{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where state = \"TX\" sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://babin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=14406", "Chairman Babin Leads Texas Delegation in Push to Bring U.S. Space Academy to Texas", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Brian Babin", "B001291", "babin.house.gov", "babin", "https://babin.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "U.S. Congressman Brian Babin (TX-36), Chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, led members of the Texas congressional delegation in a letter to the Presidential Commission on the United States Space Academy endorsing Texas\u2019s forthcoming proposal to host the U.S. Space Academy.\n\n\u201cTexas has been at the center of America\u2019s space story for more than six decades, and we are leading the way into its next chapter. From NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in my district, home to Mission Control and our nation\u2019s astronaut corps, to the cutting-edge commercial space companies developing the technologies of tomorrow, Texas brings together the experience, infrastructure, talent, and innovation that continue to move America forward. As Chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, I am committed to ensuring the United States wins this new space race and remains the undisputed global leader in exploration and discovery. The United States Space Academy will help prepare the next generation to advance that mission, enhance our space defense capabilities, and protect the homeland. Texas has an unmatched foundation on which to build this landmark institution,\u201d said Chairman Brian Babin (TX-36).\n\n\u201cFor more than 60 years, Texas has been at the heart of America\u2019s space program, and President Trump has made American leadership in space a priority. With Johnson Space Center and a thriving space industry already here, it\u2019s only right that the academy carrying the President\u2019s vision forward calls Texas home. I urge the Commission to make it official so the state that helped put Americans on the Moon can train the people who will take us back,\u201d said Rep. Randy Weber (TX-14).\n\n\"For over 60 years, when American astronauts need to reach home base, they make the same call: \u2018Houston\u2019. Today, Texas is home to Mission Control, the astronaut corps, more than 148,000 aerospace professionals, and the companies and universities leading the next era of space innovation \u2014 as well as a robust military presence. The next generation of future space leaders should train alongside people who not only built our nation\u2019s space legacy but are currently building its future,\u201d said Rep. Michael Cloud (TX-27).\n\n\u201cTexas has led the way in space for generations. From Mission Control in Houston to the innovators and engineers building the future of exploration across our state, no place is better positioned to train the next generation of American space leaders. I urge President Trump to make Texas the home of the new Space Academy, where students can learn alongside the people and industries that are already taking America to the Moon and beyond,\u201d said Rep. August Pfluger (TX-11).\n\n\u201cTexas has been a leader in space innovation for generations, and today our state is at the forefront of the next era of space exploration and national security. With a growing space economy, world-class research and industry, and a deep connection to the nation\u2019s space legacy, Texas is a natural home for the U.S. Space Academy and the next generation of space leaders,\u201d said Rep. John Carter (TX-31).\n\n\"There is no other state in the nation that makes more sense than Texas to be the home of the future Space Academy to educate and train our next astronauts, engineers, flight controllers, and innovators to ensure America dominates in space exploration and colonization. The confluence of existing resources we already have on hand from Johnson Space Center, commercial space enterprises, world class universities, and 60 years of human space flight experience is in the DNA of Texas which would allow a Space Academy to start quickly and excel immediately in this most important endeavor,\" said Rep. Beth Van Duyne (TX-24).\n\n\u201cTexas has spent decades investing billions in future exploration of space through both private and public partnerships. The Academy belongs where investments have been made and federal expertise are already working side by side. I'm proud to join Chairman Babin, and my Texas colleagues in advocating for our state to host the U.S. Space Academy,\u201d said Rep. Nathaniel Moran (TX-01).\n\n\u201cAmerican leadership in space will depend on more than the rockets we build. It will depend on the Americans we train to operate, innovate, and defend our interests in the final frontier. Texas helped put Americans on the Moon, and Texas should help train the generation that takes us back. With NASA, the Space Force, world-class universities, and a thriving commercial space industry, Texas already has the people, infrastructure, and expertise needed to make the United States Space Academy a success. Texas is the natural home for this mission,\u201d said Rep. Keith Self (TX-03).\n\n\"Texas has the infrastructure, expertise, and passion to train the next generation of American space leaders. Bringing the United States Space Academy home to Texas will ensure our future astronauts, scientists, and engineers continue to lead the world in space exploration,\u201d said Rep. Monica De La Cruz (TX-15).\n\nThe letter is signed by Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and John Cornyn (R-TX) and Reps. Michael Cloud (TX-27), Pat Fallon (TX-04), Lance Gooden (TX-05), Keith Self (TX-03), Dan Crenshaw (TX-02), Randy Weber (TX-14), Michael McCaul (TX-10), Morgan Luttrell (TX-08), Beth Van Duyne (TX-24), Jodey Arrington (TX-19), Troy Nehls (TX-22), John Carter (TX-31), Nathaniel Moran (TX-01), Craig Goldman (TX-12), Roger Williams (TX-25), Pete Sessions (TX-17), Jake Ellzey (TX-06), Chip Roy (TX-21), August Pfluger (TX-11), Ronny Jackson (TX-13), Monica De La Cruz (TX-15), and Brandon Gill (TX-26).", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4638", "Arrington Celebrates $51 Million Rural Health Investment, With More to Come for Texas", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Jodey C. Arrington", "A000375", "arrington.house.gov", "arrington", "https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, the Trump Administration announced that it will be investing $51 million through the Rural Health Transformation Program, created by House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington\u2019s One Big Beautiful Bill, into Texas\u2019s Make Rural Texans Healthy Again initiative.\n\nThe funding will support 68 rural hospital districts and authorities as they develop and expand community-based prevention, wellness, and nutrition programs to improve health outcomes and prevent and manage chronic conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, and obesity.\n\nIn December, Arrington announced that Texas had received the largest allocation of any state under the newly established Rural Health Transformation Program. As the author of the One Big Beautiful Bill, Arrington secured a historic $50 billion investment in rural health care over five years, including $1.4 billion for Texas \u2013 the most of any state. Texas is receiving $281 million in the program\u2019s first year, with today\u2019s $51 million announcement representing one part of that broader investment.\n\n\u201cWe won\u2019t have the next generation of agriculture and energy producers providing America with food security and energy independence without access to basic health care in rural communities. Yet for years, Rural America has faced a growing health care crisis marked by fewer providers, reduced services, and limited access to quality care,\u201d said Chairman Arrington. \u201cTo combat this crisis, the One Big Beautiful Bill established the Rural Health Transformation Program, a historic $50 billion investment in rural health care over five years, including $1.4 billion for Texas, to strengthen rural hospitals, expand access to care, and improve health outcomes. In the first year alone, Texas is receiving $281 million to advance state-led solutions to our rural health care challenges. Today, I am proud to see the Trump Administration and Governor Abbott put this investment to work through Texas\u2019 Make Rural Texans Healthy Again initiative, with $51 million supporting 68 rural hospital districts and authorities as they work to prevent and manage diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and obesity. This is another major win for rural America and a Texas-sized investment in a healthier, stronger future for Rural Texas.\u201d\n\n\u201cPresident Trump understands that every American deserves high-quality healthcare, no matter where they live,\u201d said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. \u201cWe are putting resources directly into rural communities to strengthen the health workforce, modernize infrastructure, expand access, and bring care closer to home. We are giving states the flexibility to build solutions around the people they serve, while demanding accountability for results. That is how we strengthen rural health, improve the lives of patients and families, and Make America Healthy Again.