Disaster Relief And Summer Jobs Act Of 2010

Floor Speech

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Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, as Chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency, Communications, Preparedness, and Response, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4899, the Disaster Relief and Summer Jobs Act of 2010. I support this legislation because it will help local communities, small businesses, and our Nation's youth. This is the kind of legislation we need to lift us out of this economic downturn and deal with the unprecedented disasters that our Nation has faced these past few months.

I would like to acknowledge Speaker PELOSI and Chairman Obey for their leadership in bringing this important bill to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, the Disaster Relief and Summer Jobs Act of 2010 is a $5.1 billion disaster aid package that will help communities rebuild their homes, infrastructure and local economies and to take steps to protect them from future disasters. In addition, H.R. 4899 also provides fully offset funding to expand this summer's youth jobs program and continue assistance to America's small businesses.

In my home State of California, youth unemployment has hit over 25 percent. The funding provided by H.R. 4899 will allow local Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) to expand successful summer jobs programs that were funded in the Recovery Act. California is also no stranger to natural disasters, such as wildfires and mudslides. H.R. 4899 provides $5.1 billion to ensure that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) can continue its work helping communities recover from recent disasters and to ensure that they have resources to respond to future disasters.

In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I support this bill because it will provide funding to the communities and populations that need the most assistance in both disaster relief and job training. I would also like to note that this bill is fully paid for because it rescinds emergency funding that is not needed this year, including $44 million provided for Cash for Clunkers and $103 million provided for agriculture disasters, that is no longer needed for those disasters.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 4899.

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