Abbott lauds Texas congressional delegation for landing Harvey funding

Austin American-Statesman (TX)

Feb. 28--WASHINGTON -- Gov. Greg Abbott capped off his five-day trip to the nation's capital Tuesday by meeting with the Texas congressional delegation, thanking them for securing further disaster relief funding that the state can use to recover from Hurricane Harvey -- though he cautioned that Texas will need more federal assistance.

Congress earlier this month approved $89.3 billion in relief for Texas and other states affected by natural disasters. "It provides resources we need to begin the projects that are so desperately needed," Abbott told reporters after meeting with many of Texas' 36 U.S. House members.

Late last year, Abbott rebuked the Texas members of Congress for not doing enough to fund the amounts the state needed to recover from Harvey, a Category 4 hurricane that struck the state six months ago.

There were no hard feelings this time, as Abbott said that he had met privately with President Donald Trump and Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney, and other members of the Cabinet, to press for more assistance for Texas.

"Right now my request to the Texas delegation is to collaborate with me and my office and the three agencies -- FEMA, HUD, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers -- to make sure this process continues at a very fast pace," said Abbott.

U.S. Rep. Bruce Babin, R-Woodville, said, "This is a $150 billion disaster. We've got a ways to go."

U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, said, "This was very bipartisan. Everybody feels good that it turned out well."

As for the president, Abbott said he appealed to Trump's "self-described vision of being the builder president," in rebuilding Texas in the aftermath of the storm.

Abbott was in the nation's capital during the mid-winter meeting of the National Governors Association. Texas is not a member of the association -- a policy that goes back to then-Gov. Rick Perry who said the dues were too high -- but Abbott attends events held by the Republican Governors Association.

But maybe there's a thaw: Abbott told the American-Statesman after a charm offensive by National Governors Association Chairman Brian Sandoval, Republican governor of Nevada, that he was willing to take another look.

"Sure, we'll consider it. They charge Texas a disproportionate cost. Gov. Perry left the membership of the NGA for cost purposes. If the cost was more fair and reasonable, that is something we might consider."

According to the association, Texas' dues, based on population, would be $176,200 a year and executive director and CEO Scott Pattison is so eager to have Texas re-join that he said he would waive the fees for the first year. "We'd love to have his participation," Pattison said.

As long as Texas does not belong, the association cannot hold committee or staff meetings in the Lone Star State.

"We want to go to Austin; we want to go to Dallas; we want to go to San Antonio," Pattison said.

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