Washington, DC - Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a senior Member of the House Committees on Homeland Security and the Judiciary, and the Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations, today released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 5895, the Energy and Water, Legislative Branch and Military Construction-Veterans Administration Appropriation Act for Fiscal Year 2019:

“I am pleased that the appropriations bill passed today by the House of Representatives this morning includes six Jackson Lee Amendments that will improve the lives of Houstonians and help the community anticipate and react to the next major weather event such as the one that ravaged Houston and its surrounding areas last year. Hurricane Harvey was a calamity unlike any other, and its impact is still reverberating throughout the Houston area. Estimates indicate that 52 inches of rain fell causing unimaginable damage. Hurricane Harvey is the largest housing disaster to strike the U.S. in our nation’s history. During Hurricane Harvey over 300,000 structures flooded in southeastern Texas, where extreme rainfall hit many areas that are densely-populated. At its peak on September 1, 2017, one-third of Houston, the nation’s fourth largest city, was underwater with 34,575 evacuees in shelters across Texas. The storm and resulting flooding damaged 203,000 homes, of which 12,700 were destroyed. Port Arthur residents were living in tents after 80% of the city’s housing was flooded by Hurricane Harvey rains, which led to acute housing needs.

“Houston was badly damaged by Hurricane Harvey, and was assisted in its recovery by the heroic work performed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. One of the Jackson Lee Amendments adopted today addresses the need for robust funding for the Army Corps of Engineers, by redirecting $100 million for increased funding for critical construction projects, like those current and future projects proposed for the Houston/Harris County metropolitan area. As the federal agency that collects and studies basic information pertaining to river and harbor, flood and storm damage reduction, shore protection, aquatic ecosystem restoration, and conducts detailed studies, plans, and specifications for river and harbor, and flood and storm damage reduction, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer plays a critical role in the building, maintaining, and expanding the most critical of the nation’s infrastructure.

“The Army Corps of Engineers has been working with the Harris County Flood Control District since 1937 to reduce the risk of flooding within Harris County. Current projects include 6 federal flood risk management projects: (1) Sims Bayou; (2) Greens Bayou; (3) Brays Bayou; (4) White Oak Bayou; (5) Hunting Bayou, and (6) Clear Creek. In addition to these ongoing projects, the Army Corps of Engineers operates and maintains the Addicks and Barker (A&B) Detention Dams in northwest Harris County. The study prescribed for in the Jackson Lee Amendment is needed, given the frequency and severity of historic-level flood events in recent years in and around the Houston metropolitan area. It is clear that much more needs to be done to minimize the vulnerability of the nation’s fourth largest metropolitan area and the economic engine from the flood damage. Minimizing the risk of flood damage to the Houston and Harris County metropolitan area is a matter of national significance because the region is one of the nation’s major technology, energy, finance, export and medical centers: (1) Port of Houston is the largest bulk port in the world; (2) Texas Medical Center is a world renowned teaching, research and treatment center; (3) a financial community that is second only to New York City as home to the most Fortune 500 companies; and (4) the Houston Watershed Assessment study area sits within major Hurricane evacuation arteries for the larger Galveston Gulf Coast region.

“Another Jackson Lee Amendment made in order addresses the need for robust funding for the Army Corps’s Investigations account by redirecting $3 million for increased funding for post-disaster watershed assessment studies, like the one that is being contemplated for the Houston/Harris County metropolitan area. I am pleased that legislation I worked to pass earlier this year provides that the Secretary of the Army may initiate up to six new study starts during fiscal year 2019, and that five of those studies are to involve locales that are the subject of a federal disaster declaration issued in 2017 or 2018.

“I am optimistic that one of those new study starts will be the Houston Regional Watershed Assessment Flood Risk Management Feasibility study. Such a study is certainly needed given the frequency and severity of historic-level flood events in recent years in and around the Houston metropolitan area. The purpose of the Houston Regional Watershed Assessment is to identify risk reduction measures and optimize performance from a multi-objective systems performance perspective of the regional network of nested and intermingled watersheds, reservoir dams, flood flow conveyance channels, storm water detention basins, and related Flood Risk Management (FRM) infrastructure. Special emphasis of the study, which covers 22 primary watersheds within Harris County's 1,756 square miles, will be placed on extreme flood events that exceed the system capacity resulting in impacts to asset conditions/functions and loss of life.

“Another Jackson Lee Amendment adopted today, provides an additional $2 million for the Supportive Services for Veterans’ Families (“SSVF”) account. This amendment helps address a glaring fact: there are approximately 107,000 veterans (male and female) who are homeless on any given night, and almost twice as many—almost 200,000 individuals—experience homelessness in a calendar year. In Houston, for example, between the years 2010 and 2012, the number of homeless veterans increased from 771 to 1,162.

