{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where party = \"Democrat\", state = \"TX\" and year = 2021 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=822", "Congresswoman Escobar Announces Over $490 Million in SBA Loans to El Paso Small Businesses", "2021-12-29", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Veronica Escobar", "E000299", "escobar.house.gov", "escobar", "https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Congresswoman Escobar Visiting El Paso Small Business, Chuco Relic\n\nToday, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) announced that the El Paso District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) approved over 9,799 loans totaling $490,047,441 in funding to local small businesses since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of these loans, countless small-business owners were able to keep their businesses open and create over 650 new jobs for the community.\n\nSmall businesses have been hit hard throughout the last two years. In 2020, businesses with less than 500 employees reported a record net job loss against larger businesses \u2013 though they also benefitted from programs such as the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), with 96% of loans going to businesses with fewer than 20 employees.\n\nWhile many of the loans were started by Congress in the bipartisan CARES Act, which Congresswoman Escobar voted for in March 2020, this help would not have been possible without the American Rescue Plan Act. Passed by Congresswoman Escobar and her Democratic colleagues and signed into law by President Joe Biden in March 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act provided an additional $7.25 billion for PPP and $15 billion for Targeted Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) advance payments.\n\n\u201cEl Paso small businesses make up the backbone of our local economy and thanks to the American Rescue Plan, Congress has enabled the SBA to uplift our community\u2019s beloved mom-and-pop businesses,\u201d Congresswoman Escobar. \u201cI am proud of the work the SBA El Paso District Office has done to deliver a record number of loans while also scaling up to meet the immense demand for COVID-19 related economic relief. I look forward to continue working together to build El Paso\u2019s small business economy back better and ensure everyone is included in our economic recovery.\u201d\n\nThe total FY 2021 loan totals approved by the SBA El Paso District Office, which covers 10 counties including El Paso County and the West Texas counties of Brewster, Culberson, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Loving, Pecos, Presidio, Reeves, and Terrell, are:\n\nTotal Guaranteed Loans: 104 loans approved for $39,095,283\n\nPPP Loans: 9,427 loans approved for $396,079,597\n\nEIDL Loans: 259 loans for $64,322,561\n\n504 Loans: 9 loans for $8,775,000", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=825", "Congresswoman Escobar Announces 2021 Congressional App Challenge Winner", "2021-12-27", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Veronica Escobar", "E000299", "escobar.house.gov", "escobar", "https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Congresswoman Escobar and 2021 Congressional App Challenge Winner Lisa Rondeau\n\nToday, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) announced the winner of the 2021 Congressional App Challenge: Harmony School of Science student Lisa Rondeau, who won with the submission of the application My ADLE.\n\nMy ADLE, which stands for My Activities in Daily Life & Emergencies, helps seniors who have been struggling with stress and isolation throughout the pandemic. The app connects seniors with vital community resources in El Paso, including food distribution, transportation, shelter, medical care, social activities and events, and emergency information.\n\n\u201cCongratulations to Lisa Rondeau from Harmony School of Science. Through her winning app, she has demonstrated her talent and commitment to ensure El Paso\u2019s seniors have the information and support they need to cope and be resilient during the COVID-19 pandemic,\u201d said Congresswoman Escobar. \u201cI am amazed by Lisa and all of the talented coders in our community who have created innovative apps to deal with everyday problems. I also extend my sincerest gratitude to everyone who made this possible, from the judges to the educators and supportive family members.\u201d\n\nThe office of Congresswoman Escobar received a total of 18 submissions from across four middle and high schools within Texas\u2019 16th Congressional District.\n\nThis year\u2019s judges were Jonathan Childress from Microsoft, Nadia Karichev from the El Paso Community College (EPCC), Eduardo Seyffert from Blue Origin, and 2020 Congressional App Challenge Winner Jie Chen.\n\nBelow are the full results of the 2021 Congressional App Challenge:\n\n1st Place: My ADLE by Lisa Rondeau. 6thGrade, Harmony School of Science\n\n2nd Place: Fitness Planner by Christian Dees. 11th Grade, Northwest Early College High School\n\n3rd Place: Helping the World by Oscar Parada. 6th Grade, Parkland Pre-Engineering Middle School\n\nHonorable Mention: I\u2019m the New Kid by Aurora Shindo and Azra Rios-Carroll. 8th Grade, Parkland Pre-Engineering Middle School\n\nLisa Rondeau, alongside other participants, will be recognized in 2022 during a reception hosted by Congresswoman Escobar\u2019s office and her app will be showcased to Congress and the broader tech community during the #HouseOfCode Festival in the spring of 2022.\n\nOfficially launched by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2015, the Congressional App Challenge is a nationwide competition that encourages middle and high school students to learn how to code by creating their own applications. The App Challenge is intended to highlight the value of computer science and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education.\n\nMore information on the Congressional App Challenge can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3619", "Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Tours Surface Water Supply Project with West Harris County Regional Water Authority and Houston Public Works, Highlighting Water Investments in Infrastructure Bill", "2021-12-23", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Lizzie Fletcher", "F000468", "fletcher.house.gov", "fletcher", "https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) joined representatives from Houston Public Works and West Harris County Regional Water Authority to tour the 55-mile Surface Water Supply Project, a large diameter (96\u201d) water transmission pipeline from Lake Houston to West Harris County and Ft. Bend County.\n\n\u201cThe Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will bring vital resources to Texas for water infrastructure,\u201d said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. \u201cThe Surface Water Supply Project is a transformational project to ensure a supply of clean drinking water and mitigate subsidence from groundwater use. Through the IIJA, Congress has worked to ensure that transformative projects like this one can move forward to every American has access to clean drinking water. The new law will help make additional investments in safe, clean drinking water a reality for Houston families.\u201d\n\nThe bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will provide $2.9 billion to Texas, an estimate based on the traditional state revolving fund formula, to address water infrastructure across the state. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that the capital cost of wastewater and drinking water infrastructure needed to meet federal water quality and safety requirements and public health objectives exceeds $744 billion over a 20-year period. In addition to authorizing numerous EPA-administered infrastructure grant programs, the IIJA provides emergency supplemental appropriations for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. It appropriates:\n\n$23.4 billion for the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Loan Funds (SRF), which provide below-market rate loans and grants to public water systems to fund water infrastructure improvements to protect public health and the environment. This legislation reduces the state cost share for the first two years to 10%. 49% of these funds will be administered as grants and completely forgivable loans.\n\nA historic $15 billion for lead service line replacement through the Drinking Water SRF. States are not required to provide a cost share to receive these funds. 49% of these funds will be administered as grants and completely forgivable loans.\n\n$10 billion to address PFAS contamination, with $5 billion being distributed through the SRFs and $5 billion going to the small and disadvantaged community grant program. States are not required to provide a cost share. 100% of the funding will be administered as grants.\n\nIt authorizes a grant program to assist midsize and large drinking water systems with increasing their resilience to natural hazards, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and extreme weather events. Funds may be used to promote water conservation enhance water-efficiency, create desalination facilities, relocate or renovate existing vulnerable water systems, enhance water supply, and implement measures to increase resiliency to natural hazards, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, or extreme weather events, including extreme weather events that are a result of climate change.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://veasey.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-veasey-williams-sewell-and-butterfield-demand-senate-action-to", "Reps. Veasey, Williams, Sewell, and Butterfield Demand Senate Action to Protect Voting Rights", "2021-12-23", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Marc A. Veasey", "V000131", "veasey.house.gov", "veasey", "https://veasey.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33), Co-Chair of the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus (CVRC), joined Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) Congresswoman Terri Sewell (AL-07), and Congressman G.K. Butterfield (NC-01) to urge action to advance the Freedom to Vote Act and John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.\n\nIn a letter sent to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the members wrote, \"As champions of voting rights in congress, we write to express serious concern about the year ending without a path forward on advancing voting rights.\"\n\n\"After months of compromises, Republicans have not come to the table on voting rights in numbers sufficient to overcome the existing filibuster.\"\n\n\"Ending 2021 without voting rights reform will allow state legislatures to continue their efforts in the new year to limit the right to vote. Meanwhile, failing to end partisan gerrymandering will allow some states to finalize maps that enshrine profound partisan imbalances for the next decade. We have no time to lose to ensure people have access to the ballot box and have a fair voice in selecting their representatives.\"\n\n\"We can no longer allow Senate procedure to stand in the way of ensuring people have their voice heard, and we ask that you do what is necessary to advance the Freedom to Vote Act and John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-al-green-joins-efforts-launch-investigation-astroworld-festival", "Congressman Al Green Joins Efforts to Launch Investigation into Astroworld Festival Tragedy, \u201cThoughts and prayers are not enough.\u201d", "2021-12-22", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Al Green", "G000553", "algreen.house.gov", "algreen", "https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(Houston, TX) \u2013 On Wednesday, December 22, 2021, Congressman Al Green (TX-09) released the following statement:\n\n\u201cI\u2019d like to thank Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform. Without her leadership on this cause, this investigation into the tragedy at the Astroworld Festival could not have come to fruition. On the eve of what is traditionally a joyful holiday season, far too many families will still be in mourning. The loss at NRG Park last month still weighs heavily on the loved ones and friends of those who tragically lost their lives. As a sitting member of Congress who represents the area where this horrific tragedy occurred, I am exceedingly disturbed by the events that unfolded at this festival on Friday, November 5, 2021,\u201d Congressman Al Green said. \u201cSince the day following this tragic affair, I have been very supportive of efforts to uncover exactly what went wrong and hold accountable the parties responsible for this dreadful incident. Because this is bigger than the city of Houston, future measures must be taken to prevent this from happening again in other venues across the country.\u201d\n\nCongressman Al Green continued, \u201cMembers involved in this effort, including myself, are requesting that by January 7, 2022, Live Nation Entertainment provides the Committee with information regarding their role in the festival, security plans for this event, and steps taken to help individuals as reports came in during the concert that people were in desperate need of aid. Justice must be served to ensure that what happened at Astroworld Festival does not happen again. People should be able to leave their homes to enjoy live music without worrying about whether they will return home safely or be crushed by a stampede. There must be accountability and transparency\u2013\u2013thoughts and prayers are not enough.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3613", "Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher and Congressman Joe Neguse Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Reforming Broadband Connectivity Act", "2021-12-21", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Lizzie Fletcher", "F000468", "fletcher.house.gov", "fletcher", "https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), together with Representatives Joe Neguse (CO-02), Angie Craig (MN-02), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Kat Cammack (FL-03), and Jack Bergman (MI-01) introduced H.R. 6314, the Reforming Broadband Connectivity Act, directing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to improve funding for the Universal Service Fund (USF) to allow for expanded access to broadband and other telecommunications services.\n\n\u201cIt is so important to ensure Americans have access to broadband, wherever they live,\u201d said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. \u201cI am glad to join Representatives Neguse, Craig, DeGette, Cammack, and Bergman in introducing this bipartisan legislation to ensure the Universal Service Fund remains strong and available to help expand broadband infrastructure across the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cTo fully participate in the modern era, small business owners, students, families, and workers in rural communities require consistent, reliable broadband connectivity,\u201d said Congressman Joe Neguse. \u201cOur bill, the Reforming Broadband Connectivity Act, will ensure our federal agencies are utilizing all tools at their disposal to expand access to broadband and other telecommunications services, to connect our communities.\u201d\n\nThe Reforming Broadband Connectivity Act is the companion to Senate legislation S. 3236, originally introduced by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and John Thune (R-SD).\n\nThe USF, as a subsidiary of the FCC, supports programs that increase broadband access in rural communities and expands access to affordable broadband service for underserved families, schools, and libraries. Broadband is vital for economic development, care deliverability, and the expansion of educational services.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3614", "Media Advisory: Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Launches Lizzie\u2019s Little Learners: Read to Lead", "2021-12-21", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Lizzie Fletcher", "F000468", "fletcher.house.gov", "fletcher", "https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Houston, TX\u2014Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) has launched a program titled Lizzie\u2019s Little Learners: Read to Lead and invites elementary-aged students in TX-07 to read 10 or more grade-level books with help from teachers, parents, grandparents, older siblings, or other trusted caregivers. Little Learners who read at least 10 books will be invited with their families to attend a virtual recognition ceremony with Congresswoman Fletcher to celebrate their achievement.\n\nWhat\n\nLizzie\u2019s Little Learners: Read to Lead\n\nWho\n\nAny elementary-aged student in TX-07\n\nWhy\n\nReading at grade level is a critical metric for a lifetime of success! By incorporating reading into your daily activity, you can build the tools for lifelong learning.\n\nWhen\n\nBooks read November 30, 2021 \u2013 January 31, 2022\n\nHow\n\nRead! Each participant should aim to read 10 grade-level books (or more!) and, with help from teachers, parents, grandparents, older siblings, or other trusted caregivers, log their progress using the provided form. Little Learners who read at least 10 will be invited with their families to a recognition ceremony with Congresswoman Fletcher to celebrate their achievement.\n\nMore information\n\nAll printed log sheets should be returned to Congresswoman Fletcher\u2019s Houston Office at 5599 San Felipe Street, Suite 950, Houston, TX or emailed using the digital log sheet to the email address listed at the bottom of the log sheet. All log sheets and permission slips must be received by February 7, 2022. For any further questions, please contact the Congresswoman\u2019s Houston Office at (713) 353-8680.\n\nClick here for a printable log sheet.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3615", "Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Tours Project Brays to Discuss Flood Mitigation and the  Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act", "2021-12-21", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Lizzie Fletcher", "F000468", "fletcher.house.gov", "fletcher", "https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Last week, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) met with representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Harris County Flood Control District to discuss the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Actand its potential impacts in Texas Congressional District Seven. Congresswoman Fletcher toured Brays Bayou for an update on Segment 4 of Brays Bayou Federal Flood Damage Reduction Project (Project Brays) and surveyed the progress of the new Chimney Rock Bridge. Project Brays, a $480 million effort, is the largest partnership project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Harris County Flood Control to date.\n\n\u201cThe need for action in Texas is clear and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will deliver for Texas,\u201d said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. \u201cWith billions in funds directed to the Army Corps of Engineers and $500 million slated for Texas\u2019 bridges alone, the new law will make a tremendous difference in our ability to make transformational investments like this one for our community.\u201d\n\nAmong its provisions, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will:\n\nProvide $7 billion to USACE for resiliency infrastructure projects, including set-asides for Coastal Storm Risk Management/Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction Projects, Inland Flood Risk Management Projects and Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Projects, targeting states like Texas that have been impacted by federally declared disasters over the last six years.\n\nProvide $9.55 billion to USACE for waterway infrastructure priorities, including $5.15 billion for backlogged construction projects and specific funding for repairing damages to Corps Projects caused by natural disasters.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3617", "Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Delivers Winter Wishes to Houston-Area Seniors", "2021-12-21", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Lizzie Fletcher", "F000468", "fletcher.house.gov", "fletcher", "https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) delivered holiday cards to senior citizens across Texas\u2019 Seventh Congressional District. Local students, teachers, and Seventh District constituents created and delivered nearly 1,000 cards to Congresswoman Fletcher\u2019s Houston office this month to be shared with our seniors.\n\n\u201cI was thrilled to deliver holiday cards to seniors across our district on behalf of students and teachers and others in our community,\u201d said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. \u201cWe had an incredible response from our TX-07 community, and I am grateful to everyone who participated and helped spread holiday cheer.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3618", "ICYMI: New Democrat Coalition Trade Leaders Urge Secretary Raimondo and Ambassador Tai to Move Quickly to End Section 232 Tariffs on U.S. Allies", "2021-12-21", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Lizzie Fletcher", "F000468", "fletcher.house.gov", "fletcher", "https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014Today, the New Democrat Coalition sent a press release highlighting the work of the Trade Task Force on ending Section 232 tariffs, where Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) serves as Co-Chair. The New Democrat Coalition is the U.S. House of Representatives\u2019 largest Democratic caucus, committed to pro-economic growth, pro-innovation, and fiscally responsible policies.\n\nFrom the New Democrat Coalition\u2019s release:\n\nToday, New Democrat Coalition (NDC) trade leaders, led by Trade Task Force Co-Chairs Ron Kind (WI-03), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), and NDC Chair Suzan DelBene (WA-01), urged U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai to quickly eliminate the Trump-era 232 tariffs on U.S. allies, following the recent agreement struck with the European Union. Working with the United Kingdom, Japan, and other close trading partners to end the harmful tariffs will help lower costs for Americans, reduce inflationary pressures, and provide a path forward for better coordination to address global overcapacity challenges.\n\n\u201cWe must end the harmful 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from our allies imposed during the Trump Administration,\u201d said New Democrat Coalition (NDC) Trade Task Force Co-Chair Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07). \u201cI was glad to work with my NDC colleagues, including Trade Task Force Co-Chair Congressman Ron Kind (WI-03), and NDC Chair Suzan DelBene (WA-01) in urging the Department of Commerce to take swift action to eliminate tariffs on our international partners to keep our domestic manufacturers competitive and lower costs for American consumers.\u201d\n\n\"To secure relief for Wisconsin manufacturers, farmers, and families, we need to eliminate the Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum imposed by the former Administration on our allies,\" said NDC Trade Task Force Co-Chair Ron Kind (WI-3). \"I look forward to continuing to work with Secretary Raimondo and Ambassador Tai to find a path towards removing these tariffs, leveling the playing field for Wisconsinites, and addressing global overcapacity challenges.\"\n\n\u201cEnding misguided Trump-era Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from U.S. allies and trading partners will provide much needed relief for American workers, families, and manufacturers,\u201d said NDC Chair Suzan DelBene (WA-01). \u201cThe U.S. is made stronger and safer through our economic ties with our allies and close trading partners, and the New Democrat Coalition looks forward to continuing to work with Secretary Raimondo and Ambassador Tai to advance a pro-growth trade agenda that promotes American businesses, creates jobs, and strengthens American leadership of the global rules-based order.\u201d\n\nThe letter reads in part,\n\n\u201cWe are encouraged by your recent announcement of formal consultations with Japan on steel and aluminum and ask that you begin similar consultations with the United Kingdom and other close trading partners and move quickly in these discussions as downstream users continue to face astonishingly high prices in steel and aluminum.\n\n\u201cIt is imperative that the United States continue to set the rules for the global economy, rather than have them set by others. We look forward to working with you and President Biden in executing a trade agenda that meets the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century; promotes American workers, farmers, ranchers, and businesses; lowers costs for American families; recommits to multilateralism and U.S. global leadership; and strengthens our allies and close trading partners. A pro-growth trade agenda and sufficient supply of steel and aluminum at a cost-competitive price is critical as we implement President Biden\u2019s historic investments in infrastructure and continue our ongoing legislative efforts to build back better and bolster U.S. innovation, competitiveness, and global supply chains.\u201d\n\nFull text of the letter can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3611", "Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Announces 7,000 Closed Cases on Behalf of Texas\u2019 Seventh Congressional District", "2021-12-20", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Lizzie Fletcher", "F000468", "fletcher.house.gov", "fletcher", "https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) announced her office has successfully closed 7,000 constituent cases for residents of Texas\u2019 Seventh Congressional District. Her office assists residents with matters before federal agencies, including obtaining benefits from Social Security, Veterans Affairs, and Medicare, as well as addressing matters before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and obtaining visas and renewing passports.\n\n\u201cI am so proud we have been able to assist more than 7,000 constituents as they navigated various challenges in dealing with federal agencies,\u201d said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. \u201cI am grateful to the people of Texas\u2019 Seventh Congressional District for trusting us to solve their problems and provide meaningful solutions. That is what we are here to do. It is a privilege to represent this district and to serve our neighbors every day.\u201d\n\nBelow are some testimonials from constituents Congresswoman Fletcher and her team have helped:\n\n\u201cI cannot thank Lizzie\u2019s office enough for being such a big help. I contacted the office out of desperation after we ran into an unusual delay in State Department paperwork for my parent\u2019s visa.\n\n\u201cThe office response was prompt, polite, and professional. They promptly responded and followed up with two calls within two days asking for details of the case. Then, with the information, they reached out to the right department. Lo and behold, within a week, we received the communication that we had been waiting for months. It is fantastic to know your congresswoman has your back. It is even more so to know she does it with respect and diligence. Thank you wholeheartedly for following up on the case, which led to a quick response. I especially would like to thank Shirley in the congresswoman\u2019s office for her efforts in resolving the case.\u201d\n\nKaveh A.\n\n\u201cI am a female small business owner in Texas\u2019 Seventh Congressional District in Houston. COVID-19 has deeply affected by business revenue over the last 18 months. As I was eligible, I applied for the Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) in April 2021. Like many others, I received email after email form the SBA office requesting information. The information was provided time and time again, only to be told the information was received but had not been uploaded to my files.\n\n\u201cAs of October 20, 2021, I was still receiving emails requesting the same data provided at least 15 times. At this point, I contacted Congresswoman Fletcher\u2019s Office to see if any help could be provided. She and her staff responded to me immediately (same day). Ms. Fletcher\u2019s Office contacted the SBA and within four days, I received a phone call from the SBA Public Information Office. This office uploaded my documents while I was on the phone with them and indicated my loan application had been placed with a high priority team. Lizzie Fletcher truly supports and stands up for her constituents. The same cannot be said for most politicians. I will support her endeavors for the betterment of her district, as I truly believe that is her reason for holding public office. Thank you!\u201d\n\nJean H.\n\n\u201cI applied for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and Advanced Parole (AP) renewal on December 3, 2020. The biometrics were updated in January 2021. There were no further updates to my case and my EAD card expired on May 30, 2021. I got an automatic 180-day extension. The extension was set to expire at the end of November 2021, leaving me unable to work. Suspending my employment would have severe consequences on my team, employer, and family. Additionally, I was unable to travel outside the U.S. for an important family event.\n\n\u201cI submitted a service request with USCIS and did not receive a response. My lawyer advised that I contact Congresswoman Fletcher\u2019s Office. I contacted Congresswoman Fletcher\u2019s Office on October 20, 2021 to inquire about my case with USCIS. The office acted promptly to address my issue and submitted a request with USCIS to address the delay in my case. On November 1st, USCIS emailed Congresswoman Fletcher\u2019s Office notifying them my case was approved for expedited processing. Two hours after the email, I received a notification that a new card was being produced. To tell you the truth, it was almost too good to be true.\n\n\u201cThe experience I had with Congresswoman Fletcher\u2019s Office was nothing but amazing. The team cared about my case and was in continuous communication with me.\n\n\u201cThank you very much, Congresswoman Fletcher and your team! I truly appreciate your help and support in getting my case approved and avoiding all the negative consequences of suspending my employment.\u201d\n\nMohammed H.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://veasey.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/representative-marc-veaseys-national-medal-of-honor-monument-act-headed", "Representative Marc Veasey's National Medal of Honor Monument Act Headed to President Biden\u2019s Desk", "2021-12-20", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Marc A. Veasey", "V000131", "veasey.house.gov", "veasey", "https://veasey.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 This weekend, after unanimously passing the House in July, Representative Marc Veasey's National Medal of Honor Monument Act unanimously passed the Senate. The legislation will now head to the White House to be signed into law by President Biden.\n\nIntroduced by Representatives Marc Veasey (D-TX) and Blake Moore (R-UT) and Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and John Cornyn (R-TX), the National Medal of Honor Monument Act is bipartisan legislation that authorizes the creation of a monument that will pay homage to the values the Medal of Honor represents\u2014courage, patriotism, citizenship, integrity, commitment, and sacrifice\u2014and the less than 4,000 brave individuals who earned it in service to their country. Of the roughly 9,500 bills introduced in both chambers during the first session of the 117th Congress, only 95 have passed both the House and the Senate.\n\n\"I am so proud that my bipartisan Medal of Honor legislation will be signed into law by President Biden,\" said Representative Marc Veasey. \"This legislation honors the service and sacrifice of the brave men and women who risked their lives to protect our country.\"\n\n\"I am grateful to have been part of this historic effort to commemorate our Medal of Honor recipients with a monument in Washington, D.C.,\" said Representative Blake Moore. \"This bipartisan legislation is off to the president's desk, and we are one step closer to immortalizing the sacrifices of our nation's greatest heroes.\"\n\n\"An homage to America's Medal of Honor recipients in our nation's capital will remind visitors and residents alike of what it means to put your country first,\" said Senator John Cornyn. \"The selfless servicemembers who have earned the Medal of Honor \u2013 like the fabled Patrick Brady and Audie Murphy, to name a few \u2013 deserve our utmost respect and recognition, and I applaud the Foundation, which calls Arlington, Texas home, for their hard work and advocacy.\"\n\n\"I am proud our bill to establish a National Medal of Honor Monument has reached this pivotal point, passing the Senate and getting one step closer to becoming law,\" said Senator Tim Kaine. \"This museum will honor the tremendous sacrifices our servicemembers have made in service to our nation.\"\n\n\"With only 67 Medal of Honor recipients alive today, time is of the essence to recognize our nation's bravest heroes. By passing the National Medal of Honor Monument Act, we are one step closer to doing just that,\" said Chris Cassidy, National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation president and CEO. \"I want to thank Sens. Cornyn and Kaine and Reps. Veasey and Moore for their tremendous leadership. Together, we will pay tribute to the fewer than 4,000 brave Americans who have received the Medal.\"\n\nThe Medal of Honor is the United States' highest military decoration and is awarded to U.S. service members who have distinguished themselves with extraordinary acts of valor. It is awarded very rarely and only to those whose service and sacrifice far exceed the call of duty. The mission of the National Medal of Honor Museum, which is currently being built in Arlington in Texas's 33rd Congressional district, is to commemorate the stories of our Medal of Honor recipients, unite Americans around the common ideals embodied by the medal, and inspire every citizen to look for ways to serve and create a lasting impact in their own communities.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-al-green-supports-efforts-grant-clemency-soldiers-camp-logans-24th", "Congressman Al Green Supports Efforts to Grant Clemency to Soldiers of Camp Logan\u2019s 24th Infantry Regiment", "2021-12-17", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Al Green", "G000553", "algreen.house.gov", "algreen", "https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(Houston, TX) \u2013 On Friday, December 17, 2021, Congressman Al Green (TX-09) released the following statement:\n\n\u201cWilliam Cullen Bryant was right, \u2018Truth crushed to earth shall rise again.\u2019 The truth about the tragedy at Camp Logan has been buried in an earthly grave of lies. The Camp Logan Mutiny took place in Houston, TX during World War I on August 23, 1917. The 3rd Battalion of the 24th U.S. Infantry Regiment, comprised of all-Black soldiers, was sent to Houston, TX to guard the construction site of Camp Logan. Upon their arrival, tensions ensued between them and White police officers, which culminated in a deadly riot with casualties on both sides. Only Black men were convicted,\u201d Congressman Al Green said. \u201cIt is my privilege and honor to support efforts by the NAACP Houston Branch and South Texas School of Law Houston to grant clemency to the soldiers of the 24th Infantry Regiment. Not only is this endeavor a moral imperative to right the wrongs of history, it is also a battle to preserve historical accuracy of what transpired in Camp Logan and rightfully acknowledge the tremendous disregard for human dignity that was witnessed,\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=821", "Congresswoman Escobar Delivers Holiday Cards to El Paso Seniors", "2021-12-17", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Veronica Escobar", "E000299", "escobar.house.gov", "escobar", "https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Congresswoman Escobar announced that, as part of her office\u2019s Holidays for Seniors program, she and her team safely delivered more than 2,000 holiday cards handmade by El Paso children from over 30 area elementary schools.\n\n\u201cThe lives of El Paso seniors have been upended by the COVID-19 pandemic and now more than ever, we need to come together to spread holiday cheer,\u201d said Congresswoman Escobar. \u201cI am grateful to every young El Pasoan who took time to craft these beautiful cards and to every teacher who participated in this effort to spread joy and holiday cheer across our community.\u201d\n\nThe cards were safely delivered to seniors of Montana Vista Community Center, Chelsea Towers, and seniors participating in the El Paso County\u2019s Senior Nutrition program. The holiday cards were created by children from the following elementary schools:\n\nAscarate Elementary\n\nCarroll T. Welch Elementary\n\nDesert Hills Elementary\n\nEast Point Elementary\n\nEscontrias Early Childhood and Elementary\n\nFrank Macias Elementary\n\nH.D. Hilley Elementary\n\nJ.M. Whitaker Elementary\n\nLoma Verde Elementary\n\nMesa Vista Elementary\n\nMesita ECDC\n\nMesita Elementary\n\nMontana Vista Elementary\n\nMoye Elementary\n\nMyrtle Cooper Elementary\n\nNorth Star Elementary\n\nO'Shea Keleher Elementary\n\nParkland Elementary\n\nPasodale Elementary\n\nPolk Elementary\n\nPurple Heart Elementary\n\nRamona Elementary\n\nRobbin EL Washington Sr. Elementary\n\nRusk Elementary\n\nSgt. Jose F. Carrasco Elementary\n\nSierra Vista Elementary\n\nStanton Elementary\n\nTierra Del Sol Elementary\n\nTippin Elementary\n\nVista Hills Elementary\n\nWilliam C. Herrera Elementary\n\nClick here to download pictures of Congresswoman Escobar delivering the holiday cards.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-sylvia-r-garcia-tx-29-issues-statement-response-senate", "Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29) Issues Statement in Response to Senate Parliamentarian Opinion on Immigration Reform in Build Back Better.", "2021-12-17", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Sylvia R. Garcia", "G000587", "sylviagarcia.house.gov", "sylviagarcia", "https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29) released the following statement in response to the opinion by the Senate Parliamentarian against the immigration reform provisions proposed in the Build Back Better Act:\n\n\"I am deeply disappointed by the Senate Parliamentarian's opinion which disregards the immense economic contributions of immigrants to communities across the country. Immigrants are essential workers, business owners, and taxpayers who contribute every day to their local communities. Immigration reform would allow them to contribute even more and live with stability and peace of mind to pursue their American Dream.\n\nThis fight is not over. I will keep fighting with my House and Senate colleagues for immigrants and for the millions of people who already call our country home. We must get this done.\"\n\nThe latest provisions proposed for the Build Back Better Act would extend work permits for immigrants and provide temporary protection against deportation for certain immigrants who came to the United States before January, 2011.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=819", "Congresswoman Escobar Announces Over 93K Hardworking El Paso Families Have Benefited from the Expanded Child Tax Credit", "2021-12-16", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Veronica Escobar", "E000299", "escobar.house.gov", "escobar", "https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "On the heels of the December Child Tax Credit payment, Congresswoman Escobar announced more than 93,000 hardworking El Paso families have received approximately $262 million in tax cuts this year through the expanded Child Tax Credit, according to new estimates from the Joint Economic Committee. Many of these families will see even more tax cuts when they file their taxes in the upcoming year.\n\nIn Texas, an estimated 3.5 million hardworking families have received $9.5 billion in tax cuts in 2021. Nationwide, 90 percent of families with kids received the Child Tax Credit monthly tax cuts this year.