Austin News

U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Rep. Al Green (D-Texas-9), and Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas-29) have issued a bipartisan letter expressing gratitude to the Biden administration for quickly approving Acting Governor Patrick’s request for a major disaster declaration following Hurricane Beryl. The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) assistance will accelerate recovery efforts by covering costs associated with debris removal and emergency protective measures in the Houston area, East Texas, and the Coastal Bend.

Sen. Cruz emphasized his ongoing support for local, state, and federal officials to ensure Texans receive necessary disaster assistance.

In their letter, the senators stated: “We appreciate your swift approval of Governor Patrick’s request for a federal disaster declaration for the impacted areas of Texas, and we urge you to continue providing any and all resources available from the federal government. We stand ready to work with FEMA and other relevant agencies to facilitate quick evaluation and deployment of necessary resources for a full recovery.”

The letter addressed to President Biden reads as follows:

"Mr. President:

We write today regarding Hurricane Beryl, which began impacting the State of Texas on July 7th. The consequences of this storm are severe, and Acting Governor Dan Patrick has declared a state disaster in at least 121 counties due to extreme winds and heavy rainfall, resulting in over 2.7 million Texans without power at the peak of the storm.

The Governor and local officials determined that the severity and scale of the storm surpasses the response capabilities of both state and local governments. Additional federal assistance is necessary to safeguard lives, protect property, and ensure public health and safety. Prolonged displacement due to damaged homes, businesses, and essential infrastructure compounds the challenges affected Texans face.

We appreciate your swift approval of Governor Patrick’s request for a federal disaster declaration for the impacted areas of Texas, and we urge you to continue providing any and all resources available from the federal government. We stand ready to work with FEMA and other relevant agencies to facilitate quick evaluation and deployment of necessary resources for a full recovery.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

/X/"