“Worse still, the statistics suggest that the problem may be worsening over the passage of time. The SSVF program assists veterans and their families who are experiencing difficulty in life. The SSVF Program ensures that eligible veteran families receive the outreach, case management, and assistance in obtaining VA and other benefits. These services may include health care, daily living, legal services, fiduciary and payee services, personal financial planning, child care, transportation, housing counseling, etc. This need is exacerbated for veterans who have small children and these individuals are in need of special programs that allow for housing that welcomes children. The Jackson Lee Amendment will enable this vital program to serve more veterans’ families in need of help increasing monies outlaid for grants to private non-profit organizations and consumer cooperatives that provide supportive services to very low-income veteran families living in or transitioning to permanent housing.

“Many homeless veterans, including those in Texas, lack housing because they lost their job or could no longer afford rent; many suffer from an untreated mental illness that keeps them from working. Every day the SSVF program makes a real difference in the lives of real people. The SSVF Program enables VA staff and local homeless service providers to work together to effectively address the unique challenges that make it difficult for some veterans and their families to remain housed.

“The fourth Jackson Lee Amendment adopted also concerns homeless veterans, and ensures that housing for our veterans remains one of our highest priorities. This Jackson Lee Amendment ensures adequate funding for programs such as the Veterans Administration Supportive Housing (VASH), which provides case-management services, adequate housing facilities, mental health support, and address other areas that contribute to veteran homelessness. VASH is a jointly-administered permanent supportive housing program for disabled Veterans experiencing homelessness in which VA medical Centers provide referrals and case management while Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) administer the Section 8 housing vouchers. Programs like VASH have succeeded in changing lives. In 2012 alone, 35,905 veterans lived in the public housing provided by VASH. I have seen the impact of such grants in Texas, and within my congressional district, and I know sure that this funding has positively impacted many communities across this country.

“While we must work to ensure we have maintained our commitment to our soldiers, we must not lose sight of our commitment to our planet. In this respect, a Jackson Lee Amendment increasing funding in the Department of Energy’s Environmental Justice Program by $1,000,000 is an important initiative, and I am pleased that the Jackson Lee Amendment on this topic was made in order.

“The Environmental Justice Program is an essential tool in the effort to improve the lives of low income and minority communities and the environment at large. Over 20 years ago, on February 11, 1994, President Bill Clinton issued Executive Order (E.O.) 12898, directing federal agencies to identify and address the disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of their actions on minority and low-income populations. A healthy environment sustains a productive and healthy community which fosters personal and economic growth.

“Maintaining funds for environmental justice that go to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Minority Serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges, and other organizations is imperative to protecting sustainability and growth of the community and environment. The funding of these programs is vital to ensuring that minority groups are not placed at a disadvantage when it comes to the environment and the continued preservation of their homes. This has been the lesson of Flint, Michigan.

“The Community Leaders Institute (“CLI”) is another vital component of the Environmental Justice Program. It ensures that those in leadership positions understand what is happening in their communities and can therefore make informed decisions in regards to their communities. In addition to promoting environmental sustainability, CLI also brings important factors including public health and economic development into the discussion for community leaders.

“The CLI program has been expanded to better serve Native Americans and Alaska Natives, which is a prime example of how various other minority groups can be assisted as well. Through community education efforts, teachers and students have also benefitted by learning about radiation, radioactive waste management, and other related subjects. The Department of Energy places interns and volunteers from minority institutions into energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. The DOE also works to increase low income and minority access to STEM fields and help students attain graduate degrees as well as find employment.

“I am also pleased that the House also adopted a Jackson Lee Amendment that will increase the percentages of minorities in the sciences, and related fields. This Jackson Lee Amendment will help ensure that underrepresented communities are able to participate and contribute equitably in the energy and scientific future. Consistent with E.O. 12898, the Department of Energy seeks to provide equal access in these opportunities for underrepresented groups in STEM, including minorities, Native Americans, and women. This is critical, as women and minorities make up 70 percent of college students, but only 45 percent of undergraduate STEM degree holders. This need is all the more urgent as the nation’s demographics are shifting, and now most children under the age of one are minorities. It is critical that we close the gap in the number of minorities who seek STEM opportunities. The Department of Energy places interns and volunteers from minority institutions into energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. The DOE also works to increase low income and minority access to STEM fields and help students attain graduate degrees as well as find employment.

“The energy and science education programs funded in part by the appropriations bill passed today will help ensure that members of underrepresented communities are not placed at a disadvantage when it comes to the environmental sustainability, preservation, and health. Through education about the importance of environmental sustainability, we can promote a broader understanding of science and how citizens can improve their surroundings. Through community education efforts, teachers and students have also benefitted by learning about radiation, radioactive waste management, and other related subjects. With the continuation of this kind of funding, we can increase diversity, provide clean energy options to our most underserved communities, and help improve their environments, which will yield better health outcomes and greater public awareness. I encourage Energy Secretary Perry to surpass the commitment of his predecessors’ toward increasing the nation’s economic competitiveness and enabling more of our people to realize their full potential.”