\n\n\u201cI am extremely proud of the work my colleagues and I have done to lift children out of poverty and ensure we put money back in the pockets of hardworking families in El Paso and across the country,\u201d said Congresswoman Escobar. \u201cAs over 93,000 El Paso families receive this essential lifeline again, I strongly urge my Senate colleagues to pass the Build Back Better Act now to continue this progress that has benefited 173,000 children in my community and ensure no parent has to choose between medicine or food, diapers or formula and instead have the financial freedom necessary to provide for their children.\u201d\n\nThe American Rescue Plan, which Congresswoman Escobar voted for and President Joe Biden signed into law in March 2021, expanded the Child Tax Credit to up to $3,600 per child for children ages 0 to 5, and $3,000 per child for children ages 6 to 17 and authorized advance monthly payments of that tax cut beginning in July and running through December. The expansion of the Child Tax Credit has reduced childhood poverty by 40%, lifting millions of children across the country out of poverty.\n\nThe House-passed Build Back Better Act extends this tax cut by one additional year, ensuring families do not have to choose between their basic necessities. This extension will help families cover the cost of food, housing, health care, and transportation and will continue the largest one-year reduction in child poverty in history.\n\nClick here to learn more about the full Joint Economic Committee\u2019s study on how the Child Tax Credit is supporting local economies nationwide.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3605", "Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher and Congressman Tom Malinowski Introduce  Stopping Abortion Bounties Act", "2021-12-16", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Lizzie Fletcher", "F000468", "fletcher.house.gov", "fletcher", "https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) and Congressman Tom Malinowski (NJ-07) introduced the Stopping Abortion Bounties Act, a response to Texas Senate Bill 8, the Texas Heartbeat Act, that creates a private right of action allowing \u2018\u2018any person\u2019\u2019 (other than a state or local government actor) to sue abortion providers and anyone who helps or intends to help a person obtain an abortion in violation of S.B. 8\u2019s terms\u2014effectively, after approximately six weeks of pregnancy\u2014and incentivizes those claimants to sue by providing a bounty of at least $10,000 per defendant. Lawmakers in other states are now using S.B. 8 as a blueprint for their own legislation.\n\nIf enacted, the Stopping Abortion Bounties Act would impose a 100% federal tax on any bounty award obtained under S.B. 8 or legislation like it, and direct the revenues raised from the tax to a fund within the Department of Treasury that would reimburse any organization or individual ordered to pay the bounty.\n\n\u201cS.B. 8 is an affront to all Texans. This radical law is wholly incompatible with our civil justice system\u2014creating new rules, applying them to S.B. 8 cases alone, making them all but impossible to defend\u2014and it is a threat to the very foundations of our society with its bounty system,\u201d said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. \u201cThis law, already in effect in my home state of Texas, is transparent in its effort to isolate women by targeting their support networks and discouraging their loved ones from helping them for fear of being sued. I am proud to work with Congressman Malinowski to reject this dangerous bounty system by introducing the Stopping Abortion Bounties Act today, which imposes a 100% federal tax on any bounty award obtained under S.B. 8 or legislation like it.\u201d\n\n\u201cMake no mistake, the Texas abortion law is an outrageous attempt to nullify Roe v. Wade by creating a nation of bounty hunters deputized to sue anyone in America who helps a woman get an abortion,\u201d said Representative Malinowski. \u201cThis bill not only nullifies the bounties, but protects the support system for women confronting a deeply personal decision.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-gonzalez-announces-over-51-billion-new-funding-roads-and-bridges", "Congressman Gonzalez Announces Over $5.1 Billion in New Funding for Roads and Bridges Headed to Texas, First Round of Highway Funding Under Bipartisan Infrastructure Law", "2021-12-16", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Vicente Gonzalez", "G000581", "gonzalez.house.gov", "gonzalez", "https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "McAllen, Texas \u2013 Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) announced Texas will receive $5,167,860,243 in new federal funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This is the first tranche of funding for Texas highways under the five-year federal investment.\n\n\"With this new funding from the bipartisan infrastructure law, we're putting Texans to work rebuilding roads and bridges in communities across the state,\" said Congressman Gonzalez. \"These federal investments will cut down commute times, help small businesses get goods to market and keep travelers safe on our roads.\"\n\nThe historic and bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed into law by President Biden on November 15, 2021, secured new federal funding for highway and bridge repair for communities across the nation. The funds administered by the Federal-Aid Highway Program can be used for the construction, reconstruction, or improvement.\n\nThe American Society of Civil Engineers gave Texas a C- grade on its Infrastructure Report Card, finding many deficiencies that require immediate attention. With this funding \u2013 and more to come \u2013 the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will create good-paying jobs to strengthen our crumbling infrastructure.\n\n\"Thanks to the bold leadership of President Biden and House Democrats, we are already seeing the tangible impact of the bipartisan infrastructure law in communities across Texas,\" continued Congressman Gonzalez. \"This historic legislation will make a tremendous difference in the lives of Texans \u2013 and I look forward to shepherding more federal funding to our region.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-al-green-expresses-approval-debt-limit-increase", "Congressman Al Green Expresses Approval of Debt Limit Increase", "2021-12-15", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Al Green", "G000553", "algreen.house.gov", "algreen", "https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 On Wednesday, December 15, 2021, Congressman Al Green (TX-09) released the following statement:\n\n\u201cThe continuing resolution passed earlier this year in September, H.R. 5305, included a provision to suspend the debt ceiling through December 2021, at which point a new debt limit needed to be established. With the deadline to address that temporary suspension upon us, it was urgent that Congress take action to avoid the United States\u2019 first debt default in history,\u201d Congressman Al Green said. \u201cThe debt limit amount has been modified 98 times since 1945, including for increases and suspensions. It was necessary to modify it once again to maintain a healthy economy, as well as our country\u2019s reputation as a trustworthy borrower.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://doggett.house.gov/media/press-releases/one-month-until-child-tax-credit-payments-stop-if-senate-doesnt-pass-build", "One Month Until Child Tax Credit Payments Stop if Senate Doesn\u2019t Pass Build Back Better", "2021-12-15", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Lloyd Doggett", "D000399", "doggett.house.gov", "doggett", "https://doggett.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Contact: Kate Stotesbery\n\n202-494-4620\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 This morning, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Chair of the House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee, shared this statement, as the sixth monthly Child Tax Credit is deposited in millions of parents\u2019 bank accounts today:\n\n\u201cCentral Texas parents are receiving their sixth monthly Child Tax Credit payments for each child. These payments have been called \u2018Social Security for Children,\u2019 and described as a tax cut for families with children. We approved this support for children over the objection of every single Texas Republican. And now they are trying to stop further payments.\n\nUnless the Senate finally acts to approve Build Back Better legislation, Republicans win and parents will receive no payment on January 15th or thereafter. The Senate has had this House-approved Build Back Better bill for weeks. For the children whose future hangs in the balance, the time for Senate action is now.\u201d\n\nIn July, Rep. Doggett joined Foundation Communities, Councilwoman Vanessa Fuentes, and Austin parent and recent Texas State graduate Cristina Guajardo to mark the first day of Child Tax Credit (CTC) payments. They explained who can expect payments automatically and how much is coming\u2014as well as how parents who do not normally file a tax return could ensure they do not miss out on these important payments and get free, bilingual help from Foundation Communities. The video of this press conference is available here. Rep. Doggett has published an FAQ webpage for families\u2019 questions, available in both English and Spanish here.\n\nNationwide, according to the Joint Economic Committee:\n\nBased on the latest data available, the expanded CTC will generate nearly $19.3 billion in spending in local economies each month nationwide.\n\nFamily finances have improved significantly following the first monthly payments in July. Analysis based on data from the Census Bureau shows that following the July payments there were significant declines in the share of households with children reporting financial hardship and food insufficiency.\n\nFamilies are using the expanded CTC payments to meet the needs of their household. Among those who responded to the Census Bureau\u2019s survey: 47% spent their CTC payment on food, 28% spent it on internet and other utilities, 26% spent it on school expenses, and 17% of those with at least one child under age 5 spent it on child care.\n\n###\n\nFollow Congressman Doggett", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3601", "Congresswoman Fletcher Leads Letter to President Biden Discouraging Ban on Crude Oil Exports", "2021-12-15", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Lizzie Fletcher", "F000468", "fletcher.house.gov", "fletcher", "https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "This week, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) and Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33) sent a letter to President Biden opposing recent calls to reinstate a ban on crude oil exports.\n\nThe letter advocates for the benefits of domestic oil production and outlines its impacts on the national economy. The letter outlines how banning U.S. exports would discourage domestic production, further limiting global supply and eliminating American jobs. It could also lead to a reduction in domestic and international refining capacity and place unnecessary stress on the global supply chain.\n\n\u201cHere in Houston, we understand the complex global energy market because we are leaders in all forms of energy, including the exploration, transportation, and refining of oil and gas products,\u201d said Congresswoman Fletcher. \u201cIt is important to share our perspective that an export ban would be counterproductive to efforts to lower gasoline prices and to ensure our energy independence, and I am glad to partner in this effort with Rep. Veasey.\u201d\n\n\u201cI was proud to vote for the year end spending package in 2015 that included a historic agreement that lifted the crude oil export ban and extended several clean energy tax credits\u201d said Congressman Marc Veasey. \u201cThis common sense agreement represented a win-win for my home state of Texas. That is why I am joining on to this letter with Rep. Fletcher because rolling back that agreement would be unwise, especially when oil is a commodity with prices tied to a complex and dynamic global market.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-gonzalez-demands-governor-abbott-focus-fixing-power-grid-instead", "Congressman Gonzalez\u00a0Demands\u00a0Governor\u00a0Abbott Focus on Fixing the\u00a0Power Grid\u00a0Instead of Building a\u00a0Border Wall", "2021-12-15", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Vicente Gonzalez", "G000581", "gonzalez.house.gov", "gonzalez", "https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "McAllen, Texas \u2013 Today, Governor Greg Abbott announced on social media that \"construction of Texas-Mexico border wall will begin soon.\" Stating that \"in the Biden Administration's absence, Texas is stepping up to get the job done by building our own border wall.\"\n\nCongressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) responded to this recent news with the following tweet:\n\n\"Governor, please focus on our power grid first! Let's not allow more Texans to suffer and die this winter.\" - Congressman Gonzalez\n\nGovernor Abbott has appropriated $250 million from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDJC) budget and will use $54,423,681 in private donations to continue building a wall along the Southern Border.\n\nIn February 2021, Texans suffered widespread power outages when the ERCOT power grid failed during Winter Storm Uri. This event stranded millions without heat or electricity while temperatures plummeted, ultimately leading to 210 deaths throughout the state.\n\nRecently, there have been conflicting reports about the readiness of the electric grid in time for winter. Texans deserve a reliable and consistent power source. Governor Abbott should turn his focus from a doomed project that does nothing except score him political points and ensure our power grid is equipped to handle any future extreme weather event.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-sylvia-r-garcia-issues-statement-senate-s-passage-ndaa-and-what", "Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia Issues Statement On The Senate\u2019s Passage Of The NDAA And What It Means For the Fight For Justice For Spc. Vanessa Guillen.", "2021-12-15", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Sylvia R. Garcia", "G000587", "sylviagarcia.house.gov", "sylviagarcia", "https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON D.C.\u2014 Today, Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29) issued the following statement regarding the Senate's passage of the National Defense Authorization Act and what this means for getting justice for Spc. Vanessa Guillen:\n\n\"I thank the Senate for passing the National Defense Authorization Act of 2022, which, after 50 years, will provide much-needed reforms to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The bill is now heading to President Biden's desk and will finally become a vehicle for justice for all victims of sexual assault and harassment in the military while transforming the institution's culture--it will ensure that what happened to Spc. Vanessa Guillen never happens again to another soldier.\n\nI have said it repeatedly: we owe our soldiers all the protection they need so they can feel safe in the institution they have committed to while serving our country.\n\nI thank the Guillen family for their tireless fight to get justice for Vanessa, Congresswoman Jackie Speier for her leadership and for fighting for Vanessa and all victims of sexual harassment in our country, and all my colleagues in Congress who, from the beginning, joined this fight, united to find justice for her. We are one step closer to justice and protection for our soldiers.\"\n\nSUMMARY OF RELEVANT PROVISIONS IN THE UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE (UCMJ) REFORMS INCLUDED IN THE NDAA PASSED BY THE SENATE\n\nSpecial Trial Counsel\n\nCreates an Office of the Special Trial Counsel within each Service and ensuring their independence by requiring they directly report to the Service Secretary. The provision also defines the role and responsibilities of these prosecutors and including their required experience.\n\nCriminalizes sexual harassment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. All claims of sexual harassment will be required to be investigated by an independent investigator outside the chain of command.\n\nEstablishes judge-alone sentencing and sentencing parameters to increase fairness across the system.\n\nIncreases the notification for Survivors of Sexual Assault by directing the Services to notify survivors of sexual assault about the outcomes of any administrative action taken against their perpetrator.\n\nSexual Assault Response and Prevention\n\nRequires a study on including a military occupational specialty for Sexual Assault Response Coordinators.\n\nAuthorizes Special Victim Counsel to hire additional administrative support personnel.\n\nAllows the DoD Safe Helpline to intake restricted and unrestricted reports for eligible sexual assault victims.\n\nRequires a briefing on implementation of certain recommendations of the Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military.\n\nRequires the Department of Defense to track allegations of retaliation by victims of sexual assault or sexual harassment and related persons.\n\nReform and Improvement of Military Criminal Investigative Organizations\n\nRequires the military services to reform their criminal investigative organizations consistent with the guidance provided and submit a report through the Secretary of\n\nDefense not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act.\n\nRacial Disparities\n\nRequires the secretaries of each service to provide detailed demographic information including sex, ethnicity, and rank on both the principal and victim of an offense under the UCMJ. The report will include investigations, nonjudicial punishment, administrative action, and all levels of courts-martial.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases/la-congresista-sylvia-garcia-emite-una-declaraci-n-sobre-la-aprobaci-n-de-la", "La Congresista Sylvia Garcia Emite Una Declaraci\u00f3n Sobre La Aprobaci\u00f3n de La Ley de Autorizaci\u00f3n de Defensa Nacional y lo Que Significa Para la Lucha para Conseguir Justicia Para Vanessa Guill\u00e9n", "2021-12-15", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Sylvia R. Garcia", "G000587", "sylviagarcia.house.gov", "sylviagarcia", "https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON D.C.\u2014 Hoy, la congresista Sylvia R. Garc\u00eda (TX-29) emiti\u00f3 la siguiente declaraci\u00f3n con respecto a la aprobaci\u00f3n por el Senado de la Ley de Autorizaci\u00f3n de Defensa Nacional (NDAA) y lo que esto significa para obtener justicia para Spc. Vanessa Guill\u00e9n:\n\n\"Le doy gracias al Senado por aprobar la Ley de Autorizaci\u00f3n de Defensa Nacional de 2022, que, despu\u00e9s de 50 a\u00f1os, proporcionar\u00e1 reformas necesarias al C\u00f3digo Uniforme de Justicia Militar. Este proyecto de ley se dirige ahora al escritorio del presidente Biden para su firma y finalmente se convertir\u00e1 en un veh\u00edculo de justicia para todas las v\u00edctimas de agresi\u00f3n sexual y acoso en el ej\u00e9rcito, mientras transforma la cultura de la instituci\u00f3n ya que garantizar\u00e1 que lo que le sucedi\u00f3 a la Spc. Vanessa Guill\u00e9n nunca m\u00e1s se vuelva a repetir.\n\nLo he dicho una y otra vez: le debemos a nuestros soldados toda la protecci\u00f3n que necesitan para que se sientan seguros en la instituci\u00f3n a la que se han comprometido mientras sirven a nuestro pa\u00eds.\n\nAgradezco a la familia Guill\u00e9n por su incansable lucha para lograr justicia para Vanessa, a la congresista Jackie Speier por su liderazgo y por luchar por Vanessa y todas las v\u00edctimas de acoso sexual en nuestro pa\u00eds, y a todos mis colegas en el Congreso que, desde el principio, se unieron a esta lucha, unidos para lograr justicia para ella. Estamos un paso m\u00e1s cerca de la justicia y la protecci\u00f3n de nuestros soldados.\"\n\nRESUMEN DE DISPOSICIONES RELEVANTES DEL C\u00d3DIGO UNIFORME DE JUSTICIA MILITAR (UCMJ) REFORMAS INCLUIDAS EN EL NDAA APROBADO POR EL SENADO\n\nAbogado de juicio especial\n\nCrea una Oficina del Asesor Jur\u00eddico Especial dentro de cada Servicio y asegura su independencia al exigir que reporten directamente al Secretario del Servicio. La disposici\u00f3n tambi\u00e9n define el papel y las responsabilidades de estos fiscales e incluye la experiencia requerida.\n\nPenaliza el acoso sexual bajo el C\u00f3digo Uniforme de Justicia Militar. Todas las denuncias de acoso sexual deber\u00e1n ser investigadas por un investigador independiente fuera de la cadena de mando.\n\nEstablece sentencias de juez solo y par\u00e1metros de sentencia para aumentar la equidad en todo el sistema.\n\nAumenta la notificaci\u00f3n para sobrevivientes de agresi\u00f3n sexual al ordenar a los Servicios que notifiquen a las sobrevivientes de agresi\u00f3n sexual sobre los resultados de cualquier acci\u00f3n administrativa tomada contra su perpetrador.\n\nRespuesta y prevenci\u00f3n de agresi\u00f3n sexual\n\nRequiere un estudio sobre la inclusi\u00f3n de una especialidad ocupacional militar para los coordinadores de respuesta a agresiones sexuales.\n\nAutoriza al Asesor Jur\u00eddico Especial para V\u00edctimas a contratar personal de apoyo administrativo adicional.\n\nPermite que la L\u00ednea de ayuda segura del DoD reciba informes restringidos y no restringidos para v\u00edctimas de agresi\u00f3n sexual elegibles.\n\nRequiere una sesi\u00f3n informativa sobre la implementaci\u00f3n de ciertas recomendaciones de la Comisi\u00f3n de Revisi\u00f3n Independiente sobre Agresi\u00f3n Sexual en el Ej\u00e9rcito.\n\nRequiere que el Departamento de Defensa rastree las denuncias de represalias por parte de v\u00edctimas de agresi\u00f3n sexual o acoso sexual y personas relacionadas\n\nReforma y mejora de las organizaciones militares de investigaci\u00f3n criminal\n\nRequiere que los servicios militares reforme sus organizaciones de investigaci\u00f3n criminal de acuerdo con la orientaci\u00f3n brindada y presenten un informe a trav\u00e9s del Secretario de\n\nDefensa a m\u00e1s tardar 1 a\u00f1o despu\u00e9s de la fecha de promulgaci\u00f3n de esta Ley.\n\nDisparidades raciales\n\nRequiere que los secretarios de cada servicio proporcionen informaci\u00f3n demogr\u00e1fica detallada, incluido el sexo, la etnia y el rango tanto del principal como de la v\u00edctima de un delito seg\u00fan la UCMJ. El informe incluir\u00e1 investigaciones, castigo no judicial, acci\u00f3n administrativa y todos los niveles de consejo de guerra.\n\n###\n\nLa congresista Sylvia R. Garc\u00eda fue elegida a la C\u00e1mara de Representantes de los Estados Unidos en noviembre de 2018, convirti\u00e9ndose en la primera latina en representar al Distrito 29 de Texas en el Congreso. Es miembro de los Comit\u00e9s Judicial y de Servicios Financieros de la C\u00e1mara de Representantes.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://veasey.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-veasey-fletcher-lead-letter-to-president-biden-discouraging-ban-on", "Reps. Veasey, Fletcher Lead Letter to President Biden Discouraging Ban on Crude Oil Exports", "2021-12-15", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Marc A. Veasey", "V000131", "veasey.house.gov", "veasey", "https://veasey.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 This week, Reps. Marc Veasey (TX-33) and Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) sent a letter to President Biden opposing recent calls to reinstate a ban on crude oil exports.\n\nThe letter advocates for the benefits of domestic oil production and outlines its impacts on the national economy. The letter outlines how banning U.S. exports would discourage domestic production, further limiting global supply and eliminating American jobs. It could also lead to a reduction in domestic and international refining capacity and place unnecessary stress on the global supply chain.\n\n\"I was proud to vote for the year-end spending package in 2015 that included a historic agreement that lifted the crude oil export ban and extended several clean energy tax credits,\" said Congressman Marc Veasey. \"This common sense agreement represented a win-win for my home state of Texas. That is why I am joining on to this letter with Rep. Fletcher because rolling back that agreement would be unwise, especially when oil is a commodity with prices tied to a complex and dynamic global market.\"\n\n\"Here in Houston, we understand the complex global energy market because we are leaders in all forms of energy, including the exploration, transportation, and refining of oil and gas products,\" said Congresswoman Fletcher. \"It is important to share our perspective that an export ban would be counterproductive to efforts to lower gasoline prices and to ensure our energy independence, and I am glad to partner in this effort with Rep. Veasey.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=818", "Congresswoman Escobar Announces Coalition Led by UTEP  Has Been Selected as a Finalist for Department of Commerce\u2019s  $1 Billion Build Back Better Regional Challenge", "2021-12-14", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Veronica Escobar", "E000299", "escobar.house.gov", "escobar", "https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Congresswoman Veronica Escobar and Dr. Heather Wilson, President of the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), announced that the West Texas Aerospace and Defense Manufacturing Coalition led by UTEP has been selected as one of the 60 finalists for the Department of Commerce\u2019s $1 billion Build Back Better Regional Challenge.\n\nThe Build Back Better Regional Challenge is a program developed by the Economic Development Administration (EDA) and funded by the American Rescue Plan, which Congresswoman Escobar voted for and President Joe Biden signed into law in March 2021.\n\nAs part of the Build Back Better Regional Challenge, the Coalition will receive a grant of approximately $500,000 to further develop a project that aims to bridge the gap in America's aerospace and defense manufacturing capabilities by developing the El Paso Makes Advanced District and West Texas Advanced Technology Corridor. This transformative investment would boost economic recovery and help develop and strengthen our region\u2019s industry, all while embracing economic equity, creating good-paying jobs, and enhancing U.S. competitiveness globally.\n\n\u201cI am excited to announce that, thanks to the American Rescue Plan, El Paso will have the opportunity to build on our community\u2019s efforts to promote economic diversification, accelerate our economic recovery amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and showcase our talented and diverse workforce,\u201d said Congresswoman Escobar. \u201cI am grateful to UTEP for their partnership in championing economic development investments and I look forward to seeing how this innovative project will help get our aerospace and defense manufacturing industry to the next level.\u201d\n\n\u201cAerospace and defense manufacturing represents a transformational economic development opportunity for El Paso and West Texas,\u201d said Dr. Wilson. \u201cAs a national leader in additive manufacturing, UTEP is grateful for this U.S. Economic Development Administration grant to help develop more high-paying jobs in the region while enhancing U.S. competitiveness. We have a great foundation to build upon and we look forward to working closely with partners to plan next steps.\u201d\n\nUTEP and the other 59 finalists \u2013 each a coalition of partnering entities \u2013 have proposed projects that will develop or scale industry sectors, develop and train the workforce of today, and build resilient economies. Finalists will now compete for Phase 2 of the Challenge, which will award 20-30 regional coalitions up to $100 million to implement 3-8 projects that support an industry sector. The deadline for Phase 2 is March 15, 2022.\n\nLearn more about the Build Back Better Regional Challenge here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3598", "Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Announces 2021 Congressional App Challenge Winner", "2021-12-14", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Lizzie Fletcher", "F000468", "fletcher.house.gov", "fletcher", "https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Yesterday, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher announced Rebecca Bi as the winner of the 2021 Congressional App Challenge. Rebecca\u2019s app, Homisaf, is designed to detect motion to protect homeowners from potential invaders and can send alerts to the app user\u2019s email address.\n\n\u201cOnce again, I am so impressed with the creative talents of our young neighbors,\u201d said Congresswoman Fletcher. \u201cRebecca\u2019s Homisaf app is a creative and important contribution to keeping our community safe. Her enthusiasm, creativity, and resourcefulness are so inspiring. I congratulate her on this accomplishment and look forward to seeing what she does next!\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3599", "U.S. Postal Service Reports Audit Findings Following Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher\u2019s  Request for Investigation", "2021-12-14", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Lizzie Fletcher", "F000468", "fletcher.house.gov", "fletcher", "https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "After receiving numerous concerns from her constituents, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher called on Postmaster Inspector General Whitcomb to investigate mail service disruptions, stolen or lost mail, and burglarized mailboxes in June 2021. In response to her letter, the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS OIG) began an audit into two postal service stations: Ashford West (12655 Whittington Dr, Houston, Texas 77077) and Westbury (11805 Chimney Rock Rd, Houston, Texas 77035). The USPS OIG has now published a report on the results of their audit, conducted from August to December 2021. The stations have until December 31, 2021 to implement recommendations outlined in the audit.\n\n\u201cOur community relies on and values the postal service, which is why I asked the Postmaster General to investigate mail delivery issues,\u201d said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. \u201cThe issues identified in the investigation are concerning, and I am grateful for the work and cooperation of the Inspector General\u2019s Office as well as our local Postal District Manager. I look forward to seeing the recommendations implemented, and to improved service for our residents in our community.\u201d\n\nThe USPS OIG investigation team conducted site visits at the Ashford West and Westbury stations from August 31\u2013September 1, 2021, confirming several of the mail disruption issues cited in the Congresswoman\u2019s letter. Findings of their investigation include: (1) delayed mail delivery, (2) inaccurate reporting of mail conditions and expected delivery, (3) package scanning issues, (4) inbound mail truck arrival scans, and (5) improper safeguarding of mail delivery vehicles and arrow lock keys.\n\nRegarding reports of lost mail and removal of drive-up mail collection boxes, USPS district management has observed several physical attempts of mail theft and have since replaced the drive-up mail collection boxes at the Ashford West and Westbury Stations.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://doggett.house.gov/media/press-releases/ways-means-health-leaders-author-new-bipartisan-bill-break-down-barriers", "Ways & Means Health Leaders Author New Bipartisan Bill to Break Down Barriers to Telehealth", "2021-12-09", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Lloyd Doggett", "D000399", "doggett.house.gov", "doggett", "https://doggett.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Contact: Kate Stotesbery\n\n202-494-4620\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Chair of the House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee, joined by Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Devin Nunes (R-CA) and Health Subcommittee members Mike Thompson (D-CA), Mike Kelly (R-PA), and David Schweikert (R-AZ), introduced the Telehealth Extension Act.\n\nThis bipartisan bill ensures permanent access to telehealth for patients across the country by ending outdated geographic and site restrictions on where patients can receive approved telehealth services. Following recommendations from the nonpartisan, independent advisory group Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), the bill also temporarily extends emergency authorities established during the COVID-19 pandemic that authorize a wide range of providers and services via telehealth. The temporary extension of these authorities will prevent an abrupt cliff in services at the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) period and allow for further study of the utilization and impact of telehealth in different medical settings.\n\nFinally, to ensure Medicare program integrity, the Telehealth Extension Act implements MedPAC recommendations to prevent unnecessary spending and telehealth-related fraud. In 2019, the Department of Justice brought charges against telehealth executives and physicians for $1.2 billion in taxpayer losses after ordering unnecessary back, shoulder, and knee braces. In a separate scheme, Medicare was fraudulently billed $2.1 billion for cancer genetic tests. The Telehealth Extension Act\u2019s anti-fraud provisions will complement the Department of Justice\u2019s investigative and enforcement actions to prevent future scams and billions of dollars of losses to Medicare.\n\n\u201cAs Americans overcome Zoom fatigue and vaccinations enable many to return to the office and classroom, one aspect of virtual life is here to stay. Expanded access to telehealth, permitted by emergency waivers, has transformed health care delivery\u2014helping patients connect easily and safely with their physicians in a timely manner. As the pandemic enters an unpredictable new stage and emergency waivers may expire, patients and providers should not face a cliff of uncertainty,\u201d said Congressman Doggett. \u201cThis forward-looking bill, based on expert, independent recommendations, provides clarity, certainty, and a foundation for building a telemedicine system that expands access, preserves patient choice, and includes basic safeguards against fraud and exploitation.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs America emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress continues to make great strides in providing Americans\u2014especially rural Americans\u2014with access to quality healthcare by expanding telehealth,\u201d said Congressman Nunes. \u201cIn particular, this legislation will extend key COVID-19 emergency telehealth waivers for another two years so that healthcare providers and Critical Access Hospitals can continue delivering telehealth services to the Americans who most need them.\u201d\n\n\u201cExpanding telehealth has been a policy focus throughout my time in public service, since my days in the California State Senate. Telehealth is a cost-effective and efficient way to deliver health care, particularly for rural and underserved areas. Today as Co-Chair of the Telehealth Caucus, I am proud to join Chairman Doggett in introducing the Telehealth Extension Act, important bipartisan legislation to make telehealth available for more patients no matter where they receive care. I look forward to advancing this and other important bills to increase the use of telehealth beyond the COVID-19 pandemic,\u201d said Congressman Thompson.\n\n\u201cI am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation that will protect patient access to a vital healthcare tool. Throughout the pandemic, telehealth has proven time and again to deliver high-quality care to individuals regardless of where they live,\u201d said Congressman Schweikert. \u201cThis legislation is a critical step to increase accessibility, improve outcomes, and equip our nation with the tools it needs to respond to future emergencies. I look forward to working with my colleagues to protect access to telehealth for each and every American.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe COVID-19 pandemic has shifted how rural Americans receive health care in fundamental ways. Seniors can now see their doctor from the comfort of their own home, and families can visit the doctor on hours that work for their schedule. Unfortunately, many of the telehealth flexibilities families have come to rely on are going to expire,\u201d said Congressman Kelly. \u201cThis bill extends those, then goes further to lower barriers to health care for rural and underserved areas. I\u2019m proud to be co-leading this bipartisan effort and am grateful to all of my colleagues for their tireless efforts on behalf of all Americans.\u201d\n\nThe Telehealth Extension Act would:\n\nPermanently lift geographic and site-based restrictions so Medicare beneficiaries can use telehealth regardless of their zip code, and in the comfort and convenience of their own home or at designated health facilities offering telehealth.\n\nSupport the adoption of telehealth in underserved communities by ensuring Federally Qualified Health Centers, Rural Health Clinics, Indian Health Service facilities, and Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems can furnish telehealth services.\n\nProvide a two-year temporary extension of COVID-19 emergency telehealth waivers. These waivers include permitting providers like Speech Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, and Physical Therapists to furnish telehealth services; enabling Critical Access Hospitals to continue providing outpatient behavioral therapy services through telehealth; and permitting payment for appropriate audio-only services.\n\nPromote program integrity with reasonable guardrails for a small subset of telehealth services that have been targets of fraud without limiting patients\u2019 access to care. The bill would require an in-person appointment within 6 months prior to ordering high-cost durable medical equipment (DME) or major clinical laboratory tests. The legislation also authorizes CMS to audit outlier physicians ordering DME and lab tests at high rates and recover fraudulent payments. Finally, CMS will track who is billing for DME and lab tests by requiring providers to use their own national provider identifier (NPI) when billing Medicare for a telehealth service.\n\nImprove disaster preparedness by providing broad authority for CMS to authorize telehealth flexibilities during future emergencies.\n\nEndorsed by: the National Rural Health Association, the National Association of Rural Health Clinics, the American Occupational Therapy Association, the American Physical Therapy Association, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the American Heart Association, the American Nurses Association, the American Academy of Neurology, Executives for Health Innovation (eHealth Initiative), the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), National Association for the Support of Long Term Care, the Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals, Texas Association of Community Health Centers, People\u2019s Community Clinic, Psychiatric Medical Care, and Postpartum Support International.\n\n\u201cThe American Nurses Association is proud to endorse the Telehealth Extension Act. This legislation will improve patients\u2019 ability to visit their providers and access health care virtually beyond the COVID-19 public health emergency. By modernizing telehealth provisions to improve access to care, patients will not have to worry about making the painful choice between paying for gas to get to needed health care services or paying for food that week. This bill will also better help people in underserved communities by ensuring Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), Indian Health Service facilities, and Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems can furnish telehealth services.\u201d \u2013 Ernest Grant, PhD, RN, FAAN, President of the American Nurses Association\n\n\u201cThe National Rural Health Association (NRHA) applauds Representatives Doggett, Nunes, Thompson, Schweikert, and Kelly for introducing the Telehealth Extension Act of 2021. Telehealth flexibilities have been the true silver lining throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. It is critical to continue support for telehealth beyond the duration of the public health emergency. NRHA urges Congress to advance the Telehealth Extension Act of 2021 to ensure rural providers are able to continue to partake in the health care delivery system of the 21st century.