republicans amash from michigan, arizona's andy baits and thomas massie from kentucky voted against the funding. it now goes to the senate for consideration this week. some news to pass on to you today many just announce add short time ago, washington state republican, dave reichert, will not be seeking re-election. he plans to spend more time with his family and find other ways to so the country. also this is, house democrat leader nancy pelosi and senate democrat leader chuck schumer releasing a statement indicating that they will support the aid package for hurricane harvey victims, extension of the debt limit, and extension of short-term funding for the federal government until december 15. that comes following a meeting with president trump and congressional leadership this morning many while we wait for the house to return at :15 eastern this afternoon, here's this morning's debate on that harvey relief passed in the house. much time as he wishes to use. mr. frelinghuysen: mr. speaker, i rise today to present house resolution 502, a bill making

emergency appropriations to allow the federal government to continue the vital response and recovery efforts that are helping the hundreds of thousands of victims of hurricane harvey. our thoughts go out to all the eople of texas and louisiana that are coping with the aftermath of this storm and its catastrophic flooding. as one of the nation's greatest natural disasters continues to unfold before our eyes, this congress must ensure that our federal government is able to meet the short and long-term needs of disaster victims. i believe that every time of resource ought to be utilize to support rescue, relief, recovery efforts. i want to reassure the people of texas and louisiana that we're there for them in their time of greatest need. the house appropriations committee has already approved a $1 billion reprogramming request for fema last week which has allowed the agency to continue to meet the most immediate needs in the region. it has become clear that in the

face of a disaster of such magnitude, much more is needed to assist these states, local communities as they recover and rebuild. last friday we received the administration's initial request for supplemental funding for hurricane harvey. we're grateful for the speed of this request and recognize the urgency of the situation we brought this bill to the floor tay. the bill contains $7.4 billion for fema's disaster relief fund which will allow fema to continue its efforts related to harvey, as well as any additional disasters that may strike. the bill also includes $450 million to support the small business administration's disaster loan program that will small businesses small busines homeowners come back from the disasters. we have been working closely with the texas, louisiana members, our leadership, and the appropriations committee has done its due diligence to garne teeth fund will go make best use of taxpayers' dollars. i want to thank all of our federal agencies, first

responders around the nation and the thousands of volunteers who immediately responded and all those who have been working tirelessly to make sure that we meet the needs of the people of texas and louisiana. mr. speaker, i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves his time. for what purpose does the gentlelady from new york seek recognition? . mrs. lowey: mr. speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady is recognized for as much time as she wishes to use. mrs. lowey: the devastation in texas and louisiana from hurricane harvey warrants swift congressional action and i am pleased we are here today to ensure that fema can continue to support the states affected by this disaster. he $7.4 billion for fema and $450 million for the small business administration in this bill are only a first step in a

long process that will require a long-term federal presence. i represent areas, mr. speaker, affected by superstorm sandy and understand firsthand for the need for federal intervention when storms overwhelm state and local capacity. following sandy, the last administration requested and congress approved funding for resiliency to ensure that future generations can mitigate the damage from storms that have grown in intensity. we can argue about the effects of climate change on storms, but we must all agree that our communities must receive much-needed mitigation funding to protect lives and livelihoods in future storms and to prevent more costly damage. despite the fact that some of

the representatives for areas affected by hurricane harvey heavily criticized and voted against the assistance provided in the wake of superstorm sandy, i wholeheartedly support the funding in this bill and expect a much larger request from the administration, including funding to mitigate damage from future storms. mr. speaker, with that i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady reserves her time. the gentleman from new jersey. mr. frelinghuysen: mr. speaker, i'm pleased to recognize for two minutes the chairman of the homeland security appropriations subcommittee, the gentleman from texas. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas, mr. carter, is recognized for two minutes. mr. carter: i thank you, mr. chairman. i rise in support of the supplemental bill for hurricane harvey relief. this bill totals $7.85 billion in emergency funding, including $7.4 billion for fema disaster

relief fund. the supplemental bill is a necessary first step towards assisting our communities in immediate need. however, rebuilding and recovering from the devastation of hurricane harvey will continue to require further resources and really hard work. i will continue to work closely alongside my colleagues in the texas delegation, louisiana delegation and the appropriations committee to meet the needs of our neighbors in the southeastern part of our state. my thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this devastating storm. colleagues, i encourage each and every one of you to vote for this bill. this bill is focused on addressing the immediate needs of those affected by hurricane harvey. it sends them a powerful message that we're here and we're here for them and we'll be working hard for them throughout this recovery.

