Devastation in Vermont

Floor Speech

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Ms. BALINT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart. Vermont has experienced so much devastation over the last 2 weeks.

The images have been shocking. Our capital city is completely under water, small businesses across the State destroyed, homes and rental units totally gutted, and thousands and thousands of acres of cropland decimated.

Seeing my State under water makes it clearer than ever that climate change isn't coming. It is here.

Disasters like this bring up so much trauma for many of us who lived through Hurricane Irene. I want Vermonters to know that we, your congressional delegation, will be there as long as it takes to recover, but we have a very long road ahead.

With the support of our friends and neighbors, we will get through this together. That is what I have seen as I have traveled around Vermont visiting communities--Vermonters pitching in and helping one another.

We cannot accept what we have seen in Vermont over the last week as the new normal. We must continue to fight for climate action and climate resiliency to keep Vermont the Green Mountain State that we know and love.

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