Congressman Al Green Traveled with Homeland Security Subcommittee Chair Val Demings to Fort Myers in Aftermath of Hurricane Ian

(Houston, TX) — Congressman Al Green, who represents Texas’ Ninth Congressional District, was reared as well as educated in Florida, and currently has family residing there. On Wednesday, October 12, 2022, as a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery, Congressman Green participated in a Homeland Security site visit to Fort Myers, Florida led by Congresswoman Val Demings. He released the following statement:

“First, I’d like to indicate that I was honored to have joined Congresswoman Demings, Chairwoman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery in Fort Myers for a briefing and tour of the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Ian. It is exceedingly important to do more than simply keep Florida residents impacted by Hurricane Ian in our thoughts as they navigate through this difficult time. They, like millions of Americans who live near the coast––including my constituents in the Ninth Congressional District of Texas––are becoming increasingly vulnerable to natural disasters each year due to the effects of climate change.”

“Congress recently took steps to address the climate crisis by including $369 billion for climate mitigation funding in the Inflation Reduction Act that President Biden signed into law. Included among its many climate change mitigation provisions are critical measures to boost the ability of coastal communities to withstand natural disasters by increasing funds for weather and oceanic-related research as well as forecasting. Additionally, the Biden administration has announced investments to make our nation’s infrastructure more climate resilient through the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program, which includes flood mitigation assistance.”

“Although these are beneficial steps in the right direction, more must be done to help our Florida neighbors during their time of need. After visiting New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, living through Hurricane Harvey in Houston, and now traveling to Fort Myers, I am convinced that we need to pass disaster relief legislation as soon as possible. In Fort Myers, I witnessed vehicles destroyed, homes leveled, and trees uprooted in tandem with an incredible degree of damage that will undoubtedly cost tens of billions of dollars to repair and/or replace. I met with various community leaders, including a pastor who is working diligently to provide the necessities of life. He implored us to provide resources for persons who will require mental health services as a result of losses inflicted by the hurricane. However, the community and NGOs are limited in their ability and capacity. Only the federal government has the resources to provide the level of assistance necessary to repair damaged and destroyed infrastructure, as well as provide the mental health aid required.”

“I was reared in Florida, graduated from Choctawhatchee High School, and went to Florida A&M University in Tallahassee. While I proudly represent Texas as a United States Congressman, I represent the country when our people are recovering from a natural disaster. I thank Chairman Bennie Thompson of the House Committee on Homeland Security for allowing Chairwoman Demings and I to travel to Florida for a critical assessment of Hurricane Ian’s devastation and FEMA’s response. I am honored to serve under his leadership. Floridians need our help. This is a time to put the needs of the public above politics and partnership over partisanship.”