Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) took to social media to reflect on the government’s response to Hurricane Harvey, which caused devastating flooding back in August 2017. Lee is congresswoman for Texas’s 18th district, which includes a large portion of Houston.
“I remember that day when Hurricane Harvey struck — all we could see was water,” Lee wrote in a post on Twitter, on Aug. 25.
The congresswoman said she saw firsthand the countless hours that first responders and county officials put in to help victims of the disaster.
She introduced a bill that proposed creating the Office of Hurricane Harvey Small Business Recovery Grants. It never made it past the introduction stage, but she made efforts to get the word out about much-needed funding and championed federal aid.
“I was gratified to lead the efforts with my colleagues that brought billions to Houston and Texas, funds that have been used for recovery and the strengthening of our bayous,” Lee continued.
According to a study by the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs, 81.6 percent of people surveyed who were affected by Hurricane Harvey in the Greater Houston area have completely or mostly recovered from the storm’s effects, five years after the disaster.
“More work needs to be done — I will continue to work through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill to bring further relief,” Lee said.