Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy
09.27.21
WASHINGTON – Today, Senate Democrats objected to a live unanimous consent motion for passage of a continuing resolution (CR) from U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Richard Shelby (R-AL), and John Kennedy (R-LA). The CR included funding for disaster relief, the National Flood Insurance Program, Iron Dome, and keeping the government open.
Earlier today, Cassidy released a statement slamming Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) for sabotaging the disaster supplemental by attaching a debt limit increase to fund Democrats reckless tax and spending agenda. Cassidy demanded that Senate Democrats put a clean disaster relief and continuing resolution up for a vote, which would pass with overwhelming bipartisan support.
Cassidy’s remarks as prepared for delivery:
Madame President,
I rise in support of my colleague’s proposal. This does 4 very important things: 1) provides disaster supplemental assistance relief for southwest and southeast Louisiana; 2) extends the National Flood Insurance Program; 3) funds the government; and 4) restores funding for Israel’s Iron Dome.
We’re 3 days away from a government shutdown for one reason and one reason only: Democrat-controlled Washington.
A clean vote on disaster relief and a continuing resolution to fund the government – the legislation filed by Senators McConnell and Shelby – would pass today with overwhelming bipartisan support. We all know that. But my Democratic colleagues are choosing to hold this critical funding set to benefit our states hostage in order to fund their planned tax and spending extravaganza.
We need to pass disaster relief.
We’re one month removed from Hurricane Ida. Half-year removed from unprecedented winter storms. And a year removed from both Hurricanes Laura and Delta that wreaked havoc on southwest Louisiana.
Disaster assistance is long-overdue. This bill gets it done. Let’s get it done together.
While we’re recovering from two-years’ worth of storms, we cannot allow the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to expire. Many policyholders, especially those in Louisiana, are recovering from hurricane damage. Government should not be pulling the rug of insurance out from underneath them. It’s critical the program is extended so homeowners are covered come the next storm.
This proposal extends NFIP. This proposal provides disaster relief. This proposal is good for Louisiana and good for our country.
I urge my colleagues to support this proposal.
With that, I yield the floor.
###