this morning i saw another man standing waist deep in water in houston as it continues to recede. let's cast our vote properly and start the recovery for the southeastern part of texas and the western part of louisiana. mr. chairman, i yield back my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. the gentleman from new jersey reserves his time. the gentlelady from new york. mrs. lowey: mr. speaker, i'm pleased to yield two minutes to the gentleman from texas, a member of the appropriations committee, mr. cuellar. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas, mr. cuellar, is recognized for two minutes. mr. cuellar: thank you, mr. speaker. again, i want to thath ranking member for yielding her time and -- i want to thank the ranking member for yielding her time and also the chairman, also, mr. frelinghuysen, for his leadership, and chairman john carter, one of our texans, for bringing this important bill to the floor. this funding will help fema, who's running out of money,

provide immediate recovery and relief we need in texas and louisiana. it's only a down payment. normally in rainy events we measure water in inches. during hurricane harvey, we measured it in feet. there were 13 trillion gallons of water on the ground. hurricane harvey killed at least 60 people, including a dreamer who drove over 100 those help rescue first responders. those evacuated would soon come to find their memories left in ruin by the floodwaters. the cost of the total damages will be in the billions, and many losses, however, will be priceless. pictures of family weddings, kids' soccer games, children's favorite toy, a daughter's prom dress or an antique that has been passed through generations. yet, many heroes stepped up to open up their homes, their churches, their businesses to house those evacuees. those efforts highlight the fact that this is not a natural

disaster, but it is a natural disaster and it requires a response. i want to quickly want to thank the first responders and others at the local, state and federal level who bravely and unselfishly helped, including our friends to the south, mexico, that are sending trucks of assistance. today we stand together, not as democrats or republicans, but as americans. we speak in one word and we stand with houston, east texas, louisiana as we continue to do the rescue and recovery. as hurricane irma comes over to florida and the southeast, we again stand together as americans one team. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. the gentlelady from new york reserves. the gentleman from new jersey. mr. frelinghuysen: i yield two minutes to the gentleman from texas, jodey arrington. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas is recognized for two minutes. mr. arrington: thank you, mr. speaker. mr. chairman, in light of this

unprecedented natural disaster in houston and louisiana, along the gulf coast, i want to urge my colleagues to provide the resources necessary to help them recover, and we need to move quickly and we need to move responsibly and i just urge my colleagues to act and act now. i'm very proud of my fellow texans for the way they've responded. i'm proud of the leadership at the local level and at the state level and i'm proud mostly of the overwhelming loving response of reaching out, neighbor helping neighbor, friends and folks in their community taking this responsibility head on, not waiting on the federal government. we have a role and the federal government ought to do all that we can to help those. texas is a special place, mr. chairman, as you know.

these folks are self-reliant. they are committed to their communities and they are committed to loving thy neighbor. it's not just a memory verse. it's a way of life in texas. and so again, our thoughts and prayers are with our friends back home. i know my colleagues and neighbors in west texas, in district 19 have sent first responder vehicles and personnel, food and supplied the air force base in abilene, texas, has sent, for example, 12 tons of supplies and food. so we're with you, guys, we love you. as trump said, texans can handle anything. he's right. god bless texas and god bless america. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. the gentleman from new jersey. mr. frelinghuysen: i reserve. the speaker pro tempore: reserves his time. the gentlelady from new york. mrs. lowey: mr. speaker, i'm pleased to yield three minutes to the gentleman from texas, mr. gene green.

