Cmr. George P. Bush commends HUD Secretary Ben Carson on allocating more than $5 billion in long-term recovery funds

Contact: Brittany Eck
(512) 463-5708
brittany.eck@glo.texas.gov
PDF Version
PRESS RELEASE — Nov 17, 2017

HUD

AUSTIN — U.S. Senator John Cornyn, Governor Greg Abbott, Urban Development Deputy Secretary Pamela Hughes Patenaude, and Land Commissioner George P. Bush hold a press conference announcing more than $5 billion in long-term recovery funding for Texas.

Today Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush joined Governor Greg Abbott and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Pamela Hughes Patenaude for a press conference regarding long-term hurricane housing recovery at the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas. Commissioner Bush commended Secretary Ben Carson and his U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) team for allocating a total of $5.024 billion to Texas through the Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Program to help Texas with the long-term housing and infrastructure recovery from Hurricane Harvey. The funds will be administered by the Texas General Land Office's Community Development & Revitalization program and can be used for a wide variety of activities including housing redevelopment, business assistance and infrastructure repair.  

"I would like to thank leaders in our Texas communities affected by Hurricane Harvey for their quick response and partnership in assessing the storm's damage, documenting the destruction and helping to articulate to federal officials the extent of our recovery needs," said Commissioner Bush. "Even before the storm made landfall, my team was in communication with those in Harvey's path laying the groundwork for an effective long-term recovery strategy. To respond to a storm of this magnitude and help those affected requires teamwork, coordination, and determination. The allocation of these funds is the result of a rapid, coordinated effort by Gov. Greg Abbott, the Texas Congressional Delegation and our partner, HUD Secretary Ben Carson, and will be a critical step in the long-term rebuilding of our devastated Texas communities."  

On September 8th, President Donald J. Trump signed the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 and Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act, 2017, which included $15.25 billon to support response and recovery from Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Of the $15.25 billion, $7.4 billion was appropriated to HUD for long-term recovery.  

Urban Development Deputy Secretary
This morning Commissioner George P. Bush met with Urban Development Deputy Secretary Pamela Hughes Patenaude to discuss long-term Hurricane Harvey housing and infrastructure recovery funding.

The GLO estimates a combined loss of more than $60 billion in unmet long-term recovery needs from Hurricane Harvey. Impacts tied to business interruption, economic losses, unemployment, property tax revenue decreases, agricultural losses and other measures that are difficult to quantify are not considered when making allocations.  

About GLO Community Development & Revitalization The CDR program of the Texas General Land Office administers the Community Development Block Grants for Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) on behalf of the state of Texas. Funds of approximately $4 billion have been allocated for recovery following Hurricanes Rita, Dolly, and Ike, the 2011 wildfires, and the 2015 and 2016 floods. These grants can be used for a wide variety of activities including housing redevelopment, business assistance, and infrastructure repair. CDR will keep impacted communities informed on developments. For more information, please visit FTexasRebuilds.org.



More Press Releases