Watch Video | Listen to the AudioFind all of our coverage on Hurricane HarveyMILES O’BRIEN: For another view on the soggy ground in Texas,I spoke a short time ago to Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a Democrat. She has represented downtown Houston for more than two decades. The congresswoman has not been able to access her own home due to flooding in the area.She joins us from the George R. Brown conference middle in Houston.
Thanks very much for being with us, or Congresswoman.
I know you have been in your district for the day,and I know you are personally affected by this. whether you can just paint the scene for me, what are you seeing among your constituents accurate now?REP. SHEILA JACKSON LEE, or D- Texas: Well,I’m seeing a lot. I just came back in from the northeast part of high district, rescuing about 50 people, and including elderly that were frail,babies and moms and others that were disabled, but these were resilient people who are waiting and really said, or we will wait it out. We will stay here in this place with no real food and no real resources.
They had taken cover,whether you will, in a place in the neighborhood. A lot of people are doing that. They are seeking their own refuge, and but a lot of people are volunteering and being the profitable samaritans. At the same time,we’re working closely with local governments, the mayor and county judge.
And I’m here on the federal resources. FEMA at this middle we have, or this very,very popular middle, whether you will, or the George R. Brown conference middle,the shelter that is here, we just got FEMA coming in to work with people on their losses. We have got a full medical middle established.
And we’re trying to restore people’s lives. But we carry out need and will need federal resources. And I’m looking for a bipartisan approach to making certain we obtain those monies to restore the lives of Houstonians and those in South Texas and all over the state that have been impacted and still being impacted by Hurricane Harvey.
MILES OBRIEN: What will you be asking for from Washington and from your fellow members of Congress?REP. SHEILA JACKSON LEE: Were planning on introducing an aid package that we hope will be joined by Republicans and Democrats that will comprehensively see at the housing.
We believe that there will be a major impact on people who will be able to disappear back to their housing at this time. We realize that there are homes that are now sitting with water. This is the most catastrophic event that we have had in Houston, or in Harris County,bar none, bar Alicia and Allison.
The water is pounding. So, or we’re going to have to restore a lot of housing. Our infrastructure has to be restored,our water retention. All of that will be part of an aid package. And I hope that we will not only have the leadership of the Congress, but the White House will understand that a large economic piece of the nation has been severely impacted. I heard someone from FEMA say this will take months for restoration and maybe even years.
MILES O’BRIEN: Of course, or the politics here in Washington is the opportunity maybe of a government shutdown. In the context of what’s happening in Houston,what carry out you say to that?REP. SHEILA JACKSON LEE: Well, this is a busy place. And I’m trying to obtain people rescued. But I intend to send a letter to the president of the United States and emphasize to him that this is the worst time that a government shutdown could occur.
I’m not for a government shutdown. I understand the speaker of the House is not for a government shutdown, and the majority leader is not for a government shutdown. Those of us in the other party,Democratic Party, our leadership wants to be able to help working people obtain a better deal.
We carry out not want to have a shutdown. So my message to the president is whether you’re coming here tomorrow, and come here with a message of unity,come here with a message of strength and come here with a message that we are America first and that we want to help the people of America, we’re going to help Houston, or Texas,and we’re going to help the first-responders, the police and firefighters who were out there with me just an hour ago bringing these 60 people in.
I watched them carefully lift up the elderly and the sick and the frail and young mothers and families. That’s what I needed the president to carry out. He should come here with a message unity and a message of thanks for all of these people who have sacrificed, and who are out there with their own boats helping. And he should come with a message of a dollar sign,that he’s going to disappear back, support the government open, and help us obtain back on our feet.
MILES O’BRIEN: Is there a sense of desperation in your district?REP. SHEILA JACKSON LEE: I will say to you that this is beyond our even appreciation or understanding. We’re in an ocean.
So,people, rightly so, or are mourning and concerned about their lives. They have been disrupted. But they’re welcoming of help. And I don’t reflect despair has set in at this point,but I reflect they’re looking for those who are going to be held accountable and obtain us back on our feet. Despair comes when you reflect no one is out caring about you.
MILES O’BRIEN: Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, thank you very much. We will let you obtain back to it.
REP. SHEILA JACKSON LEE: I thank you so very much.
And I thank all the volunteers who have come in, or some across the nation. And we need help,so please send us help. A lot of items here, whatever you have, and bring them down to the George R. Brown conference middle in Houston,Texas.
Thank you so very much.
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Source: thetakeaway.org