Recognizing the efforts of the countless volunteers who helped the Commonwealth of Kentucky recover from the ice storm of January 2009.

Mr. Speaker, as the author of House Resolution 214, I am proud that we're here today to recognize the efforts of countless volunteers who helped the Commonwealth of Kentucky recover from the ice storm of January 2009.

Today I rise to recognize what went well following this terrible storm, and that is the volunteers who made a distinct difference in the lives of many Kentuckians.

I traveled across the district in the days following the January 26 storm, and I was quickly reminded of how the people of Kentucky joined together in this time of need to serve each other and not themselves. This may have been the worst natural disaster in Kentucky's history, but it brought about the best of our people.

The spirit of volunteerism was seen in county after county and town after town as we all united around a common purpose--to help the countless citizens affected by this devastating storm cope with the aftermath and begin with the recovery process.

Kentucky State and local officials should be praised for their efforts to enlist the help of volunteer agencies, faith-based groups and community organizations that quickly realized the needs that resulted from the ice storm would far exceed what the government could provide. So they asked churches, nonprofit organizations, school groups and many others to help, and help they did.

In the days following the storms, I watched with pride as volunteers provided shelter, meals and other valuable services to lend a hand to many of the people in my district and around Kentucky. I watched the members of the Kentucky National Guard, who were activated to help, and volunteer the use of their personal vehicles to rescue stranded victims. Many public service officers, police officers, first responders, firefighters, and many utility people were out 24 hours a day. And I watched 4-H and Homemakers Clubs plan to serve meals to 75 people but to find the extra resources to serve nearly 200 instead.

While there are many efforts that should be praised today, I am reminded of the effort coordinated in Ohio County by Ms. Charlotte Whittaker who volunteered to organize her county's shelter. Within 48 hours of the storm, Ms. Whittaker opened the doors to a shelter at Southern Elementary School where nearly 400 people from 21 months old to 98 years old found relief in shelters in the days that followed. Nearly 450 volunteers, many young people in high school and college, operated the shelter for 12 days by serving meals, cleaning dirty laundry, sweeping floors, organizing donated clothing and doing whatever needed to be done to help.

The volunteers came from many different States. I talked with a nurse from Alabama and a member of the Red Cross from Indiana and electrical crews from across the Southeast, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic. I appreciate all of them traveling to give their valuable time and talents. When I visited this shelter, I quickly realized that lives were saved because of Ms. Whittaker's efforts and the many others who volunteered to help in Ohio County.

This is just one example of the many endeavors that took place across Kentucky. No matter the size of the volunteer efforts, they all made a difference in saving lives and helping the Commonwealth of Kentucky get back on its feet after this terrible storm. The volunteers played a key role and should be praised for giving up their valuable time and resources to offer support. They are a true testament to the American spirit.

I want to thank my colleagues from Kentucky for being extremely supportive of this effort in recognizing the volunteers. I want to thank my colleague from our great City of Louisville for being here on the floor today. And I want to thank everybody who helped our Commonwealth recover from this terrible disaster we endured this year.

I ask for my colleagues' support.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the many volunteers who rose above and beyond the call of duty in helping their fellow Kentuckians following what many consider to be the worst natural disaster in the Commonwealth's history.

In late January, severe ice storms left over 700,000 homes without power, countless businesses were crippled and communities across the state were left with miles of roads to clear and enormous amounts of debris to clean up. The First Congressional District bore the brunt of these devastating storms, with many in Western Kentucky being left without power for weeks while local officials and utility workers labored round the clock to restore electricity.

While this was an extremely trying time for the First District, it also brought out the very best in many of our local leaders and ordinary citizens who volunteered their time to help their communities. State and local officials acted quickly to coordinate relief efforts with various community organizations and faith-based groups. Volunteers operated 192 shelters across the Commonwealth, providing shelter, food and water to nearly 8,000 Kentuckians. Individuals from 25 organizations in 15 states traveled to Kentucky to volunteer their time in support of relief efforts.

