[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 102 (Friday, July 20, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H4369-H4370]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1030
                              FEMA FUNDING

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Kerns). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, just a few minutes ago we 
voted on the emergency supplemental appropriations; and I voted yes, 
partly of course to acknowledge the fact that the debate we had a 
couple of weeks ago had been vindicated. That debate was over whether 
or not FEMA was running out of money or whether or not they could stand 
a $329 million cut in their budget.
  Recognizing the diversity in topography of this Nation and the 
weather of this Nation, we realize that those of us in the southern 
region are now in the

[[Page H4370]]

hurricane season, from the month of June through at least September or 
October. Throughout the Nation, because of the differences in weather 
and, of course, the potential of global warming, we have had erratic 
weather activities.
  We, in Houston, a couple of weeks ago, experienced that with Tropical 
Storm Allison with the fall of 36 inches of rain that fell in our area 
in a 24-hour period. That caused an enormous amount of damage, some 
5,000 homes damaged, water to the roof levels of many of our 
residential areas, and a whole litany of damage that was not expected.
  For example, we noted that the medical center, one of the prized 
medical centers of this Nation, suffered about $2 billion in damage, 
and that number is growing. In touring that site, we saw the enormous 
impact in research, in hospital beds, in emergency facilities that were 
lost.
  Additionally, in the 18th Congressional District, which I represent, 
St. Joseph's Hospital, which is a pivotal hospital in the downtown 
community, the downtown business community, with thousands and 
thousands of employees, lost its level-three emergency center, which is 
still not open. In a tour that I took this last week, 154 patient beds 
were lost, as was their kitchen facilities, able to serve not only 
patients but employees, and, as I indicated, not only their emergency 
trauma unit, which leaves the downtown business community without a 
nearby trauma unit for emergency purposes, but also research and other 
laboratory facilities. Gone.
  In addition to the medical centers of St. Joseph Hospital, we have 
found that the academic institutions, which are about to start to be 
opened, and the secondary schools in our public school systems, have 
been damaged. And, in addition, major damage has confronted our 
universities.
  I toured the University of Houston. At that time they thought their 
damage was about $100 million. Now it is rising to $250 million, and 
insurance is way under $100 million. In looking at that damage, I noted 
precious resources, such as books, research facilities, school 
classrooms, equipment, and teacher offices were damaged.
  Texas Southern University, which is about to begin its mitigation 
process, likewise has an enormous amount of damage in their law library 
as well as the various buildings that have been impacted by the damage, 
mostly in the basement levels.
  Mr. Speaker, I raise these issues because I think it would be foolish 
for this House to debate and play around with the needs of the American 
citizens. Houston may not be the only place that will suffer some sort 
of weather damage and some sort of catastrophe that warrants the 
intervention of FEMA. Right now, my district has a number of FEMA 
representatives and offices around the community trying to work with 
those who have been devastated not only physically and property-wise 
but also psychologically.
  I was appalled that we would stand on the floor of the House and 
actually debate cutting FEMA. My understanding is that we are trying to 
submit additional dollars into the VA-HUD bill for FEMA. And that is 
not only for Houston, Texas, but may be for other disasters that we 
certainly do not wish for but may happen. But the dilemma is the 
administration has not seen fit, along with FEMA, to stand up and 
request the dollars, to work with us in Congress to acknowledge that 
their funds are depleted.
  I recall very vividly when we were on the floor debating and arguing 
against cutting FEMA that I had an amendment to add those monies back 
in, and we were then being told that FEMA had $1 billion in its 
account. Twenty-four hours after that debate, we were told that, in 
actuality, they only had $178 million and, in fact, even 24 hours later 
maybe that would be gone. We in Texas had to request that our matching 
dollars be lessened to 10 percent and that FEMA would pay up to 90 
percent.
  We are now in the midst of trying to rebuild lives. In fact, our 
local community agencies have come together to give washing machines 
and refrigerators and other necessities. In addition, I have been able 
to secure matching monies totaling $4 million from one of our utility 
companies, Reliant, to be able to add dollars for people who have been 
displaced because of the damage, and also compounded by the enormous 
heat that we face in Houston.
  This is time now, Mr. Speaker, for us to gather together, to take the 
smoke and mirrors away, to stand on the floor of the House and work for 
the monies for FEMA, but as well for the administration to be able to 
stand up and request these dollars so that all America can be protected 
in the time of disaster.

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