\u201d \u2013 Alan Morgan, Chief Executive Officer of the National Rural Health Association\n\n\u201cThroughout the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency (PHE), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has used its authority provided by Congress to cover key audiology and speech-language pathology services delivered through telehealth. However, that authority expires once the COVID-19 PHE ends. Extending this authority for two years after the PHE expires, as called for under Section 7 of the Telehealth Extension Act of 2021, will ensure continuity of care for beneficiaries while Congress considers more permanent telehealth changes. \u2026 ASHA applauds your leadership of the Ways and Means Committee\u2019s Subcommittee on Health and appreciates your support for extending current telehealth waivers beyond the COVID-19 PHE.\u201d \u2013 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association\n\n\u201cThe COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the barriers that many patients face in accessing care, regardless of where they are located. Telehealth has proven to be a critical tool to bridge those barriers, and it is essential that the policies put into place during the pandemic are made permanent,\u201d said Jen Covich Bordenick, CEO, Executives for Health Innovation (EHI). \u201cEHI is proud to support the Telehealth Extension Act as it will permanently remove Medicare geographic restrictions, allow Medicare beneficiaries to receive telehealth in their homes, and permit safety net providers to continue to provide telehealth services, all key priorities of our members. We urge Congress to act swiftly on these important provisions.\u201d\n\n\"The use of telehealth has been instrumental in providing care while keeping patients and providers safe during the public health emergency,\" said Nathan Baugh, Director of Government Affairs for the National Association of Rural Health Clinics. \"While the temporary telehealth policy created by the CARES Act was a step in the right direction, we need to pass the Telehealth Extension Act if we want to unlock the full potential of telehealth for rural communities.\" \u2013National Association of Rural Health Clinics\n\n\u201cOn behalf of our more than 475 member hospitals and health systems, the Texas Hospital Association applauds Chairman Lloyd Doggett for his leadership on the Telehealth Extension Bill,\u201d said John Hawkins, Senior Vice President for Advocacy and Public Policy of Texas Hospital Association. \u201cAs Texas hospitals face workforce shortages related to the pandemic, flexible telehealth policies and partnering with other health care providers has been \u2013 and will be - critical to ensuring patients, especially those in remote areas of the state, receive the care they need. THA thanks Chairman Doggett for his efforts to advance this important legislation that will improve access to care, reduce costs and improve health outcomes.\u201d\n\n\u201cPsychiatric Medical Care, which was founded to provide highly collaborative partnerships to support quality of life for older adults in rural communities, applauds Chairman Doggett and Ranking Member Nunes for introducing the Telehealth Extension Act. This legislation will help to ensure continued access to telehealth \u2013 and very importantly extend the ability for Critical Access Hospitals to provide Medicare beneficiaries with the same behavioral therapy services through either in-person or virtual care.\u201d - J.R. Greene, FACHE, Chief Executive Officer, Psychiatric Medical Care\n\n###\n\nFollow Congressman Doggett", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3589", "Congresswoman Fletcher Votes for Protecting Our Democracy Act", "2021-12-09", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Lizzie Fletcher", "F000468", "fletcher.house.gov", "fletcher", "https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher voted for H.R. 5314, the Protecting Our Democracy Act to restore our system of checks and balances, strengthen accountability in government, protect our elections, and prevent presidential abuses. Congresswoman Fletcher is an original co-sponsor of this legislation, which passed the House of Representatives, 220-208.\n\n\u201cThe Protecting Our Democracy Act will strengthen and protect our democratic institutions and processes, important steps to maintain public trust in government,\u201d said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. \u201cThis bill will help restore transparency, integrity, and accountability\u2014and Americans\u2019 faith in our government. I was glad co-sponsor this bill, and to vote for it today in the House.\u201d\n\nThe Protecting Our Democracy Act will reassert Congress\u2019s role as a coequal branch of government by addressing the vulnerabilities exposed in recent years. It does so by:\n\nPreventing presidential abuses: ensures pardon power cannot be abused and presidents are not above the law, deterring corruption and foreign interference and fighting personal self-enrichment.\n\nRestoring our system of checks and balances and strengthening accountability in government: enforces Congress\u2019s subpoena power and power of the purse, strengthens Congressional oversight of emergency declarations, protects the Department of Justice from political meddling from any White House, prevents public servants from engaging in partisan activity, protects whistleblowers and the independence of Inspectors General, restores transparency to the White House including with transparency in tax returns, and helps ensure a smooth presidential transition.\n\nProtecting our elections: prevents foreign interference in elections and bolsters public confidence in our democratic institutions.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases/bipartisan-group-representatives-urge-president-keep-us-crude-oil-exports", "Bipartisan Group of Representatives\u00a0Urge President to Keep U.S. Crude Oil Exports Policy", "2021-12-09", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Vicente Gonzalez", "G000581", "gonzalez.house.gov", "gonzalez", "https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC\u2013Today, U.S. Representative Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) sent a letter led by U.S. Representative August Pfluger (TX-11) and U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar (TX-28) to President Biden over reports that the administration is considering a reinstatement of a ban on U.S. crude oil exports. The letter comes amidst rising energy costs and demand for crude oil as economic activity has rebounded post-pandemic.\n\nThe letter states, \"We are concerned by the reports that the White House is considering reinstating a ban on U.S. crude oil exports, which would further widen the country's trade deficit and lead to higher domestic prices\u2026.If the Biden Administration wants to alleviate the pain at the pump, they should turn to our own U.S. oil and natural gas resources for the solution and remove the policy barriers inhibiting domestic production.\"\n\n\"Instead of considering an oil export ban that would devastate domestic producers, embolden our foreign adversaries, and drive-up prices on Americans, this administration should pursue policies that unleash affordable, reliable American energy,\" said Congressman Pfluger. \"We must put Midland over Moscow. Energy security is national security, and nothing is more vital for our prosperity. I would like to thank Congressman Cuellar for continuing to lead and advocate for American energy producers. Our energy policy must put American workers and families first.\"\n\n\"Over the last few months, the United States has seen a rise in prices at the gas pump. As we begin to heal from the pandemic, we must be smart about policy to protect Americans from any additional financial strain,\" said Congressman Cuellar. \"I urge the Biden Administration to decide against a potential ban on crude oil exports to save jobs, keep money in our pockets, and protect our national security interests. Thank you to Congressman Pfluger and our colleagues for their unwavering support to maintain the United States' energy independence.\"\n\nThe Members of Congress are urging the President to resist the reinstatement of the crude oil export ban to avoid the following negative consequences:\n\nRestrict the global supply of oil thereby putting upward pressure on global prices and potentially straining international relationships.\n\nLimit access to a global marketplace thus discouraging new domestic production, restricting supply, and exacerbating future consumer cost for gasoline, natural gas, and electricity.\n\nCreate an imbalance between refining capacity and domestic production, introducing costly inefficiencies in the production of gasoline.\n\nPose serious threats to thousands of jobs, reversing an important bipartisan policy agreement during the Obama Administration.\n\n\"I strongly oppose a ban on U.S. crude oil exports,\" said Congresswoman Carol Miller.\"I appreciate this bipartisan effort to put the Biden Administration on notice. A ban on the export of our energy would lower production, increase prices for consumers, and risk the jobs of millions of hardworking Americans.\"\n\n\"For nearly 40 years, the U.S. had imposed a ban on exporting domestically produced crude oil. I voted to end this in 2015 and President Obama signed it into law. This led to a historic energy boom and helped strengthen America's energy independence,\" said Congressman Bishop.\"To maintain our energy independence, we must have a broad energy portfolio that includes not only wind, solar, electric, and nuclear but oil as well.\"\n\n\"We've all noticed the higher prices at the pump but reinstating a ban on U.S. crude oil exports is not the answer,\" said Congressman Vicente Gonzalez.\"This policy would put American jobs in jeopardy and further strain our global supply chain\u2014at a time when we cannot afford to do either. Now is the time to look to our own resources and support other efforts to lower prices for hardworking Americans.\"\n\n\"During unprecedented times of supply chain issues and steep gas prices, a crude oil ban would be a disastrous step in the wrong direction,\" said Congressman Tony Gonzales. We should not be relying on other countries for gas and oil when we have the ability to maintain energy independence in our own backyard. Now, more than ever, we should be incentivizing American-made, domestic production, rather than taking actions that would lead to a trade deficit and higher domestic prices.\"\n\nA copy of the letter can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=817", "Congresswoman Escobar Votes for FY22 NDAA to Protect El Paso Servicemembers and Military Families, Invest in  Fort Bliss, and Strengthen National Security", "2021-12-08", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Veronica Escobar", "E000299", "escobar.house.gov", "escobar", "https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Vice Chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel, voted to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2022.\n\nThis bipartisan defense legislation strengthens America\u2019s national security and meets the needs of servicemembers, veterans, and military families in El Paso and across the country. This robust legislation includes key provisions introduced and championed by Congresswoman Escobar to modernize our defense technology, combat sexual assault in the military, and bolster pay for servicemembers while also improving their service benefits.\n\n\u201cThis year\u2019s NDAA makes bold investments in what makes our nation strong \u2013 from our technology and alliances to our brave men and women in uniform,\u201d said Congresswoman Escobar. \u201cAs a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the representative of Fort Bliss in Congress, I was proud to have crafted and voted for this legislative milestone that advances justice for survivors of sexual assault, secures a well-deserved pay raise for our troops, addresses the threat of climate change, protects the National Guard from being exploited for political gain, and more.\u201d\n\nThanks to the leadership of Congresswoman Escobar and her colleagues, the FY22 NDAA:\n\nImproves Quality of Life for Our Servicemembers:\n\nThe FY22 NDAA takes several key steps to improve the quality of life for our servicemembers, including authorizing support for a 2.7 percent pay increase and increasing the allowable parental leave for primary and secondary caregivers in military families. In addition, it includes improvements in military health care, including easier access to mental health appointments at military medical treatment facilities and clinics, Congresswoman Escobar\u2019s provision expanding eating disorders treatments for members of the Armed Forces and certain dependents of members and former members of the uniformed services, post-partum care, and requiring DoD to conduct a thorough and independent review of suicide prevention and response programs at various military installations.\n\nReforms the UCMJ In Order to Better Combat Sexual Assault in the Military:\n\nTo protect those who bravely put their lives on the line for our country and to honor victims like Pfc. Vanessa Guillen, Congresswoman Escobar championed the incorporation of many of the recommendations made by the Independent Review Commission to the Secretary of Defense on Sexual Assault in the Military. These recommendations include, removing the Commander from decisions related to the prosecution of covered crimes including rape, sexual assault, murder, manslaughter, and kidnapping, criminalizing sexual harassment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), establishing judge-alone sentencing and sentencing parameters to increase fairness across the system, and increasing the notification for Survivors of Sexual Assault by directing the Services to notify survivors of sexual assault about the outcomes of any administrative action taken against their perpetrator.\n\nAdvances Innovation and Economic Development Opportunities in El Paso:\n\nThe final FY22 NDAA language includes a provision authored by Congresswoman Escobar to promote innovation and emerging technologies in our military while supporting communities like El Paso. Her efforts include authorizing the DRIVE AM program at $5 million. This program is one that universities like the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) would benefit from and use to train veterans, servicemembers, and others in additive manufacturing. Additionally, Congresswoman Escobar included language expanding outreach done by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to include economically disadvantaged communities.\n\nPromotes Research and STEM Education in El Paso:\n\nCongresswoman Escobar championed a provision to require a plan for the creation of a Minority Institute for Defense Research to benefit institutions like UTEP. Additionally, the FY22 NDAA includes major changes to the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education program, which awards scholarships to college sophomores looking to do research degrees in STEM fields. The changes include awarding research internships to students and prioritizing students from minority serving institutions (MSI) and community colleges for research internship opportunities and scholarships. She also secured $7.5 million in authorized funding for the Space Force University Partnership, a program UTEP was recently selected to participate in.\n\nSupports Military Child Development Centers:\n\nCongresswoman Escobar successfully included in the FY22 NDAA funding for Military Child Development Centers (CDC) to help servicemembers and their families have access to affordable and high-quality childcare. The funding would also help renovate many CDC facilities that are in \u201cpoor\u201d or \u201cfailing\u201d conditions and construct newer ones to help servicemembers who are in immediate need for childcare.\n\nProtects National Guard from Being Exploited for Political Gain:\n\nThe FY22 NDAA includes a provision authored by Congresswoman Escobar to prohibit the deployment of a State\u2019s National Guard forces in another State, federal district, or U.S. territory if paid for with private funds \u2013 unless such duty is in response to a major disaster or emergency under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.\n\nInvests in Talent Across the Military:\n\nThe FY22 NDAA requires independent review from the Services on the recruitment and retention of Latino service members and updates outdated diversity training requirements to ensure training includes programming to reduce discrimination and bias based on race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identify, among other items. Additionally, it includes language authored by Congresswoman Escobar to directing GAO to examine policies on servicemembers\u2019 tattoos, including the process and waivers used for recruiting or retaining servicemembers who have unauthorized tattoos. The final report due by July 1, 2022, should also describe what is known about the effect of unauthorized tattoos on recruitment, retention, reenlistment, and servicemembers\u2019 career.\n\nAddresses the Climate Crisis:\n\nThe FY22 NDAA includes provisions authored by Congresswoman Escobar to direct DoD to reduce flood risk, damage, and disruption to military facilities by enhancing military installation master to address installation resiliency. Additionally, FY22 NDAA includes a provision by Congresswoman Escobar to direct the DoD Climate Working group to design technical specifications for the assessment and mitigation of risk to supply chains from extreme weather and changes in environmental conditions.\n\nHonors Our Commitments to Our Afghan Allies:\n\nThe FY22 NDAAA expresses the sense of Congress about the importance of Afghan Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) and honoring our commitments to those Afghan partners, who at great personal risk, supported the U.S. mission in Afghanistan. The legislation requires the Secretary of Defense to provide in-depth reports to Congress providing critical information on U.S. ability to counter terrorism, accountability of military equipment left in the country, and any plans to address American citizens and Afghan allies who remain in the country. It also directs the establishment of a multi-year independent Afghanistan War Commission to examine the U.S. and NATO involvement in Afghanistan. The commission will review key strategic, diplomatic, and operational decisions across the entirety of the U.S. government and develop a series of reports with recommendations and lessons learned regarding the U.S. involvement in Afghanistan.\n\nProtects Small Businesses and Competition in Federal Acquisition:\n\nCongresswoman Escobar included a provision in the FY22 NDAA to expand a General Service Administration (GSA) e-commerce pilot program that enables federal agencies to access procurement opportunities. This provision would ultimately allow small businesses to participate in the program\u2019s e-commerce portal and compete in this process, without being pushed out due to limited competition and unfair practices in the federal e-commerce marketplace.\n\nA comprehensive summary of the provisions in the FY22 NDAA is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://veasey.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-veasey-votes-to-keep-america-safe-to-meet-the-needs-of", "Rep. Veasey Votes to Keep America Safe, Meet the Needs of Servicemembers and Military Families", "2021-12-08", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Marc A. Veasey", "V000131", "veasey.house.gov", "veasey", "https://veasey.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Rep. Veasey voted for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), legislation that makes key investments to improve the lives of Servicemembers and military families, while also strengthening our national security to keep America safe. This year's sweeping package also includes Veasey-led provisions that will create and protect existing North Texas jobs in our defense sector, counter extremism in our military, identify best practices that support the health and well-being of our military and their families, and institute pay parity for our guardsmen.\n\n\"As a Member of Congress, I have no greater responsibility than to ensure the security of our nation \u2013 and that starts with supporting our men and women in uniform,\" said Rep. Veasey. \"With this year's defense funding bill, Democrats secured crucial benefits and protections for our Servicemembers that will make our nation safer and stronger, while also making strong investments in our national defense and in our security interests. I was proud to vote for this bill, which also includes priorities that I have fought for to fund vital national security programs that are essential to our economy in the Metroplex, counter extremism in our Armed Forces, identify best practices that support the health and well-being of our military, and ensure pilots and other specialized personnel in the National Guard are paid fairly for their work.\"\n\nThis is a robust bill that advances a smart, strategic and strong defense, including:\n\n- Providing a pay raise for members of the military by supporting a 2.7 percent increase in military basic pay.\n\n- Meeting our responsibility to our servicemembers and their families by strengthening parental leave for caregiving servicemembers, expands access to child care, improves financial security of low-income military members and those with families members living with a disability, protects military communities from PFAS chemicals and strengthens access to health care including mental health care and reproductive care.\n\n- Taking historic action to combat sexual assault in the military by including reforms such as removing the Commander from key decisions related to sexual assault and related crimes, creating an Office of the Special Trial Counsel within each service, criminalizing sexual harassment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and improving fairness and transparency across the system.\n\nProtecting our national security by combating our adversaries with new tools to deter aggression from Russia and China and to address transnational threats including terrorism, and supports our allies.\n\n- Modernizing our defenses with robust investments in defense-wide R&D, cybersecurity and AI, so that we can fortify our military's technological advantage. This NDAA also ensures that our military readiness takes into account the challenges of energy resiliency and the climate crisis.\n\n- Honoring our values by building on Congress's bipartisan action in passing Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) legislation to provide for the relocation of our Afghan allies and partners, by requiring the Secretary of Defense to continue to provide in-depth reports and briefings to Congress on the situation in Afghanistan.\n\nA full summary of the provisions of this NDAA has been compiled by the Armed Services Committee.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://doggett.house.gov/media/press-releases/saturday-press-conference-eastside-early-college-high-school-breaking-down", "Saturday Press Conference at Eastside Early College High School: Breaking Down Barriers to Financial Aid", "2021-12-07", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Lloyd Doggett", "D000399", "doggett.house.gov", "doggett", "https://doggett.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "***Media Advisory***\n\nContact: Kate Stotesbery\n\n202-494-4620\n\nAustin, T.X. \u2013 This Saturday, December 11 at 10:30 AM, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett will join Foundation Communities, Austin Independent School District, and the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce at their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) FAFSA fair workshop at Eastside Early College High School. With computers available and FAFSA experts on hand, high school seniors and their families are invited to come complete the FAFSA form, which must be filed by January 15. As families and schools attempt to rebuild from the COVID slump in financial aid applications and college enrollment, the free, bilingual assistance for families at this workshop will help Central Texas families access aid and get seniors one step closer to affordable college enrollment. For this academic year, only 68% of students submitted the FAFSA, which is the lowest percentage recorded since Sallie Mae began its reporting in 2008.\n\nAt the accompanying press conference, Rep. Doggett will highlight local resources for families filing the FAFSA before the January 15 deadline and will share details on the provisions he\u2019s authored as well as related provisions in the Build Back Better Act to make Pell Grants entirely tax-free for students and improve coordination with the American Opportunity Tax Credit.\n\nMasks are required, and attendees must be vaccinated. Press are invited to RSVP and direct questions to kate.stotesbery@mail.house.gov.\n\nWhat: Austin ISD leaders and FAFSA experts, the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, and Foundation Communities will assist high school seniors and their families in completing FAFSA forms at this free workshop before the approaching deadline. Rep. Lloyd Doggett will explain his work simplifying the FAFSA and providing more federal financial assistance for higher education.\n\nWhen: Press conference begins at 10:30 AM CST on Saturday, December 11, 2021 (press are encouraged to arrive early)\n\nWhere: Eastside Early College High School, 900 Thompson St, Austin, TX 78702\n\n###\n\nFollow Congressman Doggett", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3588", "Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Votes in Favor of Bipartisan 2022 National Defense Authorization Act", "2021-12-07", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Lizzie Fletcher", "F000468", "fletcher.house.gov", "fletcher", "https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher voted to pass S. 1605, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2022, which will authorize\u2014among other things\u2014a pay raise for military families, a historic 32 percent increase in military research and development funding, and funding for Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders to be relocated. The bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 363-70.\n\n\u201cWe owe it to our military servicemembers to honor our obligations by passing the annual defense authorization bill,\u201d said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. \u201cI am glad this bill addresses the ongoing surge in sexual assault complaints in the military by taking sexual assault and other serious crimes out of the chain of command to be investigated by independent prosecutors. And as a representative for Houston, where our veteran and foreign-born populations are important members of our community, I am pleased this bill authorizes relocation support for Afghan Special Immigrant Visa holders. Keeping our country safe means investing in our servicemembers and this bill does just that.\u201d\n\nCongress has passed the NDAA for 61 consecutive years. The 2022 NDAA authorizes $768 billion in discretionary spending for national defense, works to close the pay gap by funding a 2.7 percent pay increase for uniformed servicemembers, establishes a $15 minimum wage for covered service and construction contractors, gives the D.C. mayor control of the D.C. National Guard, makes investments to modernize military infrastructure, and takes full advantage of our diverse talent pool to meet the complex national security challenges of today and tomorrow.\n\nOther highlights include:\n\nInvesting in R&D Across the Country: authorizes more than $4 billion in funding for research, development, testing, and evaluation, including a historic 32 percent increase in defense-wide research and development, and significant increases to basic and applied research, academic partnerships, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities activities; authorizes $2.5 billion in military construction to recapitalize aging laboratory infrastructure and support future R&D efforts of national importance.\n\nAfghan Special Immigrant Visas (SIV): expresses the sense of Congress about the importance of the program and honoring our commitments to those Afghan partners, who at great personal risk, supported the U.S. mission in Afghanistan. Further clarifies legislation with regard to Afghans and their families who supported the U.S. mission in Afghanistan and authorizes $500 million for Department of Defense relocation support to SIVs and at-risk Afghans.\n\nIndependent Investigations of Sexual Harassment: requires military services to investigate sexual harassment allegations against servicemembers using specialized personnel outside the chain of command who are trained to investigate sexual harassment.\n\nAction Taken Against Assailants: makes a technical fix to the law that prevented DoD from informing a survivor of sex-related offenses of adverse actions taken to hold the perpetrator accountable.\n\nVictims\u2019 Rights: provides victims of an offense under the Uniform Code of Military Justice the right to be informed of pre-trial agreements, separation-in-lieu-of-trial agreements, and non-prosecution agreements; and require the Secretary of Defense to establish policies to share certain evidence, such as the statements of a victim and forensic examinations of the victim, with a Special Victims\u2019 Counsel or Victims\u2019 Legal Counsel.\n\nAdditional Data on Military Sexual Assault: updates the Annual Sexual Assault Report to include breakdowns of sexual assault prevalence by installation, occupational area, gender, race, and ethnicity.\n\nContraceptive Coverage Copays: requires TRICARE to offer similar contraceptive coverage currently provided through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by removing cost sharing though the mail order and retail pharmacy program for related contraceptive care.\n\nPost-Partum Care Improvements: requires a pilot program in support of post-natal care, to include pelvic health rehabilitation, and the issuance of policy guidance to develop and implement standard protocols across the Military Health System to treat obstetric hemorrhage.\n\nMental Health: directs the Department of Defense (DoD) to create a program to provide direct assistance for mental health appointment scheduling at military medical treatment facilities and clinics, with a reporting requirement to the Armed Services Committee.\n\nClimate and Energy: authorizes combatant commander initiative funds to be used for the purpose of enhancing extreme weather resilience of infrastructure and requires the Department of Defense to incorporate extreme weather risk considerations into certain existing Department of Defense strategies and planning documents.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-sylvia-r-garcia-issues-statement-key-reforms-uniform-code", "Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia Issues Statement On Key Reforms To The Uniform Code of Military Justice In The NDAA To Protect Victims of Sexual Assault", "2021-12-07", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Sylvia R. Garcia", "G000587", "sylviagarcia.house.gov", "sylviagarcia", "https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON D.C.\u2014 Today, Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29) issued the following statement regarding the reforms to the Uniform Code of Military Justice included in the Senate's version of the National Defense Authorization Act and the search of justice for Spc. Vanessa Guillen:\n\n\"The National Defense Authorization Act of 2022 provides the most significant reforms to the Uniform Code of Military Justice in fifty years. This bill will finally answer the call of countless survivors of sexual assault and harassment to provide independent prosecution of these crimes. We got in this fight after the tragic murder of Spc. Vanessa Guillen, and we have pushed and pushed and pushed and while all provisions were not included in the Senate's agreed version, it is a major step in getting justice for victims and protecting our soldiers,\" said Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia. I want to also acknowledge that my colleagues like Chairwomen Jackie Speier and Kirsten Gillibrand have been working hard on this issue since long before I joined them in Congress. The people of the 29th District of Texas are grateful for all of your efforts. I want to thank my colleagues in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, especially Chair Raul Ruiz and Reps. Gallego and Escobar, for their allyship since the tragic death of my constituent. While we did not get every single reform for which we were hoping, together we have made history,\"concluded the Congresswoman.\n\nSUMMARY OF RELEVANT PROVISIONS IN THE UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE (UCMJ) REFORMS\n\nSpecial Trial Counsel\n\nCreates an Office of the Special Trial Counsel within each Service and ensuring their independence by requiring they directly report to the Service Secretary. The provision also defines the role and responsibilities of these prosecutors and including their required experience.\n\nCriminalizes sexual harassment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. All claims of sexual harassment will be required to be investigated by an independent investigator outside the chain of command.\n\nEstablishes judge-alone sentencing and sentencing parameters to increase fairness across the system.\n\nIncreases the notification for Survivors of Sexual Assault by directing the Services to notify survivors of sexual assault about the outcomes of any administrative action taken against their perpetrator.\n\nSexual Assault Response and Prevention\n\nRequires a study on including a military occupational specialty for Sexual Assault Response Coordinators.\n\nAuthorizes Special Victim Counsel to hire additional administrative support personnel.\n\nAllows the DoD Safe Helpline to intake restricted and unrestricted reports for eligible sexual assault victims.\n\nRequires a briefing on implementation of certain recommendations of the Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military.\n\nRequires the Department of Defense to track allegations of retaliation by victims of sexual assault or sexual harassment and related persons.\n\nReform and Improvement of Military Criminal Investigative Organizations\n\nRequires the military services to reform their criminal investigative organizations consistent with the guidance provided and submit a report through the Secretary of\n\nDefense not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act.\n\nRacial Disparities\n\nRequires the secretaries of each service to provide detailed demographic information including sex, ethnicity, and rank on both the principal and victim of an offense under the UCMJ. The report will include investigations, nonjudicial punishment, administrative action, and all levels of courts-martial.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/castro-warren-cicilline-jayapal-lead-democrats-urging-justice-department-to-investigate-proposed-merger-of-discovery-and-warnermedia-for-violations-of-antitrust-laws-", "Castro, Warren, Cicilline, Jayapal Lead Democrats Urging Justice Department to Investigate Proposed Merger of Discovery and WarnerMedia for Violations of Antitrust Laws", "2021-12-06", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Joaquin Castro", "C001091", "castro.house.gov", "castro", "https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Senator Elizabeth Warren (MA), Congressman David Cicilline (RI-01), Chair of the Antitrust Subcommittee, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and 29 other members of Congress sent aletter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter urging the Department of Justice to investigate the proposed $43 billion merger of Discovery and WarnerMedia for violations of antitrust laws. In addition, members of Congress are requesting the Justice Department examine whether the proposed merger will reduce diverse content in a more consolidated and less competitive market.\n\nCongressman Castroviews the lack of Latino representation across media platforms as a fundamental issue for all Americans. As Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), he worked with the House Committee on Oversight and Reform torequest the Government Accountability Office (GAO) analyze Latino employment in the media industry as well as the enforcement of federal equal opportunity requirements. The GAO\u2019s firstreport found that Latinos are woefully underrepresented in media, more than any other industry. Additionally, last year the House Judiciary Committee held ahearing at the request of the CHC that examined the lack of diversity of people of color in media. For example, a 2021 analysis by the Latino Donor Collaborative found that Latinos account for less than 3-percent of on-screen leads, showrunners and directors in shows.\n\n\u201cFor far too long, Hollywood studios have excluded Latinos from opportunities in the industry, perpetuating dangerous stereotypes and inaccurate portrayals. Latinos are nearly 20-percent of the U.S. population, one-in-five Americans, but we\u2019re almost invisible on-screen and behind the camera. I\u2019m deeply concerned that the proposed merger between Discovery and WarnerMedia will lead to concentrated exclusion, harming consumers and workers \u2014 especially Latinos who are already the most underrepresented group,\u201dCongressman Castro. \u201cGiant corporations must not be allowed to stomp out competition, put up barriers to enter the market, and continue to exclude Latinos from the media industry. The Justice Department must thoroughly investigate that this deal does not illegally harm consumers and workers. Discovery and WarnerMedia need to demonstrate a real commitment to the widespread inclusion of Latinos and Latinas that is commensurate with their market participation.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe proposed merger between WarnerMedia and Discovery will not only lead to the enhanced market power of an already humongous company \u2014 it may also lead to less racial representation in the media and entertainment industry,\u201dsaid Senator Warren. \u201cWe must stop harmful mergers, and the Department of Justice should thoroughly investigate this proposed merger to ensure diverse content and workers are protected.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is critical that the Justice Department closely reviews this transaction to determine whether it harms competition, workers, and diversity in the media and entertainment industry,\u201dsaid Congressman Cicilline. \u201cThere already has been rampant consolidation and we cannot allow another harmful merger to go unchecked.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs the Vice Chair of the House Antitrust Subcommittee, I know that corporate consolidation and monopolistic practices come at the direct expense of workers, consumers, competition, innovation, fairness, and equity,\u201dsaid Congresswoman Jayapal. \u201cAs we learn more about Warner Media\u2019s $43 billion merger with Discovery, it is clear that the Justice Department must scrutinize whether this transaction violates antitrust law while also examining whether this corporate merger will further reduce diverse content in an industry that far too often excludes the voices, perspectives, talents, and ideas of Black, brown, immigrant, and Indigenous people.\u201d\n\nThe letter is also signed by: Grace F. Napolitano, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Henry C. \u201cHank\u201d Johnson, Jr., Juan Vargas, Al Green, Rashida Tlaib, Barbara Lee, Sheila Jackson Lee, Ben Ray Lujan, Veronica Escobar, Jan Schakowsky, Sylvia R. Garcia, Jamie Raskin, Jes\u00fas G. \u201cChuy\u201d Garcia, Ted W. Lieu, Jamaal Bowman, Raul Ruiz, M.D., Teresa Leger Fern\u00e1ndez, Michael F. Q. San Nicolas, Nydia M. Vel\u00e1zquez, James P. McGovern, Alan S. Lowenthal, Lloyd Doggett, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Betty McCollum, Mondaire Jones, Mark Pocan, Andy Levin and Zoe Lofgren.\n\n\u201cThis transaction raises significant antitrust concerns,\u201dthe members wrote. \u201cIn particular, the merger threatens to enhance the market power of the combined firm and substantially lessen competition in the media and entertainment industry, harming both consumers and American workers. In light of these concerns, we respectfully urge the Department to conduct a thorough review of this transaction to ensure that it does not harm American consumers and workers by illegally harming competition.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe also respectfully urge the Department to thoroughly examine whether the proposed combination of Discovery and WarnerMedia will reduce the amount of diverse and inclusive media and entertainment content available to consumers\u2026 A more consolidated, less competitive marketplace may only reduce the competitive pressure on media companies to provide consumers with more diverse and inclusive programming,\u201dthe members continued.