Texas House Speaker Blasts Democrats For Holding Up 'Critical' Disaster Recovery Bills

Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows blasted Democrats for holding up disaster recovery bills on Monday as the Texas House again failed to meet quorum.

Transcript

00:00Members, may I have your attention.

00:09The roll has been called and a quorum is not present.

00:14Today, the Calendars Committee placed House Bills 1, 2, 18, 19, and 20,

00:21all vital flooding and disaster response measures,

00:24on the Tuesday calendar by a unanimous 6-0 vote.

00:28These are not symbolic bills.

00:31They are critical measures that would expand the powers of the Texas Division of Emergency Management

00:37to improve emergency response across the state,

00:41create the Texas Interoperability Council,

00:44which would help local governments acquire key communication equipment

00:47to better coordinate response efforts,

00:51assist communities with purchasing and upgrading emergency communication systems,

00:55require outdoor campground facilities to have a flood disaster plan,

01:00and create public protections against fraudulent bad actors trying to solicit charitable donations after a disaster.

01:07Those bills are set to be on the floor tomorrow.

01:14And I know those of us present are eager to take action on them.

01:19The only thing standing between Texas and real disaster relief

01:26is whether our absent colleagues decide to show up tomorrow.

01:29The only thing standing between Texas and real measure is to show up tomorrow.

01:30The only thing standing between Texas is about 2, 2, 18, and 4, 19, and 5, and 5.

01:31We all have the time of the time of the Texas Division of Emergency Management and Emergency Management