the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas, mr. green, is recognized for two minutes -- three minutes. mr. green: thank you, mr. speaker. i want to thank our ranking member, not only for yielding to me but also your call a couple weeks ago. i want to thank my colleague from lubbock, texas. we have a lot of water we can send to west texas, but appreciate the support, not just from texas but all across the country. people are coming in everywhere, and i see my colleague, brian babin, my neighbor. we're not democrats and republicans. we're americans. and that's what we're seeing. our speaker, the house, is a neighbor to both of us. but i rise in support of the hundreds of thousands of victims of hurricane harvey in houston and harris county and throughout texas and call on congress to immediately pass emergency funding to help victims from this unprecedented disaster. our district is northeast and southeast houston in harris county. we're familiar with hurricanes and tropical storms. we were hit by tropical storm

allison in 2001. hit by hurricane ike in 2008. harvey's disaster and destruction is beyond anything witnessed in living memory in texas. flooding over 100,000 homes in harris county alone and killing at least 60 people, including 12 innocent victims in our district. countless lives in houston along the gulf coast have been put on hold. families cannot return to their flooded homes. children whose schools were damaged, mothers and fathers who cannot go back to work. i have sheldon i.s.d., they have eight schools. four of those schools are so damaged they can't be reopened. houstonians and texans are proud and independent people. we take pride in our can-do attitude, as witnessed by our brave first responders and countless volunteers who rescued neighbors during the worst of the flooding. i urge all my colleagues to vote for this critical emergency funding that will help people of houston and texas on the road to recovery, but this is not the first time

we'll need this emergency funding and i ask for unanimous consent, mr. speaker, to put into the congressional record monday's "houston chronicle" on the dedication of our doctors and health workers at the texas medical center in houston during the worst of harvey. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. green: and i yield back my ime. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from new jersey is recognized. mr. frelinghuysen: mr. speaker, i'm pleased to yield two minutes to the gentleman from texas, mr. babin. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas is recognized for two minutes. mr. babin: thank you, mr. speaker. and thank you, chairman frelinghuysen. i really appreciate that. i'd like to echo what everyone has said, especially my colleagues, mr. green and others who are from texas who mentioned how we pulled together. i want to rise in strong support of this disaster relief bill for those that have been impacted by this terrible

storm. my district is in texas 36, and it was totally devastated. all nine counties have been declared federal disaster areas. the entire district was underwater. a vast lake from houston over to the louisiana border, the devastation is truly heartbreaking. i've traveled to each county and assisted in the recovery efforts and i met with the victims. this bill provides desperately needed resources and help our fellow americans put their lives back together again and rovides a hand-up, not a hand-out. in the midst of this devastation, the entire world is seeing the resiliency, compassion and determination of the people of texas. i am truly inspired by the incredible stories of goodness. we have had multiple disasters, especially in my district, multiple, even three disaster declarations for some of my counties over the past three years. i've met and talked to some my

constituents who had just gotten back into their homes three -- two, three months ago from a flood that impacted us last year. she's told me she still has the price tags on her furniture when she woke up during the night to see water in her house. these are the kinds of things that we are seeing, but in the midst, i said, our churches, our first responders, our private citizens, businesses, people from out of state, and i want to especially commend the state of louisiana who came over and provided hundreds of boat teams for us. all around the district people are helping one another. and i just want to urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this very, very much-needed bill and showing our fellow americans that we stand with them in this terrible, terrible time. i've been around a long time. i've seen storms, hurricane audrey in the 1950's, 1950's. this storm, hurricane harvey, i've never seen one like this before. thank you, mr. speaker. mr. frelinghuysen: mr. speaker,

i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from new jersey reserves. the gentlelady from new york is recognized. mrs. lowey: mr. speaker, i'm very pleased to yield three minutes to the gentlelady from texas, who we know was struggling with her fellow texans and trying to be as helpful as she could during this horrible, horrible disaster, ms. jackson lee. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady from texas is ecognized. ms. jackson lee: i thank the speaker and i thank the gentlelady from new york. having known the devastation of hurricanes just a couple years ago, i thank her and along with the -- her as ranking member and the chairman as well, both coming from the region where they faced the same devastation. we come together united. we come bipartisan.

