Top House appropriators open debate on Hurricane Harvey relief

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen of New Jersey presents an emergency appropriations bill allowing the federal government to continue vital response and recovery to victims in Texas and Louisiana of flooding from hurricane Harvey, an urgent situation, having brought the bill to the floor to partially replenish the disaster relief fund at the federal emergency management agency. New York Congressman Nita Lowey says the devastation warns Swift congressional action, that she represents areas affected by Superstorm Sandy in that while members can argue about the effects of climate change on storms, communities must receive mitigation funding to protect lives and livelihoods.