[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 14397]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            COLORADO FLOODS

  (Mr. GARDNER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. GARDNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in observation of the 1-year 
anniversary of the horrific floods that hit the State of Colorado 1 
year ago.
  Starting on September 11, floods ravaged communities and wiped away 
homes, schools, and businesses. The widespread damage was unlike 
anything I have seen in my lifetime in Colorado.
  As the flooding was happening and in the immediate aftermath, I 
joined neighbors and leaders to survey many of the damaged areas. We 
worked together to make sure that we provided the much-needed relief.
  In west Longmont, I saw railroad tracks ripped and tangled. I saw 
vehicles lying upside down and garages filled with mud. I also saw 
people working in the spirit of community, striving to recover, helping 
each other.
  I couldn't possibly name all of the heroes involved in the flood 
response and recovery, but I would like to recognize a few:
  St. Vrain and Left Hand Water Conservancy District Director Sean 
Cronin has provided invaluable resources to water districts and ditch 
companies to help them provide water to communities for agriculture;
  John Zadel and Stan Linker of the Central Weld County Water District 
worked to get water systems for small communities like Frederick and 
Firestone back in operation;
  Local fire districts like Mountain View, Hygiene, Johnstown, and 
others were on the front lines of flood response.
  In the year since the disaster, we have made tremendous progress, but 
there is a lot more work to be done. Communities in Weld, Morgan, and 
Logan continue their work today.
  With the great resilience of the people of this State, I have no 
doubt we will come back stronger than ever and continue working 
together for the good of our great State.

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