[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 4841]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      HOUSTON FLOODING ASSISTANCE

  (Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I just returned from my district which 
I might say is under water with, again, another torrential rain that 
has caused so many Houstonians and those in the surrounding areas to 
suffer. We did this with Tropical Storm Allison last year in May 2015, 
and now again in 2016.
  You see the depth of devastation by the families that I visited at 
M.O. Campbell and in apartment complexes. First, let me thank the mayor 
and county government officials who are working so hard.
  We need to move as quickly as possible for the Presidential 
declaration of natural disaster. I know it is a process, and I accept 
that. But we also have to have a way of investing in the infrastructure 
of overcoming the terrible aspect of places where water comes with no 
place to go.
  We need a national infrastructure effort and one that involves the 
State of Texas and Houston, Harris County, as well because we lost 
eight lives.
  Finally, let me say, Mr. Speaker, as I indicate to the Texas 
Department of Transportation that receives Federal funds, we must put 
flashing lights and signals where there are underpasses where people 
have died. We have to save lives.
  I will continue to fight for housing and for the Federal declaration 
and for FEMA. People are suffering, and we are going to work with them 
and give them hope.

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