Hoyer Statement on Committee Passage of Improvements to the Stafford Act
Press Types
Press Release
For Immediate Release:
November 30, 2017
Contact Info:
Mariel Saez 202-225-3130
WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today after the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure approved bipartisan changes to the Stafford Act, including improvements Whip Hoyer and Leader McCarthy called for in a Washington Post Op-Ed following their bipartisan Congressional Delegation to the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Florida Keys:
“I have called for the Stafford Act to be amended in a way that will allow for communities affected by natural disasters to rebuild stronger than before, rather than to earlier standards that were insufficient to withstand storms and leave communities vulnerable in the future, as required under current law. I’m pleased that the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure approved a bipartisan bill today that would make changes to the Act toward that end. This is a positive step and ought to be welcome news for the millions living in areas impacted by the recent hurricanes in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
“If we simply rebuild to the inadequate standards as before, communities will be left vulnerable to the next storm; instead, we ought to ensure that we are rebuilding communities to withstand future disasters. This is common sense, and it’s a wise use of taxpayer dollars. I hope that this bill will come to the House Floor for consideration without delay.”
“I have called for the Stafford Act to be amended in a way that will allow for communities affected by natural disasters to rebuild stronger than before, rather than to earlier standards that were insufficient to withstand storms and leave communities vulnerable in the future, as required under current law. I’m pleased that the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure approved a bipartisan bill today that would make changes to the Act toward that end. This is a positive step and ought to be welcome news for the millions living in areas impacted by the recent hurricanes in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
“If we simply rebuild to the inadequate standards as before, communities will be left vulnerable to the next storm; instead, we ought to ensure that we are rebuilding communities to withstand future disasters. This is common sense, and it’s a wise use of taxpayer dollars. I hope that this bill will come to the House Floor for consideration without delay.”