Rep. Hensarling Issues Statement After Hurricane Harvey Destruction

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, issued the following statement after visiting Houston and meeting with victims of Hurricane Harvey's destruction:

"In Houston, I toured the damage and met with local and federal officials about future relief and much needed flood insurance reforms. During the visit, I met a man by the name of Guillermo who told his harrowing account of what happened when Hurricane Harvey hit Houston. Water rose in his home and rushed out into the street.

"He and his children had to cling to each other to make sure they weren't swept away. This is the third time in the last eight years his home has flooded. Maria, who has lived in the area for the last 25 years, had to hold on to her husband to get out of harm's way. While it warms my heart to see how so many Americans have come together to help people who have been displaced, it keeps me up at night to think about people like Guillermo and Maria. We cannot keep rebuilding homes in the same fashion and in the same places and expect different results.

"As Congress works through reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program, we need to focus on helping the people affected today and say 'never again' tomorrow. Never again should we encourage people to continue living in harm's way and put themselves and first responders at risk. It is important that all Americans who have been affected by these natural disasters receive assistance, but we must enact real reform, responsible reforms so as not to cause long-term damage in the future."

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Click here (https://financialservices.house.gov/components/redirect/r.aspx?ID=477588-71710172) to view photos from the Chairman's tour.