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Carper commends Senate for passing Sandy Supplemental

January 8, 2013

Sen. Tom Carper released the following statement after the Senate passed H.R. 1, the Sandy Supplemental Appropriations Bill, which includes emergency assistance for Delaware and other northeast states affected by Hurricane Sandy:

“Today’s vote affirms one of the great strengths of this country: that we all pitch in to help each other in our times of need. Those of us in the Northeast have long rushed to aid friends in the South as they have sought to recover from tornadoes or hurricanes, and folks from the West Coast have long supported friends in the Midwest hoping to rebound from wildfires, devastating droughts and floods. Now is our time of need in New Jersey, New York, Delaware and other impacted states. Thankfully, my colleagues in the Senate have answered our call for help.

“Though Delaware did not experience the level of devastation that occurred in neighboring states to our north, we suffered widespread flooding, including severe damage to many homes and businesses. This supplemental would provide critical funding for Delaware’s response, cleanup, repairs and protection from future storms. Specifically, it would allow Delaware to continue to repair and invest in natural protection like wide, robust beaches and a strong and healthy dune system that can withstand storm surge and wave energy. It would also help us protect our critical infrastructure investments, like the Indian River Inlet Bridge.

"Finally, this funding would also address damage caused by the storm that threatened the safety and property of residents, as well as state and federal assets. For example, severe dune breaches at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge caused by the storm have resulted in a loss of thousands of acres of habitat and tens of millions of dollars of damage. We need to repair the damage and, at the same time, ensure that we protect this national treasure for generations to come.

“Now, the House needs to come back to Washington promptly and pass this supplemental aid bill or something close to it. We have a moral responsibility to ensure our vulnerable citizens in disaster stricken areas have the resources they need to continue the process of healing and rebuilding, whether they live in the Northeast, Midwest or along the Gulf Coast. I urge my friends in the other chamber to act right away.”

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