President Trump and first lady Melania Trump traveled to Houston on Saturday to visit the victims of Hurricane Harvey and assess the damage to the city. It was their second trip to Texas this week.
While there, Tump and Melania handed out meals to the victims and hugged and played with children at Houston’s NRG Center, which is serving as the city’s largest shelter.
“It has been a wonderful thing,” Trump said about his experience meeting with the children and helping serve food.
Many could be heard shouting “Thank you, sir,” while others waited to take selfies with the president.
The Trump administration sent lawmakers a request for an initial $7.9 billion in disaster relief funds.
Update: Trump amended the Texas disaster declaration on Saturday.
“Today, President Donald J. Trump made additional disaster assistance available to the State of Texas by authorizing an increase in the level of Federal funding for debris removal and emergency protective measures as a result of Hurricane Harvey.
“Under the President’s major disaster declaration issued for the state of Texas on August 25, 2017, Federal funding was made available for Public Assistance, Hazard Mitigation, and Other Needs Assistance at 75 percent Federal cost sharing of the total eligible costs.
“Today, President Trump increased cost sharing to 90 percent Federal funding for debris removal, including direct Federal assistance, and a 100 percent Federal funding for emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, for 30 days from the start of the incident period, and then a 90 percent Federal cost share thereafter.”