Faa Reauthorization Act of 2018

Floor Speech

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Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

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Ms. VELAZQUEZ. I am opposed, in its current form.

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Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill, which will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. If adopted, the bill will immediately proceed to final passage, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, 2017 was a year of historic disasters. We saw category 5 hurricanes, devastating floods, and wildfires that covered hundreds of miles. For the towns and communities in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Louisiana, California, Texas, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, they continue to struggle with what once would have been considered a once-in-a-lifetime disaster.

My motion will help these communities right now. It will do so by waiving the local matching requirements for FEMA assistance for those affected by Irma, Harvey, Maria, and the wildfires out west. This is critical because many States like Florida and Georgia did not have dedicated disaster funds set aside to pay for such requirements. The result is that these disasters will require States to dip into their operating budgets, meaning less money for roads, business investment, healthcare, and schools.

In addition, many communities hit by these disasters are struggling financially as businesses close, homes are rebuilt, and many individuals leave for good. This reshuffling of economic fortunes creates massive financial stress. It is in our power to help these towns and cities, whether they are in Georgia, Florida, Texas, Louisiana, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or Puerto Rico.

Take Port Aransas, just outside Corpus Christi. It used to have 4,000 residents but now only has 3,000, a decline of 25 percent. Its hotels should be packed with college students on spring break, but 33 percent are vacant. Why? Because they are still rebuilding, struggling to be ready for what should be the most financially important part of this season.

These areas and places like Galveston, Texas; Lake Charles, Louisiana; or Isle of Palms in South Carolina must come up with millions of dollars if they want to access FEMA assistance. And out west, entire communities are still reeling from wildfires: towns like Lake Perris, Kettleman City, Orosi, and Corona.

People's lives, Mr. Speaker, have been turned upside down, and communities, cities, and States are under massive budget pressure to rebuild. The least we can do is provide relief from these massive, unforeseen costs.

This motion to recommit will boost assistance for areas still struggling to rebuild. It will take stress off municipal and State budgets, recognizing that massive disasters like these cannot simply be absorbed by small fishing towns and rural areas.

If you vote ``no,'' you are voting against these small communities; you are voting against the people who live in Texas, Florida, California, Georgia, South Carolina, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. I urge you to stand with them and vote ``yes'' on the motion to recommit.
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Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

A recorded vote was ordered.

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