[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 23, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S801-S802]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                 Texas

  Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, my State is no stranger to severe weather. 
In the past few years, we have experienced the devastation of major 
hurricanes, tropical storms, and tornadoes. But last week brought 
something entirely new in the form of extreme weather--winter storms, 
prolonged subfreezing temperatures, and treacherous roadways across the 
entire State. And unlike, for example, the State of Massachusetts, 
where that may not be entirely uncommon, we are not used to that 
subzero freezing weather.
  Our State was not prepared, I think it is clear to say, correct to 
say, for these low temperatures or the devastating impact they would 
have on our critical infrastructure.
  Frozen natural gas wells and wind turbines, among other issues, led 
to widespread power outages, and millions of Texans were left without a 
way to keep their family warm throughout the historic low temperatures.
  Compounding matters even further, some 12 million Texans faced water 
disruptions due to the lasting power outages and frozen or broken water 
lines. Cities across the State issued boil notices, and folks whose 
taps are still dry resorted to boiling snow as their only option for 
drinking water or perhaps even to flush the toilets.
  The weather created incredibly dangerous conditions for many across 
the State, especially our most vulnerable citizens. We know of nearly 
80 Texans who have died due to this extreme weather, and that number is 
likely to climb in the days ahead.
  These widespread outages will prompt a necessary investigation into 
the high level of generation failures, as well as the overall security 
and reliability of our energy grid. We have a lot of work to do to 
ensure that these deadly mass outages never occur again--no matter what 
Mother Nature sends our way. There is no reason for millions of people 
in one of the most energy-rich places in the world to be left without 
reliable power.
  Senator Cruz and I sent a letter to President Biden urging him to 
grant Governor Abbott's request for an emergency disaster declaration, 
and I appreciate the President's quick action to ensure our State could 
receive the full range of Federal resources to respond to this crisis.
  I also worked with the Governor and the Department of Energy to 
secure an emergency order allowing Texas power generators to increase 
production, and I appreciate the fact that that, too, was quickly 
approved.
  In times of crisis there is no red team and no blue team, and I want 
to thank every person who has supported the response to this crisis so 
far, whether they are Texans or not. I know more will be needed in the 
days and weeks ahead, and I want to assure the folks back home that I 
am listening, I am working, and I am here to help any way that I can. 
And I know that I speak for the entire Texas delegation.
  I know there are still many without water and electricity, and I want 
to assure them that you are the Nation's priority. But in the face of 
hardship--and, as I started my remarks, we have been through a lot over 
the last few years--I am always in awe of the way Texans show up and 
help one another--neighbors helping neighbors. We have seen countless 
inspiring stories in the past, and this disaster is no exception.
  There are stories like that of Ken Everly, an 82-year-old Air Force 
veteran from Grande Prairie. Mr. Everly is on hospice care. He relies 
on a breathing machine to keep him alive and a special air mattress 
that prevents bedsores to keep him comfortable. When his home lost 
power, Mr. Everly was in serious danger of losing his life. The 
breathing machine cut off, and the air mattress deflated, leaving him 
struggling to breathe on an iron bed frame.
  His son-in-law Nate pleaded for help on Facebook, and within hours 
help arrived. Nate said: ``I don't know where it came from, but a 
generator showed up.'' Thanks to the generosity of a stranger, Mr. 
Everly once again had his breathing machine operating, a comfortable 
mattress, and heat in his home.
  The best part of that story, though, is that it is not unique. In 
ways big and small, we have seen other examples of neighbors going out 
of their way to help one another.
  Jeep drivers in North Texas teamed up to offer free rides to and from 
work for healthcare workers and first responders. Restaurants across 
the State offered free food to folks without power. And countless 
Texans shared offers on social media to deliver warm meals, bottles of 
water, and a range of other supplies to those in need.
  One of the big issues that folks back home have faced is a lack of 
safe drinking water, a need Houston-area breweries stepped up to fill. 
The breweries already had a supply of clean water on hand for their 
brewing process, and they spread the word to their communities: Come by 
with a container, and we will give you some clean water. These 
breweries collectively donated thousands of gallons of clean drinking 
water completely free of charge.
  Across Texas, churches, schools, nonprofits, community centers, and 
local organizations opened their doors as warming centers. One of those 
warming centers is operated by Houston's most beloved furniture store 
owner, known as ``Mattress Mack.'' Dating back to Hurricane Katrina in 
2005, Mack has opened the doors of his stores to provide food and 
shelter to those impacted by extreme weather. Over the last several 
days, Gallery Furniture, his furniture business, has been open around 
the clock for Texans to stay as long as they need, whether it is an 
hour for a hot meal or for several nights.
  These stories warm my heart, and they are a reminder of the strength 
and generosity of Texans and an encouraging reminder of the endless 
amount of goodwill that still exists in the world. The outpouring of 
love exemplifies a quote that I heard some time ago

[[Page S802]]

from a Texas county commissioner after one particularly terrible 
accident in West Texas. He said: ``Being a Texan doesn't describe where 
you're from; it describes who your family is.''
  Well, I am grateful to those countless Texans who supported our 
communities across our State during this crisis. First responders and 
9/11 dispatchers have gone above and beyond the call of duty. 
Healthcare workers, fighting a pandemic already, have now had to deal 
with power outages, staffing shortages, and water disruptions because 
of the storm. Utility workers and energy providers have worked, of 
course, around the clock in dangerous conditions to restore power and 
safe drinking water to Texans. And millions of unsung heroes have 
helped their fellow Texans get through these dark days: checking on an 
elderly neighbor, helping drivers whose vehicles were stuck in the 
snow, welcoming people into their homes, donating supplies to those in 
need, and so much more.
  I would like to offer a special thank-you to members of my staff in 
Texas who continued working throughout this crisis while battling power 
and water outages themselves. Because of their diligence, my office has 
connected Texans in need with local resources to provide shelter, food, 
and water. We have stayed in contact with State and local emergency 
officials about the ongoing crisis, and we have assisted local critical 
care facilities in need, including a large COVID testing lab in Austin. 
We helped connect it with local resources to receive additional fuel 
for its generators so millions of dollars of COVID testing materials 
and pathology tests would not go to waste.
  The past year has dealt us a tough hand. I would say that is true for 
America. But I have faith that we will come through this crisis just as 
we always have before--together. I continue to say a prayer for those 
impacted by the storm and assure my constituents, my friends and 
neighbors in Texas, that I will continue to do everything in my power 
to help our State recover and rebuild