federal Highway Administration emergency relief program funds 
that occur in 2013.
  Earlier this month, Colorado experienced historic storms that 
resulted in severe flooding, landslides, and mudslides. As a result of 
these severe storms, more than 50 bridges have been damaged or 
destroyed and over 200 miles of roads in Colorado have been affected by 
the flooding.
  Initial estimates by the Colorado Department of Transportation are 
that damage to roads and bridges as a result of the storm could cost 
between $430 million and $475 million.
  To assist States in dealing with unexpected destruction of surface 
transportation infrastructure because of natural disasters or 
catastrophic failure caused by an external event, Congress created 
FHWA's emergency relief program. This program provides funding to 
States to make emergency repairs and restore Federal-aid highway 
facilities to pre-disaster conditions.
  While the ER program receives $100 million annually from the highway 
trust fund, demand for funding from this program usually exceeds this 
amount and requires supplemental appropriations from general revenues 
to address the backlog of funding requests from States.
  Earlier this year, Congress appropriated $2 billion for the ER 
program in the Hurricane Sandy relief legislation. This $2 billion 
appropriation was intended to address rebuilding highways in the wake 
of Hurricane Sandy, as well as other natural disasters across the 
Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I would note that the House had a vigorous debate about 
Hurricane Sandy during that relief bill's consideration, with many of 
my friends on the other side of the aisle actually opposing the bill, 
including the sponsor of the legislation we are debating today. 
Thankfully, a majority of the House stood with our colleagues from 
States that suffered the incredible destruction as a result of 
Hurricane Sandy.
  I would urge that we stand with our colleagues from Colorado today 
with the hope that prior opponents of such relief will see how 
important it is when it affects their own home State to understand that 
we are all in this together in this country when it comes to natural 
and catastrophic disasters.

                              {time}  1030

  Of the $2 billion provided by that legislation for highway ER 
projects as a result of Hurricane Sandy and other disasters, 
approximately $550 million remains available.
  In addition to providing additional funding for the ER program, the 
legislation also restricted the amount that a State could receive of 
these funds to no more than $100 million per incident, with a separate 
cap provided for highway repair funds for States affected by Hurricane 
Sandy.
  To address the concern that Colorado could not be fully reimbursed 
for the cost of restoring its infrastructure, which could cost more 
than $400 million, in a timely manner, H.R. 3174 eliminates the $100 
million cap on ER funds made available in the Hurricane Sandy Relief 
Act for all disasters that occur in 2013.
  This bill is consistent with changes to the ER program made in the 
most recent Surface Transportation Authorization Act, the Moving Ahead 
for Progress in the 21st Century Act, or MAP-21, which also eliminated 
the historical $100 million cap.

[[Page 14765]]

