WASHINGTON - Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) today issued the following statement after House Republican leadership refused to take up the Disaster Assistance Supplemental Appropriations bill passed last week by the Senate to provide federal resources to communities struggling to recover from the devastating storm and other disasters that have occurred over the last year:

"As Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I am deeply disappointed that the House failed to act last night on emergency relief for communities devastated by Super-Storm Sandy.

"The bipartisan disaster assistance bill passed by the Senate provides resources to help recover and rebuild American lives and communities. It is long past time that communities in Maryland, New York, New Jersey and across the nation get the resources and support they need from their federal government. We've got businesses that need to restart and homes that need to be rebuilt. The TV cameras have left, but the compelling human need has not.

"I am committed to helping the communities that were hit by Super-Storm Sandy. I will make enacting a supplemental bill an urgent priority in the new Congress."

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