Acting Gov. Dan Patrick has levied accusations against President Biden alleging that the president has misled him, Gov. Abbott, and the people of Texas by ending a Major Disaster Declaration the same day he granted it. 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency published a press release on Wednesday detailing the president’s approval of a Major Disaster Declaration following the destruction wreaked by Hurricane Beryl. 

A Major Disaster Declaration is required before the federal government grants FEMA aid to assist in covering costs incurred by the state following a natural disaster. According to FEMA, Texas has been given access to federal assistance to help pay for hurricane damages between July 5-9. 

Yet, because the declaration ended July 9, Texas will not be reimbursed for any expenses incurred after that date. 

“He [President Biden] pulled the rug out from under the people of Texas and lied to them,” Patrick posted Thursday on X. 

Additionally, the declaration only approved federal funding to cover expenses in 67 counties. According to Patrick, the president broke his promise to the acting governor on a phone call to administer aid to 121 counties. 

“The bottom line is this: President Biden lied about reaching out to me from day one, our declaration request, and the aid he said he would give Texas,” said Patrick. “Biden is the first president in history to weaponize FEMA as a political tool, which is completely unacceptable and unethical and undermines the relationship states have with FEMA.”

Patrick vowed in the same post to submit a request for individual assistance for 15 other eligible counties. That number will reportedly grow as further damage assessments are conducted. 

The 67 counties currently eligible for debris removal and emergency work funding are Anderson, Angelina, Aransas, Austin, Bowie, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Calhoun, Cameron, Camp, Cass, Chambers, Cherokee, Colorado, Dewitt, Fayette, Fort Bend, Freestone, Galveston, Goliad, Gregg, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Harrison, Hidalgo, Houston, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Kenedy, Kleberg, Lavaca, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Marion, Matagorda, Milam, Montgomery, Morris, Nacogdoches, Newton, Nueces, Orange,  Panola, Polk, Refugio, Robertson, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, San Patricio, Shelby, Trinity, Tyler, Upshur, Victoria, Walker, Waller, Washington, Webb, Wharton, and Willacy. 

Will Biagini

Will currently serves as the Field Reporter with Texas Scorecard. He was born in Louisiana and graduated from Florida State University.

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