U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), New Jersey's only member of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, today delivered a statement on the floor of the House of Representatives in support of an emergency supplemental package to provide aid for Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts.  Rep. Pascrell urged his colleagues to act immediately in passing the aid package to help the struggling communities still trying to recover in the wake of Sandy, particularly in north New Jersey.

 
"I don't think that this is time for a pedantic debate. It's time to take the gloves off - Jersey style," stated Rep. Pascrell during his floor remarks.   "There is precedent here.  I would suggest to the governors that they should bring us to court. Not only did we pass the money for Katrina in a very short period of time, but part of it was by a voice vote.  Mr. Cantor voted for Katrina aid, as did Mr. Boehner, Mr. Ryan and Mr. McCarthy, as did nearly every member of the Congress from the New Jersey/New York region.  In fact, NJ and the other states that were hit by Sandy are some of the biggest donor states.  That is, we send a lot of taxes to the Federal government.  Now we need our colleagues to step up to the plate.  We are unfortunately dealing with a schizophrenic leadership on the other side.  Let's call it for what it is and not mince words.

"As everyone knows by now, Hurricane Sandy caused significant damaged throughout the region and especially my home state of New Jersey. In Bergen County, first responders had to evacuate entire towns after the Hackensack River rose over a berm. Moonachie's Police Department will soon be housed in trailers, and reimbursed through federal disaster relief funding. The Mayor of Little Ferry is just one of the many people in that community whose house was decimated by the high water.  Many businesses in the town lack flood insurance and will be forced to shutter their doors for good."

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