we come as friends, and as i said at the n.r.g. shelter just a few days ago, we have hope. we have hope. and so we are grateful that we are beginning the process of recovering with the over $7 billion now being allotted for disaster recovery, $400 million of that being for small businesses. the need is great. 12 days ago on august 25, hurricane harvey hit this coast and it hit texas in a very hard way. to put in perspective, the devastation brought by hurricane harvey, the volume of water that fell on houston and other affected areas of texas and louisiana can fill more than 24,000 astrodomes. hurricane harvey was 1,000-year storm. it claimed many, many lives. 21 trillion gallons of rainfall fell in texas. sustained winds exceeded 130

miles. i cannot thank enough those who gathered and helped, from the ocal officials, from judge emmett, to mayor in humble and the mayor from jacinto city. might i thank the texas national guard. they were standing up. the marines, the navy and, of course, the army. we traveled with them, and i thank the museum of armed forces, military museum of armed forces who traveled with me to give out food. we are still in need. thousands of people without apartments that have been evicted, been told to go. as i walked the streets of humble, texas, in my district, piles and piles and piles of rubbish, people's homes and possessions, even though they had their family and lives, all of their possessions out on the front. . this is a time for us to ensure

that all people can be protected. i'd like to highlight the dreamer, alonzo, who came all the way from luftkin, texas, just to be able to save those who he saw were in need. we need to be able to ensure that he is not discriminated. or my constituents in certain arts of my district that are scared to seek help because they are on status. my friends, i know we can find a pathway forward. pathway to n find a re-authorize daca and do it pat re-authorize daca and do it as soon as possible in tribute to alonzo who died with friends when he brought his boat of his own accord to be able to come and save those. me tell you what we need. we need housing resources. we need to have -- to ensure with housing resources to make sure the people who were evicted can make sure they have a way to have a home. and we need small business

resources. i want to thank the gentlelady for -- does she have 30 seconds? i thank the gentlelady for her time. i know that we'll be working together in making a difference for those who impacted hurricane harvey. my prayers for those impacted by urricane irma. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady from new york reserves. is gentleman from new jersey recognized. mr. frelinghuysen: mr. speaker, i yield three minutes to the gentleman of the commerce, justice, science committee, the gentleman from texas, mr. culberson. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas is recognized. mr. culberson: thank you, mr. chairman. to everyone in texas and louisiana who has suffered the loss of a loved one or loss of everything they own in this catastrophic flood, we're here today to tell you that help is on the way. and to say thank you. help is on the way because today

the congress there are no republicans, there are no democrats. we're all americans here today. unified in our determination to move swiftly to help all those poor people who have suffered so much as a result of this catastrophic storm. is an republicans, there are no democrats. we're all americans here in our nation's history. my district suffered. we all suffered. all of us in southeast texas. southwest louisiana. my brother and his wife lost verything. their home is still under water. myin laws lost everything. their-my inlaws lst everything. -- loss everything. i can't iimagine if you lost a loved one. but help is on the way. we're all unified here today. we're working together to make sure we get this immediate infusion of cash into the disaster leaf fund to help these people who have suffered so much anddown been displaced so abruptly and catastrophically. i want to thank you, mr. chairman, for bringing this to the floor so quickly.

thank our leadership for working together to get this done. i want to thank president trump and his wife for personally donating $1 million to the relief fund for the victims of hurricane harvey. i want to thank also all the first responders who sacrificed so much to save so many lives. i want to thank especially the people of america who stepped up to help the people of houston. i spent all of last week out in neighborhoods in boats and on trucks and waders helping pull people and their property and of their homes. i ran in last saturday to a group of guys, four guys, with a bass boat, that drove all the way from florida. they saw the catastrophe on television and said we can sit here and watch this or help our fellow americans. they jumped in their car and truck and drove that boat all the way to texas ethiopia us. guy from michigan showed up in our neighborhoods just to help. garrett graves, i want to thank my friend, congressman garrett graves of louisiana called me on the second day of the disaster and said the cajun navy is on

