[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 17251]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     FEMA AID FOR WESTERN NEW YORK

  (Mr. HIGGINS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, when a natural disaster strikes, the damage 
and cleanup costs often far exceed the local government's ability to 
respond and to rebuild.
  Americans take comfort in the knowledge that the Federal Government 
will aid in the response by providing assistance to mitigate the often 
massive costs of natural disasters.
  The recent record-breaking snowstorm in western New York reminded the 
Nation that Buffalonians are resilient and generous people. That was on 
display during the storm and its aftermath with so many instances of 
neighbors helping neighbors.
  The storm also left my community with significant expenses in terms 
of the emergency response and structures that collapsed under the 
weight of the snow. That is why I have joined the western New York 
delegation to urge FEMA to act quickly to certify the disaster and 
disburse assistance.
  Western New Yorkers are the first to volunteer to aid other 
communities in need. Now we must ensure a helping hand is there for 
them when they are in need.

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