\u201d\n\n\u201cPresident Trump made a historic commitment to rural America, and these investments are turning that commitment into better care for patients in communities across Texas,\u201d said Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. \u201cThis is what rural health transformation should look like: federal investment that is putting patients first, driving lasting improvements and expanding healthcare for the hardworking Americans who call these communities home.\u201d\n\n\u201cRural Texans deserve quality health care in their own communities,\u201d said Governor Greg Abbott. \u201cThis $51 million will aid 68 rural hospital districts and authorities with prevention, wellness, and nutrition programs that keep Texans healthy and strong. I thank President Trump, Secretary Kennedy, and Administrator Oz for this investment in rural Texas.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nThe Rural Health Transformation Program, created under the One Big Beautiful Bill, provides $50 billion over five years to strengthen rural health care and expand access to services. Texas is receiving $1.4 billion over that timeframe, the largest allocation of any state.\n\nTexas is receiving $281 million in FY2026, with today\u2019s $51 million investment representing one part of the state\u2019s broader first-year award.\n\nThe $51 million will support 68 rural hospital districts and authorities through Texas\u2019 Make Rural Texans Healthy Again initiative, focused on prevention, wellness, nutrition, and chronic disease management.\n\nTexas\u2019 broader Rural Health Transformation strategy also includes expanding telehealth and digital health tools, strengthening the rural health workforce, and modernizing rural health infrastructure, equipment, and cybersecurity.\n\nFor more information about the RHTP, visit: https://www.medicaid.gov/resources-for-states/rural-health.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/castrocasarlead60democratsdemandinganswers-onsecuringlegalrepresentationforunaccompanied-children", "Castro,\u00a0Casar\u00a0Lead\u00a060+\u00a0Democrats\u00a0Demanding\u00a0Answers on\u00a0Securing\u00a0Legal\u00a0Representation\u00a0for\u00a0Unaccompanied Children", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Joaquin Castro", "C001091", "castro.house.gov", "castro", "https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "\u201cChildren's Legal Protections Should Never Be The Currency Of Political Patronage\u201d\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Congressman Greg Casar led (TX-35) 61 House Democrats in a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Acting Director Angie Salazar demanding transparency in its process for awarding contracts to organizations providing legal representation to unaccompanied children. In August, the Burke Law Group, a firm with Trump Administration ties, declined a $150 million no-bid contract only after public scrutiny. The group of lawmakers slammed the Secretary and Acting Director for awarding organizations, such as the Burke Law Group, without relevant experience and expertise, resulting in putting migrant children at risk.\n\nThe members demanded a more transparent process for awarding experienced organizations to represent unaccompanied children, writing,\"Burke Law Group and Our Rescue lack experience, proficiency, and capacity to appropriately implement essential legal services to thousands of unaccompanied children. We are gravely concerned that ORR would entrust a vulnerable population with firms so plainly unqualified for the task. Weurge ORR to find the best organizations to handle this contract through a competitive, public process.\"\n\nThe members criticized no-bid contracts awarded to firms that were connected to the president, writing, \u201cThe Trump administration has made a practice of issuing awards based on politics and cronyism rather than in the public interest. We are not surprised that leadership in both Burke Law Group and Our Rescue includes individuals who previously served in various roles during the first Trump administration. Derek Benner, the current CEO of Our Rescue, previously served as the Executive Associate Director for Homeland Security Investigations during the first Trump administration. Children's legal protections should never be the currency of political patronage.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers demanded answers about ORR\u2019s current contracts by September 25, 2026.\n\nMembers who signed the letter include: Reps. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Greg Casar (TX-35), Nanette Barrag\u00e1n (CA-44), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Andr\u00e9 Carson (IN-07), Judy Chu (CA-28), Gilbert Cisneros (CA-31), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), J. Correa (CA-46), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Christopher Deluzio (PA-17), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Bill Foster (IL-11), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Jes\u00fas Garc\u00eda (IL-04), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Daniel Goldman (NY-10), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Pablo Hern\u00e1ndez (PR), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Henry Johnson (GA-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Summer Lee (PA-12), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Eleanor Norton (DC), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Luz Rivas (CA-29), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Janice Schakowsky (IL-09), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Norma Torres (CA-35), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Marc Veasey (TX-33), Nydia Vel\u00e1zquez (NY-07), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Frederica Wilson (FL-24).\n\nRead the full letter here.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://cloud.house.gov/posts/trump-administration-announces-51-million-for-rural-texas-nutrition-and-chronic-disease-prevention-programs", "Trump Administration Announces $51 Million for Rural Texas Nutrition and Chronic Disease Prevention Programs", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Michael Cloud", "C001115", "cloud.house.gov", "cloud", "https://cloud.house.gov/press", "scraper", "Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services\n\nSeptember 28th, 2026\n\nbased chronic disease prevention, wellness, and nutrition programs through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). This investment will help rural healthcare providers implement solutions to improve outcomes for rural Texans with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, or obesity, while also supporting efforts to prevent these chronic conditions.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump understands that every American deserves high-quality healthcare, no matter where they live,\u201d said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. \u201cWe are putting resources directly into rural communities to strengthen the health workforce, modernize infrastructure, expand access, and bring care closer to home. We are giving states the flexibility to build solutions around the people they serve, while demanding accountability for results. That is how we strengthen rural health, improve the lives of patients and families, and Make America Healthy Again.\u201d\n\n\u201cPresident Trump made a historic commitment to rural America, and these investments are turning that commitment into better care for patients in communities across Texas,\u201d said Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. \u201cThis is what rural health transformation should look like: federal investment that is putting patients first, driving lasting improvements and expanding healthcare for the hardworking Americans who call these communities home.\u201d\n\nToday\u2019s investment was made possible through the Working Families Tax Cuts Act \u2014 passed by Republicans in Congress and unanimously opposed by Democrats \u2014 delivering a historic $50 billion investment to help states transform the way healthcare is delivered in America.\n\n\u201cRural Texans deserve quality health care in their own communities,\u201d said Gov. Greg Abbott. \u201cThis $51 million will aid 68 rural hospital districts and authorities with prevention, wellness, and nutrition programs that keep Texans healthy and strong. I thank President Trump, Secretary Kennedy, and Administrator Oz for this investment in rural Texas.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Working Families Tax Cuts Act made the single largest investment in rural health care in more than two decades,\u201d said Sen. John Cornyn. \u201cI was proud to support this once-in-a-generation law that established the Rural Health Transformation Program, and I look forward to seeing these resources expand access to care, improve health outcomes, and better support folks with chronic conditions across the Lone Star State.