Congressman Gonzalez Announces $500,000 Disaster-Assistance Grant for Texas RioGrande Legal Aid

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) announced that Texas RioGrande Legal Aid has been selected to receive a $500,000 disaster-assistance grant. This federal grant was appropriated by Congress in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Disaster Supplemental Relief Act.

"We cannot control natural disasters, but we can put laws in place to help those affected by them," said Congressman Gonzalez. "With this grant, it is my hope that as many disaster survivors as possible receive the legal resources they need. I will continue advocating for the crucial resources American families need after being affected by natural disasters."

Texas RioGrande Legal Aid will use this grant to provide direct legal assistance to disaster survivors, work with partner and community organizations and local agencies to provide information at meetings and through media outlets, recruit and train pro bono attorneys, and meet with relevant local and state officials to educate them about the drainage infrastructure program that exacerbates the flooding caused from the storms.

Congress appropriated $15 million to Legal Services Corporation (LSC) in the FY 2019 Disaster Supplemental Relief Act. There were nearly 16,000 damaged homes in the affected area and more than 260,000 people are eligible for LSC-funded services.