Washington, D.C. - {U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady (R-The Woodlands) joined Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson and Texas' two U.S. senators in Houston today to announce Texas will receive $428,671,849 in Community Development Block Grant Funding to help local communities in East and Southeast Texas rebuild housing and infrastructure destroyed by Hurricane Rita nearly one year ago. 

 "This is a good day - an important day - for the recovery of East and Southeast Texas. There is a forest of blue roofs and a lot of hurting communities left behind from Hurricane Rita who need this help and will put this money to good use," said Brady, who has spearheaded hurricane relief efforts for Texas in the U.S. House.   "I applaud Secretary Jackson for touring more than 1,100 square miles of East Texas ravaged by Rita and becoming our advocate in the administration. I thank Senator Hutchison for her remarkable leadership in the Senate and Governor Perry and Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams for leading the state's well-organized effort."

 "On a personal note, I am especially proud of our local leaders and the Southeast Texas Hurricane Recovery Team coordinated by Chester Jordan and Walter Diggles for working tirelessly to tell our story in Washington.  Without this teamwork - local, state and federal officials, Republicans and Democrats working together -- Hurricane Rita would truly have been forgotten. It no longer is, and our communities are the winners because of it."

In June, Congress -- led by Brady and Senator Hutchison -- appropriated an extra $1 billion in Community Development Block Grants to help communities in Texas, Alabama and Florida affected by Hurricanes Rita and Katrina rebuilding their housing, small businesses and communities. 

In July Congressman Brady and Senator John Cornyn testified before a HUD panel on East and Southeast Texas' behalf along with Commissioner Michael Williams in a concerted effort to demonstrate the state's CDBG needs and justify its request of $954 million in CDBG monies to help communities affected by Hurricane Rita. 

Congressman Brady organized an 1,100 square mile tour of hurricane damaged East and Southeast Texas for HUD Secretary Jackson in April.  It was during that visit that Secretary Jackson assured Congressmen Brady, Ted Poe and Louis Gohmert that he would remember the devastation he saw and needs expressed by local officials when making a decision about future CDBG funding for the region. 

Today's announcement of funding will be in addition to the $74 million in CDBG funds already allocated to Texas for distribution to East and Southeast Texas Council of Governments.