STATEMENT: Texas GOP Lawmakers Advance Narrow Camp Safety Bill With No Funding While Millions in Emergency Relief Sit Unused
AUSTIN, TX – Today, as Texas families continue living in mold-damaged homes and drinking contaminated water, Republican legislators are advancing a narrow camp safety bill that applies only to youth camps with no funding to implement new requirements while ignoring broader flood prevention needs that would protect all Texans. Governor Abbott could already be providing relief to Texans still recovering from the deadly floods in July using the $70 million sitting unused in his disaster fund.
Despite Democratic lawmakers returning to the state to address the ongoing disaster, Texas GOP leadership continues prioritizing Trump’s gerrymandering scheme over voting on disaster relief funding that could save lives. Abbott previously used disaster declarations for political projects like reallocating $250 million for Trump’s border wall but won’t use it for flood victims living in mold-damaged homes. This focus on political theater over emergency flood relief exposes these legislators’ failure to act when Texans’ lives are on the line.
In response, Sabotaging Our Safety Advisory Council member Derrick Osobase, CWA District 6 Vice President, released the following statement:
“As families in Texas continue to recover from the floods, Republican lawmakers are pushing a narrow camp safety bill with zero funding while millions of dollars in emergency relief sit unused. While Republican legislators are moving forward with one hearing on camp safety, it’s clear that they could have acted long ago.
“Republican lawmakers have the power to act on comprehensive flood relief measures right now, yet they’ve continued to choose inaction over helping Texans in crisis. And now, instead of comprehensive flood prevention, they’re advancing a narrow camp safety bill with no funding while ignoring the broader needs that could protect all Texans. This is a stunning betrayal of the people they were elected to serve.”
BACKGROUND: Abbott Ignores Flood Safety While Prioritizing Tax Handouts Over Texans’ Lives
Don’t be fooled. Greg Abbott’s moves on flood safety are too little, too late. Over the past decade, he’s consistently prioritized giveaways for billionaires and corporations over keeping our families safe:
Abbott Missed Opportunities to Prevent Camp Mystic Tragedy
Twenty-seven campers and counselors died in the devastating Camp Mystic flood while Texas agencies repeatedly denied Kerr County’s requests for flood warning systems.
Since 2016, Kerr County applied twice for flood warning system funding through the Texas Division of Emergency Management, but both applications were rejected despite the area being dubbed “Flash Flood Alley.”
Abbott’s administration abandoned Kerr County. After rejecting the county’s flood warning system applications in both 2016 and 2017, state officials provided no alternative solutions or support, leaving the community defenseless.
Systematic Neglect of Rural Flood Prevention
Texas legislators have declined to pass at least three bills that would create siren or alert systems specifically designed to help rural communities with unreliable internet and cell service.
A 2019 state report estimated flood prevention needs exceeded $30 billion, but lawmakers have allocated only $1.4 billion since then while spending $51 billion on property tax cuts.
Abbott’s administration ignored the 2024 State Flood Plan that identified $55 billion in flood prevention projects and outlined key recommendations specifically aimed at helping rural areas like Kerr County.
Abbott Controls Camp Safety But Failed to Act
Abbott directly oversees camp regulation through his appointment of the Executive Commissioner who controls the Texas Department of State Health Services that licenses youth camps.
Spokespeople for Abbott refused to answer questions about why the state flood plan’s recommendations were overlooked during the 2025 legislative session.
The families are advocating for laws requiring structures to be moved from floodplains and emergency management offices to formally trigger campsite responses during emergencies.
The Bottom Line
Abbott favored millionaires at the cost of saving lives by neglecting flood prevention that could have saved the lives of 27 young Texans. His administration repeatedly denied rural communities the flood warning systems they desperately needed.
27 children and counselors died while Abbott’s agencies played bureaucratic games with disaster prevention funding. Texans deserve a governor who protects all communities, not just wealthy taxpayers.
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