  Mr. Speaker, no State can plan for the type of destruction Colorado 
is dealing with as a result of the severe storms and flooding. That is 
why the ER program was created. That is why this House passed the 
Hurricane Sandy Relief Act and made additional highway repair funds 
available to all States that have suffered such natural disasters.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting 
H.R. 3174. Let us ensure that Colorado has the support and resources 
that it needs to rebuild its surface transportation infrastructure.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Colorado, Representative Gardner.
  Mr. GARDNER. I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin and appreciate his 
leadership on this important matter as we try to bring relief to the 
people of Colorado who have suffered as a result of the floods that 
began on September 11.
  I also thank the gentlelady from the District of Columbia for her 
leadership on this issue as well and for her support of the underlying 
measure.
  Thanks to Chairman Shuster and the Appropriations Committee as well, 
Chairman Rogers, for supporting and making sure that this legislation 
moves to the floor as expeditiously as it has.
  To the gentlelady from the District of Columbia, I would note that I 
voted for the $17 billion Hal Rogers amendment on Sandy, making sure 
that we had emergency funding through FEMA for all victims of that 
atrocious storm and disaster. But I also tried to make sure that we had 
funding for another disaster that had happened in Colorado and the 
western United States, dealing with wildfires and forest fires.
  In fact, I tried to amend the legislation with disaster assistance 
for Colorado that was rejected and was not allowed to go into the bill, 
and ultimately, I made a decision based on the fact that we were 
treating disasters differently. But it's important to know that we do 
come together for disaster assistance, to make sure that we take care 
of people who have been harmed around this country.
  On September 11, just a couple weeks ago, a flood began that 
destroyed nearly 2,000 homes and damaged over 17,000 homes. Early 
reports indicate that almost 25 percent of the buildings at the 
University of Colorado received some kind of damage.
  I have toured with other members of the Colorado congressional 
delegation--Mr. Perlmutter, Mr. Coffman, Mr. Polis, our two Senators, 
Senator Mark Udall and Senator Bennett, as well as Governor 
Hickenlooper--as we have witnessed firsthand, both on the ground and 
from the air, the devastation that has taken place.
  And for people who are rebuilding lives and rebuilding homes or 
rebuilding businesses that were lost, today this body takes a great 
step forward in providing at least one key component of certainty. And 
that certainty comes into those thoroughfares that allow them to get to 
and from school, to and from work, and farmers to get their goods to 
market.
  Our transportation system was dramatically impacted by the floods. 
There were 200 line miles of highway affected. It's as if somebody had 
made a sand castle, built it, and a wave came and washed it away, a 
crumpled-up piece of paper, destroying hundreds of miles of Colorado 
highway. Fifty bridges were wiped out.
  The Colorado Department of Transportation initially estimated that 
between $300 million and $500 million worth of damage was done to our 
highway system and has now settled on a figure closer to $475 million. 
I commend the Federal Highway Administration, who swiftly released $35 
million to help with the cost of the most immediate repairs; but there 
must be more that is done.
  And so, Mr. Speaker, I thank this body for its support of H.R. 3174, 
legislation that, with a ``yes'' vote, will not automatically lift the 
cap for other States that experience severe weather events, but allows 
the Secretary of Transportation to make that determination.
  As the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) noted, this is not a new 
appropriation. There is no new spending, but it gives flexibility to 
the Department of Transportation to make decisions that will help the 
people who have suffered in Colorado.
  And as I mentioned, the cap was also raised to $500 million for 
responses in other areas and other hurricanes--whether it's hurricanes, 
floods, or other events this country will face. We have an opportunity 
to help the people of Colorado, the people of this country get back on 
their feet. And I appreciate the support that this body has given this 
bill today.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Perlmutter).
  Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from the 
District of Columbia for yielding time to me so that I can speak about 
the catastrophe that we had in Colorado 2\1/2\ weeks ago.
  Some portions of our State received more rain in 3 days than we get 
in a year and a half, and that amounted to tremendous flooding. Some 
people say it's a 200-year flood; others say it's a 500-year flood. But 
it damaged canyons, homes, businesses, roads up and down the front 
range of Colorado.
  So our delegation has come together. There is some controversy as to 
the origins of this funding and whether or not the Republicans from 
Colorado supported this assistance for highways. That's in the past. We 
are together today because our State needs the assistance.
  I rise to ask for quick passage of H.R. 3174, which will enable 
Colorado to quickly begin the process of rebuilding our damaged 
infrastructure. Almost 19,000 homes and businesses across Colorado were 
damaged or destroyed. I had friends, neighbors, and family affected by 
this storm.
  I want to start by thanking our first responders--the police, the 
firefighters, the Colorado National Guard, the United States Army, and 
FEMA--for their heroic efforts to save lives. Individuals, volunteers, 
charities, the State, local, and Federal governments responded as one 
to help the people of the State of Colorado.
  I witnessed firsthand, with Mr. Gardner, Mr. Polis, and our Senators 
and Governor, the National Guard rescuing a stranded family. These men 
and women, without a doubt, prevented these floods from taking more 
lives.
  The damage throughout the State is catastrophic and truly 
unbelievable. I represent two counties of the nine that were declared 
major disaster areas. Now that the waters have receded, it is time to 
rebuild. At least 200 miles of State and Federal roads were damaged and 
50 bridges were either damaged or destroyed by the floods; and that 
doesn't include local, county, and city streets, roads, and bridges.
  In total, the Colorado Department of Transportation is estimating the 
damage to our State and Federal roads to be about $475 million. The 
Denver Post reported:

       The flooding that swept through Colorado is the biggest 
     catastrophe to ever strike the State's infrastructure.