\n\nFull text is below and availablehere.\n\nDear Attorney General Garland and Assistant Attorney General Kanter,\n\nWe write to express serious concerns over WarnerMedia\u2019s proposed $43 billion merger with Discovery. This transaction raises significant antitrust concerns. In particular, the merger threatens to enhance the market power of the combined firm and substantially lessen competition in the media and entertainment industry, harming both consumers and American workers. In light of these concerns, we respectfully urge the Department to conduct a thorough review of this transaction to ensure that it does not harm American consumers and workers by illegally harming competition.\n\nAs you know, President Biden issued Executive Order 14036 to promote competition across the U.S. economy. As the Order notes, \u201cexcessive market concentration threatens basic economic liberties, democratic accountability, and the welfare of workers, farmers, small businesses, startups, and consumers.\u201d Furthermore, it warned of mergers that eliminate competition between merging parties and increase a firm\u2019s market power over workers, and urged the Justice Department to \u201cenforce the antitrust laws fairly and vigorously\u201d and \u201cchallenge transactions whose previous consummation was in violation of\u201d the antitrust laws.\n\nWe appreciate the Justice Department\u2019s efforts to underscore the importance of competitive labor markets in recent months. For example, Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta explained in September that there has been a \u201crealization that robust antitrust enforcement is critically important for advancing economic justice.\u201d In October, Acting Assistant Attorney General Richard A. Powers of the Antitrust Division explained that \u201c[c]ompetitive labor markets are essential to a properly functioning market-based economy,\u201d and that the Antitrust Division \u201chas become increasingly alert to and concerned by business conduct and transactions that harm competition for working people.\u201d Most recently, the Department filed a lawsuit to enjoin Penguin Random House\u2019s proposed acquisition of Simon & Schuster, explaining that it \u201cwill cause harm to American workers, in this case authors, through consolidation among buyers\u2014a fact pattern referred to as \u2018monopsony.\u2019\u201d\n\nWe wholeheartedly agree with the importance of protecting workers and pursuing economic justice through vigorous antitrust enforcement. Competitive markets create more high-quality jobs and give workers more freedom and flexibility to change jobs and negotiate for better pay and working conditions. Furthermore, in the absence of competition, the rise of employers\u2019 market power reduces the power of workers to \u201cvoice and exit,\u201d increasing their risk of exploitation. Enforcing the antitrust laws to stop mergers that enhance this type of monopsony power is critical to promoting free and fair labor markets and economic opportunity for workers. Enforcement of our anti-merger laws is especially critical for workers from marginalized communities. In the past, mergers across all industries have disproportionately led to job losses for workers identifying as racial and ethnic minorities compared to their white counterparts.\n\nThe media and entertainment industry already suffers from a lack of Hispanic representation in its workforce. In September, the Government Accountability Office reported that the media and entertainment industry had a lower rate of Hispanic workers than any other sector, and the data show that Hispanic workers fill a remarkably low number of professional, management, and executive roles in the industry. Last year, the House Judiciary Committee had a hearing that examined the lack of diversity of people of color in the media. Hearing witnesses underscored that \u201c[t]he systematic exclusion of U.S. Latinx voices in film and media stifles creativity and imagination and fails to convey that our stories are American stories.\u201d Additional consolidation is likely to eliminate competition for these workers and reduce the number of employment opportunities for Hispanic individuals looking to enter the industry. That is why it is so crucial for the Department to vigorously enforce the antitrust laws to combat monopsony power, leading companies to compete for the most talented, productive, inclusive, and diverse workforces. Economic justice cannot be realized without ensuring that all communities\u2014especially low-income and minority communities\u2014are protected from the exploitation and abuse that often accompanies concentrated economic power.\n\nWe also respectfully urge the Department to thoroughly examine whether the proposed combination of Discovery and WarnerMedia will reduce the amount of diverse and inclusive media and entertainment content available to consumers. The antitrust laws have long sought to promote greater innovation, consumer choice, and product variety. The Horizontal Merger Guidelines indicate that the antitrust agencies should consider whether a merger would \u201cdiminish innovation competition\u201d or incentivize a firm to \u201cwithdraw a product that a significant number of customers strongly prefer.\u201d These considerations are particularly vital in the media and entertainment industry. Consumers increasingly want diverse film and television content that reflects our diversifying nation. However, today\u2019s media and entertainment marketplace is not providing consumers with the content they want, as people of color continue to be underrepresented in the cable, broadcast, and streaming video programming available to Americans. In 2020, Nielsen reported: \u201cAcross all TV, Hispanic\u2019s share of screen is only one-third of their presence in population estimates. Even though Hispanics make up 18.8% of the population, they only account for 5.5% of share of screen across all of TV.\u201d Despite representing nearly one-fifth of the population, Hispanics are systematically the most underrepresented on-screen compared to other demographics\u2019 population share. A more consolidated, less competitive marketplace may only reduce the competitive pressure on media companies to provide consumers with more diverse and inclusive programming. For example, Discovery\u2019s planned acquisition of WarnerMedia has already led it to eliminate up to $35 million it had planned to invest in programming.\n\nLess diversity and inclusion on-screen and across the media industry leads to a perpetuation of harmful stereotypes. As it stands, minorities are largely missing from American media. And, when they are portrayed, it is often done using harmful stereotypes. For example, Latinos are most often portrayed as criminals, maids, or gardeners. Lack of representation coupled with dehumanization on screen leads to aggression towards Latinos in the United States and abroad. In fact, in August 2019, a man targeted and killed Hispanics in El Paso, Texas in part because he believed negative stereotypes about Hispanics that have been perpetuated in entertainment and American media.\n\nFinally, recent consolidation in the media and entertainment marketplace has led to higher prices for consumers, and all too often the merging parties have failed to deliver benefits and broken promises made to the public, to Congress, and to antitrust enforcers.\n\nIn light of these serious concerns, we respectfully urge the Department to closely scrutinize the Discovery-WarnerMedia transaction and whether it violates the antitrust laws.\n\nThank you for your attention to this matter.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=816", "Congresswoman Escobar and Desert Spoon Food Hub Announce Reception of $445K from USDA to Increase El Pasoans\u2019  Access to Fresh Local Food and Support Farmers", "2021-12-02", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Veronica Escobar", "E000299", "escobar.house.gov", "escobar", "https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) and Adriana Clowe, Director of Operations for Desert Spoon Food Hub, announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded a total of $445,018 in funding to the non-profit to increase El Pasoans\u2019 access to local agricultural products and strengthen our regional food system.\n\nThe funding, made possible by the FY21 appropriations omnibus, will be distributed by the USDA\u2019s Agricultural Marketing Service through the Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP).\n\n\u201cThe COVID-19 pandemic exposed the importance of transforming our nation\u2019s food system and the need to create more opportunities for El Paso families to access more locally-sourced, nutritious, and affordable ingredients,\u201d said Congresswoman Escobar. \u201cSupporting organizations that advance these efforts while expanding economic opportunities in our community is a priority for me and I am thrilled to have advocated and voted for this critical funding that will enable Desert Spoon to support our farmers and ensure El Pasoans have access to locally grown food.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are excited and extremely grateful for the opportunity to represent our region and our local farmers. This grant will further our mission to build a more local and inclusive food system that provides greater representation and economic advancement for our local farmers,\u201d said Adriana Clowe. \u201cAt a time when we have witnessed the many inequalities of our food system, this investment further shows the importance of centering communities and agriculture in how we address the many challenges we have around food and how we choose to feed ourselves.\u201d\n\nDuring the FY21, LFPP awarded a total of $75.4 million to 172 projects across the country \u2013 including Desert Spoon Food Hub. The LFPP funds projects that develop, coordinate, and expand local and regional food business enterprises that help increase access to and availability of locally and regionally produced agricultural products.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3579", "Media Advisory: Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Launches Winter Wishes Program", "2021-12-02", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Lizzie Fletcher", "F000468", "fletcher.house.gov", "fletcher", "https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Houston, TX\u2014Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) has launched a Winter Wishes program and invites students and teachers to spread holiday cheer by making cards for our senior neighbors this holiday season. Once cards are submitted, the Office of Congresswoman Fletcher will deliver the cards to senior citizens throughout Texas\u2019 Seventh Congressional District.\n\nWHAT\n\nSpread holiday cheer by creating Winter Wishes for our senior neighbors\n\nWHO\n\nStudents and teachers in TX-07\n\nWHEN\n\nDue Monday, December 13, 6:00 PM\n\nWHERE\n\nDrop off at Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher\u2019s office, 5599 San Felipe Road, Suite 950\n\nOR\n\nCall Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher\u2019s office at 713-353-8680 to arrange a pickup", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-gonzalez-announces-147-million-hidalgo-county-head-start", "Congressman Gonzalez\u00a0Announces\u00a0$14.7 Million\u00a0for\u00a0Hidalgo County Head Start", "2021-12-02", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Vicente Gonzalez", "G000581", "gonzalez.house.gov", "gonzalez", "https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Thursday, December 2, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) announced a $14,797,266 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for Hidalgo County Head Start Program, Inc.\n\nThe Head Start Program, housed within the Administration for Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, promotes school readiness for children aged three to five from low-income households. The program will focus on enhancing cognitive, social, and emotional development with an emphasis on building familial relationships.\n\nThis grant will deliver the first installment of the five-year grant starting January 1, 2022. This program will serve 3,690 Head Start children in Hidalgo County. For the past 35 years they have been delivering comprehensive child development services to advance the economic and social well-being of children and families in the region.\n\n\"When we take a holistic approach to a child's education, we are able to better prepare them with the skills and confidence to grow not only in school, but in all areas of life,\" said Congressman Gonzalez. \"I am proud to award Hidalgo County Head Start Inc. with this grant so they can continue supporting our next generation of leaders.\"\n\n\"With this 5 year grant we can continue to provide services that improve and support education, nutrition, health and safety, mental health, family services, transportation, special services and transition services. We sincerely thank Congressman Gonzalez for his leadership and support toward moving our families out of the cycle of poverty and illiteracy through our program.\" - Hidalgo County Head Start Program", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-sylvia-r-garcia-issues-statement-about-reimplementation-remain", "Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia Issues Statement On the Reimplementation of the Remain in Mexico Policy", "2021-12-02", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Sylvia R. Garcia", "G000587", "sylviagarcia.house.gov", "sylviagarcia", "https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Today, Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29) issued the following statement on the court-ordered reimplementation of the Remain in Mexico policy:\n\n\"Our immigration system is broken. People are suffering. Families are suffering. The Remain in Mexico policy has hurt thousands of immigrants and refugees and tarnished what our country stands for,\" said Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29). \"We need to stand by our immigrants and asylum seekers and while the Biden-Harris administration is complying with the court ruling by reimplementing the policy, I hope it will work quickly to fast track litigation and undo the damage being done by this terrible situation.\"\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases/carter-gonzalez-reintroduce-bipartisan-drug-price-transparency-medicaid-act", "Carter, Gonzalez Reintroduce Bipartisan Drug Price Transparency in Medicaid Act", "2021-12-01", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Vicente Gonzalez", "G000581", "gonzalez.house.gov", "gonzalez", "https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Reps. Earl L. \"Buddy\" Carter (R-GA) and Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX) introduced bipartisan legislation that would limit the power of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to artificially spike Medicaid drug prices.\n\nThe Drug Price Transparency in MedicaidAct bans the use of spread pricing by middlemen (PBMs) in Medicaid managed care. PBMs drive up prescription drug costs without adding any value to the consumer.\n\n\"Prescription drug prices are way too high. As a Pharmacist, I've seen the pain in patient's eyes as they make the impossible choice between paying for food and paying for medication. With this bill, we can radically decrease drug prices and put power back into the hands of the patients, without expensive or heavy-handed government programs. I want to thank Congressman Gonzalez for his support and commitment to protecting the lives, health, and pocketbooks of patients across America,\" said Carter.\n\n\"Americans deserve transparency and accountability in their drug pricing, and the Drug Price Transparency in Medicaid Act will do just that,\" said Gonzalez. \"This legislation will offer solutions to policies that have been negatively affecting healthcare and prescription drug costs for far too long. I'm proud to introduce this bipartisan bill with Congressman Carter to protect South Texas patients and community pharmacies.\"\n\nSpread pricing occurs when a PBM charges health plans for prescription drugs more than they pay the pharmacy. Instead of passing the full payment on to pharmacies, PBMs keep the \"spread\" as profit.\n\nThe bill was originally introduced in the 116th Congress with bipartisan support.\n\nRead the full bill text here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-gonzalez-announces-13-million-community-council-south-central-texas", "Congressman Gonzalez Announces $1.3 Million for Community Council\u00a0of\u00a0South Central\u00a0Texas from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services", "2021-11-29", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Vicente Gonzalez", "G000581", "gonzalez.house.gov", "gonzalez", "https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) announced $1,311,305 in funding from Head Start for the Community Council of South Central Texas. This grant will support South Texas families and school programs in the creation of individualized approaches that foster academic success.\n\nThe Head Start Program, housed within the Administration for Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, promotes school readiness for children aged three to five from low-income households. The program focuses on enhancing cognitive, social, and emotional development with an emphasis on building familial relationships. Community Council of South Central Texas will use this grant to serve New Braunfels ISD's and Seguin ISD's Head Start children in conjunction with their Pre-K programs.\n\n\"Ensuring our children have a solid foundation to build upon is vital for their scholastic and personal growth,\" said Congressman Gonzalez. \"Congratulations to Community Council of South Central Texas for receiving this substantial grant to uplift the youth and families in our community. I am grateful for your continual efforts to help Texans by eliminating barriers to their success.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-al-green-thanks-secretary-haaland-her-vital-efforts-remove", "Congressman Al Green Thanks Secretary Haaland for Her Vital Efforts to Remove Derogatory Names from Geographic Sites in the U.S.", "2021-11-23", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Al Green", "G000553", "algreen.house.gov", "algreen", "https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(Houston, TX) \u2013 On Tuesday, November 23, 2021, Congressman Al Green (TX-09) released the following statement:\n\n\u201cFour months ago, Senator Elizabeth Warren and I introduced H.R. 4454 \u2013 Reconciliation of Place Names Act to address the hundreds of derogatory names still used to identify geographic sites, monuments, and various other structures built into the natural landscape. Last Friday, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, who originally introduced this bill in the 116th Congress, issued a Secretarial Order to implement a federal advisory committee\u2013\u2013a key part of H.R. 4454. This federal advisory committee will be comprised of tribal citizens, organizations, as well as persons with a background in civil rights and race relations. The committee will make recommendations to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names and to Congress on geographic features to be renamed. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to Secretary Haaland for her outstanding leadership on the long-overdue process of removing racist and derogatory names from federally named lands.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases/ahead-thanksgiving-child-tax-credit-put-489-million-tax-cuts-back-tx-29", "Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia: Ahead of Thanksgiving, Child Tax Credit Put $48.9 Million In Tax Cuts Back In TX-29 Families\u2019 Pockets", "2021-11-23", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Sylvia R. Garcia", "G000587", "sylviagarcia.house.gov", "sylviagarcia", "https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Child Tax Credit Tax Cuts are Helping Hardworking Families afford Gas, Groceries in Time for the Holiday\n\nHOUSTON \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29) released a new report from the Joint Economic Committee estimating that 87,000 Child Tax Credit monthly tax cuts were sent to families in the TX-29 Congressional District the week before Thanksgiving. A total of $48.9 million in tax cuts went back in the pockets of hardworking TX-29 families, covering 189,000 district children in November.\n\n\"Families in my district have been directly impacted by the benefits of this expanded Child Tax Credit which has significantly slashed poverty across the country,\" said Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia. \"Hundreds of dollars in tax cuts for TX-29 families the week before Thanksgiving means gas in the car for that trip to the abuela, t\u00edo, or primo's house or extra grocery money to get Thanksgiving dinner on the table.\"\n\nStatewide, 3,610,000 monthly tax cuts went to families in November for a total of $1.6 billion. The average tax cut was $449.\n\nNationwide, the Treasury Department has distributed nearly $16 billion to the hardworking families of over 61 million children.\n\nClick HERE to learn more about the full Joint Economic Committee's study on how the Child Tax Credit is supporting local economies nationwide.\n\n###\n\nCongresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2018, becoming the first Latina ever to represent the Texas 29th Congressional District. She serves on the House Judiciary and Financial Services Committees.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-al-green-commends-passage-build-back-better-act-house-and-eagerly", "Congressman Al Green Commends Passage of Build Back Better Act in the House and Eagerly Awaits Passage in the Senate", "2021-11-19", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Al Green", "G000553", "algreen.house.gov", "algreen", "https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2014 On Friday, November 19, 2021, Congressman Al Green (TX-09) released the following statement after successful passage of H.R. 5376 \u2013 the Build Back Better Act:\n\n\u201cThe passage of the Build Back Better Act is a turning point for America. This legislation will create millions of good-paying jobs, strengthening the working families who are the backbone of our country. It is a far-reaching bill with enormous investments in families, health care, and the environment. The U.S. is one of the only industrialized nations in the world that fails to provide some form of guaranteed paid parental and family leave. This bill will implement four weeks of universal, permanent paid parental, family, and medical leave. It is a milestone that will allow women to advance in the workforce, boost worker productivity, and help employers attract top talent. Under the Build Back Better Act, family and childcare costs will also be reduced dramatically, as it establishes universal pre-school for all three- and four-year-olds. It will also reduce child hunger by investing in child nutrition programs and expanding free school meals,\u201d Congressman Al Green proudly shared. \u201cI am gratified to know that all babies will now have the same start in life, since pre-k will be available to all children. My vote for this bill is a vote for our children and for our future.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Build Back Better Act also halts the rising costs of prescription drugs and expands Medicare and Medicaid coverage. It puts a price cap on certain medications, such as insulin, and prevents drug companies from increasing their prices astronomically,\u201d Congressman Al Green continued. \u201cThis critical legislation will expand Medicare coverage to include hearing aids and hearing services. It will also provide coverage for Medicaid to the millions of people who live in one of the 12 states across the country, including Texas, which have not expanded the program. This means 1,554,000 Texans who are currently uninsured will now gain coverage.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-castros-statement-on-house-passage-of-build-back-better-act", "Congressman Castro\u2019s Statement on House Passage of Build Back Better Act", "2021-11-19", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Joaquin Castro", "C001091", "castro.house.gov", "castro", "https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) issued the following statement on the U.S. House of Representatives passing the Build Back Better Act:\n\n\u201cFor years, I've worked in Congress to build out what I call America's Infrastructure of Opportunity --- and the Build Back Better Act delivers meaningful progress for San Antonio, Texas, and the American people. Quality child care and universal preschool for children, good public schools for students, affordable health care for families, immigration protections for Dreamers, TPS holders, and essential workers, lower prescription drug costs for those in desperate need, economic dignity for senior citizens, and it's fully paid for by the wealthiest individuals and giant corporations paying their fair share. As the co-chair of the Congressional Pre-K Caucus, I'm particularly proud of the investment in free preschool for all 3- and 4-year-olds, building upon PreK4SA in our community. This bill is a once-in-a-generation investment that will help accelerate our economic recovery and enable all Americans to pursue their dreams. I hope the U.S. Senate takes swift action on this legislation and we get this transformative legislation to President Biden's desk as soon as possible.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=806", "Congresswoman Escobar Votes to Pass the Build Back Better Act to Create Jobs, Deliver Tax Cuts and Lower Costs for El Paso Families", "2021-11-19", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Veronica Escobar", "E000299", "escobar.house.gov", "escobar", "https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) voted to pass H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act, which delivers once-in-a-generation transformational investments to lower the everyday costs that burden El Paso\u2019s hard-working families \u2013 from health care and education to childcare, paid leave, and more.\n\nThis morning, after hours of Republican obstruction, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) voted to pass H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act, which delivers once-in-a-generation transformational investments to lower the everyday costs that burden El Paso\u2019s hard-working families \u2013 from health care and education to childcare, paid leave, and more.\n\nIn addition to lowering costs, this historic legislation will fight inflation because it will be fully paid for by making America\u2019s biggest corporations and wealthiest individuals pay their fair share.\n\nTogether, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Build Back Better Act will create an average of 2 million jobs each year over the next decade.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s House passage of the Build Back Better Act marks a milestone for all hardworking families in El Paso. As our nation recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, these historic investments will create a better future for our children and their families, combat the climate crisis, protect essential workers, enable more Americans to join and remain in the workforce, and lay the foundation for strong economic growth and shared prosperity for decades to come,\u201d said Congresswoman Escobar. \u201cAs the Build Back Better Act heads to the Senate, I urge Senators to build on this legislative victory and send this bill to President Joe Biden\u2019s desk immediately so that we can continue to bolster our economy and ensure all American families can thrive.\u201d\n\nThe Build Back Better Act makes historic, forward-looking investments:\n\nMakes Transformative Investments in Hard Working El Paso Families: The lack of affordable child care is driving parents - especially women - out of the labor force in record numbers. While many other nations have created strong systems of universal, high- quality, affordable child care, the shortage here at home has only worsened - and working families are suffering. The Build Back Better Act\u2019s life-changing investments will address this major shortcoming and it will also provide paid leave, cut taxes and lower other costs for working families, increase opportunities for workers, deliver two years of free universal pre-school, create jobs, and more.\n\nLowers child care costs for working families to help put affordable, high- quality child care within reach.\n\nEstablishes free high-quality universal pre-school programs for all three- and four-year-olds.\n\nPermanently authorizes the first-ever national paid family and medical leave guarantee for U.S. workers, providing up to four weeks of paid leave for parental bonding or to deal with their own or a loved one\u2019s serious medical condition.\n\nExtends the expanded Child Tax Credit, first enacted in the American Rescue Plan, to make sure nearly 40 million American families \u2013 including over 173,000 children in El Paso \u2013 continue to receive this tax cut. It will also ensure lower- income families are permanently eligible for full benefits, helping to cut child poverty nearly in half.\n\nExtends the expanded Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to provide financial support to millions of low-wage workers, including millions of essential workers.\n\nIncreases the maximum Pell Grant by $550 for more than 5 million students and expands access to DREAMers.\n\nMakes historic investments in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and minority-serving institutions (MSIs) like the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and El Paso Community College to build capacity, modernize research infrastructure, and provide financial aid to low-income students.\n\nProvides for Home and Community-Based Services with an investment of $150 billion to expand access to quality home-based care for millions of older adults and people with disabilities. This funding includes resources to improve our national care infrastructure by strengthening the direct care workforce.\n\nAddresses our nation\u2019s urgent housing needs, including the homelessness crisis, by investing $150 billion in targeted funding streams for new construction and preservation of housing; rental and down payment assistance; sustainable and resilient housing; and fair housing enforcement, among other investments.\n\nInvests in workforce development to make it easier for workers to train and get good-paying jobs to help support their families. These investments will support dislocated workers, help adults train, support youth apprenticeships, and more.\n\nSupports Small Business Administration programs with an investment of $5 billion to increase access to capital, foster entrepreneurial development, expand federal procurement opportunities, and drive innovation.\n\nReconnects and revitalizes communities and neighborhoods that were divided by previous highway projects and funds several programs to expand access to clean drinking water and treat wastewater in communities like El Paso.\n\nInvests in connectivity to advance communications technologies and increase access to affordable broadband for low- and middle-income consumers. It also provides additional funding for the Emergency Connectivity Fund so schools and libraries can provide access to internet and connected devices.\n\nProvides supply chain investments of $5 billion to safeguard our economy and support domestic job growth.\n\nSupports child nutrition by investing $10 billion to expand eligibility and eliminate paperwork so more children can receive free school meals, while also funding a nationwide program to help more children receive healthy nutrition over the summer.\n\nExpands the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program for U.S. territories to ensure that territories have full access to the SSI program. When enacted, U.S. nationals will be treated equally to U.S. citizens in the SSI program.\n\nProvides temporary relief, including work permits and protection from deportation for millions of undocumented immigrants who entered the U.S. before 2011.\n\nStrengthens Trade Adjustment Assistance for workers adversely impacted by competition overseas.\n\nProvides State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction relief by increasing and applying the cap over the long-term, allowing states and counties to raise more revenue to deliver essential public services such as emergency response services, public health services, and infrastructure development.\n\nCombats Climate Change: Protecting our communities and strengthening our resilience in the face of worsening climate- related disasters requires a whole-of-government approach. The climate crisis is an existential threat that must be handled immediately if we are to avoid the most catastrophic consequences. Postponing action will only make life harder for millions of families and endanger more lives and livelihoods as extreme weather events intensify. The Build Back Better Act invests more than $550 billion to deliver the largest effort to combat climate change in American history. Extends and expands clean energy tax credits to invest more than $300 billion to support clean energy investments and deployment, improve energy efficiency, and encourage vehicle electrification to help combat climate change while creating good, well-paying jobs. These incentives will not only reduce carbon pollution but also save the average American family hundreds of dollars per year in energy costs.\n\nReduces greenhouse gas pollution by providing $29 billion for a new Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund that will enable nonprofit, state, and local climate finance institutions to leverage private-sector investments and rapidly deploy low- and zero-emission technologies, including zero-emission vehicle supply equipment, with at least 40 percent of investments in low-income and disadvantaged communities.\n\nAccelerates the clean energy transition by funding grants, rebates, and loans to commercialize emerging clean energy technologies, reinvest in energy communities, support state and local climate pollution reduction plans, and reduce methane emissions and waste from oil and natural gas operations.\n\nTransforms the transportation sector to reduce carbon pollution. Investments include: high-speed rail projects that would reduce reliance on higher-emission cars and planes; grant programs to integrate low-carbon materials into transportation projects and develop low-emission aviation fuels and technology; Community Climate Incentive Grants to help states and localities pursue carbon reduction strategies in the transportation area; and funding for sustainable port infrastructure and supply chain resilience.\n\nDrives progress toward widespread zero-emissions vehicle use through $12.5 billion for grants and loans that support domestic auto manufacturing, clean heavy-duty vehicles, and zero-emissions vehicle infrastructure, as well as $9 billion for electrifying the federal and U.S. Postal Service vehicle fleets.\n\nLowers energy costs and decreases emissions across homes and factories by investing $19 billion in home energy efficiency and electrification rebates for consumers, advanced technology to reduce emissions in energy-intensive industrial and manufacturing facilities, and new high-capacity transmission lines for reliable delivery of clean energy.\n\nAccelerates climate and clean energy research and development, including climate science, weather observation and forecasting, wildfire and hurricane research, climate-smart agricultural innovation and adaptation, and clean energy demonstration projects.\n\nAddresses environmental and climate justice by supporting neighborhood equity, safety, and affordable transportation access; economic development for energy and industrial transition communities; community-led projects and capacity-building centers in low-income and disadvantaged areas to address the disproportionate harms of pollution and climate change; and nearly $20 billion for national service and workforce development in support of climate resilience and mitigation projects across the country.\n\nStrengthens the resilience of communities, farms, fisheries, and ecosystems through historic investments in coastal restoration, public lands, forest management, wildfire threat reduction, soil health, and agricultural conservation.\n\nSupports rural development and invests $16 billion to help rural electric cooperatives, rural businesses, and farmers transition to clean energy, increase energy efficiency, and improve biofuel infrastructure and market access.\n\nProtects the nation\u2019s public resources by permanently withdrawing the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and federal waters in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Eastern Gulf from further oil and gas drilling.\n\nReforms oil and gas fees and royalties for the extraction of resources on public lands, to raise revenues fairly, responsibly, and without unnecessary industry giveaways.\n\nDelivers the Biggest Expansion of Affordable Health Care in a Decade: Too many Americans are forced to choose between medical care and putting food on the table or other necessities. Americans, especially seniors, need better, affordable access to quality prescription drugs. Millions of Texans are locked out of Medicaid because of Governor Greg Abbott\u2019s refusal to expand the program under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and health insurance - even with premium subsidies - is still too expensive for many families. The Build Back Better Act lowers the cost of prescription drugs and delivers critical investments in the health and well-being of our nation and its families.\n\nLowers the cost of prescription drugs by allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices, reducing out-of-pocket co-pays, establishing a $35 out-of-\u00adpocket maximum for insulin, and creating a new $2,000 out-of-pocket limit for seniors\u2019 expenses in Medicare Part D among other transformational reforms.\n\nExtends the expanded ACA Premium Tax Credit, reducing premiums for 9 million Americans. Experts predict that this will help more than 3 million people who would otherwise be uninsured gain health insurance.\n\nCloses the Medicaid coverage gap by providing access to health care coverage to 4 million uninsured Americans living in Texas and other states that have locked them out of Medicaid.\n\nReduces out-of-pocket costs by providing enhanced cost-sharing reduction assistance to low-income individuals and creating a new Health Insurance Affordability Fund, which will allow states to establish a reinsurance program or help with reducing out-of-pocket costs.\n\nStrengthens Medicaid by expanding access to behavioral and maternal health services, permanently increasing federal funding for U.S. territories, and making other program improvements.\n\nMakes Investments in Seniors and People with Disabilities by expanding Medicare coverage to include hearing services and hearing aids, investing in nursing home transparency and staffing standards, and bolstering funding for the Elder Justice Act programs.\n\nPermanently extends the Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to ensure children have access to quality, affordable health insurance, regardless of their family\u2019s income.\n\nInvests in the Health Profession Opportunity Grant Program (HPOG) to train tens of thousands of Americans across the country for health professions, expanding opportunities for workers while addressing local health care workforce shortages.\n\nRebuilds and improves the Department of Veterans Affairs\u2019 (VA) medical facilities and invests in the VA\u2019s health care workforce to deliver 21st century care to El Paso\u2019s veterans.\n\nBrings Down Costs and Strengthen El Paso\u2019s Middle Class by Promoting Fiscal Responsibility and Inclusive Growth: With income inequality and the stock market at all-time highs, it is long past time the wealthiest few and the biggest corporations paid their fair share. The Build Back Better Act will deliver one of the largest middle-class tax cuts in history and provide a level of fairness to our tax code. It will lower costs for working families and create good-paying jobs here at home - all without adding to the nation\u2019s debt. The Build Back Better Act will generate long-term inclusive growth and ensure our economy works for all Americans, not just those at the top.