Calling for Vote on Disaster Funding
Floor Speech
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. BACON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to advocate in support of a disaster assistance package for recent floods, storms, fires, and others. Last month, my district and home State of Nebraska was hit by devastating flooding, destroying more than 2,000 homes, 340 businesses, and taking several lives, making it the worst natural disaster to hit the State in our 152-year history.
Many families and communities in my district have been severely impacted. For several days in March, the only way in and out of Valley and Waterloo, two towns in our district, was either by boat or helicopter. Next door to our district, one-third of Offutt Air Force Base was under water to include 60 structures.
The economic impact has also been severe and will hurt the State of Nebraska for years to come. Current estimates reveal that the cost of the damage will surpass $1.3 billion to $1.4 billion. This includes $449 million in damaged roads, levees, and other infrastructure.
Currently, 200 miles of Nebraska roads are in need of repair. What once was a short drive of minutes, in some cases may take hours, disrupting everyday commerce and travel.
The Nebraska Department of Agriculture estimates that the March floods will have $400 million in losses for livestock, $36 million in livestock feed loss, and $440 million worth of potential crop loss from delayed and prevented planting. Nebraskans are a strong and resilient people, but they need to know that we are with them and will help them through these difficult times.
While Nebraska has been experiencing these horrible floods, I take solace in our first responders and National Guard. I cannot thank these brave men and women enough for helping so many in our community. In many small communities across Nebraska, first responders are only volunteer, often rushing out to help others while their own homes were in peril. These heroes selflessly saved countless lives and property.
I want to give a shout-out to the Waterloo Fire Department volunteers; they rescued nearly 200 people as volunteers over the course of a week. I think of the Salvation Army leader who ran the collection center, working countless hours while his own home was underwater.
In these trying times, I urge my colleagues to put politics aside and come together to help Nebraskans and other Americans hurting from these natural disasters that have occurred over the past year. We are Nebraska strong. We do need that Federal support.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Source