House Dems say GOP cuts would have hindered response to tsunami

House Democrats on Friday said Republican budget cuts would have hampered Hawaii and West Coast states as they cope with tsunami waves caused by the earthquake near Japan.

Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) said the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) helped prepare officials in his state to evacuate the coastline, and said waves were pounding and destroying Oregon's docks this afternoon.

"Luckily, since we had ample warning because we still do have NOAA and we still do have buoys before these Republican cuts go into effect, there were no people on the docks," DeFazio said. "At this point we're not aware that anyone has been injured."

Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.) said many federal programs help to save lives, and said the government needs to continue funding the placement of sensing devices on the bottom of the ocean.

Rep. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) said her state was also coping with the effects of the earthquake on Friday. "I'm just grateful that all of our first responders had everything they needed in order to take the appropriate action," she said.