While the magnitude of the ice storms made recovery efforts more difficult and slower in some areas than was hoped, so many people went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that Kentuckians were kept safe and that vital supplies were disbursed to those in need. I would like to commend all of the local and state officials, utility workers, volunteers, members of the Kentucky National Guard and all those who contributed to the recovery and relief efforts following the storm. During a difficult time that tried all of our spirits, these individuals rose to the occasion to aid their fellow Kentuckians and help the Commonwealth get back on its feet.

While I applaud everyone who worked so hard to help the Commonwealth cope and recover, the ice storms highlighted the dire need to make federal disaster assistance more effective and efficient following an emergency or natural disaster. For this reason, I am a co-sponsor of legislation to extend the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) Pilot Program. The Public Assistance Pilot Program will enable FEMA and local officials to cut through bureaucratic red tape and distribute critical funds immediately following a storm or natural disaster.

In addition, while I am pleased that President Obama issued an emergency declaration for Kentucky so quickly following the storms, I continue to call on FEMA to pay 100 percent of the costs for repair and clean-up. Nearly 3 months after these storms hit the Commonwealth, debris removal and clean up efforts are still ongoing. With local governments in Kentucky already facing significant budget shortfalls this year, the additional financial burden imposed by the ice storms is simply too much for our counties and towns to bear. It is essential that FEMA step up to the plate and ensure that local officials have the funds and resources they need to clean up and rebuild.

I'd like to thank Congressman Brett Guthrie for his leadership in bringing this Resolution to the floor today as well as all my fellow Members of the Kentucky Congressional Delegation. Too often leaders and hard working citizens of our local communities go without recognition for the good work they do. It is my privilege to be able to honor all those who volunteered their time, donated supplies, worked weekends and overtime hours in an effort to restore power and all those who assisted in the clean-up following the storms. On behalf of the people of Kentucky and all those impacted by the storms, I thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 214) recognizing the efforts of the countless volunteers who helped the Commonwealth of Kentucky recover from the ice storm of January 2009.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

As a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I join my colleagues in support of House Resolution 214, which recognizes the efforts of volunteers from across the country who helped the Commonwealth of Kentucky recover from a devastating ice storm in January 2009.

I would like to thank our colleague Mr. Brett Guthrie from Kentucky for sponsoring this thoughtful resolution which was introduced on March 5, 2009. I would also like to commend my colleagues on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for acting so quickly to bring this measure to the floor. Additionally, this measure has the support and cosponsorship of 59 Members of Congress, which of course include the entire House delegation from Kentucky.

As many Americans are aware, the Commonwealth of Kentucky suffered a horrendous ice storm on January 26, 2009. More than 700,000 homes and businesses were left without power. Sadly, some estimated 200,000 Americans found themselves without access to water and other basic necessities. In fact, the dreadful ice storm that hit a number of States in the Midwest in addition to the State of Kentucky back in January has been considered the worst natural disaster in Kentucky's history.

As expected, when Americans saw their fellow countrymen in need of help and assistance, support poured into the State of Kentucky immediately following the storm's devastating effect. For example, State and local officials acted quickly to band together in order to coordinate the relief efforts and to ultimately save lives. Volunteer agencies, faith-based groups and community organizations from 15 States came to the aid of Kentucky's cities and neighborhoods, and nearly 200 makeshift shelters provided refuge for almost 8,000 Kentuckians. While certainly tragic in nature, the ice storm once again demonstrated the unyielding resolve of Americans to work together to ensure the common good of the neighbors.

Mr. Speaker, it is also important that we as Members of the House of Representatives take a moment to recognize the supportive efforts of the Kentucky National Guard as some 4,600 guardsmen went door to door throughout the affected communities to make certain that no citizen was beyond the reach of a helpful hand. For their commitment, we say thank you, and for their service, we say a job well done.

In closing, House Resolution 214 is designed to simply recognize the Commonwealth of Kentucky for showing incredible resolve in the face of disaster. The selflessness exhibited by volunteers and aid agencies speaks volumes about the American spirit.