  Current law restricts funds from this account to $100 million per 
State per incident. We know the damage to roads, bridges, and 
infrastructure in our State will well exceed that $100 million. I'm 
proud to be a cosponsor of H.R. 3174, with my friends in the Colorado 
delegation, to make sure Colorado has the resources needed to rebuild.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Ms. NORTON. I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.
  Mr. PERLMUTTER. I thank the gentlewoman.
  This bill does not cost a dollar. It simply allows the Secretary of 
Transportation the flexibility needed for Colorado and other 
communities impacted by severe weather events this year to rebuild our 
roads and bridges.
  I'm asking all my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 3174 and 
help us in Colorado rebuild.


[[Page 14766]]


                                                State of Colorado,


                                       Office of the Governor,

                                   Denver, CO, September 23, 2013.
     Hon. John Boehner,
     Speaker, House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
     Hon. Nancy Pelosi,
     Minority Leader, House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
     Hon. Harry Reid,
     Majority Leader, Senate,
     Washington, DC.
     Hon. Mitch McConnell,
     Minority Leader, Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Speaker Boehner, Majority Leader Reid, Minority Leader 
     Pelosi, and Minority Leader McConnell: As you may know, this 
     month massive rains and heavy flooding left over a dozen 
     Colorado counties in devastation. With the rains, highways, 
     bridges, and culverts were washed away. As a result, even now 
     many communities still are cut off and isolated from the rest 
     of the state. Colorado is in dire need of help.
       Communities across Colorado's Front Range and Eastern 
     Plains are starting to deal with aftermath of the flooding 
     and destruction. The affected counties include Boulder, 
     Adams, Larimer, Weld, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Clear Creek, 
     Denver, El Paso, Fremont, Jefferson, Logan, Morgan, Pueblo, 
     and Washington--an area so expansive, that it surpasses that 
     of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Rhode Island combined. 
     Early analyses show that the flooding was so severe that it 
     may not occur again for 500 to 1,000 years.
       Thousands of Colorado families are without homes, potable 
     water, or power. Before the state can fully restore essential 
     services to impacted towns and cities, and allow residents to 
     permanently return home, we must repair our devastated 
     highway system. Early estimates are that at least 50 bridges 
     will need significant repair--30 of which must be fully 
     replaced. Approximately 200 highway lane miles must be 
     reconstructed. Temporary crossing structures are needed in 
     the interim. And, today, numerous state highways and local 
     roads remain closed, cutting off primary, and in some cases 
     the only, access to Colorado cities and towns. Assessing the 
     damage to Colorado's highway system is underway. But early 
     assessments are that the damage will be several hundred 
     million dollars.
       Under the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013, 
     Public Law 113-2, the U.S. Federal Highways Administration 
     (FHWA) Emergency Relief Program (ERP), received over $2.02 
     billion to help states rebuild and repair damages to their 
     highways and bridges. In this bill, states impacted by 
     Hurricane Sandy could receive up to $500 million per disaster 
     in ERP funds; however, all remaining states--including 
     Colorado--were capped at $100 million per disaster.
       Given the widespread devastation to our state highway 
     system, we are respectfully asking that Congress raise this 
     $100 million cap for Colorado as well. As the Colorado 
     congressional delegation stated in a letter to the House and 
     Senate Appropriations Committees, there are precedents for 
     waiving or raising this cap. For example, the $100 million 
     was waived in response to damage caused by Hurricanes Gustav 
     and Ike, and Hurricane Irene and the Missouri River basin 
     flooding. Recently, the cap was raised to $500 million for 
     those states devastated by Hurricane Sandy.
       Based on Colorado's anticipated highway needs and the 
     precedents mentioned above, we ask that you raise this cap 
     for Colorado. Time and again, Congress has answered the call 
     to help communities during times of disaster and loss. The 
     September 2013 floods may prove to be the worst natural 
     disaster in the history of our state, and is likely the worst 
     we shall ever see in our lifetimes. Before we rebuild our 
     homes and businesses, we must rebuild our roads to reopen our 
     communities. On behalf of all Coloradans, please raise this 
     cap to $500 million, so that we may begin this process.
           Sincerely,
                                                John Hickenlooper,
     Governor.
                                  ____