\n\nEnsures large, profitable corporations pay their fair share so we can make historic investments in our families and our economic future. For example, the bill requires companies that report over $1 billion in profits to shareholders to pay at least a 15 percent tax rate on those gigantic profits. It is fundamentally unfair for large, highly profitable companies to pay nothing in federal taxes, as they have done in recent years, while working Americans like nurses and firefighters pay taxes with every paycheck. The bill also imposes a 1 percent excise tax on publicly traded U.S. corporations for the value of their stock buybacks, which enrich their shareholders rather than invest in their companies or workers.\n\nEnsures the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share by improving the tax code to prevent tax avoidance. The improvements include imposing a 5 percent surtax on individuals with incomes over $10 million and an extra 3 percent surtax on incomes over $25 million, which applies to the richest 0.02 percent of taxpayers. The bill also closes loopholes that some wealthy taxpayers have used to avoid paying the 3.8 percent Medicare tax on their trade or business income.\n\nMakes critical investments to close the more than $7 trillion projected 10- year tax gap that is largely a product of tax evasion by the wealthy. The bill ensures the wealthy pay the taxes they owe by strengthening the IRS\u2019s ability to audit those with the highest incomes. This investment will not only help build a more equitable tax system, but also help close the tax gap and generate savings to pay for historic investments.\n\nTo view the bill text, click here and to view the section-by-section, click here.\n\n# # #\n\nRelated News\n\nCongresswoman Escobar Appointed to Subcommittees on Military Construction, Homeland Security\n\nJanuary 15, 2025 | Posted in Press Releases\n\nCongresswoman Escobar Appointed to Prestigious House Appropriations Committee\n\nJanuary 7, 2025 | Posted in Press Releases\n\nCongresswoman Escobar Announces Staff Changes\n\nApril 18, 2023 | Posted in Press Releases\n\nCongresswoman Escobar Announces Application Process for Community Project Funding for FY24\n\nMarch 3, 2023 | Posted in Press Releases", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3569", "Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Votes for Historic Investments in Build Back Better Act", "2021-11-19", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Lizzie Fletcher", "F000468", "fletcher.house.gov", "fletcher", "https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) voted in support of the Build Back Better Act, delivering historic investments to American families and communities.\n\n\u201cThe Build Back Better Act delivers meaningful results for Houston families, lowering costs for health care, child care, and family care; investing in our children\u2019s education and opportunities; and expanding access to health care,\u201d said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. \u201cI am proud of the work I did on the Energy and Commerce Committee to ensure this bill lowers prescription drug costs for Americans and provides health care coverage for up to 1.7 million uninsured people in Texas and across the country. As a representative of the energy capital of the world, I worked to ensure our knowledge and experience are reflected in workable policies to reduce emissions and achieve our climate goals. Houstonians and people across the country will benefit from the Build Back Better Act for generations to come.\u201d\n\nHealth Care:\n\nMedicaid Coverage Gap: Expands coverage to millions of Americans who previously fell within the Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage gap. Beginning in 2022 through 2025, the legislation expands the ACA\u2019s premium tax credits to below 100 percent of the federal poverty level and provides enhanced cost-sharing assistance. Closing this coverage gap will allow 1.7 million uninsured Americans, including 766,000 Texans, to gain access to coverage.\n\nPrescription Drug Pricing: Provides the authority, the mandate, and the tools for Medicare to negotiate drug prices outside their initial exclusivity period; redesigns the Part D benefit to protect seniors from high out-of-pocket spending; and institutes rebates for drug prices that grow faster than inflation.\n\nMedicare Hearing Coverage: Provides new comprehensive hearing benefits in Medicare Part B, including coverage of hearing aids for individuals with moderately severe to profound hearing loss; and expands the services audiologists may provide under Medicare to include treatment services and allows for hearing aid professionals to provide hearing assessment services.\n\nEnergy and Climate Change:\n\nFossil Energy Tax Credits: Extends and enhances the carbon sequestration tax credit (the \u201c45Q Credit\u201d), creates a new tax credit for hydrogen production, and adds a direct-pay option for certain tax credits.\n\nClean Energy Tax Credits: Expands ten-year tax credits for utility-scale and residential clean energy, transmission and storage, clean passenger and commercial vehicles, and clean energy manufacturing.\n\nClean Energy Technology, Manufacturing, and Supply Chains: Provides targeted incentives to spur new domestic supply chains and technologies like solar, wind, batteries, and advanced materials, while boosting the competitiveness of existing industries like steel, cement, and aluminum.\n\nEnvironmental Investments: Provides investments and incentives to address extreme weather, legacy pollution, and a Civilian Climate Corps; and promotes environmental remediation.\n\nInfrastructure:\n\nPort Infrastructure and Supply Chains: Provides grants to reduce congestion at ports, helping to increase capacity and leading to more reliable and resilient supply chains.\n\nStrengthening Flood Insurance: Strengthens the financial security of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), enhancing its longevity and provides funding to support flood mapping and means-tested assistance for certain low-income NFIP policyholders.\n\nEmergency Network Improvements: Provides grants to entities deploying, operating, and maintaining Next Generation 9-1-1, internet-based emergency networks; and establishes funding for cybersecurity to protect our emergency networks, as well as a stakeholder advisory board to make recommendations to the program and ensure its success.\n\nChildren and Families:\n\nChild Tax Credit (CTC): Provides a one-year extension of the CTC increase of $300 a month per child under the age of six and $250 a month per child ages 6 to 17, as enacted in the American Rescue Plan; and reinstates refundability of the CTC, meaning that working-class families will continue to receive the full CTC in years to come, upholding the largest one-year reduction in child poverty in history.\n\nChild Care: Establishes new child care and early learning programs to provide high-quality, affordable child care for children ages five and under; increases wages for individuals in the early childhood care workforce; allocates funding for states to expand access to and availability of quality child care; and increases the number of child care workers, facilities, and programs. It also caps families\u2019 child care copayments to ensure that no eligible family pays more than seven percent of their income on child care by creating a sliding scale fee system.\n\nUniversal Pre-school: Provides universal, high-quality, free, and inclusive pre-school programs for children.\n\nChild Nutrition: Allows nearly 9 million more children to access meals through the Community Eligibility Provision and expands the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer program to provide $65 a month in nutrition benefits to eligible low-income children nationwide; allocates funding for schools to offer healthier meals, improve food safety, and provide nutrition education; and expands access to free school meals and food assistance during the summer. In Texas alone, this legislation will increase access to free school meals for an additional 1,642,000 students during the school year and provide 3,631,226 students with resources to purchase food during the summer. With 18 percent of children in Texas living in food insecure households, this funding will ensure children across Texas have access to enough food for a healthy life.\n\nPaid Family and Medical Leave: Authorizes the first-ever universal, comprehensive, paid leave benefit for all U.S. workers, with up to four weeks of paid leave for new parents, workers dealing with their own serious medical conditions, and workers who need to leave to care for a loved one with a serious medical issue.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-gonzalez-releases-statement-signing-jaime-zapata-and-victor-avila", "Congressman Gonzalez Releases Statement On The Signing Of The Jaime Zapata And Victor Avila Federal Officers And Employees Protection Act Into Law", "2021-11-19", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Vicente Gonzalez", "G000581", "gonzalez.house.gov", "gonzalez", "https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Friday, November 19, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) released the following statement on the signing of the Jaime Zapata and Victor Avila Federal Officers and Employees Protection Act into law by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.:\n\n\"Jaime Zapata and Victor Avila sought to protect our democracy and the values we hold dear. South Texas mourns the loss of Jaime and will never forget the injuries Victor Avila suffered.\n\nI was heartened to see President Biden sign the \"Jaime Zapata and Victor Avila Federal Officers and Employees Protection Act\" into law yesterday. Our law enforcement officers are integral to the safety of our nation. We must be able to afford them the same protections they have when on American soil and bring to justice those who seek to harm our agents serving abroad.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-gonzalez-votes-pass-historic-build-back-better-act", "Congressman Gonzalez Votes To Pass The Historic Build Back Better Act", "2021-11-19", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Vicente Gonzalez", "G000581", "gonzalez.house.gov", "gonzalez", "https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 On Friday, November 19, 2021, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) released the following statement after voting to pass H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act:\n\n\"When I ran for Congress, it was my goal to work on legislation that would positively change the lives of my community, and today, I voted to pass the Build Back Better Act for them. We have the ability to bring generational change to our nation, to lift families out of poverty, to make healthcare more accessible, to create affordable housing, to lower the cost of prescription drugs, and give working families a fair shot.\n\nI am proud of the work my colleagues and I have done to craft a bill we can all believe in. While there are some things I would have liked to have seen added or removed, I am confident this bill will bolster our recovery and bring prosperity to our nation.\n\nNow, it's time for the Senate to bring this legislation home for our constituents, and for the United States of America.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://veasey.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-veasey-tx-33-votes-on-historic-package-to-deliver", "Congressman Veasey (TX-33) Votes on Historic Package to Deliver Transformative Change for Texans", "2021-11-19", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Marc A. Veasey", "V000131", "veasey.house.gov", "veasey", "https://veasey.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Veasey (TX-33) today voted for the Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376). The package is a once-in-a-generation package to lower the everyday costs that burden working families \u2013 from health care to child care and more. In addition, the package includes Veasey-led priorities to close the coverage gap by expanding Medicaid, fortify Texas's power grid, and invest in local clean energy initiatives. Together, the Build Back Better Act and the bipartisan infrastructure bill will create an estimated average of 2 million jobs each year over the decade.\n\n\"Texans from all backgrounds and walks of life will benefit from the Build Back Better Act,\" said Congressman Veasey. \"This legislation will deliver transformational action to provide families with a middle-class tax cut, expand access to health care, fight climate change, create jobs, and so much more. I am proud to join my colleagues to vote on this once-in-a-generation package that will deliver results for our constituents in communities across the country.'\n\nKey provisions Veasey advocated for are included in Build Back Better Act. Specifically, the package will close the Medicaid coverage gap to help millions of Americans gain health insurance \u2013 a major priority that Veasey has long fought for. Additionally, the Build Back Better Act secures key Veasey-led priorities to combat climate change by providing grants to state and localities to support initiatives that will reduce fossil fuel emissions and conserve energy, and invests clean energy technology in electric vehicles.\n\nThe Build Back Better Plan:\n\nLowers health care costs: By negotiating lower drug costs for seniors; halting outrageous price hikes above inflation; and expanding the ACA to make coverage more affordable for those who buy insurance on their own.\n\nLowers child care & family care costs: By expanding the basic promise of free schooling in America for the first time in 100 years with universal pre-school for all 3- and 4-year olds; slashing families' child care costs; extending the landmark Biden Child Tax Credit; and expanding access to affordable home care for older adults and those with disabilities.\n\nProvides the largest investment to combat climate crisis in history: By cutting pollution, reducing energy costs, and making transformational investments to ensure America leads the clean energy economy all while creating millions of good-paying jobs here in the United States,\n\nThe Build Back Better Act lowers costs and fights inflation because it is fully paid for by making big corporations & the wealthiest pay their fair share. No one making under $400,000 will pay a penny more in taxes.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-al-green-champions-expansion-safe-green-and-budget-friendly", "Congressman Al Green Champions Expansion of Safe, Green, and Budget-Friendly Mobility Options for Southwest Houston", "2021-11-18", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Al Green", "G000553", "algreen.house.gov", "algreen", "https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(Houston, TX) \u2013 On Thursday, November 18, 2021, Congressman Al Green (TX-09) released the following statement:\n\n\u201cFriends, we are here today because the needs and wellbeing of the southwest Houston community are and have always been a top priority. My office and I are extremely proud of the work we\u2019ve done to support this community by helping advance the Emerging Mobility Plan with the generous assistance of the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s (EPA) Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Program. This program provides technical aid to develop policy and strategies to improve and implement mobility options in the southwest Houston area that are secure, sustainable, and cost effective. We believe this to be a huge investment into the people of southwest Houston because it will give them safer and healthier transit options, including an increased level of walkability and biking access. Without the support of the EPA and key stakeholders, this mobility plan would not be possible. I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude to Council Member Martha Castex-Tatum, George Anderson, and the entire Five Corners District Team for helping turn this project into a reality. It is because of their vision, initiative, and diligence that we\u2019ve been able to work together to keep the best interests of our community at the top. I look forward to continuing my work with them and the development of this important project.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-castro-statement-on-north-american-leaders-summit", "Congressman Castro Statement on North American Leaders Summit", "2021-11-18", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Joaquin Castro", "C001091", "castro.house.gov", "castro", "https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro (TX-20), senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement on President Biden\u2019s North American Leaders Summit (NALS) with Mexican President L\u00f3pez Obrador and Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau:\n\n\"From ending the COVID-19 pandemic and accelerating the global economic recovery to combating the climate crisis and building a fair migration system, Canada and Mexico are critical partners and great friends of the United States. Our nation's economies are intertwined through North American supply chains and our people's destinies are interconnected through unbreakable family bonds. In my home state of Texas, border communities are celebrating the return of business after the Biden-Harris administration lifted the restriction on non-essential travel.\"\n\n\"I welcome increased North American cooperation led by President Biden and hope this summit will be a launching point for significant progress. This week, I asked Assistant Secretary Brian Nichols about U.S. efforts to ensure respect for the human rights of asylum seekers, crack down on illegal firearm trafficking, and support the rule of law and democracy in the Western Hemisphere. I have also pushed for the Build Back Better Act to include work permits and deportation protection for immigrants as the lead author of the Citizenship for Essential Workers Act.\"\n\n\"As demonstrated during this crisis, essential workers and their families are the backbone of North America's economies. I look forward to working together with the Biden-Harris administration, Canada, and Mexico to advance an ambitious agenda to improve the lives of all our peoples.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-castro-and-escobar-join-immigration-advocates-for-press-conference-on-the-need-to-pass-the-build-back-better-act-to-deliver-protection-to-millions-of-immigrants", "Reps. Castro and Escobar Join Immigration Advocates For Press Conference on the Need to Pass the Build Back Better Act to Deliver Protection to Millions of Immigrants", "2021-11-18", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Joaquin Castro", "C001091", "castro.house.gov", "castro", "https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013Today, Reps. Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Veronica Escobar (TX-16) joined immigration advocates at a press conference at the House Triangle on Capitol Hill to urge the passage of the Build Back Better Act and its protections for millions of Dreamers, TPS Holders, farm workers, essential workers, and other undocumented immigrants. The event was held as House Democrats move closer to voting on the reconciliation bill.\n\n\u201cThe immigration provisions in The Build Back Better Act will accelerate our economic recovery and protect the millions of undocumented immigrants that have lived, worked, and contributed to American society for decades,\u201d said Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20). \u201cThey are entrepreneurs, innovators, consumers, essential workers, and much more \u2013 who power our economy and create employment opportunities for all Americans. Congress must meet this moment, pass the Build Back Better Act, and deliver for immigrants as they have so often delivered for us.\u201d\n\n\u201cLast year, we celebrated the essential workforce during the dark days of the pandemic\u2014and they asked for very little in return. In fact the only thing they asked was for a fighting chance to have meaningful protections, to have a path to citizenship, to be Americans,\u201d said Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16). \u201cThe time has come for us to pay our debt. We owe these workers a tremendous debt of gratitude. The Build Back Better Act would allow these workers to be able to get to work every day without fear of retaliation and to be able to live without fear of deportation. It\u2019s up to Congress to get this done.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor two decades, I have worked as a farm worker harvesting food for the nation and for many of us. A work and travel permit means having the security of working without fear, and traveling to our native country and being able to return,\u201d said Guillermo Garcia, an undocumented farm worker originally from El Salvador. He is a UFW Foundation leader and proud UFW union member who has spent two decades harvesting produce for American tables. \u201cIt would improve our economy and we would be safe with our families. It\u2019s time essential workers like me can work without fear of being deported and separated from our families. We know that Congress can protect farm workers by passing the Build Back Better legislation with immigration protections this year and they must act.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis government considers me an essential worker because I make sure that offices here in Washington, D.C. are clean so working families are healthy and protected against COVID-19,\u201d said Mar\u00eda Ana V\u00e1squez, SEIU-32BJ member and essential worker. \u201cBecause of the chemicals that I use to disinfect surfaces against the virus, my hands are dry, so dry that my fingerprints are almost non-existent. The chemicals also triggered headaches and dizziness. My hands hurt; I live in pain. I have sacrificed so much, including my own health. There were some days I thought I wasn\u2019t going to make it to work, but I found the strength and showed up. I know I\u2019m doing important work\u2014I\u2019m protecting working families against the coronavirus including, perhaps, many of you here.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m ready to give back to this country, but that can only happen when we deliver on protections for people like me,\u201d said Julio Calderon, a Dreamer in Miami, Florida who never qualified for protections under the DACA program because he arrived in the U.S. just 30 days after his 16th birthday. He has a final order of removal. \u201cThis plan must include the opportunity we have been waiting for to finally let go of the uncertainty of deportation. I want to be able to apply to the job I want with the degree I earned. I want to travel back to Honduras to see the family members I haven\u2019t seen for 16 years.\u201d\n\n\u201cIf Build Back Better passes with immigration protections and benefits, I could obtain a work permit and live with more security and relief--things I have lacked during this pandemic,\u201d said Amparo Gonsalez de Portillo, a domestic and essential worker from Virginia and member of National Domestic Workers Alliance. With the passing of this bill, millions of immigrants would have opportunities like seeing their loved ones back home. With the political will of Congress, we have the power to provide real relief with protections against deportation and more of a guarantee of our labor rights and real hope about a better future. We are placing our faith and our lives in your hands.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-gonzalez-and-commerce-secretary-tout-bipartisan-infrastructure-bill", "Congressman Gonzalez and Commerce Secretary Tout\u00a0Bipartisan\u00a0Infrastructure\u00a0Bill", "2021-11-18", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Vicente Gonzalez", "G000581", "gonzalez.house.gov", "gonzalez", "https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Monday, November 15, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) attended the signing of H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.\n\nThe $1.2 trillion dollar legislation is the largest investment into the nation's infrastructure in history and will bring $1 billion to every congressional district to rebuild and modernize roads, bridges, drainage systems, broadband and more.\n\nTexas received a C- from the American Society of Civil Engineers on its infrastructure report card. The passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill will address those problems with an estimated $35 billion invested directly into the state.\n\nOf the $35 million allocated over 5 years:\n\n\u00b7 $26.9 billion for federal-aid highway apportioned programs\n\n\u00b7 $3.3 billion to improve public transportation options\n\n\u00b7 $2.9 billion to improve water infrastructure\n\n\u00b7 $1.2 billion to update airports\n\n\u00b7 $537 million for bridge replacement and repairs\n\n\u00b7 $3.5 billion into weatherization to address for energy costs and infrastructure\n\n\u00b7 $100 million for broadband coverage\n\nThe Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has also apportioned $42 million to protect critical infrastructure from cyber-attacks. The amount allocated by state has not been released yet.\n\n\"For decades we have driven over roads and bridges built before our parents' time, we have dealt with failing dams, lack of internet access, and unclean drinking water,\" said Congressman Gonzalez. \"Now that we've enacted the bipartisan infrastructure bill, students won't have to sit in a fast-food restaurant to access Wi-Fi for homework, our communities can drive on roads without potholes, and South Texas can update our drainage systems to address persistent flooding. I am proud to have voted for this bill and I look forward to seeing the positive changes it will bring to our nation.\"\n\n\"I want to thank Representative Gonzalez for his hard work passing the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. For too long we've neglected investments in critical areas that directly impact American workers, American businesses and American families. One of the many historic investments in this bill is the effort to bridge the digital divide and ensure all Americans have access to reliable, affordable broadband. Broadband is not a luxury, it's a necessity. Thanks to President Biden's vision and the Congressman's tireless effort to get this passed, we can now bring affordable broadband to every community in Texas.\" - U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/censure-statement-congressman-al-green-response-rep-gosars-animated-video", "Censure Statement by Congressman Al Green in Response to  Rep. Gosar\u2019s Animated Video", "2021-11-17", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Al Green", "G000553", "algreen.house.gov", "algreen", "https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2014 On Wednesday, November 17, 2021, Congressman Al Green (TX-09) released the following statement:\n\n\u201cWe've had an insurrection wherein multiple people were killed. We have to walk through metal detectors to get to the floor of the Capitol. Members are concerned for their safety. Is this a representation of the citadel of democracy or has it become a fortress wherein members of the House must protect themselves from each other? I hope this resolution today will send a message to all that violence and threats of violence have no place in the House of Representatives.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-al-green-senator-elizabeth-warren-reintroduce-slavery-remembrance", "Congressman Al Green, Senator Elizabeth Warren Reintroduce Slavery Remembrance Day Resolution", "2021-11-17", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Al Green", "G000553", "algreen.house.gov", "algreen", "https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(Houston, TX) \u2013 On Wednesday, November 17, 2021, Congressman Al Green (TX-09) and U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) introduced the joint resolution to designate August 20th as Slavery Remembrance Day. They released the following statement:\n\n\u201cI am privileged and proud to cosponsor this resolution with the Honorable Senator Elizabeth Warren. She has a rich history of standing up for those who are not in a position to stand up for themselves. I look forward to working with her and passing this historic legislation,\u201d Congressman Al Green said.\n\n\u201cThe legacy of slavery, our nation\u2019s seminal sin, continues casting its shadow across our nation today. It fuels invidious discrimination even in the most unsuspecting of places and perpetuates attempts at sanitizing oppressive history in our classrooms,\u201d Congressman Al Green stated. \u201cCurrently, we have remembrance days for the Holocaust, Pearl Harbor, and 9/11. Enshrining such events not only in our collective memories, but also among our official, collective observances, serves to remind us of atrocities that have occurred and must never be repeated. As an immoral institution, slavery is no exception.\u201d\n\nCongressman Al Green continued, \u201cThis resolution proposes August 20th be designated as Slavery Remembrance Day because on that day in 1619, the first slave ship arrived on the shores of the English-speaking American colonies. This annual reminder is necessary because it teaches persons to denounce oppression while simultaneously exemplifying why it should be denounced. However, efforts to teach about the suffering of enslaved persons are being fought by states like Texas with its recent bill to curb how race and the history of racism are taught in schools. The Texas bill is dangerous because it limits teaching by excluding any mention of historic individuals who challenged the discriminatory status quo, such as Harriett Tubman (Araminta Ross) and John Brown. We must remember the history of slavery to avoid repeating the horrors of slavery.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=805", "Congresswoman Escobar Announces $900K for Infrastructure Grant for City of El Paso", "2021-11-16", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Veronica Escobar", "E000299", "escobar.house.gov", "escobar", "https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded $900,000 in funding to the City of El Paso for a design study for the I-10 Deck Park through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program.\n\nCongress provided the $1 billion for these FY21 RAISE grants in the appropriations omnibus last December, and Congresswoman Escobar has met with top DOT officials to advocate for the I-10 Deck Park.\n\n\u201cToday, El Paso moves closer toward the goal of expanding our green spaces and creating a public gathering space for all,\u201d said Congresswoman Escobar. \u201cI am proud to have advocated to secure this critical investment as our nation focuses on rebuilding our infrastructure \u2013 including roads and bridges \u2013 creating good-paying jobs, and mitigating the impact of climate change.\u201d\n\nThe RAISE grant program provides a unique opportunity for the DOT to invest in road, rail, transit, and port projects that promise to achieve national objectives. In each annual competition, DOT receives hundreds of applications to build and repair critical pieces of the nation\u2019s transportation networks. The RAISE grant program enables DOT to examine these projects on their merits to help ensure that taxpayers are getting the highest value for every dollar invested.\n\nThe Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which Congresswoman Escobar voted for on November 5, 2021 and President Joe Biden signed into law on November 15, 2021, provides $1.5 billion for more RAISE grants every year for the next five years \u2013 unlocking more federal funding to help communities across the country build stronger and more sustainable infrastructure to support our economy.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3565", "Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Hosts Community Conversation on Mental Health", "2021-11-16", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Lizzie Fletcher", "F000468", "fletcher.house.gov", "fletcher", "https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) held a virtual Mental Health Community Conversation last night. The event featured Dr. Andy Keller, President and CEO, at the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute; Angelina Hudson, Interim Executive Director of the National Alliance on Mental Health of Greater Houston; and Wayne Young, Chief Executive Officer at the Harris Center. They discussed the importance of prioritizing our mental health, addressing stigma, and improving access to care.\n\n\u201cThe COVID-19 pandemic presented many new challenges, and it also highlighted existing gaps and needs in our health care system, including our mental health,\u201d said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. \u201cThe challenges we faced over the last year and a half have taken a major toll on the mental health of people across our community and our country. It is important that we recognize that access to mental health resources is essential to our community\u2014not just during this pandemic but all the time. I am grateful for the work and the collaboration of tonight\u2019s panelists to address mental health conditions, and I thank them for joining our Community Conversation to provide critical updates and answer questions.\u201d\n\nEarlier this year, Congresswomen Lizzie Fletcher introduced the Collaborate in an Orderly and Cohesive Manner (COCM) Act, bipartisan legislation to help improve mental health care for people across our country. This legislation invests in the Collaborative Care Model, a specific care delivery model that integrates behavioral health care within the primary care setting for the treatment of mental health and substance use disorders that require regular follow-up, like depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.\n\nThe COCM Act has been endorsed by more than 35 organizations, including the American Psychiatric Association, the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American Medical Association. To view the full COCM Act press release, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-al-green-joins-president-biden-signing-infrastructure-investment", "Congressman Al Green Joins President Biden for Signing of  Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act", "2021-11-15", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Al Green", "G000553", "algreen.house.gov", "algreen", "https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(Houston, TX) \u2014 On Monday, November 15, 2021, Congressman Al Green (TX-09) released the following statement:\n\n\u201cI am honored to witness the ratification of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act by joining President Biden at the White House today. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is one of the most consequential pieces of legislation in recent history. It will create good-paying infrastructure-related jobs across America to restore our railways, roadways, seaports, airports, and more. In Texas alone there are 818 bridges and over 19,400 miles of highways in poor condition. This bill provides $537 million over five years to Texas for bridge replacement and repairs,\u201d Congressman Al Green stated. \u201cEqually as important, this legislation strengthens public transportation for Texans by allocating $3.3 billion over five years to improve our public transportation options across the state.\u201d\n\nThe Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act codifies Rep. Green\u2019s Minority Business Resiliency Act of 2021, which will establish rural minority business centers and promote economic resiliency for minority businesses by providing supportive grants.\n\nCongressman Al Green continued, \u201cMore than 50 years after the creation by Executive Order of the only federal agency dedicated solely to the growth and global competitiveness of minority businesses, the bill signed today by President Biden will permanently establish in federal law the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). The codification of the MBDA will boost minority businesses, including minority-owned banks, as they struggle to keep pace with a rapidly changing economy and recover from a global pandemic. Additionally, this legislation establishes an entrepreneurship grants program to fund minority businesses and nonprofits that serve them. I am proud to be associated with this groundbreaking legislation on this historic occasion.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=803", "Congresswoman Escobar Attends President Biden\u2019s Signing of Historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation to Create Millions of New Jobs and Rebuild America", "2021-11-15", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Veronica Escobar", "E000299", "escobar.house.gov", "escobar", "https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which Congresswoman Escobar voted for on November 5, 2021, will create millions of good-paying union jobs with a once-in-a-century investment in rebuilding infrastructure in Texas, including roads and bridges, ports of entry, clean drinking water and wastewater systems, electric grid, and high-speed broadband networks.\n\nCongresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) attended President Joe Biden\u2019s bipartisan signing ceremony of H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.\n\nThe Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which Congresswoman Escobar voted for on November 5, 2021, will create millions of good-paying union jobs with a once-in-a-century investment in rebuilding infrastructure in Texas, including roads and bridges, ports of entry, clean drinking water and wastewater systems, electric grid, and high-speed broadband networks.\n\nWith $35 billion in new spending over 5 years in Texas, this bipartisan legislation will repair and modernize crumbling and outdated infrastructure across the nation, ensuring communities like El Paso have the infrastructure to succeed in the 21st century economy.\n\n\u201cOur nation\u2019s crumbling and outdated infrastructure weakens our economy, hurts families, causes added costs and delays for businesses, and negatively impacts our environment,\u201d said Congresswoman Escobar. \u201cWith President Biden\u2019s signature, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will become law, delivering transformational investments to El Paso and communities across the country that will create good-paying jobs and strengthen our economy \u2013 without increasing taxes for everyday Americans. Now, Congress must continue to advance it\u2019s mission to create a better future for all Americans and send the Build Back Better Act to the President\u2019s desk.\u201d\n\nTogether, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Build Back Better Act are estimated to create an average of 2 million jobs each year over the next decade. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, poor infrastructure has struggled to keep up with a sharp increase in consumer demand \u2013 resulting in added costs for businesses and delays for consumers. The United States ranks 13th globally in terms of the quality of our infrastructure and the American Society of Civil Engineers gave Texas a C- grade on its infrastructure report card.\n\nThe Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will invest $550 billion over 5 years:\n\nRoads, Bridges, and Major Projects: Invest $110 billion as part of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act and Surface Transportation Investment Act. Funds new, dedicated grant program to replace and repair bridges and increases funding for the major project competitive grant programs. At the same time, the package preserves the 90/10 split of federal highway aid to states.\n\nPublic Transit: This $39.2 billion investment will fund our nation's transit system repair backlog, which DOT estimates is more than 24,000 buses, 5,000 rail cars, 200 stations, and thousands of miles of track, signals, and power systems. Expands transit systems, supports clean transit options, and increases accessibility for seniors and persons with disabilities.\n\nBroadband: Grant $65 billion to states for broadband deployment, makes broadband access more affordable for low-income families, expands eligible private activity bond projects to include broadband infrastructure, and supports middle-mile deployment efforts.\n\nPorts and Waterways: Provide $16.6 billion for port infrastructure, and land ports of entry, waterway and coastal infrastructure, and inland waterway improvements through the Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Transportation, Coast Guard, General Services Administration, and Department of Homeland Security.\n\nSafety: Provide $11 billion for highway and pedestrian safety programs, as well as pipeline safety and repair.