Grappling with Horrible Devastation

Floor Speech

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Ms. BALINT. Mr. Speaker, as families in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas grapple with horrible devastation, loss of homes, community, loss of life and livelihoods, I am disgusted to hear that Republican leadership--Speaker Johnson--is planning to use this tragedy for political gain and withhold aid from California.

Americans are evacuating their homes, watching their communities burn, and the Speaker and Trump and some of my Republican colleagues in Congress want to punish Americans for not voting their way in November? This is morally bankrupt.

Californians obviously need this help now. I am standing up here because I am a Vermonter who just endured two horrible summers of devastating floods. I know what it feels like to go house to house and talk to people who have lost everything.

I remember talking to one man who had lost his home and his livelihood and was out of his home. He said to me: I didn't vote for you. I said: It doesn't matter that you didn't vote for me. I am still showing up for you.

We need to show up for all Americans, regardless of political party.

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