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis investment is critical to Texans, and I applaud CMS and Administrator Oz for approving it,\u201d said Sen. Ted Cruz. \u201cThe decision is a recognition that the needs of rural Texas communities should be met, and these resources will strengthen rural hospitals, expand access to high-quality care, and help Texans in every part of our state get the healthcare they need. I was proud to work alongside my colleagues in the Texas delegation to secure this funding.\u201d\n\n\u201cRural Texans deserve the same access to quality healthcare as anyone else in our state, and this investment is a major step toward closing that gap. Thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts and the Rural Health Transformation Program, we\u2019re strengthening our rural hospitals and investing in prevention, wellness, and nutrition programs that get ahead of chronic conditions. Healthier communities mean stronger families, a more productive workforce, and a brighter future for rural Texas. I will always work to ensure our rural communities have the resources they need to thrive,\u201d said Rep. Nathaniel Moran.\n\n\u201cThis historic investment in rural health will expand access to care and give Texas communities more tools to prevent and manage chronic disease,\u201d said Rep. Dan Crenshaw. \u201cI\u2019m proud to see these resources going directly to rural Texans who need them most.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis is welcome news for rural Texas. I thank President Trump and his Administration for standing with our rural communities, and I was proud to join my Republican colleagues in Congress to make the Rural Health Transformation Program possible,\u201d said Rep. Keith Self. \u201cHelping families get better access to care\u2014and live healthier lives\u2014is exactly the kind of result we should keep delivering.\u201d\n\n\u201cRural hospitals are the backbone of so many North Texas communities, and new funding will help keep them strong,\u201d said Rep. Pat Fallon. \u201cI am proud that $51 million from the Rural Health Transformation Program is coming to 68 rural hospital districts and authorities across our state through the Make Rural Texans Healthy Again initiative. By investing in the health of rural Texans, we\u2019re strengthening families, supporting local providers, and building a stronger future for our communities.\u201d\n\n\u201c$51 million will improve lives, fight chronic disease, and make our rural communities healthier,\u201d said Rep. Lance Gooden. \u201cTexans should remember that in the fight to improve healthcare, every Democrat voted against this funding.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur rural communities are home to the farmers, ranchers, small business owners, and families who keep Texas and this country moving. Access to quality healthcare is critical to keeping those communities strong. Too many rural Texans still have to travel long distances or face limited options when they need care,\u201d said Rep. Jake Ellzey. \u201cThese funds will help strengthen rural hospitals, expand access to preventive care, and give communities more tools to address chronic conditions before they become more serious. By putting these resources closer to home, we can help rural Texans get the care they need while strengthening the hospitals and healthcare systems these communities depend on every day.\u201d\n\n\u201cRural Texans deserve the same access to quality care as anyone else, and this investment puts real resources into the communities that need it most. I\u2019m grateful to CMS and state leaders for recognizing the importance of these programs and working to deliver better outcomes for Texas families,\u201d said Rep. Morgan Luttrell.\n\n\u201cThis is great news for rural Texans, who deserve the same access to quality health care as anyone else. This $51 million investment will help communities across our state take a more proactive approach to improving health and preventing chronic disease. I\u2019m proud to have an administration that understands the importance of investing in rural healthcare, which strengthens our local communities,\u201d said Rep. Michael McCaul.\n\n\u201cRural Texans shouldn\u2019t have to drive hours to see a doctor or receive the life-saving care they need. I was proud to support and advocate for Texas to receive its fair share of funding from the Rural Health Transformation Program, and I\u2019m glad to see these dollars now reaching our hospitals. This historic investment will keep rural hospitals open, expand access to telehealth, and recruit and retain medical professionals. When a rural hospital or clinic has the resources it needs, the entire community benefits. I\u2019ll keep fighting for rural health care in Congress and will make sure every dollar of this funding gets to the rural hospitals it was meant to serve,\u201d said Rep. August Pfluger.\n\n\u201cTexans across our state deserves access to high-quality health care. Alongside my Texas colleagues, I\u2019m proud to have helped pass the Rural Health Transformation Program, which is investing millions of dollars into health care services in Texas,\u201d said Rep. Craig Goldman. \u201cThis innovative program will strengthen rural health care and help make Texans healthier.\u201d\n\n\u201cTexans in TX-13 and every rural community deserve access to quality healthcare,\u201d said Rep. Ronny Jackson. \u201cThis investment through the Rural Health Transformation Program will help rural communities expand prevention, wellness, and nutrition programs while addressing chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, respiratory disease, and obesity. I\u2019m proud to support efforts that strengthen access to care and improve health outcomes for hardworking families across rural Texas.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery day, Texans continue to reap the benefits of the historic Working Families Tax Cuts Act I proudly voted for,\u201d said Rep. Randy Weber. \u201cToday, that means more than $50 million is heading to 68 rural hospital districts and authorities so quality health care reaches beyond the city limits and rural Texans can get the care they deserve closer to home.\u201d\n\n\u201cAccess to healthcare remains a major challenge in rural Texas, making this $51 million investment a major win for our state,\u201d said Rep. Monica De La Cruz. \u201cThe funding will fight chronic illness, train the next generation of doctors, and empower local providers. I am proud to help secure these critical resources and will keep fighting to ensure our communities receive the best care possible.\u201d\n\n\u201cRural Texans deserve access to quality health care close to home,\u201d said Rep. Pete Sessions. \u201cThis $51 million investment through the Make Rural Texans Healthy Again initiative will help our rural hospital districts expand prevention, wellness, and nutrition programs that tackle diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions before they become crises. I thank CMS and Administrator Oz for standing with rural Texas and investing in healthier communities across our state.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe won\u2019t have the next generation of agriculture and energy producers providing America with food security and energy independence without access to basic health care in rural communities. Yet for years, Rural America has faced a growing health care crisis marked by fewer providers, reduced services, and limited access to quality care,\u201d said Rep. Jodey Arrington. \u201cTo combat this crisis, the One Big Beautiful Bill established the Rural Health Transformation Program, a historic $50 billion investment in rural health care over five years, including $1.4 billion for Texas, to strengthen rural hospitals, expand access to care, and improve health outcomes. In the first year alone, Texas is receiving $281 million to advance state-led solutions to our rural health care challenges. Today, I am proud to see the Trump Administration and Governor Abbott put this investment to work through Texas\u2019 Make Rural Texans Healthy Again initiative, with $51 million supporting 68 rural hospital districts and authorities as they work to prevent and manage diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and obesity. This is another major win for rural America and a Texas-sized investment in a healthier, stronger future for Rural Texas.\u201d\n\n\u201cRural Texans deserve access to quality healthcare, no matter their location,\u201d said Rep. Troy Nehls. \u201cThis investment will equip rural communities across the great state of Texas with the resources to prevent chronic disease, expand access to care, and improve health outcomes. I applaud the Trump Administration for recognizing rural Texas and helping Make Rural Texans Healthy Again.\u201d\n\n\u201cTexans across my home state have President Trump and his administration to thank for prioritizing their wellness in urban and rural regions alike. I am proud to see the Working Families Tax Cut Act already start to improve efforts to make America healthy once again,\u201d said Rep. Brandon Gill.\n\n\u201cProviding access to healthcare comes with unique challenges when serving those in rural communities. This funding will help local Texas hospitals expand prevention and wellness programs where they are needed most,\u201d said Rep. Michael Cloud.