Robert Menendez

Menendez Blasts Republican Amendment to Sandy Relief Package

Coats amendment guts bipartisan Sandy Relief Package by $36 billion

December 20, 2012

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) tonight blasted an amendment submitted by U.S. Senator Dan Coats (R-Ind) that would reduce the Sandy Relief Package from $60.4 billion to $23.8 billion. 

“After a disaster, as families and communities struggle to rebuild their lives, when we instinctively look to our fellow Americans for their help and their humanity, we have been given a Republican proposal that basically leaves us on our own. This miserly approach to our recovery completely disregards the united efforts by members of both parties to develop an effective recovery plan,” said Senator Menendez.

“This amendment will unnecessarily prolong the suffering of those affected by Superstorm Sandy, and needlessly leave entire communities vulnerable to future severe weather incidents. The whole nation will feel the economic impact of a northeast crippled by languishing transportation infrastructure, forsaken small businesses, and families left without homes. As we have said many times, piecemeal recovery is no recovery at all. I do not believe this proposal reflects the true intentions of the majority of the U.S. Congress. I call upon my colleagues in the Senate, from both sides of the aisle, to stand up to help their fellow Americans. You could always count on us standing up for you.”

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