\n\nAirports: This $25 billion investment will increase funds for Airport Improvement grant program for runways, gates, and taxiways as well as a new Airport Terminal Improvement program for terminals, concessions, and multimodal connections. Improves Air Traffic Control infrastructure.\n\nWater Infrastructure: This $55 billion investment includes $23.4 billion for the bipartisan Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021. Provides a historic $15 billion for lead service line replacement and $10 billion to address Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). Supports water infrastructure in Tribal communities by providing $3.5 billion for the Indian Health Service Sanitation Facilities Construction program, in addition to providing funding to complete all currently- authorized Indian Water Rights Settlements.\n\nPower and Grid: This $65 billion investment includes the bipartisan, ENR-passed Energy Infrastructure Act, which includes funds for grid reliability and resiliency and support for a Grid Deployment Authority; critical minerals and supply chains for clean energy technology; key technologies like carbon capture, hydrogen, direct air capture, and energy efficiency; and energy demonstration projects from the bipartisan Energy Act of 2020.\n\nResiliency: Provides $47.2 billion in funding for cybersecurity to address critical infrastructure needs, waste management, flood and wildfire mitigation, drought, and coastal resiliency, ecosystem restoration, heat stress, and weatherization.\n\nClean School Buses, and Ferries: Includes historic $5 billion for the replacement of existing school buses with zero emission and clean school buses, with a priority on low income, rural and Tribal schools. Provides $2.5 billion for the replacement of existing ferries with low carbon ferries and to assist states with operational costs for essential rural ferries.\n\nElectric Vehicle Charging: Provides $7.5 billion to fund for alternative fuel corridors and to build out a national network of electric vehicle charging infrastructure to facilitate long-distance travel and to provide convenient charging where people live, work, and shop.\n\nReconnecting Communities: Provides a total of $1 billion between contract authority and new appropriations. Funds for projects that remove barriers to opportunity caused by legacy infrastructure. The program will provide dedicated funding for planning, design, demolition, and reconstruction of street grids, parks, or other infrastructure.\n\nAddressing Legacy Pollution: Provides $21 billion to clean up brownfield and superfund sites, reclaim abandoned mine lands, and plug orphan oil and gas wells, improving public health and creating good-paying jobs.\n\nWestern Water Infrastructure: Provides $8.3 billion for Bureau of Reclamation western water infrastructure, including for aging infrastructure, water storage, water recycling and reuse, waterSMART, and drought contingency plans, among other things.\n\nPassenger and freight rail: The $66 billion investment provides funding for the Amtrak National Network for new service and dedicated funding to the Northeast Corridor, which has incurred a severe repair backlog after Hurricane Sandy. Increases funding for freight rail and safety.\n\nTo view the bill text, click here.\n\n# # #\n\nRelated News\n\nCongresswoman Escobar Votes Against Hypocritical Republican Messaging Proposal\n\nMarch 18, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases\n\nCongresswoman Escobar Signs Discharge Petition to Pay TSA Agents, Other DHS Employees\n\nMarch 18, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases\n\nCongresswoman Escobar Celebrates FY26 Community Projects\n\nMarch 12, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases\n\nCongresswoman Escobar Introduces Legislation to Create Transparency for CBP\u2019s Trusted Traveler Program\n\nMarch 6, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases\n\nCongresswoman Escobar Statement on DHS Funding Bill\n\nMarch 5, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3562", "TODAY: Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher to Attend Signing of Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act at White House", "2021-11-15", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Lizzie Fletcher", "F000468", "fletcher.house.gov", "fletcher", "https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "TODAY, November 15, 2021: Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) will attend the bill signing of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act at the White House. This bipartisan infrastructure legislation includes Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher\u2019s bill, the Revive Economic Growth and Reclaim Orphaned Wells (REGROW) Act of 2021, to clean up orphaned oil and gas wells, which can leak methane, contaminate groundwater, and create safety risks for neighboring communities.\n\nWHO\n\nCongresswoman Lizzie Fletcher\n\nTexas\u2019 Seventh Congressional District\n\nPresident Joe Biden\n\nPresident of the United States\n\nWHEN\n\nTODAY, Monday, November 15, 3:00 PM ET\n\nWHERE\n\nThe White House\n\nNOTE", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3563", "Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Attends Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Signing Ceremony", "2021-11-15", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Lizzie Fletcher", "F000468", "fletcher.house.gov", "fletcher", "https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) attended a White House ceremony where President Joe Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law. This bipartisan legislation delivers on President Biden\u2019s promise to Build Back Better. It makes the largest, long-term investment in the country\u2019s infrastructure in nearly a century, helping to grow the economy, create new jobs, and enhance the country\u2019s competitiveness for the 21st century. It also includes Congresswoman Fletcher\u2019s bill, the Revive Economic Growth and Reclaim Orphaned Wells (REGROW) Act of 2021, to clean up orphaned oil and gas wells, which can leak methane, contaminate groundwater, and create safety risks for neighboring communities. There are more than 56,000 documented \u201corphaned\u201d or abandoned oil and gas wells across the country, many of them in Texas. This legislation aims to plug every documented orphaned well in the country by investing $4.7 billion toward cleaning up these sites, creating tens of thousands of energy jobs for skilled oil and gas workers.\n\n\u201cI am so glad that the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes our effort to clean up orphaned wells,\u201d said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. \u201cThis is a win for our environment and for our energy sector, creating jobs for oilfield workers in Texas and across the country. I am grateful for President Biden\u2019s leadership on this historic infrastructure investment in our country, and I was so proud to watch him sign the bill into law today.\u201d\n\nAmong its provisions is a tremendous investment in cleaning up abandoned or orphaned well sites, based on bipartisan legislation Congresswoman Fletcher introduced with Congressman Kelly Armstrong in the House of Representative. Most documented orphaned wells are located on state and private land. Even before the economic repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, federal agencies and states responsible for plugging and reclaiming these wells had limited funding for cleanup. According to the Interstate Oil & Gas Compact Commission, Texas has the largest orphaned well plugging program out of 35 states responding to a survey on orphaned well plugging operations, plugging around 1,400 of the 3,356 orphaned wells in 2018.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-gonzalez-child-tax-credit-delivered-543-million-tax-cuts-15th", "CONGRESSMAN GONZALEZ: CHILD TAX CREDIT DELIVERED\u00a0$54.3 MILLION\u00a0IN TAX CUTS TO 15TH\u00a0DISTRICT FAMILIES IN OCTOBER", "2021-11-15", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Vicente Gonzalez", "G000581", "gonzalez.house.gov", "gonzalez", "https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congressman Gonzalez (TX-15) delivered $54.3 million in tax cuts to hardworking families in Central and South Texas. A new report from the Joint Economic Committee released today estimates that 97,000 Child Tax Credit monthly tax cuts were sent to families in the 15th Congressional District of Texas in October.\n\nStatewide, 3,598,000 monthly tax cuts went to families in October for a total of $1.596 billion. The average tax cut was $444.\n\nThe Joint Economic Committee estimates the Child Tax Credit tax cuts are pumping $19.3 billion into local economies each month, supporting local jobs and businesses nationwide.\n\n\"This historic tax cut is putting more of hardworking families' own money back in their pockets so they can pay for child care, put gas in the car to get work, food on the table, cover school expenses, and spend money at our local businesses while building better lives for their families,\"said Congressman Gonzalez.\n\nClick HERE to learn more about the full Joint Economic Committee's study on how the Child Tax Credit is supporting local economies nationwide.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-al-green-joins-first-lady-dr-jill-biden-visit-texas-childrens", "Congressman Al Green Joins First Lady Dr. Jill Biden on Visit to Texas Children\u2019s Hospital in the Ninth Congressional District", "2021-11-14", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Al Green", "G000553", "algreen.house.gov", "algreen", "https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(Houston, TX) \u2013 On Sunday, November 14, 2021, Congressman Al Green (TX-09) released the following statement:\n\n\u201cIt is my great pleasure to welcome the First Lady of the United States Dr. Jill Biden to the City of Houston. As an educator,Dr. Biden has pursued a lifelong commitment to ensure equal access to education for all. I commend the First Lady for her steadfast support of expanding early childhood education and understanding how crucial healthcare is to this endeavor. This is why her visit today to the COVID-19 pediatric vaccination clinic at Texas Children\u2019s Hospital in the Ninth Congressional District is so important. Although children are at low risk of contracting COVID-19, the best measure to eradicate this deadly virus is through vaccination,\u201d Congressman Al Green said.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3561", "Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Welcomes First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy to Houston in Continued Effort to Vaccinate Children", "2021-11-14", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Lizzie Fletcher", "F000468", "fletcher.house.gov", "fletcher", "https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) welcomed First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy to Houston as they visited Texas Children\u2019s Hospital. The trip was part of their continued nationwide effort urging parents and guardians to vaccinate children ages 5-11 against COVID-19.\n\n\u201cI was glad to welcome First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy to Houston as they continue their critical efforts to vaccinate children against COVID-19,\u201d said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. \u201cThe pandemic has been difficult for children and families, and getting children vaccinated is the best way to protect our kids and ensure students can continue learning in person. I am grateful for the efforts of the Biden Administration to keep our kids safe and to end the COVID-19 pandemic.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-castro-deeply-troubling-and-tragic-express-news-report-on-family-violence-in-san-antonio_", "Rep. Castro: \u201cDeeply Troubling and Tragic\u201d Express-News Report on Family Violence in San Antonio", "2021-11-10", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Joaquin Castro", "C001091", "castro.house.gov", "castro", "https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "San Antonio \u2013 Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) issued the following statement on the San Antonio Express-News series \u201cNowhere to Hide\u201d, an in-depth look at the domestic violence epidemic in San Antonio:\n\n\u201cThe Express-News series \u201cNowhere to Hide\u201d gives a deeply troubling and tragic account of family violence in San Antonio and shines a necessary light on the need for systemic change to protect people from abuse. Victims need to be supported, abusers must be prosecuted, and as a city we cannot accept the increase in domestic violence as the new normal.\u201d\n\n\u201cTwo years ago, Congressman Doggett and I led a town hall, providing survivors and advocates with a platform to share their stories and push for reforms. In Congress, I\u2019ve worked to connect the San Antonio\u2019s Collaborative Commission on Domestic Violence with federal resources to help prevent, combat, and respond to domestic violence. Additionally, I recently secured legislation to ensure that states such as Texas certify and describe to the federal government their plans to coordinate with local support groups on funding opportunities \u2014 it is part of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act of 2021.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis report further emphasizes the need for Congress to pass the President\u2019s Build Back Better agenda, which includes $7.1 billion for housing and supportive services for families experiencing or at-risk of homelessness, survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking and human trafficking. As well as $30 million for the implementation of grants and services designated under the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe scourge of domestic violence has plagued our community for far too long, and the pandemic has only exacerbated it. I commend the Express-News and the local journalists for their work to share domestic violence victims\u2019 stories and hold the criminal justice system accountable for protecting the people of San Antonio.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=800", "Congresswoman Escobar Joins Congressional Delegation to COP26", "2021-11-09", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Veronica Escobar", "E000299", "escobar.house.gov", "escobar", "https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16), member of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, joined a congressional delegation led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the 26th United Nations Conference of Parties on Climate Change (COP26).\n\n\u201cAs a member of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, I am honored to be part of this congressional delegation to the COP26 summit to support and reinforce America\u2019s commitment to bold climate action,\u201d said Congresswoman Escobar (TX-16).\u201cWith El Paso already experiencing extreme weather, supercharged by climate change, it is imperative for global leaders to work together to protect vulnerable communities like mine, build clean and resilient economies, and save our planet for future generations. Let\u2019s make this happen.\u201d\n\nAt COP26, Congresswoman Escobar participated in a press conference with her colleagues of the congressional freshman class of 2018, they highlighted the need for climate action in America and the power of climate mobilization. Additionally, the delegation will participate in bilateral meetings, panel discussions, and other engagements with global leaders on top climate priorities, including the recent IPCC report, gender equity, and public-private sector coordination on climate action.\n\nThe COP26 summit, hosted by the United Kingdom in partnership with Italy, brings international parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. More than 190 world leaders, including President Joe Biden, have attended or will attend the summit, along with negotiators, senior government representatives, businesses, and advocates.\n\nThe Members of the delegation are:\n\nSpeaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)\n\nRep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX)\n\nRep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ)\n\nRep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX)\n\nRep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY)\n\nRep. Ra\u00fal Grijalva (D-AZ)\n\nRep. Kathy Castor (D-FL)\n\nRep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)\n\nRep. Betty McCollum (D-MN)\n\nRep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME)\n\nRep. Bill Keating (D-MA)\n\nRep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)\n\nRep. Julia Brownley (D-CA)\n\nRep. Jared Huffman (D-CA)\n\nRep. Alan Lowenthal (D-CA)\n\nRep. Don Beyer (D-VA)\n\nRep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA)\n\nRep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY)\n\nRep. Sean Casten (D-IL),\n\nRep. Mike Levin (D-CA)\n\nRep. Joe Neguse (D-CO)\n\nRep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-sylvia-r-garcia-announces-149-million-help-texas-families-cover", "Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia Announces $149 Million To Help Texas Families Cover Energy Costs This Winter", "2021-11-09", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Sylvia R. Garcia", "G000587", "sylviagarcia.house.gov", "sylviagarcia", "https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "HOUSTON \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29) announced $149.5 million to help hardworking Texas families with energy costs this winter through the Department of Health and Human Services' Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). As American's continue to deal with the impacts of the pandemic, LIHEAP grantees will be able to use the funding appropriated by Congress, along with funding made available through the American Rescue Plan Act, to help more than 5 million households stay warm this winter, cover utility costs and pay for energy repairs.\n\nLocal families who need assistance should contact Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs at 1-866-454-8387 or visit their website.\n\n\"After the devastating effects of this year's Texas grid crisis for our working families, and as they continue recovering from the pandemic, this investment will help families afford energy costs and stay warm, safe, and healthy this winter,\" said Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29).\n\nThese funds are in addition to $134,407,308 Texas families received in May from the American Rescue Plan to help cover energy costs during the summer months.\n\nClick here to learn more about the LIHEAP allocations.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://veasey.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/icymi-reps-veasey-frankel-wasserman-schultz-crist-deutch-gallego-garcia", "ICYMI: Reps. Veasey, Frankel, Wasserman Schultz, Crist, Deutch, Gallego, Garcia, Johnson, Soto, Kirkpatrick Introduce Legislation to Defend Businesses, Local Governments that Implement Commonsense COVID-19 Safety Measures", "2021-11-09", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Marc A. Veasey", "V000131", "veasey.house.gov", "veasey", "https://veasey.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Representatives Marc Veasey (TX-33), Lois Frankel (FL-21), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23), Charlie Crist (FL-13), Ted Deutch (FL-22), Ruben Gallego (AZ-07), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-02) and Darren Soto (FL-09) introduced the Let Our Cities And Local businesses Help Employees Achieve Long-Term Health Act (LOCAL HEALTH) Act. This bill would protect the ability of local governments, agencies, and private businesses to implement common-sense public health and safety measures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19. This includes requirements such as social distancing, masks, vaccination, and testing.\n\n\"We must defend the rights of local businesses to protect employees, especially in states that are basing public safety on politics rather than science,\" said Rep Veasey. \"That is why I am proud to co-lead Rep. Frankel's legislation, which will allow employers to enact commonsense safety measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace and get our economy back on the right track.\"\n\n\"The only way we are going to recover from this pandemic is by implementing smart and science-driven mitigation efforts, which is exactly what so many of our local communities have had to step up and do,\" said.\" Rep. Kirkpatrick. \"With Arizona top of mind, this legislation is especially personal and important, and I am proud to support a bill that affirms the right of public and private employers to be leaders on COVID-19 mitigation efforts.\"\n\n\"We should not just stand by and let Governors put politics over the health and safety of our communities by restricting critical tools like vaccines and masks,\" said Rep. Frankel. \"Local governments, agencies, and private businesses in our communities that want to follow CDC guidelines should be supported not punished. This bill would protect them from dangerous state overreach that we've been seeing across the country, including in my home state of Florida.\"\n\n\"Business owners and school leaders need the flexibility to adopt smart, CDC-backed pandemic measures to keep children, customers and all our residents safe,\" said Rep. Wasserman Schultz.\"When authoritarian governors bully mom-and-pop shops and educators into risking people's health or hurting their bottom lines, we need added protections. Congresswoman Frankel's bill does that, and Florida needs it. Our governor handcuffs and threatens businesses and local communities just for adopting common-sense safety measures for face coverings, vaccines and social distancing. People and businesses deserve security and flexibility, and know-nothing, overreaching governors need to stop jeopardizing our public health.\"\n\n\"It's simple. If a business wants to say no shirt, no shoes, no vax, no service \u2013 they should be able to. If a parent or local school board wants to follow expert advice to keep children safe, healthy, and in school \u2013 they should be able to,\"said Rep. Crist. \"No Governor should defund our public schools just because parents and school boards are doing what they can to keep schools open and safe. Why does Governor DeSantis think he knows better than Florida parents and the school boards they elect? It's about respect. I'm proud to support legislation that keeps local decision-making where it belongs: locally. We're here to give school boards, parents, and business owners back their power that Governor DeSantis is taking away.\"\n\n\"We all want to experience life as normal. Ensuring communities are able implement the public health measures they need to keep people safe, without threats of retaliation from their state governments, is how we move toward that,\" said Rep. Deutch. \"School districts, cities, and businesses in my district and across Florida have faced millions of dollars in bogus fines for implementing mask and vaccine mandates to keep children, residents, employees, and customers safe from COVID-19. Enough is enough. Thank you to my friend and colleague, Representative Lois Frankel, for her work on this important bill.\"\n\n\"Arizona is still very much in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, so we need to make sure that schools, businesses, and local governments feel empowered to protect themselves, their employees, and their constituents,\"said Rep. Gallego. \"Governor Ducey's record of political grandstanding against public health guidance only hurts Arizonans' health and economic wellbeing. Arizonans can't afford for our state to keep playing politics with a pandemic. That's why I'm proud to be a leader on the LOCAL HEALTH Act to give school districts, local governments, and businesses the protection they need to keep people healthy and help end this pandemic.\"\n\n\"We have the tools we need to end the Coronavirus pandemic, but many politicians in GOP-controlled state governments are putting the public's health at risk for political gain and tying business owners' hands through overbearing restrictions on common-sense safety measures such as mask mandates,\" said. Rep. Garcia. \"The LOCAL Health Act gives businesses the freedom they need to provide their employers and customers with a safe environment that will help America to get back to work.\"\n\n\"I support Rep. Frankel's LOCAL Health Act because people, especially essential frontline workers, need protection from politicians who put politics ahead of public health,\" said Rep. Johnson.\"Vulnerable people should not be put at risk because state officials ban employers from implementing Centers For Disease Control and Prevention recommendations. People have a right to be safe in their workspaces and in public settings, and this commonsense legislation will help accomplish that objective. Politicians should be the first to help stop the spread of COVID-19, which has killed more than 750,000 Americans. We must pursue policies that protect as many people as possible.\"\n\n\"Time and time again, we have seen that masks, vaccines, and social distancing save lives,\"said Rep. Soto. \"It is dangerous for the governor to threaten businesses and continue to put politics over the safety of Floridians. The LOCAL HEALTH Act will prevent his policies from getting in the way and allow businesses to make choices that consider public health safety measures.\"\n\nThe LOCAL HEALTH Act would supersede any state law that limits local governments, agencies, and private businesses from implementing safety precautions. The bill makes it clear that employers may take measures to protect employees and patrons from COVID-19 including through vaccine and masking requirements.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-al-green-issues-statement-astroworld-festival-tragedy-0", "Congressman Al Green Issues Statement on Astroworld Festival Tragedy", "2021-11-07", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Al Green", "G000553", "algreen.house.gov", "algreen", "https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "\u201cThe loss of lives at this weekend\u2019s Astroworld festival was a heartbreaking tragedy. I fully support investigative efforts to find out exactly what went wrong and ensure it doesn\u2019t happen again. My deepest sympathies and prayers to the families and friends of the deceased and to all persons adversely affected by this lamentable incident.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3537", "Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Votes to Advance the Build Back Better Act", "2021-11-06", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Lizzie Fletcher", "F000468", "fletcher.house.gov", "fletcher", "https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) released the following statement after voting to advance the Build Back Better Act in the House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s vote brings us one step closer to making transformational investments and delivering meaningful results for American families. The Build Back Better Act addresses many of our community\u2019s and our country\u2019s most pressing needs: lowering health care, child care, and family care costs; increasing access to health care for those without coverage; expanding access to education and job training; investing in our energy future; and addressing climate change. I look forward to continuing to advance this legislation and all it means for people in Texas\u2019 Seventh Congressional District and across the country.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-sylvia-r-garcia-votes-create-millions-new-jobs-rebuild-america", "Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia Votes to Create Millions of New Jobs, Rebuild America with Bipartisan Infrastructure Package", "2021-11-06", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Sylvia R. Garcia", "G000587", "sylviagarcia.house.gov", "sylviagarcia", "https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON D.C.\u2014 Today, Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29) issued the following statement on the historic passing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill to bring much-needed and transformative investments in infrastructure and good-paying jobs across Houston, Texas, and the entire country:\n\n\"Tonight's vote is the sum of months of hard work and negotiations in Congress fighting for the people of the Texas 29th district. Now the real work begins as these investments kickstart millions of projects across our country to transform our crumbling infrastructure and create millions of good-paying American jobs\u2014that will specifically benefit Latinos and communities of color,\" said Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29). \"The results of these historic investments will be hard to miss. Americans will get back to work, our communities will drink clean water, and our ports, airports, waterways, roads and bridges will be revitalized. I can't wait to see how our country will Build Back Better and leave this pandemic behind once and for all. \u00a1Si se puede!\"\n\nTogether, the bipartisan infrastructure bill and the Build Back Better Act are estimated to create an average of 2 million jobs each year over the next decade.\n\nIn the wake of the pandemic, poor infrastructure has struggled to keep up with a sharp increase in consumer demand \u2013 resulting in added costs for businesses and delays for consumers. The United States ranks 13th globally in terms of the quality of our infrastructure, and the American Society of Civil Engineers gave the condition of our infrastructure a C-. As the economy continues its strong recovery, President Biden and the Congress are seizing this historic moment to Build Back Better: improving infrastructure in every state in the union, growing the economy and helping Americans get back to work, while advancing justice and opportunity for all.\n\nThis Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill will:\n\nRebuild roads and bridges nationwide, including the largest bridge investment since the construction of the interstate highway system seven decades ago;\n\nDeliver clean drinking water to ten million families and more than 400,000 schools and child care facilities nationwide with the largest-ever investment in American water infrastructure to replace lead pipes and service lines across the nation;\n\nExpand access to reliable high-speed internet to help more families get online to work and learn;\n\nMake historic improvements to public transit, with the largest federal investment in American history and the largest federal investment in passenger rail since the creation of Amtrak; and\n\nThe Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act now goes to President Biden's desk to be signed into law.\n\n###\n\nCongresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2018, becoming the first Latina ever to represent the Texas 29th Congressional District. She serves on the House Judiciary and Financial Services Committees.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-al-green-supports-passage-federal-infrastructure-bill", "Congressman Al Green Supports Passage of Federal Infrastructure Bill", "2021-11-05", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Al Green", "G000553", "algreen.house.gov", "algreen", "https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(Houston, TX) \u2013 On Friday, November 5, 2021, Congressman Al Green (TX-09) released the following statement after successful passage of H.R. 3684 - The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act:\n\n\u201cThis piece of bipartisan legislation is an enormous accomplishment. It will address long-standing issues everyday Americans face with respect to our nation\u2019s aging physical infrastructure. This bill, which authorizes $1.2 trillion to be invested in infrastructure projects over the course of the next eight years, is an overdue investment in our country\u2019s roads, bridges, ports, rail, power grids, and more. In addition to providing funding for public transit, airport repairs, and climate change mitigation, this bill also provides $57 billion for safe drinking water lines, $7.5 billion to build a national network of electric vehicle charging stations, and allocates $65 billion to ensure broadband internet access for all Americans,\u201d stated Congressman Al Green.\n\nThe Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which is a part of President Biden\u2019s Build Back Better domestic agenda, passed the House today with a vote of 228-206. The bill came to the House after it was passed in the Senate on Tuesday, August 10 with a vote of 69-30.\n\n\u201cThis bill contains provisions that are vital to my constituents, the greater Houston-area, and to Texans across the state. Houston is famous for being a hurricane-prone zone. Having adequate, up-to-date infrastructure to mitigate damage from flooding around the city is essential to its functionality and the safety of its residents. Furthermore, this year\u2019s Winter Storm Uri caused an incredible amount of damage throughout the state of Texas. This infrastructure bill will ensure we are better suited to face the climate crisis that will inevitably continue coming our way. This long delayed-legislation is the right step toward creating a more just, equitable society for all Americans.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3536", "Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Votes for Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Passage, Highlights Texas Provisions", "2021-11-05", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Lizzie Fletcher", "F000468", "fletcher.house.gov", "fletcher", "https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Texas to Receive Billions in Infrastructure Funding\n\nToday, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) voted in support of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the bipartisan infrastructure bill that delivers on President Biden\u2019s promise to Build Back Better. This legislation makes the largest, long-term investment in the country\u2019s infrastructure in nearly a century, helping to grow the economy, create new jobs, and enhance the country\u2019s competitiveness for the 21st century. It passed the House of Representatives today, 228-206, and now heads to the President\u2019s desk for signature.\n\n\u201cIn Houston and across Texas, we know the positive impact that rebuilding and reinforcing existing infrastructure, building in a more resilient way to protect our communities, and upgrading our transit systems can have,\u201d said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. \u201cThe Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act makes the investments we need now to build our communities and our country for the future. And as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, this bill will be critical to our recovery \u2013 helping to create new jobs and strengthen our economy. This bipartisan bill will help Houstonians, Texans, and people across the country, and I was glad to vote for it.\u201d\n\n\u201cThroughout my time in Congress, I have worked to improve our regional infrastructure through thoughtful investments that respond to Houston\u2019s continued growth,\u201d she continued. \u201cThis includes repairs on roads and bridges, preparation for flooding and extreme weather events, and strengthening our electric grid. I am also glad to say it includes nearly $5 billion to fund plugging orphaned oil wells, which is based on legislation I introduced, the REGROW Act.\u201d\n\nThe Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provides direct support to communities upgrading their infrastructure. The American Society of Civil Engineers gave Texas a C- grade on its infrastructure report card. According to White House estimates, Texas is expected to receive the following through the bipartisan infrastructure bill:\n\n$26.9 billion for repairing Texas highways and more than $500 million for bridge replacement and repairs in the state. In addition, Texas can also compete for funds for major projects that deliver economic benefits to our communities;\n\n$3.3 billion over five years to modernize public transit, improve accessibility, and expand public transportation options, funding that could be used for local projects like expanded bus rapid transit and building out light rail;\n\n$1.2 billion for infrastructure development at our airports over five years;\n\n$100 million to help provide broadband coverage across Texas including providing access to the at least 1,058,000 Texans who currently lack it. 8,381,000\u2014or 29%\u2014of people in Texas will be eligible for the Affordability Connectivity Benefit, which will help low-income families afford internet access; and\n\n$2.9 billion over five years to improve water infrastructure across the state and ensure access to clean, safe drinking water.\n\nThe full White House Fact Sheet highlighting the local impact of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act on Texas can be found here.\n\nAdditionally, the legislation makes the following investments that would benefit Houston priorities:\n\nEnergy Investments\n\nExpands the Department of Energy's (DOE) Carbon Capture Technology program to include front-end engineering and design (FEED) for carbon dioxide transport infrastructure necessary to deploy CCUS technologies;\n\nDirects the U.S. Energy Information Administration to develop a plan in collaboration with U.S. Geological Survey for the forecasting of demand for energy equipment, including equipment for energy production or storage purposes that uses minerals, such as lithium and cobalt, which are or potentially may be determined to be critical minerals;\n\nProvides $5 billion for a DOE grant program to reduce the likelihood and consequences of impacts to the electric grid due to extreme weather, wildfire, and natural disaster;\n\nCreates a program to develop advanced cybersecurity applications and technologies for the energy sector, a program to enhance and test emergency response capabilities of DOE, and a program to increase the functional preservation of electric grid operations or natural gas and oil operations in the face of threats and hazards; and\n\nAuthorizes $4.7 billion for programs to plug, remediate, and reclaim orphaned wells on federal, state, and tribal lands and create energy jobs for skilled oil and gas workers, based on Congresswoman Fletcher\u2019s REGROW Act.\n\nU.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) & Port Infrastructure\n\nProvides $7 billion to USACE for resiliency infrastructure projects, including set-asides for Coastal Storm Risk Management/ Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction Projects, Inland Flood Risk Management Projects and Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Projects and targeting states that have been impacted by federally declared disasters over the last six years;\n\nProvides $9.55 billion to USACE for waterway infrastructure priorities, including $5.15 billion for backlogged construction projects and specific funding for repairing damages to Corps Projects caused by natural disasters; and\n\nProvides almost $17 billion for national port infrastructure and to reduce congestion and emissions near ports.\n\nFederal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) & Flooding Resiliency\n\nInvests $12 billion in flood mitigation, including providing $3.5 billion for the FEMA Flood Mitigation Assistance program to provide financial and technical assistance to states and communities to reduce the risk of flood damage to homes and businesses through buyouts, elevation and other activities and $1 billion for the FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program to support states and communities undertaking pre-disaster hazard mitigation projects;\n\nCreates a grant program to assist research institutions, nonprofits, and institutions of higher education with research on new and emerging stormwater control technology to improve the effectiveness, cost efficiencies, and protections of public safety and water quality in their operations;\n\nAllows states to use National Highway Performance Program funds to increase resiliency to the impact of sea level rise, extreme weather, flooding, and other natural disasters; and\n\nAllows the use of Emergency Relief program funding for protective features designed to mitigate the risk of recurring damage or the cost of future repairs from extreme weather, flooding, or other natural disasters.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://veasey.