Date: 2016-04-27
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. the date was April 14. 1970. The mission was Apollo 13. The message was: Houston. we have a problem. Mr. Speaker. that was a clarion call from a mission that was in trouble. Tonight I ring and sound this clarion call from the people of Houston. Texas. because we have some troubles. We have trouble that is related to floodwaters in Houston. Texas. that inundated our city and caused great harm and great damages. Mr. Speaker. I am on a mission of mercy tonight. a mission of mercy on behalf of my constituents in Houston. but also on behalf of all of those in Houston and the immediate area. I am on this mission of mercy. but I am not without a solution. We have a solution to the flooding problem in Houston. Texas. and that solution is H.R. 5025. It is a bill that will help to mitigate the flood damages. It will not eliminate the flood damages in Houston. Texas. I am not sure that we can construct a system that will totally eliminate all flood damages in Houston. Texas. but I am sure that we can mitigate. that we can eliminate many. that we can do something about the magnitude of the problem. I am absolutely confident. Mr. Speaker. that my mother was correct when she informed me that there will be times in life when you cannot do enough. No matter what you do. you wont be able to do enough. But she also went on to explain to me. Mr. Speaker. when you cannot do enough and more needs to be done. you have a duty to do all that you can. I am here tonight to let this Congress know that we can do more to help in Houston. Texas. We can do more to mitigate the flood damages that we have in Houston. Texas. Mr. Speaker. this bill. H.R. 5025. would accord $311 million. This money would be for projects that have already been approved that are related to flood control in Houston. projects that have not been completed. This bill would authorize this funding up to 2026. This bill is needed in Houston. Texas. for many. many reasons. I shall share but a few. then I will yield to a colleague. and then I will say more. This bill is needed because it would not only mitigate the flood damages. but it would also help us with jobs. For those who are interested in jobs. this bill would create 6.220 jobs. The people who acquire these jobs will pay taxes. These taxpayers will help us. in turn. by helping with some of our fire. our police. and schools. There are many ways that these tax dollars will be used. including a good deal of them sent to Washington. D.C.. to help others across the length and breadth of our great country. This bill will save lives. I will say more about that. and my colleague may say something about this as well. But I think it is important for us to note now that this bill will have a meaningful. powerful. significant impact on Houston. Texas. I am proud to tell you that this Congress has been helpful. We have already accorded for one project $212 million. but we need $34 million to complete the project. This is the Brays project in Houston. Texas. We need $34 million more to complete it. This project is in an area where we do get flooding. in the Meyerland area. This project would help prevent homes from being flooded and cars from being damaged. This is a great project. We just need to finish the project. The project was authorized in 1990. and it is projected to be finished in 2021. Mr. Speaker. While I do want to make sure we complete it. I do think it is taking us a bit too long to complete the Brays project. Mr. Speaker. the Golden Gate Bridge with all of its majesty only took 4 years. approximately. to complete. The Hoover Dam. a great monument to what we can do to channel water and turn that water into electrical power. only took 5 years to complete. For the Erie Canal. we didnt have the advances in technology that we have today. yet. the Erie Canal took 8 years to complete. Mr. Speaker. I spoke of Apollo 13 just a moment ago. Well. it only took us 8 years. Mr. Speaker. to place a person on the Moon. Surely. Mr. Speaker. if we can place a person on the Moon in 8 years. we can complete these projects in less than 30 years. Mr. Speaker. I am honored at this time to yield to my colleague. who is a cosponsor of this piece of legislation. who serves us well in the Congress of the United States on the Energy and Commerce Committee. a real stalwart when it comes to serving his constituents and standing up for the people of our city. our county. our State and indeed our country. the honorable GENE GREEN.