AUSTIN, Texas — While state lawmakers continue to debate flood response bills during this special session, a Texas Democrat in the U.S. House of Representative is pushing to reverse cuts to disaster response at the federal level.

On Tuesday, Congressman Greg Casar of Austin introduced the FEMA Critical Staffing Act. It would require FEMA to reinstate employees fired by the Trump administration and reinstate a federal flood mitigation assistance program.

Casar also cosponsored a bill that would fund NOAA and require the U.S. commerce secretary to reinstate its fired employees.

“We must fully restore Trump’s cuts to natural disaster response to save lives in Texas,” Casar said. “The July 4 floods were devastating, and more like them could come. Congress must act now.”

Earlier this mont

See Full Page