                                                State of Colorado,


                                 Department of Transportation,

                                   Denver, CO, September 25, 2013.
     Hon. John Boehner,
     Speaker, House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
     Hon. Nancy Pelosi,
     Minority Leader, House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
     Hon. Harry Reid,
     Majority Leader, U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
     Hon. Mitch McConnell,
     Minority Leader, U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Speaker Boehner, Majority Leader Reid, Minority Leader 
     Pelosi, and Minority Leader McConnell: As you know, this week 
     Colorado begins the process of rebuilding. Over a dozen 
     Colorado counties were devastated due to record-setting rains 
     and heavy flooding. Today, thousands of our neighbors are 
     without homes, power, or drinking water. For us to begin the 
     rebuilding process, we must repair our roads, bridges, and 
     culverts that were swept away by the floodwaters. We need the 
     help of Congress to begin this process.
       Multiple counties received over a foot of rain, which 
     turned to floodwater. Those floodwaters destroyed many 
     critical transportation connectors throughout our state. This 
     week, the waters are receding and the Colorado Department of 
     Transportation (CDOT) has begun to assess the damage. At this 
     time, we have identified a number of bridges in need of 
     significant repairs or replacement, and approximately 200 
     state highway lane miles that washed away. In the interim, 
     CDOT is working with the National Guard to restore access to 
     communities severed from the rest of the state. This includes 
     installing temporary crossing structures and gravel roads.
       Although cost estimates will certainly change as we 
     continue to inspect our infrastructure, CDOT's early estimate 
     indicates that approximately $475 million is needed to 
     rebuild our highway system. This estimate includes materials, 
     maintenance, reconstruction, and contracting costs. Last 
     week, the Colorado Transportation Commission directed over 
     $100 million--CDOT's entire contingency funding line--to 
     begin reconnecting critical roadways and communities. The 
     Federal Highways Administration (FHWA) also acted swiftly to 
     release $35 million in emergency funds. While these 
     contributions provide critical initial repair funds, CDOT has 
     already secured 19 contractors and have dedicated the 
     advanced funding from the FHWA. It is clear that existing 
     resources are inadequate to fix highway damage of this 
     magnitude. Furthermore, CDOT's $475 million estimate does not 
     include costs to rebuild destroyed city and county roads that 
     are also eligible for FHWA emergency funds.
       Approximately $1 billion is available from the FHWA 
     Emergency Relief Program. States rely on this program in 
     times of crisis and disaster to provide needed funding to 
     repair federal aid highways. Unfortunately, although adequate 
     funds are available, under the Disaster Relief Appropriations 
     Act of 2013, Colorado may receive no more than $100 million 
     in program relief. This is a significant hurdle for Colorado 
     as we anticipate damages to exceed this limit by four times 
     or more. In recent years, Congress raised the $100 million 
     cap for the most severe disasters. For example, the cap was 
     raised by Congress to $500 million for those states 
     devastated by Hurricane Sandy. And, for Hurricanes Gustav and 
     Ike, the cap was waived entirely for affected states. This 
     flood was of a magnitude that Colorado will likely never see 
     again and the total devastation will easily surpass several 
     billion dollars. For this reason, we urgently need help from 
     Congress.
       I join Governor John Hickenlooper and the Colorado 
     congressional delegation in asking for your leadership in 
     raising the program limit to $500 million for Colorado. 
     Before Coloradans can begin rebuilding their homes and lives, 
     we must rebuild the roads to their communities. Increasing 
     this cap swiftly is of the utmost importance so that we may 
     restore Colorado's transportation network. Please contact 
     Kurt Morrison or me should you have questions. Thank you.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Donald E. Hunt,
                                               Executive Director.

