FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018

Floor Speech

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Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank both the chairman and the ranking member for their important work on this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, a year ago, Hurricane Maria made landfall in my hometown of Yabucoa. The storm ravaged the island, and 115-mile-per-hour winds damaged hundreds of thousands of homes. The entire island lost power, and thousands would not regain electricity until 10 months later, the longest blackout in U.S. history.

Sadly, as this crisis unfolded, the President and the administration repeatedly claimed the Federal response was going well. As evidence, they pointed to an artificially low death toll that for months suggested only 64 people had perished. We know now that the true toll is closer to 3,000 lost lives.

We can never again allow an artificially low death toll to disguise how the local and the Federal Government failed American citizens. That is why I am pleased this bill contains my legislation, the COUNT Act, to establish Federal guidelines for disaster death counts.

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Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Death tolls shape public opinion and, in turn, influence how resources are allocated in response. This new bill will make sure Congress and the American people have a clear picture of the severity of future catastrophes.

I thank the ranking member and the chairman for working to include my bill as a provision. I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

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