\n\n\u201cBringing $51 million to Texas so rural Texans have greater access to wellness and chronic-disease prevention is a promise kept by the Trump Administration to Make America Health Again. I\u2019m proud to support these efforts to deliver real resources to the communities that need them and invest in healthier outcomes for rural families. Quality access to care before there\u2019s a problem means better outcomes when a health issue does arise, and this investment puts prevention, wellness, and stronger rural healthcare within reach for Texans across our state,\u201d said Rep. John Carter.\n\n\u201cQuality health care should never be determined by your ZIP code. Today\u2019s announcement of a $51 million investment in 68 rural hospital districts across Texas is a major step toward ensuring rural Texans have access to the care they need, close to home. As a health care professional and lifelong Southeast Texan, I\u2019ve seen firsthand the dire consequences when quality care is too far out of reach. This investment in Texas\u2019 Make Rural Texans Healthy Again initiative will deliver local solutions to combat chronic disease, strengthen rural hospitals, and improve health outcomes for families across Texas,\u201d said Rep. Brian Babin.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump understands that your ZIP code should never determine the quality of health care you receive. Through the One Big Beautiful Bill, we made a historic investment in rural America, with the Rural Health Transformation Program,\u201d said Rep. Wesley Hunt. \u201cNow Texas is putting those resources to work, by strengthening rural hospitals, expanding access, and focusing on prevention and wellness. I\u2019m proud to have worked with the President to help deliver this for our communities and grateful for his sustained commitment to the people who live, work, and raise their families in rural Texas.\u201d\n\nToday\u2019s announcement is one part of the larger overall funding amount awarded to Texas for fiscal year 2026.\n\nTexas\u2019s broader RHTP strategy is designed to strengthen rural healthcare and support more sustainable care across the state. Key initiatives the overall RHTP funding will focus on include:\n\nStrengthening prevention and chronic disease management: Supporting community-based prevention, wellness, and nutrition programs designed to improve outcomes for rural Texans with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory illness, obesity, and other chronic conditions.\n\nExpanding technology-enabled healthcare: Investing in telehealth, digital health tools, and advanced technology to connect rural patients and providers with healthcare services and specialty expertise.\n\nBuilding the rural healthcare workforce: Supporting recruitment and retention strategies and expanded care teams to strengthen healthcare capacity in rural communities.\n\nModernizing rural healthcare infrastructure: Upgrading equipment, strengthening interoperability and cybersecurity, and improving technology and facilities used by rural hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, behavioral health providers, public health offices, and EMS. \u2018\n\nThe Trump Administration is delivering on its commitment to strengthen rural America by investing in solutions that modernize, transform and expand healthcare access for rural communities nationwide. Led by CMS, the RHTP is moving beyond the failed one-size-fits-all approach and giving rural communities the tools to build stronger, more innovative, and more sustainable health systems that deliver better care and better outcomes for the Americans they serve.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://gill.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-gill-introduces-barrons-law", "Rep. Gill Introduces Barron\u2019s Law", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Brandon Gill", "G000603", "gill.house.gov", "gill", "https://gill.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congressman Brandon Gill (R-TX) today introduced Barron\u2019s Law to ensure that illegal aliens cannot obtain trucking licenses. The legislation would strengthen commercial trucking safety by ensuring drivers have lawful status or proper employment authorization, requiring English-language proficiency testing, crack down on fraud, and impose enhanced penalties on motor carriers that knowingly use ineligible drivers.\n\nThis bill is named after 8-year-old Barron Ritchey of Pilot Point, Texas, who was killed in April 2023 on I-35 near Hillsboro when a wheel hub and dual tires flew off a tractor-trailer operated by RTD Carriers and struck the Ritchey family\u2019s SUV as his mother drove him home from a school trip. The driver, Martin Monreal-Alvarado, had a B-1 visa that expired six months earlier.\n\n\u201cBarron\u2019s death was a heartbreaking and preventable tragedy\u2014his family should never have had to suffer his loss as a result of Democrat-era immigration failures,\u201d said Congressman Gill. \u201cWhile nothing can fix the pain of his death, this legislation aims to prevent any other Americans from dying at the hands of illegal aliens behind the wheel on our roads. We must ensure that truckers are here lawfully and speak our language.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur son Barron was a joyful eight-year-old boy who loved his family and friends, playing with his dog Cowboy, and he especially loved making people laugh,\u201d said the Ritchey family. \u201cHe had his whole life ahead of him, and there is not a day that goes by that we don\u2019t miss his smile, his laughter, and all of the moments we should still be sharing with him. Because of our faith in the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ and the atonement of His blood over our lives, we have the blessed assurance that we will see our son again.\n\n\u201cIn the years since we lost Barron, we have learned that his death was not the result of just one failure, but a series of failures across our transportation and immigration systems,\u201d the Ritchey family continued. \u201cMany of those same issues have now become part of a national conversation about who should be allowed to operate commercial trucks on our roads and how our laws are enforced. We are grateful to Congressman Gill for listening to Barron\u2019s story and introducing Barron\u2019s Law. Nothing can bring our son back, but we hope that changes made in his name can help prevent another family from suffering the same unimaginable loss.\u201d\n\nCosponsors (3): Reps. Weber, Williams, Self\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://jackson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2616", "Rep. Ronny Jackson Leads Congressional Colleagues in Advocating for Amarillo-Assembled MV-75 Cheyenne Aircraft", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ronny Jackson", "J000304", "jackson.house.gov", "jackson", "https://jackson.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Today, Representative Ronny Jackson (TX-13) led 86 of his Congressional colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought encouraging the Trump administration to continue prioritizing and advancing the MV-75 Cheyenne program as a critical component of America\u2019s military modernization efforts.\n\nThe MV-75 Cheyenne, the U.S. Army\u2019s next-generation Future Long Range Assault Aircraft, is designed to combine the vertical agility of a helicopter with the speed and range of an airplane. The Army has described the aircraft as capable of flying approximately twice as fast and twice as far as current platforms, expanding the Joint Force\u2019s ability to conduct long-range assault, medical evacuation, resupply, and other critical missions in contested environments.\n\nFinal assembly of the MV-75 Cheyenne will take place at Bell Helicopter\u2019s facility in Amarillo. This program will help support skilled manufacturing jobs and strengthen the region\u2019s defense industrial base.\n\n\u201cThe MV-75 Cheyenne represents the kind of transformational capability our warfighters need to meet the challenges of the future battlefield,\u201d said Rep. Jackson. \u201cOur servicemembers deserve the speed, range, survivability, and operational flexibility necessary to accomplish their missions and come home safely. We must continue advancing this critical program to ensure our military has the tools it needs to maintain our technological advantage.\u201d\n\nCo-signers include: Senators Jerry Moran (KS), Roger Marshall (KS), Jim Banks (IN), Tim Sheehy (MT), Jacky Rosen (NV), Ted Cruz (TX), John Boozman (AR), Marsha Blackburn (TN), Dave McCormick (PA), John Cornyn (TX), Todd Young (IN), Jeanne Shaheen (NH) and Representatives Jake Ellzey (TX-06), Pat Fallon (TX-04), Jack Bergman (MI-01), Scott DesJarlais (TN-04), Rudy Yakym (IN-02), Austin Scott (GA-08), Judge Carter (TX-31), Don Davis (NC-01), Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-26), Ron Estes (KS-04), Mike Ezell (MS-04), Craig Goldman (TX-12), Pat Harrigan (NC-10), Jen Kiggans (VA-02), Matt Van Epps (TN-07), Eugene Vindman (VA-07), Andre Carson (IN-07), Lance Gooden (TX-05), John McGuire (VA-05), Richard McCormick (GA-07), Mark Messmer (IN-08), Joe Wilson (SC-02), Trent Kelly (MS-01), Jefferson Shreve (IN-06), Keith Self (TX-03), Stephanie Bice (OK-05), Nicholas Langworthy (NY-23), Tracey Mann (KS-01), Riley Moore (WV-02), Johnny Olszewski (MD-02), Derek Tran (CA-45), Beth Van Duyne (TX-24), Michael Cloud (TX-27), Brad Finstad (MN-01), Michael Guest (MS-03), Joseph Morelle (NY-25), Frank Mrvan (IN-01), Derek Schmidt (KS-02), Marc Veasey (TX-33), Rick Allen (GA-12), Gabe Amo (RI-01), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Nancy Mace (SC-01), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Pete Sessions (TX-17), Dale Strong (AL-05), Marlin Stutzman (IN-03), Tim Walberg (MI-05), Sheri Biggs (SC-03), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Brandon Gill (TX-26), Diana Harshbarger (TN-01), Hillary Scholten (MI-03), Dan Crenshaw (TX-02), Kevin Hern (OK-01), Julia Letlow (LA-05), Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07), Barry Moore (AL-01), Eric Sorensen (IL-17), Herbert Conaway (NJ-03), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03), Roger Williams (TX-25), Gilbert Cisneros (CA-31), James Comer (KY-01), Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), Erin Houchin (IN-09), Michael McCaul (TX-10), Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13), Mike Kelly (PA-16), Wesley Bell (MO-01) and Clay Fuller (GA-14).