{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/approps-vice-chairman-leahy-statement-on-emergency-supplemental-appropriations-for-recent-disasters", "Approps Vice Chairman Leahy Statement On Emergency Supplemental Appropriations For Recent Disasters", "2017-10-23", "2017", "2017-10", "Democrat", "House", "VT", "Patrick Leahy", "L000174", "www.leahy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "10.23.17\n\t\t\t Approps Vice Chairman Leahy Statement On Emergency Supplemental Appropriations For Recent Disasters \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tNo one in this chamber is immune from disaster.\u00a0 Six years ago, Marcelle and I watched with great alarm as communities around Vermont felt the devastating impact of Tropical Storm Irene.\u00a0 That storm washed away entire communities in our state, tearing down homes, local landmarks and bridges alike.\u00a0\r\nRepublicans and Democrats in the Senate, from across the country, stood by Vermont\u2019s side then to help us rebuild.\u00a0 Because that is who we are as Americans.\u00a0 We lift each other up in times of disaster.\u00a0\r\nToday, in California and across the West, families are returning to the charred ruins of their homes. \u00a0In Florida and Texas communities are trying to put their lives back together after Hurricane Harvey and Irma. And in Puerto Rico, hundreds of thousands are still without potable water, electricity, cell service, or adequate medical supplies following Hurricane Maria.\u00a0 Millions of Americans need us to work together to help lift them up.\u00a0\r\nThat is why it is so disappointing that President Trump seems more concerned with claiming credit for a job well done than the actual situation on the ground, particularly in Puerto Rico.\u00a0 President Trump has given himself a \u201c10 out of 10\u201d for the Administration\u2019s response to the devastating hurricane, but let\u2019s look at some numbers that really matter.\u00a0\u00a0\r\nIt has been 48 days since Hurricane Irma made landfall in Puerto Rico, and 34 days since Hurricane Maria tore through the island. These storms wreaked havoc on those who live there, destroying houses, and killing at least 49 people.\u00a0 Yet 48 days later nearly 80 percent of the island is still without power, and over 30 percent of the population is without clean drinking water.\u00a0 Roads are impassable.\u00a0 Bridges are down.\u00a0 Hospitals operate on generators.\u00a0\r\nThe Administration was slow to respond to the disaster, and to claim that they get a \u201c10 out of 10\u201d for their response is to ignore the facts.\u00a0 This is not a reality TV show where the participant with the highest score advances to the next round.\u00a0 These are people\u2019s lives.\u00a0 These are people\u2019s homes.\u00a0 This is the hard part of governing.\u00a0 This is where we roll up our sleeves and dig in for the long haul.\u00a0\r\nToday we will vote to advance a disaster package containing $36.5 billion in additional emergency relief.\u00a0 The bill includes $18.7 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund, $16.0 billion for National Flood Insurance Program debt forgiveness, $1.2 billion for nutrition assistance, and $576.5 million to address wildfires in the Western United States.\u00a0\u00a0\r\nAs Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, I support this bill and urge my colleagues to do the same.\u00a0 If we do not act, the Disaster Relief Fund and the Flood Insurance Program will run out of resources in a matter of days.\u00a0 This money will allow FEMA, the Department of Defense, the Army Corps of Engineers, and other agencies to continue their work in all of the devastated communities, and families to begin rebuilding their homes.\u00a0\u00a0\r\nBut this is still just the next step on the path to recovery.\u00a0\r\nLast week I met with the Governor of Puerto Rico, Ricardo Rossell\u00f3.\u00a0 He detailed the unique challenges facing Puerto Rico.\u00a0 The electric grid was almost completely destroyed.\u00a0 Its infrastructure was demolished.\u00a0 Houses were flattened.\u00a0 At the same time, Puerto Rico faces a fiscal situation that will make it nearly impossible for it to provide the federal match required for most disaster assistance programs, and it faces a Medicaid funding crisis that may leave nearly one million people without health care in just a matter of months.\u00a0\r\nOur response cannot be business as usual.\u00a0 Going forward we need to tailor disaster assistance to meet Puerto Rico\u2019s unique challenges.\u00a0 We may need to consider legislation to address its unique needs.\u00a0 And, most importantly, we need to think long term.\u00a0 To simply replace and repair what was destroyed would be short-sighted.\u00a0\r\nWe must help Puerto Rico recover and rebuild to be more resilient and better prepared.\u00a0 We should invest in the 3.4 million U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico and their infrastructure so the next disaster is not a humanitarian crisis.\u00a0\r\nThis opportunity is not unique to Puerto Rico.\u00a0 We must acknowledge that historic storms are now annual occurrences, and we must respond accordingly.\u00a0 Across the country, from the wildfires in California to the flood damage in Florida, Texas, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, we can invest in technology, conservation and infrastructure that will mitigate further damage and make our communities more resilient.\u00a0\r\nThis will require a commitment from the United States Government that is not measured in days, or weeks or months, but in years.\u00a0 A commitment that does not waiver, and a commitment that does not depend on whether you live in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands.\u00a0\r\nToday, I urge all Senators to support this emergency supplemental that will provide much needed assistance to disasters across the country.\u00a0 But this is still just the next step on the path to recovery.\u00a0\r\nThe Trump Administration has committed to putting forward a third, more comprehensive disaster package in the coming weeks.\u00a0 As Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I intend to hold the Administration to that commitment.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t Press Contact \n\t\t\t\tDavid Carle: 202-224-3693", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/approps-vice-chairman-leahy-statement-on-emergency-supplemental-appropriations-for-recent-disasters"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.669753808528185, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}