Disaster Relief

*Are you impacted by this issue? We are looking for a passionate signer to take ownership of this petition. Click here to learn more.* Puerto Rico is still reeling from natural disasters. Families haven’t been able to rebuild their lives or their homes, and the House and Senate refuse to come to come to a consensus and pass a disaster relief bill. Over a year ago, Hurricane Irma and Maria overtook Puerto Rico and left the island’s infrastructure to pieces. As of right now, Puerto Rico residents are forced to survive only on food-stamp allocations — and that has also been cut. It’s a program that many elderly Puerto ricans use to buy basic necessities like detergent and toothpaste. There is a bill that has already passed the House with hundreds of millions of dollars that is necessary for Puerto Rico, but the Senate struck it down. The comprehensive House bill would help those impacted by hurricanes in Florida, North and South Carolina, Alabama, and Virginia, as well as the volcanic eruptions in Hawaii, the wildfires in California, the typhoons that impacted the Pacific territories, and for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Some in the Senate are trying to strip away money that Puerto Rico desperately needs. Ensure that your voice is heard and this doesn’t happen. Urge the House and Senate to come together and pass an all-encompassing bill. Puerto Rico needs our help now more than ever.

We, the undersigned, petition Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn along with congressional representatives of the State of Texas to co-sponsor a bill that 1) bans the US Army Corps of Engineers from operating the Addicks or Barker Reservoir above the elevation of government-owned land and 2) compensates homeowners inside the Addicks and Barker reservoirs for whom they flooded when they retained water past the elevation of the government-owned land during Hurricane Harvey and 3) protects homeowners downstream when water is released. This deliberate act of retaining water on private land in August, 2017 (which was publicly confirmed by the ACOE and Harris County Flood Control in front of Congressman Poe on 9/21/2017) caused devastating physical damage and is a clear case of Inverse Condemnation - a violation of the homeowners' 5th amendment constitutional rights: "...nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation." Rather than hire private attorneys and have them receive the majority of the compensation owed to the homeowners, this petition aims to see that homeowners receive the full compensation due them. It is directed toward the attorneys hired to represent these homeowners in Congress when they elected them and paid them with tax money. The US Army Corps of Engineers has stated it will take an act of Congress to change the design of the reservoirs. The government operates these reservoirs beyond the point of the land that they own. They built the reservoirs and then sold much of the land inside of it to private developers who built and sold homes to private citizens. As a local realtor, I know that the material fact that these homes were INSIDE the reservoir was not disclosed to home buyers. In fact, homeowners were regularly and publicly misled by government officials to believe that their homes are BEHIND the reservoir rather than in it (even during the flood event).  This is our petition: With all due respect, we ask Texas representatives of the US Congress to represent their constituents, acting sooner than later, so that families can recover the compensation due them, rebuild, and know that their private property will no longer be a part of the reservoir design.  We request 1) compensation for damages due to inverse condemnation AND 2) that the maximum pool level of the reserviors not exceed the elevation of government-owned land.  3) We also request that the design include changes to protect downstream private property with responsible releases of the water.

In an effort to find funding for President Trump's border wall it has been suggested the President may declare a state of emergency and make use of Disaster Relief funds already allocated to Puerto Rico, California and Florida for ongoing disaster relief efforts.If President Trump were to divert money already allocated to ongoing disaster relief efforts in Puerto Rico countless Americans suffering today would be directly impacted. As much of the funds already appropriated toward disaster relief in Puerto Rico have yet to be dispersed this would mean an already slow and underfunded recovery effort along with vital disaster relief efforts may come to a halt due to a lack of funding. This would have catastrophic consequences on Americans in Puerto Rico and would negatively effect both the ongoing physical and economic recovery on our island.Please sign + share the petition!**If you wish to donate to our cause and efforts at Progress Puerto Rico please do so directly by visiting: ProgressPuertoRico.org/donate

I do not know one Lineman that expects praise, recognition or thanks. However, these brave, hardworking men and women risk their lives everyday to bring comfort and security to people's homes. That is on an easy day! On a storm it gets even worse through sleep deprivation, lack of food and water and horrible weather. I am starting this petition to have those in the Line Industry to be legally recognized as First Responders. Since Hurricane Harvey and Irma hit the United States I have seen post after post on social media sites complaining. Complaining we all have come to get used to, it's expected, but for Linemen and their crews to be turned away from places (restaurants, City Hall's, etc) and not be offered any sort of refreshment because they're not first responders is appalling! They deserve so much better than the treatment they are being given and their families deserve to be able to know that yes, their spouse or significant other is okay and safe. These men rush straight into the storm while others are running away. If that isn't what a brave, courageous first responder looks like, than I truly do not know what does. **Senate Resolution 95, does not "officially" name Linemen as First Responders but does designate a day of recognition, National Lineman's Appreciation Day (April 18th)   113th CONGRESS1st Session  S. RES. 95 Recognizing linemen, the profession of linemen, the contributions of these brave men and women who protect public safety, and expressing support for the designation of April 18, 2013, as National Lineman Appreciation Day. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESApril 10, 2013Mr. Isakson (for himself and Mr. Bennet) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTIONRecognizing linemen, the profession of linemen, the contributions of these brave men and women who protect public safety, and expressing support for the designation of April 18, 2013, as National Lineman Appreciation Day. Whereas the profession of linemen is steeped in personal, family, and professional tradition; Whereas linemen are often first responders during storms and other catastrophic events, working to make the scene safe for other public safety heroes; Whereas linemen work with thousands of volts of electricity high atop power lines 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to keep electricity flowing; Whereas linemen must often work under dangerous conditions far from their families to construct and maintain the energy infrastructure of the United States; Whereas linemen put their lives on the line every day with little recognition from the community regarding the danger of their work; and Whereas April 18, 2013, would be an appropriate date to designate as National Lineman Appreciation Day: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— (1) recognizes the efforts of linemen in keeping the power on and protecting public safety; and (2) supports the designation of April 18, 2013, as National Lineman Appreciation Day.