Washington, DC – Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a senior member of the House Committees on Judiciary and Homeland Security and Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations, issued the following statement about the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act:

“Americans are a generous people with kind hearts who rally to the aid of our fellow citizens in times of need. Houstonians bore witness to America’s magnanimous spirit in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Harvey which caused catastrophic destruction from which we still strive to recover.

“In the midst of our struggles, we must also acknowledge the misery and torment other Americans confronting natural disasters. That is why I strongly support H.R. 2266, which provides $36.5 billion in aid to respond to the damage caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, and the wildfires currently raging in California.

“Three weeks ago, Hurricane Maria brought wide-spread and unimaginable devastation to Puerto Rico and its 3.5 million inhabitants, our fellow citizens of the United States. At least 48 people lost their lives and most of the island remains without electricity.

“Weeks earlier, Hurricane Irma inflicted horrific damage on the U.S. Virgin Islands and the state of Florida. At least 124 people were killed and destruction to property forced hundreds of thousands of displaced residents to reside in shelters. I believe the supplemental aid package will help redress some of these conditions.

“Specifically, the aid package provides an additional $18.7 billion in supplemental appropriations for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Disaster Relief Fund under the continuing resolution that runs through Dec. 8th. Of this amount, as much as $4.9 billion could be transferred to FEMA’s Community Direct Loan program to help local governments and U.S. territories provide essential services.

“The legislation also provides an additional $16 billion in borrowing authority to the National Flood Insurance Program, which reached its borrowing limit after Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. To alleviate the damage and suffering caused by the wildfires in California, the legislation provides $576.5 million for federal wildfire suppression programs.

“These efforts are just a down payment for the amount of aid that will eventually be needed for all of the areas ravaged by Mother Nature’s wrath. Therefore, I will continue to work closely with House and committee leadership to secure the substantial funding necessary to meet the needs of Hurricane Harvey survivors in the area of housing, community development, transportation, infrastructure, and water resource management.

“These are and remain the highest priorities for me and my Texas colleagues and will we not waver in this pursuit, nor falter or fail in our advocacy.