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-veasey-tx-33-statement-on-passage-of-the-infrastructure-investment", "Rep. Veasey (TX-33) Statement on Passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act", "2021-11-05", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Marc A. Veasey", "V000131", "veasey.house.gov", "veasey", "https://veasey.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON -- Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33) today released the following statement after voting for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This $550 billion package is the largest investment in the nation's infrastructure in nearly a century and includes Veasey-led priorities to expand nationwide access to affordable broadband and secure key investments to enable a net-zero carbon emission economy.\n\n\"I am proud to have voted for the largest long-term investment in our country's infrastructure in nearly a century,\" said Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33). \"The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will create good-paying jobs, invest in a foundation for strong economic growth, and ensure communities across our country can succeed in the 21st century. For the state of Texas, this legislation includes over $3 billion to improve public transportation options across the state, $26.9 billion for federal-aid highway apportioned programs, and $100 million to help provide broadband coverage our state.\"\n\n\"I am pleased that the bipartisan infrastructure package also includes key priorities that I have advocated for. At the beginning of the pandemic, I introduced legislation that created the Emergency Broadband Benefit program, which has helped economically vulnerable Americans to afford their monthly internet bill. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act invests billions more in this program, turning it from an emergency benefit to a long-term program for struggling households. Additionally, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes provisions from my bipartisan SCALE Act that support the infrastructure buildout necessary to enable a net-zero emissions economy. The inclusion of my priorities will help Texans in the district I represent, and Americans across our country, live better lives.\"\n\nFind more information here on what's included in the package.\n\nFind more information here on how the infrastructure bill will deliver for Texas.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://doggett.house.gov/media/press-releases/monday-press-conference-open-enrollment-begins-getting-central-texans-covered", "MONDAY: Press Conference as Open Enrollment Begins - Getting Central Texans Covered + Building Back Healthier", "2021-11-04", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Lloyd Doggett", "D000399", "doggett.house.gov", "doggett", "https://doggett.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "***Media Advisory***\n\nContact: Sebastian de la Pe\u00f1a\n\n202-380-7462\n\nAustin, T.X. \u2013 With Texas as our nation\u2019s most uninsured state and thousands of our neighbors lacking health insurance,Monday, November 8, at 10 AM, Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Chair of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, will join Foundation Communities and Austin Mayor Steve Adler to share resources for Central Texans. As Open Enrollment begins, families can sign up to get Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage.\n\nWith previous approval of the American Rescue Plan, ACA Marketplace coverage is even more affordable with millions of consumers eligible for zero premium insurance coverage for 2021. Open Enrollment lasts through January 15. To get the word out, local leaders will gather Monday to explain changes in the law and share how Texans can get affordable coverage immediately.\n\nMasks are required, and attendance will be strictly limited to ensure safe social distancing. All attendees must be vaccinated. Press are invited to RSVP here and direct questions to sebastian.delapena@mail.house.gov.\n\nWhat: Press conference in-person to inform Central Texans about enrolling in ACA coverage during the open enrollment period and share free local resources so people can get covered now.\n\nWhen: Monday, November 8, 10 AM CST\n\nWhere: Foundation Communities Prosper Center South, 2900 S IH-35, Austin, TX 78704\n\n###\n\nFollow Congressman Doggett", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=799", "Congresswoman Escobar, Senator Markey Urge Biden Administration to Use Targeted Sanctions on Foreign Entities Responsible for Fueling the Climate Crisis", "2021-11-04", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Veronica Escobar", "E000299", "escobar.house.gov", "escobar", "https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "As the world meets to tackle the climate crisis at the 2021 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 26th Conference of Parties (COP26), Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16), a member of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis and the House Armed Services Committee, and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, led their colleagues in a bicameral letter urging the Biden administration to enhance its global strategy to prevent and mitigate harm to the environment and restrict access to the U.S. financial system for foreign individuals and companies most responsible for exacerbating climate change.\n\nThe letter, which was sent to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, urges the Biden Administration to use its existing authority to apply Global Magnitsky sanctions to climate-related corruption and human rights abuses abroad, and also calls for the protection of environmental defenders and climate-displaced persons.\n\nThe lawmakers also urged Secretary Blinken and Secretary Yellen to advise President Joe Biden on additional actions he could take to protect the climate, including by targeting climate offenders abroad under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).\n\n\u201cGiven that the Biden administration has made combating climate change a top priority, a whole-of-government U.S. approach to the climate crisis should include targeted sanctions on the foreign individuals and companies that are perpetrating the worst climate damage, with a particular focus upon companies that violate human rights while harming the climate,\u201d wrote the lawmakers in their letter. \u201cCombined with additional climate diplomacy with key countries like China, financial sanctions would ensure that addressing the climate crisis remains at the center of U.S. foreign and national security strategy.\u201d\n\nThe United States has deployed sanctions in response to other emergencies that affect our foreign policy and national security, including egregious human rights abuses, cybercrime, and corruption. No administration has used targeted sanctions as a method of deterring reckless, climate-destroying behavior. In combination with diplomacy, international climate aid, global agreements, and voluntary pledges that can encourage positive climate action, targeted measures could deter government officials, corporations, and private individuals from causing additional climate harm.\n\nIn addition to Congresswoman Escobar and Senator Markey, the letter was signed by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT).\n\nCongresswoman Escobar and Senator Markey introduced the Targeting Environmental and Climate Recklessness Act (TECRA) in April to codify the U.S.\u2019s authority to sanction foreign individuals and companies most responsible for exacerbating climate change.\n\nA copy of the letter can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3534", "ICYMI: New Democrat Coalition Statement on U.S.-E.U. Section 232 Tariff Agreement", "2021-11-04", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Lizzie Fletcher", "F000468", "fletcher.house.gov", "fletcher", "https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Following a sustained effort by Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Co-Chair of the New Democrat Coalition (NDC) Trade Task Force, and members of the NDC to halt Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum and to eliminate retaliatory tariffs from the E.U., the Biden Administration ended the tariffs. Since her first term in Congress, Congresswoman Fletcher has worked to lift Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum, which placed an undue burden on local businesses.\n\nThe NDC released the following statement on the elimination of the Section 232 tariffs:\n\n\u201cWe commend President Biden, Secretary Raimondo, and Ambassador Tai, as well as our European Union counterparts, on reaching an agreement to end the Trump Administration's misguided and damaging Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum while eliminating the retaliatory tariffs from the E.U. The new agreement provides much-needed relief for America's farmers and manufacturers and makes tremendous progress toward better coordination with our allies.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3535", "Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher\u2019s Bipartisan HELP Act Passes Congress", "2021-11-04", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Lizzie Fletcher", "F000468", "fletcher.house.gov", "fletcher", "https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) secured passage of H.R. 1917, the Hazard Eligibility and Local Projects (HELP) Act, through the House of Representatives, with bipartisan support, 409-16. The HELP Act eliminates unnecessary bureaucratic delays to beginning recovery projects by allowing certain eligible disaster mitigation projects to begin without the risk of losing potential federal funds. The bill now moves to the United States Senate, where is it one step closer to becoming law.\n\n\u201cIn Houston, we know disaster recovery can be a prolonged, years-long process,\u201d said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. \u201cBy allowing certain disaster mitigation and recovery projects to begin more quickly without jeopardizing potential federal funding, the HELP Act provides a straightforward solution to a real problem that will have a meaningful impact at home and across our country. I am proud of this bill and all it represents\u2014bipartisan, common-sense, meaningful legislation to help expedite disaster mitigation projects. The HELP Act was born out of a partnership with leaders from Texas\u2019 Seventh Congressional District and will benefit all Houstonians. I thank Congressman McCaul for introducing it with me, and all of my colleagues for joining with me to make this improvement to the disaster recovery process.\u201d\n\n\u201cTexans are unfortunately too familiar with natural disasters,\u201d said Congressman Michael McCaul. \u201cThis critical piece of legislation will ensure we can streamline mitigation measures to protect our communities for the years to come. By eliminating this bureaucratic red tape we can speed up the process of key flood prevention measures \u2013 directly addressing the delay of federal assistance many Texas communities encounter.\u201d\n\nCongresswoman Fletcher drafted the HELP Act to help municipalities and local agencies expedite certain disaster mitigation projects by removing unnecessary delays and streamlining the Federal Emergency Management Agency\u2019s (FEMA) hazard mitigation grant program. Under current law, local and state agencies applying for federal funds to begin recovery projects must wait until they receive approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) before purchasing land or starting construction on a project. Purchasing land or starting construction without approval disqualifies the project from receiving federal assistance. This bill represents a change to the current law\u2019s one-size-fits-all approach to reviewing projects that frequently delays mitigation work.\n\nCongresswoman Fletcher introduced the HELP Act with Congressman Michael McCaul (TX-10). It was co-sponsored by Representatives Colin Allred (TX-32), Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon (PR-At Large), Gregory Murphy (NC-03), G.K. Butterfield (NC-01), and Tom Rice (SC-07). The HELP Act is the first original bill Congresswoman Fletcher filed as a member of Congress in the 116th Congress, and it passed the House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support, 409 to 7; it was introduced in the Senate by a bipartisan group of Senators, but did not get a vote in the Senate.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-congresswoman-sylvia-garcia-s-protect-older-job-applicants-act", "The House Passes Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia\u2019s Protect Older Job Applicants Act of 2021", "2021-11-04", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Sylvia R. Garcia", "G000587", "sylviagarcia.house.gov", "sylviagarcia", "https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington D.C. \u2013 Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan H.R.3992, The Protect Older Job Applicants Act of 2021, introduced by Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29), by a vote of 224-200. The bill will clarify that older job applicants can challenge disparate impact claims about discriminatory hiring practices under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA).\n\nThe bill will codify and clarify protections for older job applicants in the current Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) during the first opportunity\u2014the hiring phase.\n\n\"As a former social worker and County Commissioner, I have witnessed older workers facing numerous hurdles when trying to switch jobs or rejoin the workforce. We are talking about real people with real struggles who are key contributors of society,\" said Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29). \"The Protect Older Job Applicants Act (POJA) will make sure older workers are not left behind and end age discrimination in the hiring process. I am pleased to see that the House passed POJA to unlock opportunities for millions of people who are working to achieve their American dream.\"\n\nThe bill is co-led in the House by the Education and Labor Committee's Chairman Robert C. \"Bobby\" Scott.\n\n\"\"While Americans are working later in life than ever before, many older workers are finding that their experience can count against them when applying for new jobs. Unfortunately, recent court decisions have excluded older job applicants from challenging hiring practices that appear neutral, but, in fact, result in a disproportionate, harmful impact on older workers,\" said Chairman Robert C. \"Bobby\" Scott, U.S. House Education and Labor Committee. \"The Protecting Older Job Applicants Act will help ensure that all older workers\u2014regardless of whether they are looking for a job or already have one\u2014are equally protected against age discrimination under the law.\"\n\nH.R. 3992 \u2013The Protect Older Job Applicants (POJA) Act will:\n\nClarify that older \"applicants for employment\" are also protected from age discrimination under the ADEA's disparate impact provision.\n\nRestore protections for older job applicants in the 7th and 11th Circuits by reversing Villarreal and Kleber, as well as prevent other circuits from adopting similar interpretations of the ADEA.\n\nAlign ADEA protections for job applicants with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.\n\nThe bill is also supported by the National Council on Aging, the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations, AARP, and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE).\n\n\"Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia should be applauded for her leadership and tenacity to secure today's House passage of the Protect Older Job Applicants Act of 2021,\" said Ramsey Alwin, President and CEO of the National Council on Aging. \"It is time to treat age discrimination the same as every other unlawful bias in the workplace and faced by job applicants. We urge the Senate to pass Congresswoman Garcia's legislation quickly to ensure older workers have equal access to employment opportunities as the economy recovers and into the future.\"\n\n\"Age discrimination is pervasive and stubbornly entrenched. Older job applicants often face barriers during hiring when employers circumvent anti-age discrimination laws. The House passage of the Protect Older Job Applicants Act, which clarifies that older workers seeking a job should be protected from discrimination throughout the employment process, is an important step toward the goal of ensuring older adults' ability to seek and obtain paid work,\" said Katie Smith Sloan, chair, Leadership Council of Aging Organizations and president, CEO of LeadingAge, the association of nonprofit providers of aging services.\n\n\"AARP praises the passage of the Protect Older Job Applicants Act (POJA) (H.R. 3992). Older workers are valuable assets to their employers and the economy, and additional protections are needed to keep older workers connected to the workforce, especially as the country recovers from COVID-19. Age discrimination in the workplace \u2013 against older workers or others \u2013 is never acceptable. Americans age 55 and up experience long-term unemployment at a higher rate compared to younger job seekers and age discrimination makes it harder for older workers to find new jobs or return to the workforce. This bill to restore Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) protections to job applicants will help provide a level playing field for older workers when applying for a job,\" said Nancy LeaMond, Executive Vice President of AARP.\n\nThe bill has been endorsed by the Biden Administration and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, of which Congresswoman Garcia (TX-29) is a member, and was co-sponsored by Rep. Scott, Robert C. \"Bobby\" [D-VA-3], Rep. Wild, Susan [D-PA-7], Rep. Jones, Mondaire [D-NY-17], Rep. Grijalva, Ra\u00fal M. [D-AZ-3], Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-11], Del. Sablan, Gregorio Kilili Camacho [D-MP-At Large], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24], Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-13], Rep. Rush, Bobby L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Beyer, Donald S., Jr. [D-VA-8], Rep. Garcia, Jesus G. \"Chuy\" [D-IL-4], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Bowman, Jamaal [D-NY-16], Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Speier, Jackie [D-CA-14], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43], Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12], Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1], Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-6], Rep. Lawson, Al, Jr. [D-FL-5], Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9], Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4], Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-36], Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2], Rep. Newman, Marie [D-IL-3], Rep. C\u00e1rdenas, Tony [D-CA-29], Rep. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ-7], Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large], Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7], Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20], Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13], Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1], Rep. Yarmuth, John A. [D-KY-3], Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-16], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Axne, Cynthia [D-IA-3], Rep. Johnson, Eddie Bernice [D-TX-30], Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1], Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-41], Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3], Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25], Rep. Levin, Andy [D-MI-9], Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2], Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Barragan, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6], Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18], Rep. Payne, Donald M., Jr. [D-NJ-10], Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-13], Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-21], Rep. Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D-CA-40], Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2], Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1], Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9], Rep. Allred, Colin Z. [D-TX-32], and Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1].\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://doggett.house.gov/media/press-releases/faa-finally-begins-implementation-doggett-balloon-safety-amendment", "FAA finally begins implementation of Doggett Balloon Safety Amendment", "2021-11-02", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Lloyd Doggett", "D000399", "doggett.house.gov", "doggett", "https://doggett.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Contact: Kate Stotesbery\n\n202-494-4620\n\nAustin, T.X. \u2013 Today, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposed a long-overdue rule today requiring commercial hot-air-balloon pilots to hold medical certificates when operating for hire. The proposed rule belatedly implements balloon safety legislation Rep. Doggett authored that became law in 2018 as part of the FAA Reauthorization Act.\n\nOn July 30, 2016, a commercial balloon took off carrying 16 people near Lockhart, Texas. Piloted by an impaired airman, the balloon struck high transmission power lines and crashed, killing all 16. The Texas crash remains the deadliest aviation disaster in the United States since 2009. The NTSB\u2019s investigation found that the FAA\u2019s refusal to require balloon operators to obtain a medical certificate contributed to the Texas tragedy. Despite this warning and Congressional action, passengers on a June 26 commercial balloon flight in Albuquerque, New Mexico were exposed to another impaired pilot. This balloon again hit power lines, killing all on board.\n\nMore than five years after that fatal crash and three years since balloon safety legislation was signed into law, FAA has finally begun the rulemaking process.\n\n\u201cThe action FAA has proposed today comes far too late to bring so many innocent lives back,\u201d said Congressman Doggett. \u201cWhile a welcome step, FAA must move promptly and implement a final rule to ensure no more families will be exposed to the horror of a crash from an impaired pilot.\u201d\n\nRep. Doggett on the floor of the House in 2018.\n\n###\n\nFollow Congressman Doggett", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-sylvia-r-garcia-tx-29-introduces-bill-protect-intersex-children-s", "Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29) Introduces Bill to Protect Intersex Children\u2019s Dignity and Autonomy Over Their Bodies", "2021-11-02", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Sylvia R. Garcia", "G000587", "sylviagarcia.house.gov", "sylviagarcia", "https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Following the 2021 anniversary of National Intersex Awareness Day, Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29) introduced H.R. 5730 the Protect Intersex Children Act (PICA) to protect the dignity and bodily autonomy of children born with variations in sex characteristics. The bill would prohibit medically unnecessary surgeries on intersex children in the foster care system.\n\n\"Too many children are subjected to invasive surgeries and lifelong consequences against their will,\" said Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29). \"These surgeries are not just unnecessary, they are a clear violation of bodily autonomy and cause lasting harm to children who wouldn't be able to understand what is being done to them, let alone consent. Intersex children should be able to grow up and make their own decisions about their bodies when they are old enough to do so.\"\n\nThe Protect Intersex Children Act has the support of InterACT \u2013 an advocacy organization for intersex youth.\n\n\"This bill sends the strong message that intersex youth deserve protection and that the groundswell of national support for intersex human rights will continue until this population can live free from discrimination in healthcare and beyond,\" said Kimberly Zieselman, Executive Director of InterACT.\n\n\"Unfortunately, for children in state care who are born with variations in sex characteristics, they are often subjected to medically unnecessary cosmetic genital surgeries for gender defining purposes without their involvement. This is exactly what happened to both of us. We were born with variations of sex characteristics and therefore subjected to medically unnecessary forced surgical procedures for gender defining purposes while we were minors under state care,\" said Mo Cortez, Intersex Policy Advisor and Koomah, Intersex Policy Advisor & Strategist. \"These procedures are irreversible and have caused lifelong physical, mental, and emotional anguish. We thank Congresswoman Garcia for working so closely with those of us directly impacted by this issue, for introducing this and other protective legislation, and for continuing her advocacy on behalf of individuals born with variations of sex characteristics.\"\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nApproximately 1-2% of newborns are born intersex \u2013 without a clear physical gender assigned. In some cases, these children are forced to undergo complex surgeries to correspond to one sex without their consent. These surgeries can often leave these children with lifelong consequences such as infertility, pain, and suffering.\n\nTo protect children from these harmful effects, the Protect Intersex Children Act would condition federal funding only to state foster care systems that legally clarify that children born with variations in sex characteristics in their state's system would not be subjected to medically unnecessary genital assignment surgery.\n\nPICA also expresses Congressional recognition of bodily autonomy and dignity for individuals born with variations in sex characteristics.\n\nThis bill is cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Mark Takano [CA-41], Jamie Raskin [MD-08], Ayanna Pressley [MA-7], Mike Quigley [IL-05], Sheila Jackson Lee [TX-18], Donald M. Jr. Payne [NJ-10], and Marilyn Strickland [WA-10].\n\nSee a copy of the Protect Intersex Children Act (PICA), here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3533", "Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Hosts Service Academy Day", "2021-11-01", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Lizzie Fletcher", "F000468", "fletcher.house.gov", "fletcher", "https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "On Saturday, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) held a U.S. military service academy resource fair where high school students and their families heard from representatives from military service academies. Representatives spoke about their institutions and discussed the application and nomination processes.\n\n\u201cNominating outstanding young Houstonians to U.S. military service academies each year is one of the highest privileges of my job in Congress,\u201d said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. \u201cIt is inspiring to see so many bright, young students serving our country in our armed forces. I am grateful to the representatives from the U.S. military service academies who attended Saturday\u2019s resource fair for sharing information for our students and their families.\u201d\n\nRepresentatives from the following U.S. military service academies attended the resource fair:\n\nU.S. Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs, CO)\n\nU.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis, MD)\n\nU.S. Military Academy (West Point, NY)\n\nU.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point, NY)", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-castro-urges-department-of-justice-to-investigate-governor-abbotts-operation-lone-star", "Congressman Castro Urges Department of Justice to Investigate Governor Abbott\u2019s Operation Lone Star", "2021-10-29", "2021", "2021-10", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Joaquin Castro", "C001091", "castro.house.gov", "castro", "https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and 25 members of Congress sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland urging the Department of Justice to conduct a federal investigation into Governor Abbott\u2019s Operation Lone Star program.\n\n\u201cWe ask that the Department of Justice (DOJ) review and investigate Governor Abbott\u2019s Operation Lone Star program regarding both its likely violation of the Supremacy Clause and its treatment of migrants, especially in regards to an individual\u2019s constitutional right to due process,\u201d the members wrote. \u201cIn addition, we ask that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) provide clarity on the immigration process for individuals subjected to the Operation Lone Star program. We also request that DHS provide migrants who enter into its custody after their release from state custody with timely and regular telephone access so that they can inform their loved ones and attorneys of their location.\u201d\n\nThe letter is also signed by U.S. Representatives: Allred, Colin; Auchincloss, Jake; Correa, J.; Crow, Jason; Dean, Madeleine; Doggett, Lloyd; Escobar, Veronica; Espaillat, Adriano; Foster, Bill; Garc\u00eda, Jes\u00fas; Garcia, Sylvia; Jayapal, Pramila; Johnson, Henry; McGovern, James; Norton, Eleanor; Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria; Quigley, Mike; Roybal-Allard, Lucille; S\u00e1nchez, Linda; Schakowsky, Janice; Tlaib, Rashida; Vargas, Juan; Vela, Filemon; Williams, Nikema.\n\nFull text is below and available here.\n\nDear Secretary Mayorkas and Attorney General Garland,\n\nWe write to raise concern and request an immediate investigation and clarity surrounding Texas Governor Greg Abbott\u2019s effort to establish a separate state immigration policy, sometimes called \u201cOperation Lone Star\u201d or \u201ccatch and jail,\u201d which is wreaking havoc on Texas\u2019 judicial system. \u201cOperation Lone Star\u201d includes a roughly billion-dollar Texas law enforcement program designed by Governor Abbott to target suspected migrants for arrest, jailing, and criminal prosecution by state and local law enforcement for the Texas state misdemeanor offense of criminal trespass. These operations have continued to militarize Texas\u2019 border communities and interfered with the federal immigration system, likely violating the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution. Even more egregiously, these programs have directly led to a violation of state laws and constitutional due process rights.\n\nGovernor Abbott\u2019s use of military and police presence on the border and his arrests of migrants have overwhelmed local justice systems, leaving legal and logistical problems and prolonged delays. Texas counties do not have enough employees nor the technology to manage hundreds of cases. One county in particular, Kinney County, has had to manage over 80 percent of the cases, and many of the migrants there had been without attorneys for weeks. Over the past month, the state has passed multiple state statute deadlines to file charges, and jails must release defendants without those charges filed, which has also not occurred in all cases. As a result almost 1,000 migrants to sit in prison for weeks and sometimes over a month.\n\nAdditionally, the Governor\u2019s efforts have led to the wrongful separation of families and the violation of state and federal laws. In fact, there have been delays of filing charges, delays in appointing attorneys for migrants, and migrants unknowingly filing out documents they could not read to waive their right to counsel.\n\nWe ask that the Department of Justice (DOJ) review and investigate Governor Abbott\u2019s Operation Lone Star program regarding both its likely violation of the Supremacy Clause and its treatment of migrants, especially in regards to an individual\u2019s constitutional right to due process. In addition, we ask that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) provide clarity on the immigration process for individuals subjected to the Operation Lone Star program. We also request that DHS provide migrants who enter into its custody after their release from state custody with timely and regular telephone access so that they can inform their loved ones and attorneys of their location.\n\nWe look forward to continuing to work with you on ensure that no state is overstepping its authority with respect to the federal immigration system and that migrants are treated with the respect and humane dignity they deserve.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3523", "Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Hosts Roundtable to Highlight Local Hispanic Leaders", "2021-10-29", "2021", "2021-10", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Lizzie Fletcher", "F000468", "fletcher.house.gov", "fletcher", "https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) hosted a virtual roundtable discussion with Hispanic leaders in the Houston area. Originally scheduled to coincide with Hispanic Heritage Month as an opportunity to both celebrate successes and discuss issues and priorities, the discussion focused on the achievements and contributions of Houston\u2019s Hispanic communities, priorities and concerns, strategies to increase opportunity, and national policies that can address them.\n\n\u201cThe strength of our community lies in our diversity. I was glad to have the opportunity to visit with this terrific group of community leaders today about their priorities and experiences,\u201d said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. \u201cI look forward to our continued partnership to address local issues and advance national policies that matter to our diverse community\u2014one that is profoundly shaped by Hispanic culture and leadership.\u201d\n\nRoundtable participants included:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-gonzalez-statement-regarding-proposed-payments-families-separated", "Congressman Gonzalez Statement Regarding the Proposed Payments to Families Separated\u00a0By\u00a0the Trump Administration", "2021-10-29", "2021", "2021-10", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Vicente Gonzalez", "G000581", "gonzalez.house.gov", "gonzalez", "https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, Congressman Gonzalez (TX-15) issued a statement in response to the recent news that the Biden Administration is planning to pay millions to separated migrant families:\n\n\"Family separation is a stain on our nation's history. But before we consider spending money on migrant reparations, we need to fully fund and reimburse border communities and charities that have been expending their resources doing the federal government's job.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-green-larson-and-graves-introduce-legislation-recognize-october-domestic", "Reps. Green, Larson, and Graves Introduce Legislation to Recognize October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month", "2021-10-27", "2021", "2021-10", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Al Green", "G000553", "algreen.house.gov", "algreen", "https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 On Wednesday, October 27, 2021, Congressmembers Al Green (TX-09), Rick Larsen (WA-02), and Garret Graves (LA-06) released the following statement regarding their introduction of the Bipartisan Domestic Violence Awareness Month Resolution of 2021:\n\n\u201cDomestic violence has been a pervasive ill in our society for far too long. It is a widespread form of abuse that disproportionately affects women and does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, age, class, or religion. One in four women and one in seven men ages 18 and older will experience domestic violence at some point in their life,\u201d Congressman Al Green said. \u201cDistressingly enough, domestic abuse cases have further intensified throughout the COVID-19 pandemic\u2014 not only in numbers but also in severity. Safety protocols and stay-at-home orders imposed as a result of the pandemic greatly reduced the ability of many people to access lifesaving resources.\u201d\n\nCongressman Al Green\u2013whohas beenintroducing this resolution annually\u2013added, \u201cVictims of domestic violence suffer consequences that extend far beyond physical injury. Subjects on the receiving end of this abuse are also left with emotional and psychological trauma that can jeopardize their personal relationships and professional trajectories, trigger substance abuse, or even lead them to attempt suicide. It is time for this Congress to act now and address the devastating reality that many people, especially women, face on a daily basis.\u201d\n\n\u201cDomestic violence is a pervasive problem regardless of class, culture, age, or ethnic background,\u201d said Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02). \"In Washington state\u2019s Second District, service providers offer wide-ranging services to all survivors of domestic violence, including those who experience traumatic abuse. I will continue to be a strong supporter of increasing federal resources for these vital initiatives to ensure when survivors come forward for help and support, it will be available and safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cDomestic and dating violence is an issue that affects one in three women, and unfortunately, we have seen an estimated 8.1 percent increase in domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now more than ever, we must renew our commitment to preventing abuse before it starts, support survivors, and hold perpetrators accountable,\u201d Congressman Garret Graves (R-LA) stated. \u201cThis resolution acknowledges all the hard work done by the domestic violence crisis centers and advocates in Louisiana. They work every day to make sure victims have access to the lifesaving services and resources that they need to get back on their feet. We will continue to work toward more safety and support for survivors, increase prevention efforts, expand educational awareness surrounding domestic violence, implement training for health professionals and law enforcement, and coordinate responses across agencies.\u201d\n\n********\n\nThe Bipartisan Domestic Violence Awareness Month Resolution of 2021 has a total of 160 Democratic and Republican original co-sponsors. This resolution has been endorsed by the National Domestic Violence Hotline, National Council of Jewish Women, Tahirih Justice Center, National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Esperanza United, YWCA USA, and Futures Without Violence.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-castro-introduces-bill-to-prevent-natural-gas-price-gouging-during-emergencies", "Congressman Castro Introduces Bill to Prevent Natural Gas Price Gouging During Emergencies", "2021-10-27", "2021", "2021-10", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Joaquin Castro", "C001091", "castro.house.gov", "castro", "https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) introduced the Gas Consumer Emergency Market Protection Act in the House of Representatives to address the dramatic increase in natural gas prices in relation to Winter Storm Uri as well as establish a federal circuit breaker \u2013 which would impose natural gas trading limits during national emergencies.\n\nCongressman Lloyd Doggett is an original cosponsor.\n\n\u201cWhile Texas families faced life or death situations and struggled to stay warm amid freezing temperatures, natural gas sellers raked-in over $10 billion in profits by raising prices as much as 10,000-percent,\" said Congressman Castro. \"This bill will identify those who have unfairly profited from the Texas winter storm and put in place safeguards to prevent any future entity from price gouging Americans during an emergency. Texans in need should not pay for the greed of oil and gas corporations trying to profit off of their misery.\"\n\n\u201cAfter struggling through a deadly winter storm without power, running water, or heat\u2014thanks to the avoidable failures of the Abbott Administration\u2014so many Texan families endured the additional insult of being blindsided with outrageous energy bills,\u201d said Congressman Doggett. \u201cProfiteering insult to greed-caused injury. The Gas Consumer Emergency Market Protection Act takes a strong step forward to protect Texan lives and life savings by laying key groundwork for delivering accountability and action to protect consumers from price gouging in the natural gas market during future emergencies, and any future Republican failures during those emergencies.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nIn February 2020, Winter Storm Uri was a devastating weather event that caused at least 200 deaths in Texas, $300 billion dollars in economic damages in the state, and has burdened millions with heightened gas and electric bills.