  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Colorado, Representative Coffman.
  Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin for 
his leadership, as well as our own Congressman Cory Gardner from the 
State of Colorado whose district was very significantly impacted by 
this.
  I had the opportunity last Monday to go up with the Vice President, 
the Governor of the State of Colorado, Congressman Jared Polis, and 
Congressman Cory Gardner, whose districts were both severely impacted 
by the flooding, to see that damage. And it was extraordinary how 
much--certainly the houses were lost, and we mourn for the people that 
were lost--but the road damage was extraordinary. There were miles and 
miles of roads that we saw with whole sections missing.
  So this legislation, H.R. 3174, is vital to the State of Colorado to 
get those roads back to where they're usable and so that, in fact, our 
residents in those affected areas can get to and from their homes and 
their businesses.
  Ms. NORTON. I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. 
DeGette).
  Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlelady for yielding.
  As you can tell, not just from what everybody from our congressional 
delegation has said but also from the many, many news reports that 
we've seen in the last week, this flood really was one of the worst 
floods in Colorado's history.
  I'm a fourth-generation Coloradan, and I remember some of the 
previous floods: the flood in 1965 when I was a

[[Page 14767]]

little girl. In the terrible Platte River flood that flooded Cherry 
Creek and the Platte, my home was right by there, and we had flood 
damage. And then, of course, the tragic Big Thompson flood where many, 
many people were killed. This is what happens to us in the West 
sometimes.
  Colorado's recent flood is so dramatic that it really was a 500-year 
flood, or worse. And we feel terrible for the eight Coloradans who have 
died. Many are still unaccounted for, and we pray for all of them that 
they may be safe and that their homes may be preserved by the time the 
snow flies, which is any minute now.
  On September 15, President Obama issued a major disaster declaration 
for Colorado, ordering Federal aid to supplement State and local 
recovery efforts.
  You just cannot overstate the scope of this damage. As you heard from 
the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Perlmutter), Mr. Gardner's and Mr. 
Polis' congressional districts were severely impacted by this; but all 
the rest of us were severely impacted in our districts, too.
  Boulder had over 16 inches of rain in the course of 5 days. 
Communities in El Paso, Fremont, Jefferson, Logan, Morgan, Pueblo, 
Washington, Adams, Larimer, Weld, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Clear Creek, 
and Denver were all impacted by this. It really was a State issue. 
Residents have lost their homes. Businesses have been devastated. 
Communities have been destroyed. Our friends, relatives, and neighbors 
still are without power. Many of them can't drink their water.

