The creation of the committee was “just the beginning of the Legislature looking at every aspect of this tragic event,” Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows said.

While the priority of first responders is to locate roughly 170 missing people primarily in Kerr and Travis counties presumed dead and buried under debris, state lawmakers are also focused on rebuilding communities in flooded areas and ensuring protocols are in place to prevent catastrophic loss of life and property in the future, they said.

“In the coming year, and into the next regular legislative session, we will gather all the facts and answer the many questions to which the public demands answers,” they said, referring to repeated questions by residents of Kerr County, news outlets and others, about why local warnings weren’t issued in time for residents and vacationers to evacuate.

“Our hearts are with the families across Texas who lost loved ones or saw their homes and livelihoods swept away in the recent, catastrophic floods. In the face of such devastation, Texans deserve swift, united action,” Burrows said. “With only 30 days to act, we must make every moment count. This effort is about moving quickly to help Texans recover and laying the foundation to better protect our communities – and our children – from future disasters.”

The committee will examine four issues identified as legislative priorities by Gov. Greg Abbott for the special session, including creating flood warning systems, implementing flood emergency communications, allocating relief funding for Hill Country recovery, and implementing a statewide natural disaster preparedness plan. Critics have questioned why this hasn’t been done before in light of the fact that Texas leads the U.S. in flood deaths, with the majority of deaths reported in Flash Flood Alley in central Texas, The Center Square reported.

A second hearing will take place on July 31 in Kerrville “to give residents an opportunity to have their voices heard.”

Patrick and Burrows are appointing nine members from each chamber to a bipartisan joint committee.

Patrick already announced he appointed state Sens. Charles Perry as chair, and Pete Flores as vice chair, as well as state Sens. Paul Bettencourt, César Blanco, Donna Campbell, Adam Hinojosa, Lois Kolkhorst, José Menéndez and Charles Schwertner.

Burrows has yet to announce his appointees.

The legislature is also “working in lockstep on congressional redistricting legislation,” Patrick and Burrows announced in a joint statement.

Both chambers are responding to “concerns raised by the U.S. Department of Justice over Texas congressional districts,” they said, adding that the committee members they will appoint to address this issue will be “aligned in their focus to ensure redistricting plans remain in compliance with the U.S. Constitution.”

After the regular legislative session ended June 2, Abbott vetoed 26 bills and called a special session to address six legislative items, The Center Square reported. 

KEN PAXTON INVESTIGATING OVER 100 POSSIBLE NONCITIZEN VOTERS IN 2020 AND 2022 ELECTIONS

After the historic July 4 flash flood event that killed 129 and left roughly 170 missing, Abbott amended the special session call, identifying 18 legislative priorities.

After the Trump administration urged Republican governors to include redistricting as part of legislative agendas, Abbott added it to the special session. He also claimed doing so was in response to “constitutional concerns raised by the U.S. Department of Justice.”