Rep. Gonzalez: Valley Congressmen Secure $285,654,000 for Disaster Recovery

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 -- Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, issued the following news release:

Congressmen Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15), Filemon Vela (TX-34), and Henry Cuellar (TX-28) announced the securement of $285,654,000 in U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grants - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) for recovery from severe storms and flooding in 2018 and 2019. These funds will be used for disaster relief, long-term recovery, repair of housing and infrastructure, and economic revitalization for local economies.

Per the award notice (https://files.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/FR-6182-N-01-Allocation-Notice-CDBG-DR-Grantees.pdf), Hidalgo County would receive no less than $58,330,000 for disasters in 2018 and Cameron, Chambers, Harris, Jefferson, Liberty, Montgomery, Hidalgo and Orange Counties would receive no less than $170,193,000 for disasters in 2019.

"After working with my colleagues in the House and Senate, I am pleased that the federal government has granted our request for aid," said Congressman Gonzalez. "Our communities have experienced loss and damage on a scale the Rio Grande Valley has not seen in many years, and this is the first step of the recovery process. I would encourage all who were affected by these natural disasters to apply for this assistance. As more information becomes available about these federal funds, my office will help and provide support to all South Texans wishing to apply for them."

"I have seen the damaging aftermath these storms had on our communities. Though these storms were due to unprecedented flooding in 2018 and 2019, many neighborhoods and businesses are still in the recovery and rebuilding phase," said Congressman Vela. " Funds for Hidalgo, Cameron and other counties in Texas, will help families as they seek to rebuild their homes and lives. Please know that my office is available to help if you have been impacted by these devastating storms and may be eligible for this disaster assistance."

"Communities in the Rio Grande Valley have waited too long for disaster recovery funds following severe flooding and storms," said Congressman Cuellar. "This funding will be significant for the Rio Grande Valley to continue its recovery process of repairing homes, rebuilding businesses, and restoring critical infrastructure. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to fight for additional funding to help the Rio Grande Valley rebuild. I encourage all impacted by these storms and flooding to reach out to my office so we can ensure these funds are distributed in a timely manner. I want to thank Congressman Gonzalez and Vela for their leadership in this on-going recovery effort."

In 2018 and again in 2019, Congressmen Gonzalez, Vela, and Cuellar urged the president (https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-gonzalez-asks-president-trump-federal-disaster-declaration) to declare the Rio Grande Valley a federal disaster area in response to severe flooding and storms.

More information on the HUD CDBG-DR is available here (https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/cdbg-dr/).