Brian Babin: “When a disaster like Hurricane Harvey strikes, the most important job we have is to assist those in harm's way. From the…”

“When a disaster like Hurricane Harvey strikes, the most important job we have is to assist those in harm's way. From the Texas National Guard to the Louisiana Cajun Navy, to countless volunteers and citizens who have volunteered and contributed their time, their money, and their prayers, we saw across southeast Texas, in the immediate aftermath of that storm, nothing less than a model to which the whole Nation and world can aspire. I have even compared the rescue of so many Texans by boat to the miracle at Dunkirk. But when the storm passes, it is just as important that we look for lessons, demand accountability, and work to fix whatever went wrong or may have made this situation worse. I am pleased to offer this amendment today that will begin to address such an issue. When a hydropower station is licensed and regulated by FERC, it is not just the power plant that falls under Federal control. Decisions about lake levels, flood storage capacity, and other measurements of the body of water that powers that station are set forth in FERC license protocols and guidelines written and administered by folks who work right here in Washington. {time} 1500 As a former official for the Texas Lower Neches Valley River Authority, I know that these are tough decisions to make, and sometimes it is a matter of choosing between bad and worse options of where to put all of that water.…”