Cornyn: Hurricane Response Efforts Highlight Importance of Passing Defense Bill

Members of our military have served crucial roles throughout the storm and continue to do so now that the waters have begun to recede. These include the U.S. Coast Guard and Marine Corps the Army Navy and Air Force.  Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. Today on the Senate floor U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) highlighted recovery efforts led by our military during natural disasters like Hurricane Harvey as the Senate considers the National Defense Authorization Act. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyns remarks are below and video of his remarks can be found here.  

The weight of hurricane Harvey is still pressing down on my home state of Texas where many are struggling for some good news and a breath of fresh air." I cant tell you how proud I am of the great collaboration and consultation and support that we have gotten from the President at the federal level all the way down to the state and local leadership." Members of our military have served crucial roles throughout the storm and continue to do so now that the waters have begun to recede. These include the U.S. Coast Guard and Marine Corps the Army Navy and Air Force." The Army National Guard alone delivered more than 75000 pounds of hay to flooded ranches and stranded cattle. Other troops showed up to provide medical services and disaster relief supplies. They assisted with debris management route clearance and in scenes we have all seen on TV heroic search and rescue operations."  Our military has helped in ways that perhaps most of us dont really appreciate. They just dont exist to fight and win our wars; they respond to natural disasters like Hurricane Harvey and Irma as well." We know the importance of making sure that this week and next we do everything we can to demonstrate our real support for our men and women in uniform by passing the National Defense Authorization Act. Thats why this is so important this week: because not only does it affect our readiness as I said earlier to fight and win our nations wars in places around the world its also important to our ability to respond to natural disasters." 

Senator John Cornyn a Republican from Texas is a member of the Senate Finance Intelligence and Judiciary Committees.