\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/cornyn-texas-receives-51-million-to-improve-rural-health-care/", "Cornyn: Texas Receives $51 Million to Improve Rural Health Care", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "John Cornyn", "C001056", "www.cornyn.senate.gov", "cornyn", "https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced the allocation of $51 million to 68 rural hospital districts in Texas to improve health care as part of the \u201cMake Rural Texans Healthy Again\u201d initiative. The funding comes from the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), which Sen. Cornyn championed and helped establish through enactment of the Working Families Tax Cuts Act:\n\n\u201cThe Working Families Tax Cuts Act made the single largest investment in rural health care in more than two decades,\u201d said Sen. Cornyn. \u201cI was proud to support this once-in-a-generation law that established the Rural Health Transformation Program, and I look forward to seeing these resources expand access to care, improve health outcomes, and better support folks with chronic conditions across the Lone Star State.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nThe funding will support community-based prevention, wellness, and nutrition programs to improve health outcomes and address chronic conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, and obesity. Last year, Sen. Cornyn announced the Trump administration allocated $281,319,361 for Texas from the Rural Health Transformation Program. Prior to that, Sen. Cornyn and Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) led a letter with members of the Texas congressional delegation to CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, urging him to prioritize funding for the State of Texas. Sen. Cornyn also released a statement in support of Texas\u2019 application last November.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://menefee.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-menefee-s-statement-on-the-tragic-deaths-of-two-houston-high-school-students", "Congressman Menefee's Statement on the Tragic Deaths of Two Houston High School Students", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Christian D. Menefee", "M001245", "menefee.house.gov", "menefee", "https://menefee.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "HOUSTON, TX \u2014 Today, Congressman Christian D. Menefee (TX-18) released the following statement after two Houston-area high school students, a 17-year-old from Westbury High School and a 15-year-old from Westfield High School, were killed in separate shootings this week:\n\n\u201cMy heart breaks for the two families in Houston who are forced to bury their sons instead of watching them walk the graduation stage. One a student at Westfield, one a student at Westbury. Both with bright futures ahead of them. Both were Black young students who should have had decades left to live. But in an instant, gun violence took their lives.\n\nWe cannot accept this as normal. Our students deserve to learn at school and enjoy their friends free from fear. They deserve leaders who treat this crisis with urgency, in Congress, in Austin, and at every level of government. We must keep fighting for solutions that keep guns away from those who seek to do harm and keep our students safe.\n\nTo every student in Houston reading this: your life matters, your future matters, and we will keep working to protect you.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://pfluger.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3045", "Rep. Pfluger Holds Roundtables with Midland and Odessa Chambers of Commerce", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "August Pfluger", "P000048", "pfluger.house.gov", "pfluger", "https://pfluger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) joined both the Midland and Odessa Chambers of Commerce for roundtables with local business leaders, energy producers, and healthcare providers.\n\nThe roundtables brought together key stakeholders from across the Permian Basin to discuss the challenges facing local businesses. As Co-Chair of the Congressional Free Enterprise Caucus, Congressman Pfluger has been a leading voice in Washington for pro-growth, pro-business policies, and used the discussions to hear directly from West Texas job creators about how federal policy can better support their growth.", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://pfluger.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3046", "Rep. Pfluger Helps Secure $20 Million for City of San Angelo Infrastructure Improvements", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "August Pfluger", "P000048", "pfluger.house.gov", "pfluger", "https://pfluger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) has helped secure $20 million for the Christoval Road Improvement Project. By voting for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, P.L. 119-21) and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (H.R. 7148, P.L. 119-75), Rep. Pfluger helped fund the Department of War's Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP).\n\nThis $20 million investment in San Angelo will help fund a $28.6 million transportation and utility infrastructure project along the south side of Goodfellow Air Force Base, extending from Paint Rock Road to South Chadbourne Street. The Defense Community Infrastructure Program is a competitive grant program administered by the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation to help state and local governments address infrastructure deficiencies in the communities surrounding military installations. DCIP selects projects based on their ability to enhance installation readiness and mission assurance, improve quality of life for service members and their families, or strengthen installation resilience.\n\n\"The Christoval Road Improvement Project will modernize aging infrastructure along Goodfellow Air Force Base's south side, easing traffic, supporting utility upgrades, and helping San Angelo grow. I'm proud to have helped secure this funding and will keep fighting to make sure our military communities have the infrastructure they need to thrive,\" said Rep. August Pfluger (TX-11).\n\n\u201cThis is a tremendous investment in San Angelo, but just as importantly, it is an investment in Goodfellow Air Force Base and its national defense mission,\u201d said San Angelo Mayor Tom Thompson. \u201cOn behalf of the City of San Angelo, I want to personally thank Congressman August Pfluger and Senator Ted Cruz for their continued advocacy for Goodfellow and our community. Their support and recognition of Goodfellow\u2019s importance to our national security continue to make a difference here at home.\u201d\n\nOver the past year, Rep. Pfluger has been an outspoken advocate for directing federal resources back to the communities he represents in Congress. In the last appropriations cycle, Rep. Pfluger secured $20 million for Community Funding Projects across Texas-11.", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/cornyn-blumenthal-file-amicus-brief-supporting-holocaust-survivors-victims-in-recovery-of-nazi-confiscated-art/", "Cornyn, Blumenthal File Amicus Brief Supporting Holocaust Survivors, Victims in Recovery of Nazi-Confiscated Art", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "John Cornyn", "C001056", "www.cornyn.senate.gov", "cornyn", "https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/", "scraper", "AUSTIN \u2013 U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) filed an amicus brief in support of their Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery (HEAR) Act, now law, which aids in the recovery of Nazi-looted art and helps deliver justice for Holocaust survivors and their families. The brief, as filed with the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, argues that the HEAR Act is constitutional and does not violate the Tenth Amendment or separation-of-powers principles as Congress has constitutional authority over war-related consequences and interstate and foreign commerce.\n\n\u201cEarlier this year, the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act was signed into law to ensure Holocaust survivors and their families have an opportunity to regain thousands of missing pieces of artwork that were looted by the Nazi regime,\u201d said Sen. Cornyn. \u201cI am proud to stand in support of survivors and their families, and I urge the Court to ensure victims are not barred from claiming what is rightfully theirs.