the way? what, didn't know there was such a thifpblgt garrett said 110 trucks are on the way to texas toeing 100 boats loaded with housands of meals of jambalaya and diapers and water radios, everything you need to recover from a storm. they just did it. our neighbors. i have never been prouder to be an american. never been prouder to be a texan or houstonian. and we are the greatest nation n the history of civilization. it's because we're all self-reliant, it's because we all look after each other as a community, we all love each other. we love our family, our god. we respect the law, this great nation that was founded on the rule of law. it's a bond that connects all of us. and we saw it in this disaster and we thank you-all from the bottom of our heart and help is on the way.

mr. frelinghuysen: reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from new jersey reserves. the gentlelady from new york is recognized. mrs. lowey: mr. speaker, before i yield to our next speaker, i would just thank mr. culberson. i would like to say a word to mr. culberson. before i introduce our next speaker, i just want to thank you, mr. culberson, because of course we're all totally supportive as part of this aid package, but i remember that you were the only member from the majority in texas that supported our sandy package. i just wanted to at this time thank you again for your again rossity and your warm heart for every american. mr. culberson: today we're all americans, arm in arm. mrs. lowey: thank you. now, mr. speaker, i am very

pleased to yield three minutes to the gentleman from texas, mr. al green. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas is recognized for three minutes. mr. green: thank you, mr. speaker. thank you, mr. speaker. i also thank the ranking member for her kind words. thank the chairperson for bringing this to the floor, both of them. mr. speaker, this is a seminal moment in time. a moment in time that can shape the rest of our time. this is an opportunity for those of us who contend that we're our brother's keeper to, in fact, become our brother's keeper. you see you can't be your brother's keeper without keeping your brother. his is a chance to be your

brother's keeper. this is a chance for the unity that we express when we're before the cameras to manifest itself in the votes that we cast here in congress. this is a seminal moment in time. this is a moment in time for us to brother's keeper. care not onlyo live in the suites of life but also those who dwell in the streets of life. those who live on benches. those who sleep on the bridges. it's an opportunity for us to cast a vote that will send aid, send assistance to those in houston, texas, and all across the area that's been designated -- devastating by this monster is a chance for us to help them. but this is only a down payment. only a down payment. there must be much more. we need help in houston post haste as is the case with other places around the country that have been devastated. we need help for housing not only for those who had homes before the monster hit, but also for those who didn't have homes, who need to transition to a

place that they can call home. if home is where the heart is, where is the heart of the homeless? people under the bridges. where is the heart of the homeless? they have to be given place they can call home as well, which means we at some point we have got to have dollars appropriated for the organizations that help those who live in the streets of life, the homeless. we have to help them, too. if we can help those in the suites, we can help those in the streets. i would also say to my colleagues, please understand, people who are here and undocumented have needs, too. are ive in places that horrible. i have been in their homes. i have smelled the mold. i know what it's like to see the conditions they dwell in. it is time for us to put aside the politics that divide us from people who need help and help a horrible. i have those people too. let's send some more people --

more money to the organization that is help them. this is a moment in time. this is a seminal moment in time and it's time for us to step up and help everyone that's harmed, not be selective. if you are in this country, you are hurting, we have to help you. god bless you. i thank you madam leader on my side, the ranking member, i thank you again, mr. chairman, and i beg that we do what we can to make shire every person in this country receives the help he or she deserves. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady from new york reserves. the gentleman from new jersey is recognized. mr. frelinghuysen: mr. speaker, i yield two minutes to the representative from texas, judge poe. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas is now recognized. mr. poe: i thank the gentleman from new jersey for yielding time. mr. speaker, my houston area has suffered historic hurricane, one that really changes and has changed the lives of the all the people that were affected.

