Cruz-Cornyn provision expediting $4.3 billion in disaster recovery funding for Hurricane Harvey included in disaster relief package
HOUSTON, Texas – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today issued the following statement applauding the Senate for passing Cruz-Cornyn legislation included in the supplemental disaster funding bill to require the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to publish the federal rules allocating $4.3 billion in Community Development Block Grants – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding for Hurricane Harvey within 90 days. Congress originally appropriated this funding in February 2018 as part of the Bipartisan Budget Act (Public Law 115-123).
“I am grateful my colleagues recognize the importance of ensuring Texas receives there resources it is entitled to under federal law,” Sen. Cruz said. “This funding is crucial in aiding Texas’ long-term recovery and mitigation efforts along the Gulf Coast. It has been over 450 days since Congress provided this funding to the state of Texas, and the provision included in the supplemental disaster funding bill will ensure these Hurricane Harvey funds are delivered to Texas quickly.”
In March, Sen. Cruz joined Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) in introducing an amendment to a supplemental appropriations bill that required HUD to promulgate the rules for the CDBG-DR allocation for mitigation within 90 days. Earlier this year, Sen. Cruz along with Sen. Cornyn, Governor Greg Abbott, and Texas members of the U.S. House of Representatives penned a letter to Acting Director Ross Vought at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) urging him to expedite the issuance of funds. In September 2017, Sens. Cruz and Cornyn led a bipartisan, bicameral letter from members of the Texas delegation to Secretary Ben Carson requesting that HUD allocate the CDBG-DR funds intended for Harvey immediately, lower certain statutory income requirements, give grantees maximum flexibility when funds are dispersed, and shorten the public comment period.