Congressional Delegation Tours Texas Medical Center- Outlines Efforts to Secure Financial Assistance

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison led a delegation of U.S. Congress members from Texas who toured the Texas Medical Center June 25. They viewed up close the flood-related devastation Tropical Storm

Allison brought to hospitals, universities, and other Texas Medical Center institutions. During the tour, Sen. Hutchison pledged support to the institutions, saying that the delegation members would "stand as a united front in Washington" to ensure that the hard-hit health care and educational institutions get the requisite federal funds needed to rebuild and recuperate from the worst flood in the history of the Texas Medical Center.

In addition to Sen. Hutchison, delegation members included Reps. Tom DeLay, Kevin Brady, Ken Bentsen, John Culberson, and Sheila Jackson Lee; as well as Harris County Judge Robert Eckels; Federal Emergency Management Agency Federal Coordinating Officer Scott Wells and FEMA Deputy Federal Coordinating Officer David Fukytomi; John Kamarck of the Senate VA-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee; Julie Carter, Appropriations staff member for the House Majority Whip; National Institutes of Health External Research Director Wendy Baldwin; and NIH Assistant Grants Policy Officer Carol Alderson.

The delegation is working earnestly to convey to Washington officials the monumental extent of the damage suffered in the Texas Medical Center, Sen. Hutchison said.

"We have enlisted assistance from every individual in Washington who can possibly play a role in helping," she said.

Help is available in a number of different forms, Sen. Hutchison said, including immediate assistance from FEMA and emergency government appropriations. The delegation will also pursue ongoing federal appropriations that will aid long-term recovery efforts, and will work with the NIH in an attempt to have unallocated funds transferred to Texas Medical Center research programs and to extend grant application deadlines for local researchers.

CEOs of Texas Medical Center institutions were on hand to brief the delegation about how their respective hospitals, colleges and universities have been impacted by the flood. Over and over, they relayed stories of devastation to research, clinical care and education.

"Virtually the entire tertiary and quarternary patient care infrastructure in the Texas Medical Center has been affected. I'm unaware of any previous situation in the nation that has stripped patient care capabilities in this way," said Dr. Ralph D. Feigin, president of Baylor College of Medicine and physician in chief at Texas Children's Hospital.

Loss of invaluable research, some which has been in the making for decades, is "terribly disheartening," added Dr. James Willerson, president of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

"Research animals used to find new methods to treat and prevent diseases, cell cultures, laboratory equipment, blood and urine samples from patients participating in studies, years worth of research records, have been lost," Dr. Willerson said. "The impact is catastrophic."

Rep. Tom DeLay said that once the specific needs of each institution are determined, a package will be put together to assist with meeting those needs.

"There are so many losses in so many areas. It's going to take awhile, but the delegation will work hard to put things back the way they used to be - maybe even better," he said.

To avoid a similar catastrophe in the future, Sen. Hutchison said methods for "flood proofing" buildings are under investigation, including flood gates and locks, re-channeling the water flow through the Texas Medical Center, and putting valuable research facilities and power sources above ground - not in basements.

"We've learned a tough lesson. We'll be spending a lot of time on flood control," Sen. Hutchison said.

Rep. Kevin Brady said the delegation is asking FEMA to lower or waive its 25 percent local share requirement (in Texas, FEMA pays for 75 percent of damages, while the institution affected pays the remaining 25 percent, after insurance claims have already been paid). Because of the national significance of scientific research conducted at Texas Medical Center institutions, the delegation also is asking Congress to approve an intensive research recovery effort, conducted by the country's national science agencies, aimed at salvaging what remains of Texas Medical Center research projects and keeping those projects here.

"This is the place the research will stay ... we will not lose the research because we fell on hard times," said Rep. Lee, who is a member of the House Science Committee.

She said she will invite the committee to tour the Texas Medical Center.

Rep. John Culberson also offered assurances of support.

"We are all Texans. We may have offices in Washington, but our hearts are here," Rep. Culberson said of the delegation members.

Sen Hutchison said, "Our central message today is that the delegation is working on a very tight timeframe, and in the end, we will take care of this medical center. It is the economic engine of the entire area, and a lifeline for so many people."

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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