Washington, D.C. - White House Cabinet Secretary Alphonso Jackson met with local leaders from throughout East Texas at a regional roundtable in Jasper, Texas on Tuesday.  The roundtable was hosted by Congressman Kevin Brady (R-The Woodlands) and was aimed at putting local leaders face to face with the head of the Housing and Urban Development Agency that will decided where close to $5 billion in housing and critical infrastructure dollars are spent throughout the Gulf Coast region.  

 

The Jasper Roundtable was one of four scheduled over two days.  Other roundtable locations included Orange, Lufkin, and Sabine Pass.

 

The Secretary's meeting in Jasper followed on the heels of an aerial tour of the entire region's damage.  Congressman Brady was able to point out to the Secretary the many blue roofs scattered throughout the region, the massive timber losses, and other visible damage from the air. 

 

"The last two days have helped Secretary Jackson put a face on Hurricane Rita and identify the communities that need his agency's help to rebuild.  County Judges, economic development leaders, and housing authorities each had the opportunity to outline their communities' challenges and where they need the most help at this point," said Brady who has spearheaded Texas' Hurricane Rita recovery efforts in the House of Representatives. 

 

The Secretary's meeting comes as Congress crafts a $20 billion hurricane assistance relief measure.  Secretary Jackson will make key decisions on how and where the nearly $5 billion in housing and Community Development Block Grant funds will be allocated.  Community Development Block Grants are precious to rural communities because they are so flexible and can be used for not only housing, but applied toward critical infrastructure such as water and sewer, economic development, hospitals, colleges, and more. 

 

Local leaders attending the Jasper Roundtable included:

 

Hardin County Judge William Caraway

Newton County Judge Truman Dougharty

Trinity County Judge Mark Evans

Jasper County Judge Joe Folk

Tyler County Judge Jerome Owens

Polk County Judge John Thompson

Deep East Texas Council of Governments Executive Director Walter Diggles

Jasper County Auditor Dru Miller

Newton County Housing Authority Director Tammy Hensarling

Pastor Joe Miller, United Methodist Church of Newton County

Polk County Executive Director Tom McClurg

Jasper Economic Development Assistant Executive Director Rusty Phillips

Susan Stover, Jasper Chamber of Commerce

Woodville Mayor Jimmie Cooley

San Jacinto County Commissioner David Brandon,

Kirbyville Mayor Giles Horn

Betty Gipson, Jasper Housing Authority