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Insurance Commissioner David Mattax has appointed three members to serve on the board of directors of the Texas Property and Casualty Insurance Guaranty Association. The board oversees the association, which helps to protect Texans if a property and casualty insurer fails.

Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28) announced the inclusion of language in the Fiscal Year 2017 U.S. House Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations bill that encourages the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and local public housing authorities to reduce the number of residents who exceed the maximum income requirements (“over-income residents”) in order to provide housing assistance to vulnerable persons and families who are most in need. The bill passed out of the full U.S. House Appropriations Committee Tuesday.

Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28) announced he included language in the U.S. House’s Fiscal Year 2017 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill to support homeless veterans.

Texans who suffered damage or losses from the March 7-29 severe storms, tornadoes and flooding only have until Wednesday, May 18, to register for FEMA assistance. “We do not want to see anyone lose the opportunity to receive money that they are due,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Kevin Hannes, who is in charge of FEMA’s operations in Texas.

The Justice Department today announced that the city of Beaumont, Texas, has agreed to pay $475,000 and change its zoning and land use practices to resolve a lawsuit alleging that it discriminated against persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities who sought to live in small group homes in the city’s residential neighborhoods.  The consent decree must still be approved by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

Representative John Culberson joined all House Members of the Texas delegation in sending a letter to President Barack Obama in support of Governor Greg Abbott’s state disaster declaration request

On Thursday, April 21, 2016, Congressmen Al Green (TX-09) and Gene Green (TX-29) introduced H.R. 5025, the 2016 Tax Day Floods Supplemental Funding Act, which would appropriate $311 million for Army Corps flood control construction projects in the Houston area. The legislation would fund the projects using supplemental appropriations until 2026, and return any funds not used on these projects to the U.S. Treasury.

A federal judge ruled in favor of the City of Dallas following its decision to ban a pornography convention from being hosted at a city-owned convention center. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and the Dallas Citizens Council filed an amicus brief earlier this month in support of the city

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a graduate student team from the University of Texas at Austin the winners of HUD’s third annual Innovation in Affordable Housing Student Design and Planning Competition. The Austin team was one of the four team finalists to develop a plan to redevelop the public housing project Monteria Village in Santa Barbara, California. HUD also announced a team from University of Maryland as the runner up.

The Midland Police Department will give citizens an opportunity to retrieve stolen property through a public viewing from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 21 at the MPD armory building (3900 N. Lamesa Rd.).

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has already put more than $5 million in federal disaster relief funds in the hands of Mississippians recovering from flooding and severe weather. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and FEMA want to remind those receiving grant payments to spend those funds wisely. Survivors should use Housing Assistance and Other Needs Assistance grants on housing repairs and other essential needs.

Texas residents affected by the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding in March will not lose Social Security benefits, pay additional taxes, or give up income-based benefit programs if they accept federal or state disaster aid. This includes homeowners, renters and businesses in Erath, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Hood, Jasper, Limestone, Marion, Newton, Orange, Parker, Shelby and Tyler counties who register for disaster assistance.

New preliminary flood maps for residents of Chambers, Liberty and San Jacinto counties area ready for residents to review. Communities affected by the maps include Liberty, Dayton, Dayton Lakes, and Mont Belvieu.

New preliminary flood maps for residents and business owners in Willacy and Cameron counties are now ready for residents to review. Local, state and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials teamed up to produce them

Nearly 200 people attended a “Flood Disaster Assistance Workshop" on Thursday night hosted by U.S. Rep. Brian Babin (TX-36) and his staff at the Deweyville High School gymnasium. The event, which featured representatives from FEMA, SBA, FSA, TDEM and other community recovery agencies, provided flood victims in Newton, Orange and Jasper Counties with an opportunity to ask questions and hear directly from these agencies on applying for assistance.

MERSCORP Holdings, Inc. today announced that the United States District Courts for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division and the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division held MERS’ assignments were valid, and granted motions to dismiss in two cases.

At the request of the state of Texas, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has added Henderson, Limestone, Shelby and Tyler to the federal disaster declaration of March 19. They join the nine counties already approved for both Individual Assistance and Public Assistance: Erath, Gregg, Harrison, Hood, Jasper, Marion, Newton, Orange and Parker.

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson joined a bipartisan group of 44 current and former Senators and 164 current and former House members from 38 states as well as the District of Columbia in filing an amicus brief in support of the Obama administration’s historic ‘Clean Power Plan’ (CPP). The CPP will reduce carbon pollution and address climate change, save consumers $155 billion by 2030, create jobs, and prevent 90,000 childhood asthma attacks through 2030‎

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded an initial payment of $1,875,000 to the state of Texas for the city of Rowlett for debris removal. A tornado swept through the city on Dec. 26, 2015, along a 3.5 mile track. Storm debris blocked the paths of emergency vehicles and the general public and created significant danger to motorists. The city of Rowlett removed debris to eliminate threats to public health and safety.

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