By Michael Stoll
mike.stoll@austindailyherald.com

 

District Four State Senator Brandon Creighton spoke to members of the Greater Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce during a luncheon on Tuesday. During his speech, he praised local leaders for their work in the recovery effort.
“The recovery efforts have been tremendous,” he said. “We’ve seen in storms past a lot of challenges on the priorities from working with the feds to making sure the state and local governments are working together. We’re getting a lot of good feedback from each level of the government that we’re moving faster than ever before. From the housing side to the rebuilding side, our infrastructure, schools and what was damaged is a big part of what I’m doing day to day and I think it’s working well.”
Creighton said that more money is coming from the federal level and that the state will have more control over the recovery effort.
“With Texas managing it more day to day and handling the funds as they come down from the federal level, we’re really anticipating a lot of positive changes on how we can help people quickly,” he said. He also said that in the past, the state had seen challenges from the federal government being in control of the recovery efforts.
Creighton said the state comptroller’s office has estimated the damage caused by Tropical Storm Harvey to be approximately $2 billion. He credited having budgeted a rainy day fund with helping the state deal with disaster expenses in the past.
He said the legislature is holding special hearings on Harvey.
“What we determine from those hearings will end up working along with the information from the comptroller’s office and will give us the budgetary numbers that we need to know to provide the help from the state level,” he said. “Right now we don’t know what the matching ratios are, we don’t know the timing of the federal money. There’s a lot of things still going on.”
Creighton also spoke about important legislation from the past session, particularly the passage of the budget.
“When you come into the capitol, everyone has the best idea,” he said. “So what do you do with those ideas? Out of thousands of bills, it’s hard to boil down one priority when so many priorities are important. But, the budget is so incredibly important as a priority because it keeps our state economy and our reserves strong, and yet enables our public schools, border security, investment in water and roads. All of that happens in that state budget.”
Creighton also had a message for those who are still in need of help.
“Have hope and faith and keep persevering and being strong because you have a lot of people working on your behalf,” he said.
Creighton also encouraged those who have a need or concern that he could help with to reach out to his office.
“When we as Texans are tested this way, we meet the challenge,” he added. “It’s about stepping up and making it happen.”