\n\nThe natural gas energy commodity market underwent violent price fluctuations without any mitigation, spiking over 10,000-percent. Additionally, natural gas pricing for retail consumers is not subject to discovery and consumers are often unaware until receiving a bill.\n\nThe Gas Consumer Emergency Market Protection Act would:\n\nDirect the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to undertake an inquiry into the beneficiaries of the commodity price escalation during Uri and report to Congress with recommendations on how to address future events.\n\nDirect the CFTC to conduct a rulemaking requiring natural gas markets to implement trading ceilings during declared emergency events.\n\nEstablish a federal fine for entities that engage in price distortion activities during times of emergency.\n\nQuotes from supporters:\n\n\u201cWhile our friends and neighbors across Texas struggled together to withstand an unprecedented challenge, certain natural gas suppliers were busy making profits at the public\u2019s expense,\u201d said Paula Gold-Williams, President & CEO, CPS Energy. \u201cSuch behavior is wrong and must be stopped. CPS Energy believes that current Texas law already renders the outrageous and excessive prices that certain suppliers charged CPS Energy unenforceable, as they are violations against public policy. Since not all market participants have the ability and will to mount legal challenges against such predatory behavior, we feel it would be very helpful to establish additional statutory standards to protect more consumers from future attempts to excessively profit from declared natural disasters. Fortunately, Congressman Joaquin Castro\u2019s bill would do just that by imposing limits on natural gas trading during emergencies, thereby insulating consumers from future exploitation. CPS Energy remains committed to protecting our customers from unconscionable prices, and thanks Mr. Castro for his work on their behalf. With this legislation, we take another step toward ensuring the wellbeing of our customers.\u201d\n\n\u201cIf enacted, Congressman Castro\u2019s bill would provide lawmakers with more information about what happened to the natural gas market during Winter Storm Uri in order to learn from this experience and avoid repeating the same mistakes in the future,\u201d said Dave Schryver,President and CEO, American Public Gas Association. \u201cThe bill also offers meaningful solutions to protect consumers and ensure access to energy that is both reliable and affordable during extreme weather events.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe cold weather events of last winter were a threat to life, property, and the economy of the affected regions,\u201d said Joy Ditto, President & CEO, of the American Public Power Association. \u201cWhile inquiries as to the causes of these devastating effects continue, it is clear that natural gas price increases were abnormal. We appreciate Congressman Castro\u2019s efforts to prevent these damaging economic results from Winter Storm Uri from happening again. We also look forward to working with him and the rest of Congress to find ways to prevent unnecessary financial harm to consumers during future extreme weather events.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-gonzalez-cosponsors-landmark-social-security-bill", "Congressman Gonzalez Cosponsors Landmark Social\u00a0Security\u00a0Bill", "2021-10-27", "2021", "2021-10", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Vicente Gonzalez", "G000581", "gonzalez.house.gov", "gonzalez", "https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) joined Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01) to introduce the Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust.\n\nThis legislation will make long-overdue improvements to Social Security benefits. Most notably, the measure aims to end the 5-month waiting period to receive disability benefits, protect payments against inflation, and enhance benefits for widows and widowers in dual income households.\n\n\"Our nation depends on Social Security to provide retirement, disability, and survivor benefits. It is unconscionable that Social Security has not been updated in 50 years,\" said Congressman Gonzalez. \"I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust. I look forward to the expansion and improvement of Social Security for all Americans through this bill.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-castro-leads-bipartisan-letter-urging-reform-on-the-scoring-of-equity-investments-at-the-development-finance-corporation", "REP. CASTRO LEADS BIPARTISAN LETTER URGING REFORM ON THE SCORING OF EQUITY INVESTMENTS AT THE DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION", "2021-10-26", "2021", "2021-10", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Joaquin Castro", "C001091", "castro.house.gov", "castro", "https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHNGTON \u2013 Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations and Global Social Impact, Representatives Michael McCaul (TX-10), Dean Phillips (MN-03), Young Kim (CA-39), Andy Kim (NJ-03) and Anthony Gonzalez (OH-16) and 11 other members of Congress sent a bipartisan letter to National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan urging the Biden administration to reform how equity investments at the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC) are treated.\n\n\u201cThis policy fix will advance U.S. international development and foreign policy goals and position the DFC to provide an effective counterweight to China\u2019s worldwide infrastructure investments,\u201d said Congressman Castro. \u201cUnleashing the full potential of the DFC is critical for American national security.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe ask that you urgently work with OMB, the DFC, and Congress to rectify this budgetary scoring issue to ensure the budgetary treatment of the DFC\u2019s equity investments reflects the expected return on investment, similar to the DFC\u2019s traditional debt financing,\u201d the members wrote. \u201cGetting the budgetary treatment of equity investments right will enable the DFC to fulfill the development mission envisioned by Congress and strengthen U.S. global leadership and our ability to compete with countries like the People\u2019s Republic of China.\u201d\n\nThe letter is also signed by Representatives: Adam Smith, Brian Fitzpatrick, Marcy Kaptur, Peter Meijer, Sara Jacobs, Andy Barr, Tom Malinowski, Mark Green, Karen Bass, Albio Sires and Juan Vargas.\n\nFull text is below and available here.\n\nDear National Security Advisor Sullivan:\n\nWe write to urge you to work with the Office of Management and Budget and Congress to restore Congressional intent when it comes to the budgetary treatment of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation\u2019s (DFC) equity investments.\n\nAs you know, in October 2018, a bipartisan coalition in Congress passed the Better Utilization of Investment Leading to Development (BUILD) Act to enhance U.S. development finance at a time of growing global needs and heightened great power competition. The BUILD Act went beyond simply combining the development finance functions of different agencies into the DFC or just increasing the size of its portfolio. It also empowered the DFC with critical new financial capabilities such as the ability to offer technical assistance, perform feasibility studies, and make equity investments. Since it began operations the DFC has used these new tools to great effect and has played a critical role in global challenges, such as financing vaccine production in India as part a Quad Initiative. However, the DFC has not been able to realize the full potential of one of its most important new tools, equity authority, due to the budgetary treatment of the equity investments it would make.\n\nOther Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), including the CDC in the United Kingdom and Japan Bank for International Cooperation, have long made equity investments a key part of their international development finance efforts and have a demonstrated track record of positive returns on their equity investments The BUILD Act allows the DFC to make equity investments up to 35 percent of its overall liability (potentially up to $21 billion). This significant level of equity authority illustrates the important role for equity investments that Congress envisioned.\n\nBudgetary treatment of the DFC\u2019s equity investments is currently on a dollar-for-dollar basis, and thus every dollar of equity investment must be matched by an appropriated dollar for Congress. This does not reflect the expected positive returns from the investments, nor does it align with Congressional intent in passing the BUILD Act. Under the current scoring arrangement, the DFC will never come close to having an equity portfolio that will be able to make the sort of impact that Congress envisioned.\n\nWe ask that you urgently work with OMB, the DFC, and Congress to rectify this budgetary scoring issue to ensure the budgetary treatment of the DFC\u2019s equity investments reflects the expected return on investment, similar to the DFC\u2019s traditional debt financing. Getting the budgetary treatment of equity investments right will enable the DFC to fulfill the development mission envisioned by Congress and strengthen U.S. global leadership and our ability to compete with countries like the People\u2019s Republic of China.\n\nThe Interim National Security Strategic Guidance rightly noted that \u201ccreative approaches that draw on all the sources of our national power\u201d will be needed for the U.S. to succeed on the world stage. Congress devised the DFC as a new powerful tool to help the U.S. expand its international development efforts and advance our foreign policy objectives. It\u2019s time to unleash its full power.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3512", "Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Hosts Community Conversation on National Flood Insurance Program Updates", "2021-10-26", "2021", "2021-10", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Lizzie Fletcher", "F000468", "fletcher.house.gov", "fletcher", "https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Last night, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) held a virtual National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Community Conversation with Houston City Council Member Abbie Kamin, Houston Chief Recovery Officer Steve Costello, and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Regional Flood Insurance Liaison Gilbert Giron to discuss changes to flood insurance costs. Earlier this month, FEMA implemented a new methodology, Risk Rating 2.0, that takes into consideration additional risks and property characteristics\u2014including flood frequency, type of flooding, and distance from water\u2014to determine insurance rates.\n\n\u201cFlooding affects all of us in Houston, and flood insurance is critical to everyone in our community,\u201d said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. \u201cI am grateful for the work and the partnership of Council Member Kamin, Steve Costello, and Gilbert Giron in this effort and I thank them for joining the conversation to explain the changes and to answer questions from our community.\u201d\n\nNFIP policyholders who signed up for new policies on or after October 1 of this year will have their rates calculated under the new pricing methodology. All remaining policies renewing on or after April 1, 2022 will be subject to the new methodology.\n\nTo learn more about the Risk Rating 2.0 flood insurance methodology, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3513", "Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Votes to Fund Emergency Shelters and Assist Survivors of Domestic Violence", "2021-10-26", "2021", "2021-10", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Lizzie Fletcher", "F000468", "fletcher.house.gov", "fletcher", "https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) voted for H.R. 2119, the Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act (FVPSA). FVPSA supports much-needed services for domestic violence survivors, including emergency shelter, crisis counseling, safety planning, assistance recovering from financial abuse, and help with addressing housing insecurity.\n\n\u201cThe Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act provides essential support for survivors of domestic violence, and its reauthorization is critical for our community and for communities across the country,\u201d said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. \u201cThe COVID-19 pandemic has brought an increase in intimate partner violence, and I am glad to see legislation supporting life-saving services, including crisis counseling and safety planning, pass the House today to make our communities safer.\u201d\n\n\u201cPassage to reauthorize and expand the Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act (FVPSA) is needed now, more than ever,\u201d said Houston Area Women\u2019s Center CEO Emilee Dawn Whitehurst. \u201cDomestic violence has reached its breaking point, with a terrible rise in Houston and across our nation. At the Houston Area Women\u2019s Center, FVPSA provides critical funding to ensure survivors\u2019 access to life-saving services to transform trauma, achieve independence, and stop abuse before it happens. Our advocates simply could not do this work without FVPSA.\u201d\n\nFVPSA modifies, expands, and reauthorizes programs for survivors of domestic violence. This legislation supports life-saving services throughout the country via grants to states and community-based organizations, as well as to the National Domestic Violence Hotline. In 2019, the National Domestic Violence Hotline documented 19,168 contacts from Texas, ranking the state second in terms of contact volume to the Hotline.\n\nFVPSA makes the following critical improvements:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=786", "Congresswomen Escobar and Torres Lead Letter Urging Treasury and State Departments to Impose Targeted Sanctions Against Individuals Responsible for Human Rights Abuses of Environmental Defenders", "2021-10-22", "2021", "2021-10", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Veronica Escobar", "E000299", "escobar.house.gov", "escobar", "https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Congresswomen Veronica Escobar (TX-16) and Norma J. Torres (CA-35) led a group of lawmakers in sending a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen and Secretary of State Anthony J. Blinken urging them to use existing authorities to impose targeted sanctions against individuals responsible for human rights abuses of indigenous and local environmental activists \u2013 often referred to as \u201cenvironmental defenders\u201d \u2013 and corruption relating to climate-impacting industries.\n\nThe letter, which was co-signed by ten lawmakers, highlights the findings and examples of a Global Witness\u2019 report which found that since the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015, an average of four environmental defenders have been killed every week and even more have been targeted by physical assaults, death threats, sexual violence, arrest and detention without cause, and retaliatory lawsuits.\n\n\u201cDespite their critical role in maintaining captured carbon and protecting critical ecosystems, indigenous and local communities have increasingly had their sovereignty and safety threatened. The rise in incursions into these communities by agribusiness, mining, and other industries across the globe increases the likelihood of serious human rights abuses and directly harms the vital ecosystems protected by these communities,\u201d said the lawmakers.\n\nThe lawmakers continued, \u201cWhile the violence, harassment, and treatment of environmental defenders represent serious human rights abuses on their own, the impact of such events extends far beyond the countries where abuses occur: the destruction of habitat and deforestation that often accompanies these human rights violations releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, threatens biodiversity, and impedes local and international efforts to protect ecosystems, sequester carbon, and fight the climate crisis. Furthermore, the lack of accountability emboldens perpetrators to continue human rights abuses, pursue additional corrupt dealings, and engage in further destructive climate actions.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers requested the Department of Treasury and the Department of State to utilize sanctions as a core part of the Biden-Harris administration\u2019s climate change strategy and to consider additional actions, including:\n\nExamining patterns of growing attacks on environmental defenders and identifying strategic opportunities to use sanctions that include consideration of potential humanitarian impact or adverse effects on the population to change the behavior of the most egregious perpetrators;\n\nIntegrating these sanctions-related activities into the Biden-Harris administration\u2019s interagency processes and strategies related to climate change; including development of the plan for protecting the Amazon rainforest and other critical ecosystems as called for in the Administration\u2019s Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad;\n\nEncouraging partner governments with similar sanctions authorities to take a coordinated, multilateral approach to designate appropriate targets;\n\nReview credible evidence submitted by civil society organizations of human rights abuses of environmental defenders and issuing sanctions designations against those responsible.\n\nThe lawmakers concluded the letter by urging the administration to send a clear message that the United States is committed to protecting indigenous rights, dedicated to preserving climate-critical ecosystems, and determined to hold accountable those responsible for human rights violations and corruption resulting in destructive climate outcomes.\n\n\u201cIndigenous and local communities are leading the global effort to fight climate change, often at great personal risk and sacrifice. Thus, doing what we can to defend them from human rights abuses and destructive climate actions should be at the forefront of American foreign policy efforts to tackle climate change,\u201d concluded the lawmakers.\n\nLed by Congresswomen Escobar and Torres, the letter was also co-signed by U.S. Representatives Nanette Diaz Barrag\u00e1n (CA-44), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Zoe Lofgren (CA-19), Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Dina Titus (NV-01), and Juan Vargas (CA-51).\n\nFull text of the letter can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases/statement-congresswoman-sylvia-r-garcia-scotus-refusal-block-texas-abortion-ban", "Statement from Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia on SCOTUS Refusal to Block Texas Abortion Ban", "2021-10-22", "2021", "2021-10", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Sylvia R. Garcia", "G000587", "sylviagarcia.house.gov", "sylviagarcia", "https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014 Today, Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29) issued a statement on the United States Supreme Court's refusal to block the Texas abortion ban currently affecting millions of women in Texas and limiting their freedom to decide over their bodies:\n\n\"I am very disappointed to hear that the Supreme Court has again refused to block the dangerous Texas abortion ban. This ban has been in effect for nearly two months, causing serious harm to women in our state \u2013 especially women from low-income communities who can't travel nine hours to other states to get the care they need. Every minute that the Supreme Court allows this horrific law to remain in effect causes real, tangible harm to women in our communities. We need to codify Roe v. Wade so we can truly protect a woman's freedom to decide over their body. I will not back down from this fight, we must protect our reproductive rights.\"\n\nCongresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2018, becoming the first Latina ever to represent the Texas 29th Congressional District. She serves on the House Judiciary and Financial Services Committees.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3502", "Congresswoman Fletcher and Congressman Rice Introduce the Bipartisan FEMA Relief Extension Act", "2021-10-21", "2021", "2021-10", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Lizzie Fletcher", "F000468", "fletcher.house.gov", "fletcher", "https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX) and Congressman Tom Rice (R-SC) introduced the bipartisan FEMA Relief Extension Act to extend the period of time for individuals and households to receive Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) temporary housing assistance from 18 months to 24 months following a presidentially declared emergency or disaster.\n\n\u201cWhen disasters happen, it takes time for people to gain a full understanding of the scope of the damage and the assistance available to them,\u201d said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. \u201cI am glad to work with Congressman Rice to introduce legislation that gives victims of natural disasters flexibility when applying for assistance. From our experience in Houston, we know that extending temporary housing assistance to give people recovering from disaster more time to secure the assistance they need to rebuild and to prepare for the next storm is one of the most helpful things we can do.\u201d\n\n\u201cI hear frequently from South Carolinians about their frustrations with FEMA and the disaster relief process. This legislation will give folks who utilize FEMA assistance more flexibility after disasters and emergencies,\u201d said Congressman Tom Rice. \u201cOftentimes, it can take months to receive estimates, make repairs, and restore a home to a livable condition. This legislation adjusts a pressing deadline to give folks some peace of mind and extra time while recovering.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs communities from South Carolina to the Texas Gulf Coast face unprecedented damage from rising seas and stronger, more frequent storms, it is vital that our disaster relief programs quickly and efficiently provide resources to those who need help most. I thank Congressman Rice and Congresswoman Fletcher for their bipartisan leadership to ensure that disaster victims can access relief through FEMA\u2019s Individual Assistance program for longer time frames. We know the road to recovery can be long and difficult, and this bill is an important first step in delivering more comprehensive and effective support in the wake of catastrophic floods,\u201d saidMelissa Roberts, Executive Director, American Flood Coalition.\n\nFEMA\u2019s Individual Assistance (IA) program includes financial and direct assistance, including housing assistance, for eligible individuals and households with uninsured or underinsured expenses resulting from a presidentially declared emergency or disaster. This legislation amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to extend federal housing assistance to individuals and households from an 18-month period to a 24-month period.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-castro-cicilline-titus-and-congressional-members-urge-state-department-to-rescind-policy-prohibiting-diplomats-from-defending-marriage-equality", "Reps. Castro, Cicilline, Titus and Congressional Members Urge State Department to Rescind Policy Prohibiting Diplomats from Defending Marriage Equality", "2021-10-20", "2021", "2021-10", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Joaquin Castro", "C001091", "castro.house.gov", "castro", "https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congressmembers Joaquin Castro (TX-20), David Cicilline (RI-01), Dina Titus (NV-01) and 58 other members of Congress sent a letter to Secretary Antony Blinken, urging the State Department to update a policy that prohibits U.S. diplomats from discussing constitutional rationale in favor of marriage equality in countries engaged in active public debate.\n\n\u201cThe State Department maintains a \u201cneither for nor against\u201d policy, whereby our diplomats are barred from addressing marriage or partnership rights for same-sex couples,\u201d the members wrote. \u201cWhile we recognize that many countries are not at the point of legal partnership recognition, and that far too many countries continue to criminalize same-sex couples rather than recognizing their right to marry, the legal landscape is quickly evolving. There are now 29 countries, including in Asia and in Central America, that affirm marriage for same-sex couples. Where marriage is a significant public issue abroad, we trust you would want your Administration to be standing on the right side of history.\u201d\n\nThe letter is also signed by Representatives: Jake Auchincloss, Carolyn Maloney, James McGovern, Paul Tonko, Juan Vargas, Ted Deutch, Chrissy Houlahan, Andy Levin, Ilhan Omar, Peter Welch, Ted Lieu, Ann Kirkpatrick, Sara Jacobs, Earl Blumenauer, Abigail Spanberger, Mark Takano, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Dwight Evans, William Keating, Mark Pocan, Jim Costa, Mondaire Jones, Colin Allred, Dean Phillips, Jan Schakowsky, Ritchie Torres, Chris Pappas, Sharice Davids, Barbara Lee, Adriano Espaillat, Albio Sires, Jerrold Nadler, Lois Frankel, Madeleine Dean, Angie Craig, Tom Malinowski, Danny Davis, Nikema Williams, Scott Peters, Jennifer Wexton, Sean Maloney, Norma Torres, Jackie Speier, Grace Meng, Kathy Manning, Alan Lowenthal, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Anna Eshoo, Bill Foster, Linda S\u00e1nchez, Joe Neguse, Suzanne Bonamici, Jahana Hayes, Adam Schiff, Josh Gottheimer, Mike Doyle, John Yarmuth and Brian Higgins.\n\nFull letter text is available below and here.\n\nDear Secretary Blinken,\n\nWe write on an issue that we believe to be dear to your heart, the fundamental right to marriage equality for same-sex families. We write now because we believe the same moral leadership is important on the world stage, and unfortunately the State Department is operating under an outdated policy by which U.S. diplomats are prohibited from even discussing our country\u2019s own constitutional rationale in favor of marriage in countries where the issue is under active public debate.\n\nThe State Department maintains a \u201cneither for nor against\u201d policy, whereby our diplomats are barred from addressing marriage or partnership rights for same-sex couples. While we recognize that many countries are not at the point of legal partnership recognition, and that far too many countries continue to criminalize same-sex couples rather than recognizing their right to marry, the legal landscape is quickly evolving. There are now 29 countries, including in Asia and in Central America, that affirm marriage for same-sex couples. Where marriage is a significant public issue abroad, we trust you would want your Administration to be standing on the right side of history.\n\nPresident Biden\u2019s February \u201cMemorandum on Advancing the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Persons Around the World\u201d calls on the United States \u201cto lead by the power of our example in the cause of advancing the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons around the world.\u201d Part of that example means that our diplomats should have the ability to explain why our Supreme Court found marriage equality to be a constitutional right. And why, in the words of Justice Kennedy, the Court based its ruling on the recognition that \u201c[n]o union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family.\u201d\n\nWe do not ask the State Department to speak to marriage in every country or context. But we do ask the Department to provide the opportunity to U.S. personnel to defend our values and the dignity of our LGBTQI families at appropriate moments when the power of our example might make a meaningful difference. The Administration\u2019s February Memorandum also calls on agencies to review and rescind inconsistent policies. The State Department\u2019s outdated policy of mandated indifference should be rescinded as a matter of urgency.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=782", "Congresswoman Escobar Introduces Legislation to Establish a 21st Century Asylum Process", "2021-10-20", "2021", "2021-10", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Veronica Escobar", "E000299", "escobar.house.gov", "escobar", "https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "This critical legislation establishes a humane and equitable asylum process designed for America\u2019s immigration realities in the 21st century.\n\nCongresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) introduced H.R. 5618, the Reimagining Asylum Processing Act. This critical legislation establishes a humane and equitable asylum process designed for America\u2019s immigration realities in the 21st century.\n\n\u201cFor decades, our nation\u2019s response to increased migration has relied on militarizing border communities like El Paso instead of addressing root causes and improving the legal systems and regulations to which we subject asylum seekers. That approach has been costly and ineffective, and a lack of reform has resulted in a backlog of asylum cases, cluttered immigration courts, impacted the operations of agencies like U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and subjected countless migrants to due process violations simply for seeking asylum \u2013 a human right,\u201d said Congresswoman Escobar.\n\n\u201cThis is unacceptable and must change. My Reimagining Asylum Processing Act \u2013 written in consultation with immigration advocates and legal experts to meet the needs of today \u2013 will ensure a humanitarian asylum process that treats asylum seekers with dignity, provides them with important resources, and allows for much-needed oversight. This legislation is one component of what needs to be a multi-faceted approach to ensuring we have a functioning immigration system, effective management at the southern border, and security without sacrificing our humanity as a nation.\u201d\n\nThe Reimagining Processing Asylum Act establishes a humane and equitable asylum process by:\n\nCreating Humanitarian Processing Centers (HPCs), which will provide:\n\nOrientation about the asylum-seeking process.\n\nLegal counsel and other materials to prepare for a credible fear interview (CFI).\n\nReferrals to community-based case management programs.\n\nInterpreters.\n\nMedical screening.\n\nMandating that individuals apprehended at or between ports of entry be transferred to HPCs.\n\nMandating a rest period of 72 hours after an asylum seeker arrives at an HPC before a credible fear determination interview can be conducted.\n\nProhibits Credible Fear Interviews (CFIs) from being conducted while an asylum seeker is in CBP custody.\n\nLimits the presence of CBP and ICE personnel at the Humanitarian Processing Centers, ensuring law enforcement personnel return to the duties they have been trained for at the border.\n\nRequiring that asylum officers consider if a migrant qualifies for any other kind of immigration relief or benefits, including:\n\nAny claim under the United Nations Convention Against Torture and other Forms of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.\n\nT or U visas under section 101(a)(15) for victims of severe human trafficking and victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and are helpful to law enforcement or government officials in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity.\n\nSpecial immigrant juvenile visas.\n\nFamily reunification pursuant to an approved I-130 petition.\n\nOr any other basis for relief from removal under the immigration laws.\n\nEstablishes a limit to the days migrants can be held at an HPC, and mandates alternatives to detention \u2013 currently, the bill limits this stay to 15 days, after which alternatives to detention must be considered.\n\nEnsures access to interpreters for asylum seekers during the credible fear interview and for preparation prior to the interview.\n\nEstablishes funding for legal service providers through grants in order to guarantee legal counsel to migrants at HPCs.\n\nAllows asylum seekers to adjudicate their asylum claims in the communities where they hope to settle and have the support of their sponsors and community-based case management services.\n\nThis legislation builds on Congresswoman Escobar\u2019s efforts to fix our broken immigration system, improve our nation\u2019s economy, and provide solutions to address the root causes of migration.\n\nTo view the bill text the Reimagining Processing Asylum Act click here.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://veasey.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-veasey-tx-33-leads-89-members-on-bipartisan-letter-urging", "Rep. Veasey (TX-33) Leads 89 Members on Bipartisan Letter Urging Administration to Bolster F-35 Program Funding", "2021-10-20", "2021", "2021-10", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Marc A. Veasey", "V000131", "veasey.house.gov", "veasey", "https://veasey.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Rep. Marc Veasey (TX-33) led a bipartisan group of 89 members on a letter urging the Biden-Harris Administration to fully invest in a robust F-35 Lightning II program in its Fiscal Year 2023 Department of Defense (DoD) budget request and the Future Years Defense Plan (FYDP). The letter urges strong support to this vital program so that long-term procurement and sustainment costs continue to go down.\n\n\"The F-35 is an unrivaled national asset that strengthens national security, enhances global partnerships, and powers economic growth both in the Dallas-Fort Metroplex that I represent and across the country,\" said Rep. Veasey. \"That is why my colleagues and I are urging the Biden-Harris Administration to increase funding to the program because we must ensure longevity of the cornerstone of our nation's fighter fleet.\"\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found below and here.\n\nWe write to today to urge your Administration to fully invest in a robust F-35 Lightning II program in its Fiscal Year 2023 Department of Defense (DoD) budget request and the Future Years Defense Plan (FYDP).\n\nWe agree with Air Force Chief of Staff General Charles Q. Brown that, the F-35 is \"the cornerstone of our fighter fleet, and it will be for the foreseeable future.\" The F-35 is also an unrivaled national asset that strengthens national security, enhances global partnerships, and powers economic growth across our communities.\n\nAs you well know, our adversaries continue to advance surface-to-air missile systems and develop their own stealth fighters at an astonishing pace. Meanwhile, the average age of the U.S. Air Force fighter fleet is approaching 30 years and the cost to operate and support these legacy aircraft continues to rise. The U.S. must modernize our fighter inventory to ensure we can sustain a strong national defense and maintain an advantage to counter the pacing threat \u2013 China. The F-35 is made right here in America by a diverse and high-tech American workforce. It is also the only fighter in production that can produce aircraft in the numbers required to revitalize our aging fighter force. It is our duty as Americans to ensure that those men and women who protect our freedoms have the best equipment, we can provide to ensure each mission brings them safely back home.\n\nThus, it is essential that we continue to increase production numbers of our nation's only 5th generation stealth fighter to recapitalize our fighter fleet and ensure the United States maintains air dominance. DoD officials have testified for years that the DoD needs to buy F-35s in growing numbers so that the U.S. services \u2013 and our allies \u2013 have enough F-35 aircraft by the mid-2020s to stay ahead of the rapidly growing threat. The program is built on the U.S. services and those of our 14 allies buying these aircraft in quantities that leverage economies of scale for development, production, and sustainment. Today, the F-35 is the most advanced fighter in the world and an affordable option that provides unmatched capability to any 4th generation fighter.\n\nIf we are serious about deterring our near-peer adversaries, we must have close coordination with our allies and partners and live up to the joint commitment we made at the outset of the program. The F-35 is a unique enabler of that. In fact, this summer the British carrier strike group including the HMS Queen Elizabeth has been sailing in the South China sea, and on board the carrier are British and American F-35Bs, working together as one joint coalition force. The HMS Queen Elizabeth is sending a strong message to China that we still have the most modern capabilities in the world, and that we will work together to deter aggression and keep the Indo-Pacific region free and open. The F-35 is the lynchpin, bringing together fourteen allied and partner nations, providing unmatched interoperability and enabling regional deterrence and diplomacy.\n\nNot only is the F-35 critical for the national security of the U.S. as well as our allies and partners, but it is also vital to the U.S. manufacturing base. Across our country more than 1,800 suppliers contribute to the F-35, with one in every two of those companies being a small and/or disadvantaged business. The F-35 supports more than 254,000 high-tech, high-paying American jobs annually with thousands of those workers who are skilled union members. Further, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, this workforce has remained committed and resilient; they are a true national security asset. At a time when our economy has suffered the devastating effects of COVID-19, this program has continued to create jobs, foster workforce development, and spur economic opportunity.\n\nIt is disappointing that year after year DoD continues to flat-line F-35 production investments, defer needed readiness funding, and underfund advanced capabilities for this critical fleet. This is one of the reasons Congress has consistently supported additional investment in the program.\n\nMr. President, the F-35 is both affordable and more capable than any other aircraft proposed in the budget; it is a technological marvel that represents the best of American manufacturing. Additionally, there is capacity to deliver additional aircraft which will provide greater capability to our men and women in uniform, invest taxpayer dollars in modern technology, and protect U.S. jobs and the critical manufacturing base. Now is the time to make the investments in America and uphold our commitments to our allies to buy a minimum of 100 F-35s for our U.S. services per year, invest in the advanced capabilities to stay ahead of the threats, and fund the sustainment profile necessary to support these aircraft for decades to come. We urge you to direct the DoD to ensure that it is making smart investments in the F-35 program as you prepare your FY23 budget request and Future Years Defense Plan (FYDP).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 705, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"party\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Democrat", "p1": "TX", "p2": "2021"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=TX&year=2021", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 705, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=TX&year=2021", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=TX&year=2021", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 705, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=TX&year=2021&chamber=House", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=TX&year=2021", "results": [{"value": "TX", "label": "TX", "count": 705, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2021", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=TX&year=2021", "results": [{"value": "2021", "label": "2021", "count": 705, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=TX", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2021-10-20,https~3A~2F~2Fveasey~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia-center~2Fpress-releases~2Frep-veasey-tx-33-leads-89-members-on-bipartisan-letter-urging", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=TX&year=2021&_next=2021-10-20%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fveasey~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia-center~2Fpress-releases~2Frep-veasey-tx-33-leads-89-members-on-bipartisan-letter-urging&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 568.4114419855177, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}