Congressman Tierney Statement on House GOP Lack of Action on Hurricane Sandy Relief Bill
January 02, 2013
Washington D.C. – Congressman John Tierney released the following statement in response to House Republican Leadership's decision not to allow a vote on the Senate-passed Hurricane Sandy relief legislation before the 112th Congress adjourns. This is an abrupt change to the previously announced schedule.
"House Republican Leadership is running out the clock on the 112th Congress without providing much-needed relief to families and businesses affected by Hurricane Sandy and our fishermen. This is shameful. With bipartisan support, the Senate passed a Hurricane Sandy relief bill, which included $150 million for the fisheries disasters declared by the Department of Commerce. There were signals that the House was going to follow suit, but today House Republican Leadership reversed course and opted to do nothing. Now, work on this important issue will have to start over in the next Congress and assistance for the families, fishermen and small businesses devastated by these economic and natural disasters will be unnecessarily delayed. As soon as the new Congress convenes, I will work with colleagues representing the impacted people and areas and keep pressing this issue to ensure appropriate relief is provided to those who need it," said Congressman John Tierney, who advocated for the inclusion of fisheries disaster assistance funding in any Hurricane Sandy relief legislation.
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