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Nazi campaign to steal art treasured by Jewish families and others targeted by the regime the was about more than a pilfering of property\u2014it was a deeply personal theft and an act of inhumanity,\u201d said Sen. Blumenthal. \u201cSenator Cornyn has been my partner for years in bringing long overdue justice to families whose cherished art was brazenly stolen by the Nazis. I am proud to join Senator Cornyn, Holocaust survivors, and their family members in urging the Court to do the right thing and uphold the constitutionality of the HEAR Act.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nThe amicus in Reif v. Republic of Austria argues that heirs and descendants of Austrian Jewish art collector Fritz Gr\u00fcnbaum seek the return of Egon Schiele artworks allegedly seized by the Nazis from Gr\u00fcnbaum\u2019s collection under duress during World War II. The case involves claims against the Republic of Austria and Austrian museums, and the current dispute includes whether the amended HEAR Act constitutionally requires the claims to proceed despite defenses that would otherwise bar adjudication on the merits.\n\nAn amicus brief, or \u201cfriend of the court\u201d brief, can be filed in order to address concerns and advise the Court on a matter of law that directly affects the case at hand.", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/cornyn-whitehouse-introduce-bill-to-address-substance-abuse-in-prisons-reduce-recidivism/", "Cornyn, Whitehouse Introduce Bill to Address Substance Abuse in Prisons, Reduce Recidivism", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "John Cornyn", "C001056", "www.cornyn.senate.gov", "cornyn", "https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/", "scraper", "AUSTIN \u2013 U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced the Supporting Treatment and Recovery Over Narcotics for Growth, Empowerment, and Rehabilitation (STRONGER) Act, which would help reduce recidivism and break the cycle of addiction by updating and reauthorizing the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners (RSAT) program that provides treatment and recovery resources to incarcerated individuals with substance use disorders:\n\n\u201cEnsuring incarcerated individuals have access to addiction treatment is not only proven to reduce recidivism through the successful RSAT program, but it is also morally right,\u201d said Sen. Cornyn. \u201cI\u2019m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation to help more Texans get their lives back on track and become productive, healthy members of society after they\u2019re released from prison.\u201d\n\n\u201cSupport for people battling addiction is a bipartisan priority in Congress, and I\u2019m pleased to partner with Senator Cornyn on this legislation to expand access to treatment and recovery options for people who are incarcerated,\u201d said Sen. Whitehouse. \u201cRhode Island has shown that making safe and reliable substance use treatments, including medications for opioid use disorder, available in jails and prisons can help reduce recidivism and break the cycle of addiction.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nEstablished under the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners (RSAT) program provides grants to every state and U.S. territory, and through them, to state prisons and local jails to provide substance use disorder treatment programs to individuals under their supervision. These grants also provide community-based aftercare and post-release treatment that can include medication-assisted treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy and employment, transitional housing, and mental health services.\n\nThe STRONGER Act would reauthorize RSAT funding and provide critical updates to the program, including:\n\nAllowing grantees greater access to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT);\n\nExpanding training requirements to encourage best practices for reentry and continuity of care;\n\nAnd requiring affiliations with doctors who can administer MATs.\n\nThe legislation is endorsed by the National Criminal Justice Association, National Association of Social Workers, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), Major County Sheriffs of America, National Police Foundation, National Association for Behavioral Healthcare, The National Council for Behavioral Health, Dismas Charities Inc., Center for Court Innovation, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Westcare Foundation International, Community Corrections Association, Correctional Leaders Association, American Psychological Association, National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors, and National Association of Drug Court Professionals.", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-cruz-texas-delegation-endorse-texas-proposal-to-host-us-space-academy", "Sen. Cruz, Texas Delegation Endorse Texas Proposal to Host U.S. Space Academy", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", "cruz", "https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, led members of the Texas congressional delegation in a letter to the Presidential Commission on the United States Space Academy endorsing Texas\u2019s forthcoming proposal to host the U.S. Space Academy.\n\nBelow are highlights and excerpts from the letter:\n\n\u201cAs the Commission determines how to bring that vision to life, all the Stars align within the great State of Texas. If America is going to build the world's premier academy for space, Texas has all the ingredients for success: the people, infrastructure, experience, land, and resources required to support the President's vision and keep America as the leader in space.\n\n\u201cFor more than six decades, Texas has led human spaceflight. NASA's Johnson Space Center is home to America's astronaut corps, Mission Control, and human spaceflight training. Houston has trained the astronauts who pushed the boundaries of human exploration and made history.\n\n\u201cThat history matters. America has spent more than six decades building and perfecting a world-class human spaceflight ecosystem in Texas. Locating the Space Academy in Texas would allow the Nation to build on those existing investments rather than attempting to recreate these capabilities elsewhere. The Academy could inherit and benefit from that advantage from day one, giving students direct access to the people, facilities, and institutions driving America's human Spaceflight program.\n\n\u201cMost states specialize in one part of the space enterprise. In Texas, we develop, build, test, launch, and operate space systems. America's space enterprise comes together here. That convergence is particularly important to the President's vision for the Space Academy. The President's Executive Order calls for an institution that combines rigorous technical education with leadership development, experiential training, and commitment to public service.\n\n\u201cStudents should train where astronauts train, learning from those operating today's missions, working alongside engineers, developing tomorrow's Space technology, and engaging with servicemembers protecting American interests in space. Texas is the natural home for the Space Academy, with more than sixty years as the heart of America's human spaceflight programs.\u201d\n\nThe letter is co-signed by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Reps. Brian Babin (R-Texas-36), Michael Cloud (R-Texas-27), Pat Fallon (R-Texas-4), Lance Gooden (R-Texas-5), Keith Self (R-Texas-3), Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas-2), Randy Weber (R-Texas-14), Michael McCaul (R-Texas-10), Morgan Luttrell (R-Texas-8), Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas-24), Jodey Arrington (R-Texas-19), Troy Nehls (R-Texas-22), John Carter (R-Texas-31), Nathaniel Moran (R-Texas-1), Craig Goldman (R-Texas-12), Roger Williams (R-Texas-25), Pete Sessions (R-Texas-17), Jake Ellzey (R-Texas-6), Chip Roy (R-Texas-21), August Pfluger (R-Texas-11), Ronny Jackson (R-Texas-13), Monica De La Cruz (R-Texas-15), and Brandon Gill (R-Texas-26).", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://crockett.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-crockett-demands-abbott-release-texas-maternal-mortality-report-midterms", "Rep. Crockett Demands Abbott Release Texas Maternal Mortality Report Before the Midterms", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Jasmine Crockett", "C001130", "crockett.house.gov", "crockett", "https://crockett.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (TX-30) called on Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Texas Department of State Health Services Interim Commissioner Imelda Garcia, and Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee Presiding Officer Dr. Carla Ortique to immediately release Texas\u2019s latest maternal mortality report, warning that withholding these findings until after the midterm elections would prevent Texans from the opportunity to examine the state\u2019s maternal health record before casting their ballots.