SRES-804-119
Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4117; text: CR S4109)
Sponsored by James Justice (R-WV)
What it does
This resolution commemorates the tenth anniversary of the June 23, 2016 floods in West Virginia, which caused 23 deaths, affected 44 of 55 counties, and resulted in an estimated $1.2 billion in damage. It honors West Virginians who lost their lives and those affected by the disaster. The resolution does not create law, appropriate funds, or establish any new federal program or obligation.
Who benefits
Families and survivors of the 2016 floods who receive formal congressional recognition of their loss. First responders and community volunteers whose efforts are acknowledged. West Virginia communities broadly, who receive symbolic recognition of their resilience and recovery. The bill's sponsors, Senators Justice and Capito, may benefit politically from the acknowledgment of a significant event in their state.
Who is hurt
No group is materially harmed by this resolution. There are no regulatory, fiscal, or legal effects on any individual or organization.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that formal congressional recognition honors the 23 West Virginians who lost their lives and the hundreds of thousands affected by a once-in-a-millennium flood event. They contend that commemorative resolutions serve an important civic function by preserving the historical record of major national disasters and acknowledging the resilience of affected communities, consistent with Congress's longstanding practice of marking significant anniversaries of tragedies.
Opponents argue
Opponents might argue that commemorative resolutions consume limited Senate floor time without producing any tangible policy outcome for flood survivors or disaster preparedness. They could contend that the same recognition could be achieved through other means — such as floor statements or press releases — and that unresolved recovery needs from the 2016 floods, including infrastructure and housing, would be better addressed through substantive legislation rather than symbolic action.