DeLauro Statement on Sandy Disaster Relief Appropriations Act

Bill Before House Would Provide $50.4 Billion forSandy Victims

WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) today urgedher colleagues in the House of Representatives to pass the Hurricane Sandydisaster relief legislation before them. Today's vote is on the second part ofa bill that Republican leaders abruptly yanked from the House floor two weeksago. That unnecessary delay has slowed down the process of getting aid topeople whose lives were torn apart by the storm.

DeLauro has repeatedly urged her Republican colleagues tobring this disaster funding up for a vote and get aid to Sandy victims, just asCongress did for victims of Hurricanes Ike, Katrina, Gustav and Irene beforethem.

The following remarks are as prepared for delivery:

"I rise to express my strong support for this long-overdue,this much-needed $51 billion in disaster relief. Sandy was one of themost severe storms to hit Connecticut in our history. We are asking, weare pleading, when we should not have to beg--for money for the northeast to beable to survive this tragedy.

"We need to make available the disaster aid that families inthe Northeast need to recover and repair from Superstorm Sandy, just as we havein the past for other disasters across the country. This is one of the centralresponsibilities of this institution – to act on behalf of the American peopleafter a natural disaster.

"I hope we make sure that all of the states affected by thisstorm are eligible to receive Community Development Block Grant funding andother vital aid, so places like Milford, which saw hundreds of homes wiped outby the storm, can fully recover.

"I also urge the defeat of an amendment that cuts fundingfor rebuilding seawalls and research buildings at the Stewart McKinney NationalWildlife Refuge in Connecticut.

"The families affected by Sandy are in their hour of need,and they have already waited far too long for this institution to act. I urgeall of my colleagues to support this disaster aid funding and to help theNortheast rebuild."