Officials discuss funding Gov. Abbott on April 20 joined U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, U.S. Rep. John Culberson, R-Houston, and local officials in Houston to discuss the $5 billion recently allocated by Congress to Texas for Hurricane Harvey and disaster recovery. Provided through the HUD Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program, the intended use of the grant funding is for the rebuilding of housing, businesses and ...