Hensarling Statement On Approved Aid For Hurricane Harvey Destruction

Statement

U.S. Congressman Jeb Hensarling (TX-5) released the following statement after the House of Representatives approved an emergency aid package for Hurricane Harvey destruction:

"I frequently hear the term emergency in Washington, but this time it is truly warranted. We currently have fellow Texans and Louisianans who are in immediate need of food, shelter, and medicine. In all likelihood, our friends on the East Coast are in imminent danger as well.

"Nevertheless, another emergency that we continue to ignore is the emergency of our unsustainable national debt. Emergency funding should not come to the House without an opportunity to propose offsets, a number of which can easily be found in President Trump's budget.

"I've seen emergencies arise from natural disasters before, and I've seen how this funding scenario can grow in size and shrink in focus. We need to provide emergency spending to get people out of harm's way and provide an appropriate safety net. Rebuilding, as important as it is, should not go through an emergency funding process that exacerbates our dangerous and unstable national debt.

"Furthermore, we must solve the underlying problems of the National Flood Insurance Program or we will simply see increased fatalities and economic carnage. When it comes to the NFIP, the government should not be complicit in encouraging and subsidizing people to live in dangerous areas, and as people rebuild, we should be working toward mitigating the risks of living in flood prone areas."

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