Sens. Cornyn, Hutchison & Local Leaders Meet With FEMA Chief To Press For Immediate Action On Temporary Housing For Ike Victims

Galveston, TX – November 7, 2008 – (RealEstateRama) – U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, today joined Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison in hosting a meeting on Hurricane Ike recovery efforts with FEMA Administrator David Paulison and County Judges and Mayors from the region, including Orange, Chambers, Jefferson and Galveston counties. Sens. Cornyn and Hutchison, along with Reps. Kevin Brady (R-TX), Ron Paul (R-TX), and Ted Poe (R-TX), sent a letter to Paulison on October 29 requesting the meeting to discuss short-term housing issues that remain unaddressed in the region.

“Today’s meeting was instrumental in many ways. It provided an open forum for local leaders to cut through the red tape and communicate directly with FEMA’s chief. They presented the concerns of their constituents and also offered a number of common-sense solutions. The meeting also gave Administrator Paulison a much clearer picture of the challenges that remain on the ground. While overall preparation and response efforts relating to Hurricane Ike were handled efficiently and rapidly, much work remains to be done. Efforts to provide short-term housing options to hurricane victims have been unacceptably slow and inefficient,” Sen. Cornyn said.

“I’ve heard firsthand from residents in Galveston, Bridge City, Oak Island and other gulf communities who are doing their best to get back onto their feet but have yet to receive the federal assistance they need. Today their local leaders and I sought to clearly communicate their needs to Administrator Paulison. I’m hopeful the urgency of today’s message, coupled with the state’s recent request for additional funding, will spur immediate federal action for those still in need.”

Sen. Cornyn serves on the Armed Services, Judiciary and Budget Committees. In addition, he is Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics. He serves as the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee’s Immigration, Border Security and Refugees subcommittee and the Armed Services Committee’s Airland subcommittee. He served previously as Texas Attorney General, Texas Supreme Court Justice, and Bexar County District Judge.