my district was hammered by this flood. to put in perspective, 27 fell on gallons of rain over texas and parts of louisiana in the six days of the flood. that's enough water to fill the ouston astrodome 86,000 times. at the height of the flood, 70% of harris county, which is the houston area, was flooded. 70% was under water. the devastation in texas equaled, mr. chairman, the size of new jersey. you place new jersey in southeast texas, that's how much of the area was affected by this flood and the rain. people had anywhere between 36 and 52 inches of rain. had to er service

create a new color, purple, on their maps to show how much rain had fallen. nothing like this has ever happened in north america. 72,000 people were rescued by first responders and volunteers from high water. this is the largest civilian water evacuations since dunn kirk. thousands -- dunkirk. thousands of volunteers worked along with city and county first responders to save countless lives. the heroes came from all walks of life, from all parts of the country. the attitude of the people of was one of inspiration. flooded victims who didn't know each other, their homes were flooded but they are was one of flooded victims who didn't know each other, their homes were

flooded but they are helping other flooded victims get to safety and get what property they could recover. this heroism reminded me of what it means to be a texan and an american. mr. speaker, harvey will not defeat the human spirit. there were two men in brownwood, you know where brownwood texas is. probably nobody else heard of it. that's in way west texas. they decided they wanted to help, got in their pickup trucks, drove to austin texas, which is still 200 miles away from houston, they went to a sports place there and bought a bass boat, a trailer, a motor, filled it up with all kinds of stuff, drove to texas, houston, texas, and kept working for others. that's one of many stories. this supplemental is important to southeast texas. let this vote show that we will vote not for politics but for people. that's just the way it is. i yield back. mr. frelinghuysen: i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the entleman from new jersey

reserves. the gentlelady is now recognized. mrs. lowey: mr. speaker, i am delighted to yield two minutes to the very distinguished ranking member from california, of the homeland security ubcommittee of appropriations, ms. roybal-allard. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady reserves. the gentlelady from california recognized. ms. roybal-allard: mr. speaker, there is no question that this supplemental funding is needed and needed quickly. . when the response from harvey began in late august, the account of the disaster relief fund had approximately $2 billion available. the response to this catastrophe, however, is costing close to $200 million per day. this means that despite the recent $1 billion increase into this account, fema could run out of money at any time. therefore, the enactment of the additional $7.4 billion for the disaster relief fund in this supplemental is critical to help meet fema's immediate operational needs for hurricane harvey and to allow for the

resumption of recovery payments for prior disasters, such as sandy. the supplemental will provide a small reserve to ensure fema can begin responding to hurricane irma or any other new disaster that occurs between now and september 30, 2017. it is important to note, however, that if there is significant damage from irma, fema will quickly need either an additional reprogramming of money, a second supplemental appropriation or both. i want to applaud the majority for quickly bringing this supplemental package to the floor with emergency designation, and i now yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady yields back. the gentlelady from new jersey reserves -- new york -- excuse

me. the gentleman from new jersey is recognized. mr. frelinghuysen: i yield two minutes to the gentleman from texas, mr. farenthold. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas, mr. farenthold, is recognized for two minutes. mr. farenthold: mr. speaker, i'm here today to ask my colleagues to support funding for hurricane harvey disaster relief. often the tv news goes around taking their cameras searching for the worst damage to create the most dramatic story. in the case of hurricane harvey in the district i represent you could drop a camera in towns ie rockport, port aran sass, rehugio, port lavaca -- port aransas, refugio, port lavaca and have that shot. my friends and families' home from flattened by winds, businesses were destored and much of towns were underwater like in warden. following the unprecedented flooding left behind by this storm. it's the worst we've seen in

decades. many people, including the town mayor of port aransas, suffered and lost everything. he was walking around the emergency operation center when the mayor of corpus christi went up to him saying, i'm jealous, you get to work in shorts, hawaiian shirts and flip-flops and the mayor of port aransas said, it's all i have left. the good news for our community is we came together during this disaster. groups frarned the state and around the country donated to help and many assisted to rescue and clean up and came down and cooked food for evacuees and survivors. people opened their homes and hearts to strangers, but the victims of the storm also need fema's help as well with things like emergency assistance and housing. our cities and counties need help with clearing out brush and debris and we need to make infrastructure repairs to areas decimated by harvey. with people using their

