Austin News

HOUSTON, Texas – U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) visited the City of Houston Emergency Operations Center yesterday, where he received a briefing from emergency management personnel and participated in a press conference alongside Houston Mayor John Whitmire (D-Houston) and other local officials.

At the press conference, Sen. Cruz stated, "I want to start by commending the mayor for the terrific job you're doing and the terrific job your entire team is doing, from Houston police to Houston Fire to solid waste to everyone dealing with emergency management. I've spent the afternoon in the Emergency Management Center with this team, and this is a professional team that is focused, number one, on saving lives, on responding to Houstonians who are in harm's way."

He continued, "We just came through a very serious storm. Sadly, it took the lives of three Houstonians. For those three, we grieve for them; we pray for their families. We pray; we grieve especially for the family of the HPD civilian employee who lost his life today. Stepping forward to serve his community was the last act that he could do."

Sen. Cruz outlined steps for federal support: "As the mayor said, the steps for a federal emergency declaration involve the governor submitting a request for a declaration to the President of the United States. At that point, I and John Cornyn, along with Al Green and our federal colleagues will support that federal declaration. I'm confident that the President will issue a federal emergency declaration promptly once submitted by the Governor."

He emphasized ongoing collaboration: "We will then work hand in hand with city officials, county officials, state officials to ensure that federal resources are made available--federal resources are made available to help with rebuilding efforts."

Senator Cruz acknowledged Houston's resilience: "The rebuild is going to be significant. There was real damage but good news is for Houston; this ain't our first rodeo. If you live on the Gulf Coast part of living on Gulf Coast is hurricanes... This team is very good at it unfortunately because we know there's going to be another hurricane and we will come through it. We will rebuild because we are Houston strong."

Senator Cruz has consistently advocated for relief efforts following natural disasters affecting Texans.

In 2017 after Hurricane Harvey’s devastation, Sen. Cruz visited affected regions and authored legislation providing tax relief to storm survivors along the Gulf Coast.

In 2023 following a tornado in Perryton, Sen. Cruz met with local officials and assisted with cleanup efforts.

In 2022 he secured inclusion of Texas coastal resiliency improvement plans in water infrastructure legislation.

During 2020’s COVID pandemic when 1.4 million Texans lost jobs Sen. Cruz introduced comprehensive recovery legislation.

After Tropical Storm Imelda in 2019 Sen.Cruz urged President Trump for a federal disaster declaration due flooding in southeast Texas.

Following Highland Lakes flooding in 2018 he toured affected areas offering support.

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