Emergency Supplemental Appropriations For Disaster Relief Act, 2004

EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR DISASTER RELIEF ACT, 2004 -- (House of Representatives - September 07, 2004)

Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5005) making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004, for additional disaster assistance.

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Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I, too, want to thank the chairman for the quickness of this measure, this important measure.

As we have heard before, when tough things happen, when the American people are suffering, is when the country truly shines. And we are seeing another example. We are seeing unity. We are seeing how the ranking member has been so generous with his time and also working with the chairman to make sure that this is a reality. The people who deserve and need the help get it as soon as possible.

But I have to take this opportunity, Mr. Speaker, to thank a number of people. President Bush, who from day one has been incredibly supportive and has led the relief effort. Governor Bush and his cabinet have done an incredible job. They have been on the field. The people from FEMA have been amazing. We run into them all over in Florida. I was with a group of them in Miami recently where the Governor was there as well. The Small Business Administration, the first responders, Mr. Speaker, police officers, firefighters, everybody who has come together to make sure that the suffering is minimized as much as possible, and I just want to thank everybody. And, of course, our guardian angel always, the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations from our great State of Florida, who is always there leading every single fight for the people of Florida.

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