smartphones going to disasterassistance.gov or using the fema app, fema will be out of money in just two or three days if we don't pass this. i urge my colleagues to open their hearts, the way so many americans have, and pass this bill. and i want to say a special thank you to those who donated, those who came and volunteered and to everybody who helped out. we're not only texas strong, we're america strong. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from new jersey reserves. the gentlelady from new york. mrs. lowey: mr. speaker, i am very pleased to yield two minutes to the gentlelady from the virgin islands, ms. plaskett, who understands the impact of a disaster of this kind, not only in her district but in other areas where there have been so much suffering, ms. plaskett. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady from the virgin islands is recognized for two

minutes. ms. plaskett: thank you very much for the time. mr. speaker, at the end of this summer, the people in the virgin islands and every place of worship say the hurricane prayer at the end of their service. and part of that prayer says at the end, but lord, if a hurricane should come and you loosen the gale and the winds done. us, you will be the people of puerto rico and virgin islands because god's will is being done on those islands as hurricane irma is impacting and crashing against the shores of st. thomas, st. john, st. croix and water island. this $7.8 billion in emergency supplemental funds is a crucial installation -- initial installment to address the effects of not only hurricane rvey but the affect expected in the virgin islands today as we stand in a catastrophic path

of hurricane irma which is currently at worst-case scenario a category five hurricane, the worst hurricane in the atlantic's history. this will need -- needed assistance from fema to perform emergency protective measures, the removal of debris, activities performed by other federal agencies as assigned by fema and to aid small businesses and homeowners in rebuilding their lives. right now the people of the virgin islands are praying for the lives of themselves, their families and especially for the roof over their head. this funding for initial response efforts is critical, and i thank my colleagues for the expeditious manner which this legislation was brought to us for swift passage. i urge my colleagues to approve this much-needed lifeline and we are coveted for -- covetous for your prayers right now. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady from new york reserves. the gentleman from new jersey. mr. frelinghuysen: i yield a minute to my colleague from new

jersey, mr. lance, and thank him for his assistance years new ddressing the needs of york, new jersey and connecticut during superstorm sandy. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. mr. lance: i rise in strong support of this measure to allocate funds to urgent rescue and recovery operations currently under way in the aftermath of hurricane harvey. the destruction of hurricane harvey is horrific, and the loss of life is heartbreaking. federal emergency management agency's helping to lead the disaster response. fema need immediate resources from congress. natural disasters can strike any part of the nation at any time. no state is immune from the forces of nature and states and localities should never have to question if aid is on the way. our excellent federal officials have the resources and experience to mitigate harm. they need to continue putting that experience to use, helping

our neighbors in need, protect critical infrastructure, contain hazardous sites and save lives. i thank chairman frelinghuysen for his leadership in assembling this immediate assistance for those in need. i urge a yes vote. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. the gentleman from new jersey reserves. the gentlelady from new york. mrs. lowey: mr. speaker, i'm very pleased to yield one minute to the gentleman from new york, the chairman of the democratic caucus, mr. crowley. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from new york is recognized for one minute. mr. crowley: i thank the gentlelady for yielding me this time. i look at the pictures of houston and galveston and parts of texas and louisiana and elsewhere and hearken back to the same images i saw in new jersey and new york and throughout new england and other parts of the northeast after sandy. and i want to also note that the nypd, the fdny was among

the first responders to head down to texas to help fellow americans in a time of crisis and need. i'd also like to point out, i have no clue where the town is where the gentleman from texas, mr. poe, mentioned, and i may never go there, i may never go to that town but i will tell you, mr. speaker, i don't need to go to that town to help those people. they are americans, and i will help them at any opportunity i get when they have a storm like this that hits them. i don't ask questions. i didn't ask you if you knew were edgecals water in the bronx was. i was prepared to help my immediate constituents in sandy. i wasn't going to have to wait until next week or 30 days from now or 60 days from now or 90 days from now. i think it's important we have to point out the hypocrisy. it's not going to stop this funding from going through. we need to point it out. 20 members of the republican caucus, some texas, one, mr. culberson, voted against sandy