That said, Mr. Speaker, as Kentucky and their neighboring Midwestern States continue to pick up the pieces, let us take pause to acknowledge those who came to the aid of these Americans in their time of need.

With that, I urge support for House Resolution 214, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I would like to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Yarmuth).

Mr. Speaker, I join my colleague to ask all of our colleagues to join us in supporting Resolution 214 recognizing the citizens of Kentucky.

I yield back the balance of my time.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to first thank my distinguished colleague from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) for his leadership in introducing H. Res. 214 and also the entire Kentucky delegation for supporting this important resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of the thousands of generous and dedicated Kentuckians who took action in the wake of the catastrophic ice storms that hit the Commonwealth on January 26 of this year.

In a week's time, all eyes will turn towards my hometown of Louisville for the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby, sports' most exciting 2 minutes. The mood will be jubilant, and justifiably so, but it could not be so if not for the round-the-clock dedication of thousands of volunteers, first responders and National Guard who spared our region from lasting devastation.

The storm created the worst power outages in Kentucky history, and of the 3,000 streets in Louisville, not one was spared from fallen trees, power lines and other wreckage, leaving our city with enough debris to fill Cardinal Stadium. Thousands were displaced, but they were not alone. Neighbors helped neighbors and people from all walks of life rose to the occasion to provide food and shelter to those in need.

Tragically, a family of three from my community was killed by carbon monoxide poisoning from an enclosed generator, a loss mourned by the entire

Commonwealth. But thanks to the efforts of our tireless first responders--police, firefighters and National Guard--untold lives were saved. These men and women walked in freezing temperatures knocking on door after door to ensure that no more families would be subjected to toxic fumes.

Thanks to the leadership of Governor Steve Beshear, Mayor Jerry Abramson, Brigadier General John Heltzel, and countless other officials, the damage was minimized and attention has now turned to the massive cleanup. With 220 men and women working 12-hour days, 7 days a week in Louisville alone, more than half a city has been fully restored, and the rest is not far behind.

But it is the unbridled spirit of thousands of volunteers who have given us new cause to rejoice in this Derby season, again making our Commonwealth great to visit and a place we love to call home. On behalf of thousands of Kentuckians who suffered in that tragic storm, and the thousands more who helped mitigate that suffering, I urge my colleagues to join me in commending the many outstanding individuals who made that possible. But while we continue to mourn the losses, we must also celebrate a job very well done.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise today in support of House Resolution 214, recognizing the efforts of the countless volunteers who helped the Commonwealth of Kentucky recover from the ice storm of January 2009.

This past January, the massive ice storm that devastated States from Arkansas to West Virginia hit Kentucky the hardest, leaving more than 700,000 homes and businesses without electricity. This violent storm was Kentucky's worst natural disaster in the State's history as it pounded the area with an inch or more of ice, causing trees and power lines to fall, forcing Statewide evacuations, schools and businesses to close, fuel shortages, as well as causing debris to block more than 5,000 linear miles of roads following the storm. The ice storm left more than 35 people dead, making this the State's most lethal storm in memory and one of Kentucky's deadliest modern weather events.

On January 27, the Kentucky Governor declared a state of emergency for roughly 100 counties, all of which President Obama soon after declared as Federal disaster areas. The Governor also for the first time activated every member of Kentucky's National Guard, dispatching all 4,600 guardsmen to assist with the crisis. With around-the-clock help from local, State and Federal officials and emergency personnel, many working in subzero conditions for days, relief efforts were carried out quickly and safely.

It is important that we recognize the generous support of the many volunteers, private and corporate donors, religious groups, and charitable organizations that assisted the communities in Kentucky in their time of need. This resolution expresses a sincere sympathy for the victims of this devastating storm, and recognizes the action of their public servants, citizens and community leaders who helped hundreds of thousands through this Statewide hardship.

Once again, we are reminded of the strength of the people of this country, and applaud the citizens of Kentucky who in this very difficult time became beacons of light for those who suffered as a result of this icy disaster.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to my distinguished colleague from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie).

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of House Resolution 214.

With no additional speakers, I yield back the balance of my time.