\n\n\u201cTexas mothers are dying, and instead of giving us answers, Abbott\u2019s administration is hiding that data, right before the midterms,\u201d said Crockett.\n\nIn her letter, Crockett cites recent research documenting worsening maternal health outcomes following the enactment of Senate Bill 8 in 2021, which effectively banned abortion after six weeks of pregnancy. The letter also highlights the state\u2019s decision to forgo analysis of pregnancy-related deaths during the two years immediately following the law\u2019s enactment.\n\nRecent independent analyses cited in the letter found significant increases in serious pregnancy complications following Texas\u2019s abortion restrictions, including increases in sepsis among women hospitalized during second-trimester pregnancy loss, emergency room visits for early miscarriage, and blood transfusions during miscarriage-related emergency room visits.\n\n\u201cAs the most uninsured state in the country, Texas is already failing women \u2014 especially our mothers. And burying that truth to silence families' stories does not erase their reality. Texans deserve the truth. They deserve transparency. And this administration has a legal obligation to give it to them,\u201d said Crockett.\n\nWith early voting scheduled to begin October 19, Crockett called on state officials to release the MMMRC\u2019s findings without further delay and fulfill the committee\u2019s statutory responsibility to examine pregnancy-related deaths and help prevent maternal deaths in Texas.\n\nThe full letter can be found here.", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://delacruz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4037", "De La Cruz Leads Fight Against Mealybug", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Monica De La Cruz", "D000594", "delacruz.house.gov", "delacruz", "https://delacruz.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) introduced the Combatting Pasture Mealybug Act. The bill directs the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to study the impact of the pasture mealybug and provide Congress with recommended strategies that the Federal Government can quickly deploy to contain the invasive pest.\n\nOriginal co-sponsors of the legislation include Representative Brian Babin (TX-36), Michael Cloud (TX-27), Jake Ellzey (TX-06), Pat Fallon (TX-04), Brandon Gill (TX-26), Lance Gooden (TX-05), Morgan Luttrell (TX-08), Nathaniel Moran (TX-01), Beth Van Duyne (TX-24), Randy Weber (TX-14), Roger Williams (TX-25), Kat Cammack (FL-03) and David Valadao (CA-22).\n\n\"The pasture mealybug poses a major threat to Texas agriculture. After hearing from Texas farmers, it's clear we must act now. That's why I am proud to lead the fight in stopping this new pest and working alongside Secretary Rollins to deploy effective solutions. Protecting Texas agriculture is my top priority, and I will fight to secure a strong future for Texas.\" - Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz\n\nThe legislation is supported by the following organizations: Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, Texas Farm Bureau, Texas Citrus Mutual, Texas Vegetable Association, Texas International Produce Association, Mississippi Cattlemen's Association, and Florida Farm Bureau.\n\n\u201cPasture mealybug poses a serious threat to our grazing land resources and the future of cattle operations in Texas and the Southwest. With no viable eradication option for pasture mealybug, it is crucial that we ramp up our response efforts now. By directing USDA to study and report on strategies, the Combating Pasture Mealybug Act is imperative to ensuring long-term viability of our grasslands and forages.\"\n\n- Stephen Diebel, Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association President\n\n\"The Texas International Produce Association (TIPA) supports Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz\u2019s Combating Pasture Mealybug Act. While our members primarily represent the fresh fruit and vegetable industry, the strength of every agricultural sector\u2014including livestock, forage, sod, and other crop production\u2014contributes to the health of our overall agricultural economy. Emerging pests that threaten our farmers, ranchers, sod producers, and agricultural lands can have consequences extending well beyond a single commodity. We appreciate Congresswoman De La Cruz\u2019s leadership in bringing attention to this threat and working to protect the long-term strength and resilience of American agriculture.\" - Texas International Produce Association\n\n\u201cTexas Farm Bureau supports the Mealybug Eradication Act. Pasture mealybug poses a serious threat to productive grazing lands and the livestock industry, and we must be prepared to respond. This bill will help strengthen our understanding of the pest, improve preparedness and response capabilities, and identify strategies to contain and eradicate it. We thank Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz for her leadership and support of Texas agriculture.\u201d - Russell Boening, President, Texas Farm Bureau\n\nBackground:\n\nFirst spotted in the United States in 2025, the pasture mealybug is an invasive pest that feeds on plant sap in forage grasses, attacking both above- and below-ground parts of key forage, row, and turf crops. As of September 2026, the bug has been identified in counties across Texas, Louisiana, Florida, and Georgia.\n\nPasture mealybug infestation causes pasture dieback and major economic losses in livestock, sugarcane, turfgrass, and row-crop sectors. Damages caused by the pasture mealybug are estimated to cost billions of dollars in the long term.", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3371", "Representatives Escobar, Bacon Introduce Bill to Prevent Military Families from Losing Access to Nutrition Benefits", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Veronica Escobar", "E000299", "escobar.house.gov", "escobar", "https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) and Congressman Don Bacon (NE-2) introduced the Nutrition Continuity for Military Families Act of 2026. This bill would ensure that at-risk military families do not lose access to crucial supplemental nutritional benefits through the Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) program while conducting military required permanent changes of station (PCS).\n\n\"Receiving orders to move around the country or the world is one of the most stressful sacrifices a military family can make,\" said Congresswoman Escobar. \"It's critical that when families conduct a permanent change of station, Congress and the military make this drastic change as smooth as possible. The last thing they should be worried about is the transferring of their nutrition assistance. My bipartisan bill addresses this by ensuring military families have the resources and tools at their disposal to ensure they have food on the table.\u201d\n\n\"Food costs are one of the biggest financial pressures on military families right now, and WIC benefits are a lifeline for many of them,\" said Shannon Razsadin, Military Family Advisory Network CEO. \"Our own research backs that up: the Military Family 360\u00b0 Survey found 41.2% of military families report low or very low food security, up from 15.6% just two years ago, and families who've recently moved due to military orders are among the hardest hit. Families report WIC benefit coverage gaps when they relocate, and some don't even know they qualify in the first place. This legislation fixes both problems: it helps families know what they're eligible for and ensures those benefits don't lapse just because they got new orders. That's real financial stability for the families who need it most, and it strengthens the readiness of our all-volunteer force.\"\n\nThe Nutrition Continuity for Military Families Act of 2026 ensures that the Department of Defense (DoD) provides the necessary resources and tools to fend off military family food insecurity. Specifically, this bill will:\n\nRequire the DoD to notify service members upon receipt of PCS orders, if they are likely to fall within the category of income eligibility for WIC based on their grade/rank and time in service. The target category include:\n\nenlisted service members undergoing a PCS with one or more dependents\n\npregnant enlisted service members\n\nenlisted service members with pregnant spouses\n\nenlisted servicemembers who meet the following service criteria:\n\nserving an initial term of enlistment\n\nserving in a paygrade of E-4 of below or,\n\nhave completed less than 10 years of service and is serving in the paygrade of E-5 or E-6.\n\nRequire that state agencies issue a Verification of Certification card to covered members at the time of certification or recertification, ensuring their continued access to program benefits\n\nRequire DoD to ensure that every military installation is staffed at least three days a week by a DoD employee knowledgeable of the WIC program and with resources to direct families to local agencies to complete enrollment and manage benefits. These offices will provide readily available resources to military families who may be challenged to access local agencies located off the installation.", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://gooden.house.gov/press-releases?ID=CFE4B8A7-8DFB-4DB9-B115-9EA4AA58C6FC", "New Gooden Bill Cracks Down on Synthetic Kratom Products", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Lance Gooden", "G000589", "gooden.house.gov", "gooden", "https://gooden.