The Texas Tribune
  • Our Picks
  • Data
  • Events
  • Newsletters
  • Donate
  • Our Picks
  • Data
  • Events
  • Newsletters
  • Donate

Abbott and Texans in Congress request $18.7 billion more in Harvey aid

Gov. Greg Abbott and most Texans in Congress signed a letter sent Thursday asking for billions more to support the state's recovery from Hurricane Harvey.

by Abby Livingston and Matthew Choi Oct. 5, 2017 Updated: 4 PM

Republish
A digger sits on top of a growing city-run debris pile filled with water-damaged items, from mattresses to sheetrock, in Port Arthur on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017. 
A digger sits on top of a growing city-run debris pile filled with water-damaged items, from mattresses to sheetrock, in Port Arthur on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017.  Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune
In Harvey's Wake

The devastation was swift, and the recovery is far from over. Sign up for our ongoing coverage of Hurricane Harvey's aftermath. You can help by sharing your story here or sending a tip to harvey@texastribune.org.

 More in this series 

*Correction appended.

WASHINGTON — Nearly all of the Texas congressional delegation and Gov. Greg Abbott sent a letter Thursday afternoon to senior members of Congress calling for $18.7 billion in new funding to support Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts. 

In September, President Donald Trump signed into law a short-term, $15.25 billion measure to address the immediate emergency in the state and in Florida, which suffered serious damage from Hurricane Irma. 

"Texas greatly appreciates the appropriations committees’ efforts to swiftly provide funds," this week's letter stated.

The Texas Tribune thanks its sponsors. Become one.

"However, in light of the unprecedented damage from Hurricane Harvey and the historically epochal flooding of Houston, Beaumont and surrounding regions, we all recognize that the funding already appropriated is a small fraction of the federal resources needed to help rebuild Texas and reinvigorate the American economy." 

To give a sense of the scale of the need in Texas, state officials predict a recovery will cost $60 billion in federal support — from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development alone. 

The Texans addressed the letter to the leaders of the appropriations committees in both chambers: U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Mississippi, U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-New Jersey, and U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey, D-New York.

The letter requests $10 billion for projects by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and $300 million for Economic Development Administration grants, both of which would help construct preventive infrastructure for future storms.

Additional funding would also be used to redevelop businesses and state infrastructure damaged during the hurricane, with $800 million going to rebuild educational institutions and $150 million for transportation infrastructure, according to the letter. An additional $7 billion would go toward Community Development Block Grants and $450 million for disaster loans for businesses, homeowners, renters and nonprofits.

The delegation is going to great lengths to show a united front. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn's office released a photo on Wednesday of more than a dozen members meeting in his U.S. Capitol office. 

The Texas Tribune thanks its sponsors. Become one.

However, three Texas GOP House members out of the 38-member delegation did not sign on: U.S. Reps. Joe Barton of Ennis, Kevin Brady of The Woodlands and Jeb Hensarling of Dallas.

“I fully support Governor Abbott, and am especially appreciative of [Texas A&M University System Chancellor John] Sharp’s outreach to our county and community leaders," stated Brady, a close ally of GOP House leadership.

"Having led Hurricane Rita recovery efforts in Congress for Texas – and last week secured $5 billion in immediate disaster tax relief for our communities – I’m working to better understand the complete long-term rebuilding needs of our state and how each installment of federal funding fits into it.”  

Barton generally supports the letter, according to spokesman Daniel Rhea.

"Traditionally, Rep. Barton does not sign onto letters to his colleagues who he can speak with in person," Rhea said. "As co-chairman of the Harvey Task Force, he is focused on long-term solutions for natural disasters and how we can help Texans get the aid they need." 

Hensarling is working on his own letter to encourage more federal aid to Texas, spokeswoman Stami Williams wrote in an email.

"He supports more relief for Texas and expects to work with his colleagues to assure that it is forthcoming and used effectively," Williams said.

*Correction: An earlier version of this story misidentified U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran's title.

The Texas Tribune thanks its sponsors. Become one.

Read related Tribune coverage

  • Texans shouldn't expect enough federal money to fully rebuild after Harvey
  • Federal Harvey relief funds might take years, officials tell legislators

Quality journalism doesn't come free

Perhaps it goes without saying — but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. At a time when newsroom resources and revenue across the country are declining, The Texas Tribune remains committed to sustaining our mission: creating a more engaged and informed Texas with every story we cover, every event we convene and every newsletter we send. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. Do you value our journalism? Show us with your support.

Yes, I'll donate today

Hide all comments

Comment Policy

The Texas Tribune is pleased to provide the opportunity for you to share your observations about this story. We encourage lively debate on the issues of the day, but we ask that you refrain from using profanity or other offensive speech, engaging in personal attacks or name-calling, posting advertising, or wandering away from the topic at hand. To comment, you must be a registered user of the Tribune, and your real name will be displayed. All comments are shown in Central Time. Thanks for taking time to offer your thoughts.

You must be logged in to leave a comment. | Login | Sign Up

Your Comment

    • Donate
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • © 2019 The Texas Tribune
    Topics
    • Congress
    • Courts
    • Criminal justice
    • Demographics
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Environment
    • Health care
    • Higher education
    • Immigration
    • Politics
    • Public education
    • State government
    Info
    • About Us
    • Our Staff
    • Who Funds Us?
    • Strategic Plan
    • Republishing Guidelines
    • Code of Ethics
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Send us a confidential tip
    • Corrections
    • Feeds
    • Newsletters
    • Video
    Social Media
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Reddit
    • Join our Facebook Group, This Is Your Texas.