Hurricane Katrina

HURRICANE KATRINA -- (House of Representatives - September 02, 2005)

(Mrs. CAPITO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to show compassion and readiness to work with our neighbors who are in crisis. I represent a State, West Virginia, that has had numerous flooding disasters. Collectively, we will do everything we can to help those in need. The number one priority now is the families and children who are affected. The photos from these areas are gut wrenching, and I am sure we are just beginning to hear the heartbreaking stories. Our responses must be quicker and stronger. I know our compassion as a Nation is incredible and we are frustrated by the enormity of this crisis.

As West Virginians, we have been helped time and time again. Like those affected in this disaster action, we are hardworking, country-loving, patriotic, respectful citizens. We now wish to return our compassion to those in need. Our State has started fund drives, deployed utility professionals, our National Guard, and other means of help. We will continue. Our hearts are joined in prayer to those who need prayers the most, to give them the strength and the willpower to rebuild and go on. We will stand together to recover and rebuild the lives and the cities. This is the nature of our country and its people.

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It is with a heavy heart that I rise today to show compassion and readiness to work to help our neighbors who are in crisis. I represent a state, West Virginia, that has had numerous flooding disasters and collectively we will do everything that we can to help those in this devastating situation.

The number one priority right now is the welfare of the families and children in their time of need. The photos from the area are gut-wrenching and we have only just begun to hear the heart breaking stories of the destruction of lives and properties.

Our responses must be quicker and stronger as we reach out to the despair. I know that our compassion as a nation is incredible and we are frustrated by the enormity of the crisis. The funding we provide today will be significant but will only take us so far.

In recent disasters around this Nation we have seen the worst of destruction that can come from both man and from nature: but the best of society. We have seen the power of this Nation when it comes together to assist those in need. In the coming hours and days, we have got to press forward to help in every way.

As West Virginians, we have been helped time and again. Like those affected in this disaster, we are hard working, country loving, patriotic, respectful citizens. We now wish to return our compassion in your hour of need. Our State has started fund drives, deployed utility professionals, sent our National Guard and other means of help. We will continue. Our hearts are joined in prayers to give those in need the strength and willpower to rebuild and go on.

To that end, the Red Cross and the Salvation Army need our support to continue their efforts on the ground. We are grateful to those who are on the ground from all emergency organizations in the Gulf Coast area to assist those who have been affected.

We will stand together to recover and rebuild the lives and cities. That is the nature of this country and its people.

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