Biden Finally Declares a Major Disaster In Texas
Source: AP Photo/David J. Phillip
President Joe Biden on Saturday declared a major disaster in Texas as winter storms continue to wreak havoc on the state. Millions of Texas are without power and water due to freezing temperatures, which have resulted in frozen pipes and downed electrical grids. A majority of the state – 189 counties of the 254 that make up the state – are also under boil water notices.
The major disaster declaration allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide assistance to families and businesses in the 77 counties with the most damage. Federal assistance will come in the form of grants for temporary housing and home repairs. There will also be low-cost loans available for property loss that is not insured, for both individuals and businesses.
Those 77 counties could see additional assistance coming pending further damage assessments.
Grants are also available to state, eligible local governments and some provide nonprofit organizations. Those grants come on a cost-sharing basis and are used for emergency protective measures and hazard mitigation measures across the state, the White House explained.
"As of Friday, the FEMA had delivered 729,000 liters of water, more than 10,000 wool blankets and 50,000 cotton blankets, and 225,000 meals in Fort Worth, Texas," the Wall Street Journal reported. "The federal agency also has provided emergency generators and fuel to help maintain critical infrastructure. FEMA sends supplies upon a state’s request."
The counties approved in the declaration include: Angelina, Aransas, Bastrop, Bee, Bell, Bexar, Blanco, Brazoria, Brazos, Brown, Burleson, Caldwell, Calhoun, Cameron, Chambers, Collin, Comal, Comanche, Cooke, Coryell, Dallas, Denton, DeWitt, Ellis, Falls, Fort Bend, Galveston, Gillespie, Grimes, Guadalupe, Hardin, Harris, Hays, Henderson, Hidalgo, Hood, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Kaufman, Kenda, Lavaca, Liberty, Madison, Matagorda, Maverick, McLennan, Montague, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Nueces, Orange, Palo Pinto, Panola, Parker, Polk, Rockwall, Sabine, San Jacinto, San Patricio, Scurry, Shelly, Smith, Stephens, Tarrant, Travis, Tyler, Upshur, Van Zandt, Victoria, Walker, Waller, Wharton, Wichita, Williamson, Wilson, and Wise.
Biden is expected to travel to the Lone Star State next week to inspect the damage. He said he is holding off so that "his presence wasn't a burden on emergency responders," WSJ reported.
Texas Democrats Issue a Stark Warning for Biden Over His Immigration Policies
Source: AP Photo/David J. Phillip
Rolling back President Donald Trump's tougher immigration policies was one of President Joe Biden's main goals once his administration officially started. Talks of providing amnesty to millions of illegal aliens during the first 100 days in office and rescinding the "Remain in Mexico" policy – where those applying for asylum remain in Mexican until a judge determines their fate – prompted Central American caravans to start up once again.
But three Congressional Democrats in Texas are warning Biden about the backlash these decisions will have. They are concerned that the Democratic Party's "messaging and policy proposals are too much, too soon," POLITICO reported.
Reps. Henry Cuellar, Vincente Gonzalez, and Filemón Vela all represent districts along the United States-Mexico border. Their concerns are simple: they are concerned about America's health care system being overrun because of the number of illegal aliens who decide to flock to the United States while the COVID pandemic rages on.
“The way we’re doing it right now is catastrophic and is a recipe for disaster in the middle of a pandemic,” Gonzalez told POLITICO.
So far the congressmen's concerns are becoming reality. The number of illegal aliens flocking to the southern border continues to rise. As of now, the number of illegal aliens crossing the border is almost to the same level as it was before the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic began, the Wall Street Journal reported. The last time local officials in border towns saw a large number of deportations in border towns was in 2019 when the Central American caravans flocked to the United States. Many of those claimed to be seeking asylum.
Cuellar warned about the dangers of rolling back Trump's policies before the election in November. But his words fell on deaf ears.
“I said, ‘Hey, we don’t want the wall, but when it comes to the other issues, we gotta be careful that we don't give the impression that we have open borders because otherwise the numbers are going to start going up. And surely enough, we’re starting to see numbers go up,” Cuellar said.
Their concerns go far beyond just the current pandemic. The three congressmen believe this policy decision could be detrimental for the Democratic Party as a whole.
“Our party should be concerned. If we go off the rails, it’s going to be bad for us. Biden is going to be dealing with a minority in Congress if he continues down some of these paths," Gonzalez explained.
Cuellar's district was once a solid blue district, one Democrats took for granted. But in 2020 something happened: Latinos in the area voted for Trump. It's because people in the district woke up and realized their strong Christian values, including being pro-gun, pro-gun and anti-abortion, aligned more with the Republican Party than the Democrats. Trump's strong economic policies and the pre-COVID booming economy was the icing on the cake.
Moving further left is great for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party but it alienates those who are more moderate, like those in Cuellar's district.
“A lot of the Democratic-leaning groups still have not figured out how to talk to Latinos in that the overwhelmingly progressive messaging is not that effective,” Gonzalez told POLITICO. “So, yes, immigration is important, but the focus for them is on jobs, the economy, the raise I got at work, the cost of health care and if I can take a loan out for my business.”
Democrats have continually taken Latinos and Hispanics for granted. The Democratic Party treats that demographic differently, as though the only issue they could possibly care about is immigration. But the truth is, they're just like every other American. They care about jobs and the economy. They care about whether or not they can put food on the table or keep a roof over their head. They're not single-issue voters.
The reason Trump has such a large following in the Latino and Hispanic communities is because he recognized exactly what Gonzalez said: the progressive agenda runs counter to the strong Christian and Catholic beliefs that the Latino and Hispanic communities hold. He didn't take their votes for granted.
Joe Biden Breaks Silence About Texas, Promises to Visit
President Joe Biden broke his silence Friday about the weather disaster in Texas, promising to visit.
Biden confirmed to reporters at the White House that he wants to travel to Texas next week but only if he can do it “without creating a burden for folks.”
“I’m going to be a president for all Americans,” Biden said.
Biden has remained publicly silent about the ongoing struggles in the state for several days except for three social media posts on Thursday.
White House officials asserted Biden was “keeping abreast” of the issues in Texas and that officials are working with local leaders to assist Texans. On Thursday, the White House announced FEMA is providing 60 generators as well as food, water, and blankets to Texas communities.
Biden reassured reporters Friday he is handling the crisis from the White House.
“FEMA is already there and providing support,” he said.
On Thursday night, Biden spoke on the phone with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott about the conditions on the ground in Texas.
He said on Friday that he is ready to move forward on a proposal to declare a major disaster in Texas to offer more federal relief.
“I’m going to sign the declaration once that’s in front of me,” Biden said Friday. “God willing we’ll bring relief to a lot of Texans.”
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