Formatting necessary for an accurate reading of this text may be shown by tags (e.g., <DELETED> or <BOLD>) or may be missing from this TXT display. For complete and accurate display of this text, see the PDF.
[Pages S3066-S3067]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DISASTER RELIEF
Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, there is a lot of partisan squabbling
that goes on around here. We all know that. Some of it is to be
expected. After all, our parties have real disagreements about policy
and the direction in which we think the country should go.
But there are a few issues that are too important to get caught up in
the typical partisan back-and-forth--a few fundamental responsibilities
that we must fulfill as a governing body.
One of those responsibilities where there has always been bipartisan
agreement has been disaster relief. Hurricanes, fires, and floods don't
hit only Republicans or only Democrats. They hit Americans of all
stripes. We must come together to provide relief for everybody.
After holding up disaster relief on behalf of the President, who
demanded we shortchange Puerto Rico, Republicans finally came around a
few weeks ago and agreed with a disaster relief bill that would provide
relief to everyone.
Let me repeat. We have an agreement right now on where and how to
provide relief for Americans in the Midwest, in the South, in the West,
and in the Territories. Chairman Shelby and Vice Chairman Leahy have
worked in good faith to reach that compromise. The House will accept
it. Chairman Lowey and Ranking Member Granger also have agreed to this
disaster relief package. So there is a package of disaster relief that
is ready to go.
Unfortunately, that agreement has become entangled with extraneous
issues. However important these other issues may be, we have an
obligation to get this disaster relief package over the finish line
before the congressional Memorial Day work period.
Ranking Member Leahy and I would like to make it clear to my friend
the
[[Page S3067]]
Republican leader that Senate Democrats are ready to pass the
bipartisan disaster relief package that has already been agreed to and
written.
We should leave out extraneous issues. There are many. Everyone wants
to put in their own thing. Leave them for another day.
Democrats are willing to work hard to expedite consideration of that
agreement. We are ready to work with our Republican colleagues to pass
it as quickly as possible.
I understand that there is some discussion going on in the House, but
if we can't come to an agreement this morning on the extraneous issues
that the House is discussing, we should set those issues to the side.
We should pass the disaster agreement as is and return to those
unrelated issues at a later date. The people of the Midwest, of the
South, of the West, and of the Territories have waited long enough.
They have waited long enough.
There are millions of Americans still recovering from having their
homes destroyed, their crops devastated, their property burnt. They
have waited for relief for too long already. They are clamoring for it.
They have said to Congress: Put aside your differences and get
something done. The plan that I outlined will do just that--put aside
the differences and get something done.
Whether it is the President or Members of the House or Senate--
Democrat or Republican--who want to add extraneous issues, step aside
at least for this time. Let's get it done. Let's not delay any longer.
____________________