                              {time}  1045

  And as you've heard from all of my colleagues, the devastation goes 
everywhere, from mountain highways to agricultural properties on the 
plains.
  Over 50 bridges have been damaged or destroyed, and over 200 miles of 
Colorado roads have been impacted by the flooding. In the mountain 
areas, what happens is the roads go along the creeks; so when the 
creeks turn into raging rivers from this terrible rainfall, then the 
roads are completely wiped out and the mountain communities are 
isolated.
  As you've heard from my colleagues, the funds for the Emergency 
Relief program under the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 are 
restricted to $100 million per State per incident, unless the funds are 
being used to repair damage caused by Hurricane Sandy.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
  Ms. NORTON. I'm pleased to yield an additional 1 minute to the 
gentlewoman from Colorado.
  Ms. DeGETTE. If we remove the cap on the Federal Highway 
Administration Emergency Relief funds, Colorado can get the assistance 
and relief we need to rebuild. And since this does not authorize new 
appropriations, is not an earmark, the budget score is zero.
  So I really respectfully request that we all come together and vote 
for this legislation. It's much needed.
  And by the way, this is a good example, Mr. Speaker, of how, if 
Congress really wants to put its mind together to work on something, we 
can do it in a civil and efficient and speedy way. This is a thought we 
should keep in mind as the week progresses in front of us.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn).
  Mr. LAMBORN. I appreciate the recognition.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of a bill introduced by my 
Colorado colleague, Cory Gardner, to help Colorado rebuild from the 
floods that have ravaged our State in recent weeks.
  The flooding damaged at least 17,000 homes and other structures, 
several thousand of which were destroyed outright. Millions of dollars 
of public infrastructure have been washed away. Specifically, over 200 
miles of Colorado roads, and at least 50 bridges, have been damaged or 
destroyed. The floods consumed an area of Colorado that is twice the 
size of Rhode Island.
  Currently, the law caps emergency funding for highways and bridges at 
$100 million per State. According to a preliminary estimate from the 
Colorado Department of Transportation, the cost to rebuild our State's 
roads and bridges is several times that amount.
  We are not asking Congress to appropriate any additional funds. We 
are simply asking that we be able to access money that Congress has 
already appropriated for reconstruction after a natural disaster. This 
legislation has a Congressional Budget Office score of zero, meaning it 
does not add a dime to our national debt.
  The flooding was worse in the northern part of the State, but there 
were heavy rains and flooding even in the southern part of the State, 
which I represent, and two people, unfortunately, were swept away and 
lost their lives.
  I do thank my colleagues for their consideration of this bill to help 
the great State of Colorado to rebuild.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, this House should be proud to stand with 
Colorado. Anyone who saw the State seeming to be washed away and floods 
the likes of which I've never seen in my life would have her heart go 
out to the residents of the State.
  Mr. Speaker, also I know that last week there was a United Nations 
report that found that, when they surveyed scientists from throughout 
the world, there was a 95 percent agreement, a 95 percent certainty 
that climate change is having its effects right now. That is a very 
high percentage for scientists to give to any issue. We know that a 
combination of factors produced these thousand-year floods, whatever 
you want to attach to them, in Colorado. But they certainly were aided 
and abetted by climate changes.
  This House needs to take climate change seriously. As difficult as it 
is, we're going to see more and more catastrophes like this and, as 
usual, they will be in places we never expected them. In places where 
there are not tornados, we will see tornados. In places where there 
have not been floods, that is what we have seen in just the last few 
years.
  So I certainly am pleased, and I'm sure every Member of this House 
will be pleased, to stand with the residents of Colorado as they try to 
recover from this flood which has devastated so many of their citizens.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all Members to support this bill, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3174 makes funds already 
appropriated to the Emergency Highway Relief program available for 
response to the devastating floods in Colorado this summer. Critically, 
the bill accomplishes this without providing additional budget 
authority on net, or increasing the deficit over 10 years.
  Under our budget rules, discretionary appropriations that the 
Congress designates as an emergency are not subject to budget limits 
and do not have to be offset with other spending reductions. To ensure 
emergency appropriations are only devoted to emergency requirements, 
our budget rules do not allow emergency funds to be used as an offset 
for non-emergency purposes. If this were allowed, it would provide a 
backdoor means of allowing funds for non-emergency purposes to escape 
budget limits.
  This legislation is attempting to make available funding for flooding 
in Colorado using funds already appropriated and designated as an 
emergency by Congress. However, this bill is not an appropriations 
measure. From a budget scorekeeping standpoint the effect of the bill 
is to decrease emergency discretionary budget authority and increase 
non-emergency mandatory budget authority. If this bill instead amended 
the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 (P.L. 113-2) and 
designated the funding for Colorado floods as an emergency, then the 
purposes of this bill would be accomplished without any scored increase 
in budget authority. Because there is no effective process for 
designating mandatory spending as an emergency, the non-emergency 
mandatory budget authority increase in this bill cannot be offset by 
the decrease in emergency discretionary budget authority.
  In the end, this bill intends to meet new emergency needs making use 
of existing emergency funds. For that reason, I am going to support 
this legislation. However, I do not view this as a precedent and will 
not view a reduction in emergency spending as an appropriate offset for 
non-emergency funding.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by

[[Page 14768]]

the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3174.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________