Washington, DC (September 25, 2008) – South Texas is one step closer to receiving an influx of sorely needed funds to rebuild after Hurricane Dolly, announced Congressman Rubén Hinojosa today. This afternoon, the House of Representatives passed the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act of 2009 which includes $22.9 billion for disaster assistance and $37.5 million for International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) construction projects.
After Hurricane Dolly made landfall in South Texas this August, Hinojosa, as well as other members of the Congressional Border Caucus, requested additional funds to rebuild devastated communities and reimburse local governments for the costs of preparing for and recovering from the storm. The $22.9 billion appropriation for disaster assistance will ensure that FEMA, the American Red Cross, the Department of Agriculture, and Small Business Administration will have sufficient funds for their vital roles in rebuilding regions affected by recent disasters including Hurricanes Dolly, Ike, and Gustav; wildfires; and flooding in the Midwest.
”The IBWC is charged with the upkeep of over 500 miles of levees along the U.S.- Mexico Border, yet their annual budget doesn’t even allow them to keep up with annual upkeep, let alone the infrastructure improvements needed to protect our region from devastating hurricanes,” said Hinojosa. “This $37.5 million appropriation is a huge boost and will vastly improve IBWC’s ability to fortify our levee system and better safeguard our communities from the effects of future storms.”
In December of last year, Congress approved $10 million for IBWC levees in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. In 2005, the IBWC completed a study with the Army Corps of Engineers that concluded that many sections of the levees are sub-standard and would not hold up under severe rain events. The study concluded that a substantial federal investment would be needed to adequately remedy all documented shortcomings.
“We are all well aware of the catastrophic devastation that occurred in New Orleans when the levees failed and, had Hurricane Dolly intensified prior to landfall, I fear a similar tragedy could have occurred in South Texas,” said Hinojosa. “I will continue to do everything I can to make sure that our region receives all the federal money it needs to properly repair and raise the levees and ensure that the same catastrophe that happened in New Orleans does not repeat itself.”
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