relief. it must be understood that we are all americans, and i will stand to help every american who is in need of help. will the gentlelady yield me 30 seconds? the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentleman is not recognized. the gentlelady from new jersey -- new york reserves, and the gentleman from new jersey -- mr. frelinghuysen: i reserve. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady from new york is recognized. mrs. lowey: mr. speaker, i am very pleased to yield one minute to the gentleman from new york, mr. engel. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from new york is recognized for one minute. mr. engel: i thank the gentlewoman for yielding to me. i am for this aid. i'm for this aid 100%. we should help these people. as americans we should help people all over our country. but it really hurts that those of us in new york and new jersey when superstorm sandy came and we were begging for help, we had to wait two months

for help and our friends from texas on the republican side of the aisle except for one voted against aid for new york, new jersey and connecticut. and now they're asking aid for texas, which i support, but it just goes to show we never know where these disasters are going to fall. and all of us have -- are incumbent to support our fellow americans no matter where they are. i say to the people of texas, my heart goes out for you. i want to say to my republican friends in texas, what you did to us during superstorm sandy should not stand, should not be done to any other people anyplace in the country. we're one country. we're americans. we need to help those that need help. i'm for this 100%. and i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back his time. the gentlelady from new york reserves her time. the gentleman from new jersey. mr. frelinghuysen: i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: reserves. new york. mrs. lowey: mr. speaker, with the one minute remaining, i am

very pleased to yield to the gentlelady from texas, who's been right there helping reaching out to all those families who are in desperate need, ms. jackson lee. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady from texas, ms. jackson lee, is recognized for one minute. ms. jackson lee: to the distinguished the gentlelady, i come noun -- distinguished gentlelady, i come now to just stand on behalf of our delegation, to be able to say as i said i acknowledge the pain of sandy but i now come to make sure we all understand this first crunch is only the beginning. we're going to put in legislation that asks for $180 billion, recognizing the hard work of appropriators but letting you know that people's lives, as we walk through the debris, this is in front of

every house. it is painful. it is long lasting. so i just wanted to come to add my thanks but to say, will you please stand with me for the long journey that is going to be needed, for the infrastructure we build, new dams that are 30 years old and housing issues that will not end today and the massive evictions of people in apartments not cruelly, i hope, but they're getting eviction ?otices with no place to go and so i ask as we as americans join for the long haul, the long destiny with prayers for all. thank you, madam lowey, for yielding to me to talk about the long haul. thank you very much. god bless america. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from new jersey is recognized. mr. frelinghuysen: i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from new jersey has the only remaining time. and he has 2 1/2 minutes.

mr. frelinghuysen: i yield myself the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for 2 1/2 minutes. mr. frelinghuysen: first of all, this morning we salute the courage of all texans and people from louisiana. we salute their courage and their resilience. and once again, i want to thank all of our federal agencies. obviously the governor of texas, the governor of louisiana and all those agencies that have been meeting the needs of the people and, again, the thousands of volunteers who immediately responded who have been working tirelessly day in and day out to help hundreds of thousands of people affected by this storm and save, i may say, countless lives. they have housed the displaced, met critical medical needs, provided transportation and most importantly gave faith to those who have lost literally everything. these are american heroes that are showing the best side of

our nation. we're grateful for their service. i urge my colleagues to support this bill. let's get the money out the door and help the people of texas and loui >> and the u.s. house is about to gavel back in after members attended a closed door briefing on north korea. they will start 2018 federal spending. live coverage of the u.s. house. the house will be nord. for what purpose does the gentleman from oklahoma sook recognition? mr. cole: by direction of the committee on rules i call up house resolution 500 an ask for its immediate consideration. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the resolution. the clerk: house calendar 79, house resolution 500. resolved, that at any time after adoption of this resolution the speaker may, pursuant to clause 2-b of rule 18, declare the house resolved into the committee of the whole house on the state of the union for consideration of the bill h.r. 3354, making appropriations for the department of the interior,