WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today after the Senate voted 69 to 30 for a bill that includes $1.9 billion in emergency assistance for the Federal Highway Administration:

“This is an important step toward providing Vermont the help it needs and deserves to rebuild roads and bridges washed out by Hurricane Irene.  I hope the House acts soon so communities in Vermont and other states devastated by the flooding may continue their recovery. The name of our country is the United States of America. If that name means anything, it means that when disaster strikes one part of the country, we rally as a nation to support each other.”