September 15, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 159 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session
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Hurricane Laura (Executive Calendar); Congressional Record Vol. 166, No. 159
(Senate - September 15, 2020)
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[Pages S5592-S5593] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] Hurricane Laura Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. President, at the forbearance of my colleagues, if I can interpolate, if you will, and I will yield back. Thank you very much. As I speak, Hurricane Sally threatens the gulf coast, including parts of Louisiana. Our prayers are with those in the path of Sally. I just spoke with the Coast Guard admiral in charge, and the Coast Guard is ready should there be a need. But in the concern over Sally and other issues, we must remember the aftermath of Hurricane Laura, which made landfall August 27 in Cameron, LA, as a category 4-5 hurricane. In terms of wind speed, this is 150 miles an hour. A more powerful storm in that regard is Katrina, Rita, Gustav, Ike, and others. As you might imagine, a storm of such magnitude left death, destruction, and pain from Southwest Louisiana into Texas to North Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi. There were 25 people who died directly or indirectly because of Hurricane Laura, and hundreds of thousands of lives have been upended. As one example--one measure--as of yesterday, 145,000 people in Louisiana have filed for assistance with FEMA. That is expected to grow to roughly 2,800 people a day applying for assistance. Now, the sentiment at home is if you are without electricity, as 97 percent of Cameron Parish goes without electricity, and you are without internet, as most people are, the fear is that [[Page S5593]] folks have forgotten about Hurricane Laura, that recovery efforts will be stalled, and things will be ignored as attention turns to other issues--COVID-19, Presidential race, et cetera. And, anecdotally, there is, of course, evidence that public opinion has slipped. Last week, I spoke with Gail McGovern, the president of the American Red Cross, who told me that donations are lagging well below that which the Red Cross had hoped to receive to cover the cost of their response. She assured me, though, that the Red Cross would still do everything needed. I saw testimony of that, by the way. I flew from Louisiana to Washington, DC, yesterday, and the jet was full of Red Cross volunteers. We are so appreciative. I assure folks back home, just to say, that I did get a call from President Trump just as the hurricane hit. He assured me that whatever resources were needed, he would make sure they were there. As I told folks in Louisiana, there was an audience of one paying attention, a very important audience, and that is the President. In this speech, I hope to continue to bring this hurricane and its aftermath to the attention of other fellow Americans because fellow Americans take care of ourselves and take care of each other. So I am here to be a voice for the people of Louisiana and share a story so that you may know what we are facing at home. Again, I am appreciative of the United Way, American Red Cross, President Trump, and others for swiftly doing all they can do to help us through this recovery, but let's tell the story. Here is a wonderful story from Lake Arthur, LA. She probably doesn't like the fact that I am showing this. She didn't like how she looked. I think she looks fantastic. This is Bethel Boudreaux, a great American patriot and a great Louisiana name. If you look at this picture, there is a tree that has fallen over the guy's house. There is a fellow in the tree cutting down limbs that is on top of his house. Here she is with a tree behind her and all the debris associated with it holding up an American flag. Now, her concern was that if we showed this picture, we recognize that her husband, a veteran, is familiar with how damaged flags should be destroyed, but this had been fluttering during the hurricane, and she just wanted to show it. She has got a smile. This is 1 or 2 days after this devastating hurricane. With all this, in the spirit of Americans, she is holding that flag, and she is smiling. She is a great American patriot, but it also shows the attitude of Americans and the attitudes of people in Louisiana. We are resilient in the face of adversity. There is more than enough adversity to go around. Let me just give you a couple of stories that are on our Facebook page. Mike Williams from Lake Charles gave our office a tour of his home. His metal roof was completely ripped off. Water came all through his house. The ceiling is falling in, and every single room has extensive water damage. There is 20-year-old Hannah Vinson, who shared that her childhood home was gone. The roof collapsed, flooded, and a tree fell in her mother's bedroom and all across their yard. She has this semester off from school because of lack of access and expenses she cannot cover, even though she works. She told us: It's overwhelming. People say why even go back when your school is destroyed? I start a new career, and that has to come to an end because where I work is gone now. There are thousands more stories like theirs. But amid the devastation, there is hope. I am inspired by those who rushed to help however they could. The Cajun Navy is an organization of volunteers who respond to disasters. They deployed immediately and continue to help today, delivering thousands of meals, clearing debris, helping people meet energy needs, and assisting where they can. I recently went to Central Louisiana to hand out supplies and meet with storm victims and volunteers. I met a woman named Mandy in Hineston. Mandy has been loading up trailers of donated groceries. She takes them to the rural parts of the State, where folks can't access critical supplies in Central and Western Louisiana. This is a critical service because folks on the back roads couldn't get out, and there was a gas shortage in some storm-affected areas. While I do believe Hurricane Laura recovery needs more attention nationally, I am so thankful for the thousands of workers who came to rebuild the electrical grid, as well as individuals and churches and nonprofits who came to help. There is a Facebook video from YAIPaks--a nonprofit organization in Clarksville, TN--who came down to Lake Charles with portable showers and trailers of supplies. The lady in the video said they handed out so many meals that they lost count. I cannot say thank you enough to our fellow Americans and those from Louisiana who saw a need and answered the call to serve. Now I ask my colleagues to do the same. Local governments' resources have been stretched to the limit because of COVID-19--tax base destroyed. Damage assessments are still underway, but we will likely need a disaster supplemental from Congress to continue the recovery. I ask my fellow Senators to consider the plight of Hurricane Laura victims and support such a bill, which should include California due to the terrible wildfires and perhaps those affected by Sally. Our prayers are with all of those as well. Local government resources have been stretched to the limit because of COVID-19 in Louisiana, but I suspect in California and Alabama and Mississippi as well. In June, I introduced legislation to do away with the FEMA cost share for local governments for 2020--for this year--given the strain on their budgets caused by COVID. I urge my colleagues to pass this bill. Lastly, let's just reassure my constituents in Louisiana that they are not forgotten. The largest storm in our State's history made news for about 2 days with hardly a mention after. Don't forget about Hannah, who lost her childhood home and her job, or about Mike, who lost his house to the rain and wind, and about the nearly 150,000 people asking for help. Americans are at our best when we help those in need. The time is now to extend that support once more. Thank you. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Mexico
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