Congress: Harvey relief MUST address the needs of frontline communities & NOT include border wall funding

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Harvey has dumped over 9 trillion gallons of water on the Houston area, and even more on the Gulf Coast region -- one of the most heavily industrialized areas on the planet.

By some estimates there are more than 10,000 potentially hazardous sites in the path of the flooding Harvey has left in its wake. From chemical plants to oil refineries and even gas stations, dangerously poisonous substances are seeping into the floodwater. The potential harm to the people living in the area is devastating.

This week, Congress will meet to authorize disaster relief funding. We must make sure they include funds to help address superfund sites and other toxic releases in the area.

The approved funding must meet the needs of the communities most vulnerable to the storm's impact. For this reason we also demand that recovery funds must focus on sustainable, locally-led development; be made available to everyone regardless of citizenship status; and ensure the right of return for people at risk of being displaced.

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The response to Hurricane Harvey must be equitable -- addressing not only the immediate emergency services, health, and safety needs but the long term community impacts as well.

Disasters like Harvey often have a disproportionate effect on our most vulnerable communities.There must be action at FEMA or another federal agency to ensure the response is equitable and looks out for frontline communities regarding culturally appropriate health care, legal representation, education, and housing. A just recovery must ensure funding is directed to community-led recovery efforts. I urge you to work to ensure the response addresses equitable housing access, immigrant rights, worker rights, and access to services, food and water, and health care.

Furthermore, it is estimated there are more than 10,000 potentially hazardous sites in the path of the flooding. Therefore, Congress must immediately pass emergency supplemental funding including specific resources for the EPA to address toxic pollution from refineries and Superfund sites. Harvey is especially devastating low-income communities and communities of color and making the toxic circumstances many of these neighborhoods face every day much more dangerous.

And nowhere within this funding should there be ANY funding for Trump's proposed border wall. It would be shameful to include funding for such a divisive project in this hour of great need in our country.

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Bryan Parras