Sheila Jackson Lee: “I thank the gentleman very much. If I might, I would like to thank the chairman again for an amendment that increases…”

“I thank the gentleman very much. If I might, I would like to thank the chairman again for an amendment that increases and decreases by $10 million funds for the National Infrastructure Investment Account to provide funding for urban bicycle and pedestrian safety programs. Let me say that, tragically, we lost a brilliant young man on May 30, 2019, at the intersection of North Shepherd Drive and West 10th Street in the 18th Congressional District. When Lesha White was driving, it was Jesus ``Jesse'' Perez who was struggling to cross the intersection, and this caused him to lose his life. Let me also indicate that we know that, in Houston, there are 2,000 deaths of bicyclists and pedestrians. We would like to make sure that we increase opportunities for safety. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman and the Rules Committee for this amendment being made in order. According to TxDOT, 1,400 Houston area pedestrians are injured, and 275 of them are injured seriously. We hope that this will work for both pedestrians and bicyclists. Bicycling in Houston has taken off in the State of Texas and everywhere, and we certainly want to make sure that they are safe. Mr. Chair, let me also thank the gentleman for an amendment that gives $2 million for the Office of Inspector General account to investigate the Department of HUD's delay in releasing $4 billion in Hurricane Harvey disaster community block grant dollars. We are still desperate.…”