[inaudible conversations] good morning everyone. The committee will come to orde order. We are here this morning to review ongoing Recovery Efforts in puerto rico and the Virgin Islands in weeks of Hurricane Irma. We are now over two months removed from when Hurricane Irma devastated st. Thomas and st. John on september 6. Its been nearly 60 days since Hurricane Maria hit st. Croix and puerto rico. This is a little over a week ago that senators cassidys, franken and i, along with senator carper who was just here and senator harris as well as some of our house colleagues visited both st. Thomas and puerto rico. I want to thank both governors, the governor or cello for your hospitality, the time that you gave us during that visit was incredibly important for all of us to see to be on the ground and to be hearing directly from you. I know that some other members of our committee have traveled to puerto rico previously and i thank them for that as well. What i think we observed is that the
Yesterday on the roadways, earlier off in the morning we always joke everyone was still sleeping after the eagles win. Everyone was in a coma. Today not the case. Everyone out this early. Crews are slowing you down. An accident and accident investigation. Construction guys have fantastic weather to be working in right now. So yes. Im assuming probably wrapping up with time. But it is very comfortable for them right now. So this time of the year, we will take this. And talk about a warm up for the day ahead, wait until you see, really looks like nice excuse guys to get outside if you have the opportunity. Storm scan, empty. Tristate sweep, no problems. We are looking good here. And we expect to see nothing but sunshine all day today. But look at the wind speed. Now for one thing the direction changes, now more out of the southsouthwest, but also slack ends up a bit. So the wind flow helps to move some of these air masses around, but it is not a real strong wind flow. So not going to be
It does, it will create some pretty blinding sun glare, so we generally have nice clear sky out there to enjoy throughout the day. But looking at the area temperatures, some changing right before your very eyes, at the top of the hour here, at 42 in philadelphia. We are are at 33 in trenton. Quite the difference, depending on which neighborhood you find yourself in this morning. Soap, it is still cold enough that i would suggest heavier winter coat. But may feel little colder to you obviously in reading oral end town specially where you bottom out in the 20s courtesy of the nice clear sky but here is the thing. We rebound pretty efficiently here from the 30s, the 20s, and even some spots again in the 40s, we climb all the way , at least in the city, to the low 60s today. So, there is a chance of some of you arent going to actually hit those levels, since, you know, youre in the outer lying suburbs, but regardless much milder day. Minus the win. And plus full sunshine. It really looks l
If you feel00 optimistic. At 202 7848001 if you are pessimistic. It you can also weigh in on social media. And you canitter reach us on facebook as well. Again, black friday. Where is the economy . As you go out today, 80 you will be one of the many who pick up a flatscreen tv. Streetalks, the wall tunnel joined at the hip nafta and cheap tvs. One of the biggest casualties of the trade scuffle between mexico and the u. S. Is one of the most consumer products, a cheap flatpanel Television Set. Every year, consumers by more than 40 million tvs and they are assembled in mexico. Just to give you a graphic of the spike in Television Set sales under nafta, the decline in price first of all of a 55 underv up near 6,000 now 1000 in many cases in 2017. The market share is rising as well. Your views on the economy. If you are optimistic, 202 7488000. If you are pessimistic 202 7848001. This is part of the conversation on trade, on tax reform when the Senate Returns next week. This is the front p
Steven fisher is in ven nis, california, not too far from a the u infer no. Reporter the same cannot be be said across Southern California. The wildfires continue to burn. More people being forced to e c evacuate their homes and the air quality around here beginning to become a huge concern. The fight against the flames is hand to hand comment. Across Southern California. Theres nothing anyone could do. The rolling flames racing through more than 100,000 acres taking with them hundreds of homes. Cars, power lines and everything in their path pushed by severe winds gust iing at times to hurricane strength. This is a point you have to pack up and go. More than 200,000 families have been e evacuated. Need to get out of here. Reporter scrambling to safety. You can see thes coming up. That was it. We were out of here. We didnt take anything. Now as some return to their burned out neighborhoods. For so many theres nothing left. Thats just pure devastation to see your familys home just gone.