Statement by Congressman McCaul, Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, on Hurricane Sandy funding legislation

"Today I voted in favor of direct FEMA assistance to the people of New York and New Jersey recovering from Hurricane Sandy. I also voted against a separate bill that ballooned over $33 billion beyond the true emergency and immediate needs of the region, including $188 million for an Amtrak extension project, $135million to improve weather forecasting, and $50 million in tree planting subsidies. It is unfortunate that Congress exploited this crisis to spend taxpayer dollars on resources and programs not directly related to the devastation."

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