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Today, Congressman Lance Gooden (TX-05) announced the End Gas Station Heroin Act, legislation to protect Americans from dangerous synthetic opioids sold in gas stations and smoke shops.\n\nThe bill permanently schedules synthetic opioids and analogs sold in synthetic kratom products, commonly known as \u201cgas station heroin.\u201d It also creates a special federal enforcement mechanism to address new and emerging substances before manufacturers can evade enforcement.\n\n\u201cDangerous synthetic opioids powerful enough to fuel addiction and destroy lives should not be sitting on convenience store shelves next to snacks and energy drinks,\u201d said Rep. Gooden. \u201cMy bill permanently schedules these drugs, closes loopholes, and targets the entities putting them into our communities.\u201d\n\nThe issue has taken on renewed urgency following the deaths of two University of Mississippi students earlier this week. Synthetic kratom products were reportedly found at the scene, though authorities have not determined the official cause of death.\n\nExisting enforcement mechanisms have struggled to keep pace as new synthetic compounds enter the market across the country. The Drug Enforcement Administration has taken temporary action to schedule certain synthetic substances, but those measures are limited and do not provide a permanent framework for addressing new compounds as they emerge.\n\nThe End Gas Station Heroin Act would:\n\nPermanently schedule several dangerous synthetic opioids and analogs, including synthetic 7-OH.\n\nCreate a mechanism to treat future emerging synthetic opioids as scheduled for manufacturers and distributors, helping prevent minor molecular alterations from being used to evade enforcement.\n\nTarget manufacturers and distributors who introduce these drugs into the stream of commerce.\n\nThe bill was featured in an exclusive article by the Washington Reporter and is cosponsored by Reps. Rich McCormick (GA-07), Barry Moore (AL-01), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01), and Randy Fine (FL-06). Senator Bernie Moreno is leading the companion in the Senate.\n\nRead the bill text here.", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://menefee.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-menefee-announces-42-million-grant-awarded-to-texas-southern-university", "Congressman Menefee Announces $4.2 Million Grant Awarded to Texas Southern University", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Christian D. Menefee", "M001245", "menefee.house.gov", "menefee", "https://menefee.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "HOUSTON, TX \u2014 Today, Congressman Christian D. Menefee (TX-18) announced that Texas Southern University (TSU) will receive $4.2 million in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Education\u2019s Supplemental Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Mandatory Grants program.\n\nThe federal program provides additional resources to HBCUs to strengthen their institutions and expand educational opportunities for their students.\n\n\u201cTSU is a cornerstone of opportunity in the 18th Congressional District. For generations, it has opened doors for students, strengthened our Houston community, and produced incredible leaders who have made their mark in Texas and across the country,\u201d said Congressman Menefee. \u201cThe Tigers are a source of pride for TX-18, and this $4.2 million investment will help build on that legacy. I\u2019m proud to see these federal dollars coming back home to support students and strengthen one of our nation\u2019s great HBCUs.\u201d\n\n\u201cTexas Southern University welcomes this significant federal investment in our students and our institution. We thank the U.S. Department of Education for this additional investment in historically Black colleges and universities, and we appreciate Congressman Menefee\u2019s continued focused for Texas Southern University and the students we serve. As we approach our Centennial, these resources will strengthen our ability to advance student success, workforce preparation, innovation, and economic opportunity for Houston, Texas, and the nation,\u201d said James W. Crawford III, President, Texas Southern University.\n\nTexas Southern University is one of the nation\u2019s largest HBCUs and an important educational and economic institution in Houston\u2019s Third Ward.\n\nPrairie View A&M University (PVAMU) will also receive $4.5 million through the program. While Prairie View is located outside the 18th Congressional District, its ties to Houston and TX-18 run deep. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who represented the 18th Congressional District for nearly three decades, was a longtime advocate for Prairie View and its students, recognizing the many PVAMU students, alumni, and families who call Houston home. Rep. Menefee is proud to continue that legacy of supporting HBCUs that educate and create opportunities for Houstonians.", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://moran.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2913", "Moran, Scott Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Bring Film Jobs Home", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Nathaniel Moran", "M001224", "moran.house.gov", "nathanielmoran", "https://moran.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Rep. Nathaniel Moran (R-TX-01) introduced the Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act in the House. This bipartisan legislation is aimed at reviving American film and television production across the U.S., which will bring further economic growth to our communities. Moran is joined by Representatives Linda S\u00e1nchez (D-CA-38), Brian Jack (R-GA-03), Laura Friedman (D-CA-30), David Kustoff (R-TN-08), Judy Chu (D-CA-28), Mike Carey (R-OH-15), and Tom Suozzi (D-NY-03) in introduction. Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) introduced companion legislation in the Senate, joined by Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA).\n\nThe bill would create a federal tax credit for productions made in the United States, aimed at reversing the flow of film and television jobs to the numerous foreign countries that are luring these American productions away. The goal is to bring that work back to American crews, small businesses, and the communities that depend on the industry.\n\n\u201cWhen a production comes to a community\u2014from rural East Texas to urban New York\u2014that money doesn't just benefit the production company. It helps the local caterer, the hardware store, the hoteliers, and every tradesman in between who makes film and television production possible. Those jobs are going overseas right now simply because other countries are offering bigger handouts. If we want to keep American storytelling in America, we have to level the playing field, and that's exactly what this bill does. This isn't about subsidizing Hollywood\u2014it's about supporting the American worker, one story and one production at a time. I'm proud to work with Senator Scott and our bipartisan group in both chambers to get this done, and I'm grateful to Ambassador Jon Voight and Sean Astin for the work they've put into pushing this forward,\u201d said Rep. Nathaniel Moran (R-TX-01).\n\n\u201cHaving worked in a movie theater growing up, I saw early on how films can move and inspire generations of Americans. Films like \u2018The Notebook\u2019 bring us to tears, and films like \u2018Forrest Gump\u2019 inspire us to see the world differently. That is the power of film, and South Carolina is blessed to have served as the backdrop for both of these iconic American stories,\u201d said Sen. Scott. \u201cWe cannot stand by as more and more American film production moves overseas, taking jobs, investment, and an important source of American cultural influence with it. This legislation will create jobs in communities across America, support local economies, and help ensure that the next generation of iconic American films is made right here in America. Hollywood\u2019s history is legendary, but the future of American filmmaking can be even brighter.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor years, I've been championing a federal film tax credit to stop the exodus of TV and film production leaving the United States for countries offering higher incentives. Now, we have the best opportunity in decades to get it done. The direct and indirect jobs created by this creative and talented workforce are enormously important, and we want to make sure they stay in this country. With the support of the White House, our bill will create an overdue federal program to bring the movie magic back to America while creating thousands of jobs and spurring local economic growth across the nation. This legislation has bipartisan, bicameral support, and it's time we get this passed,\u201d said Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA).\n\n\u201cThe United States is losing good-paying union jobs because it's become too expensive to film here. This isn't about the actors who star in films and can travel for a shoot. It's about the production crews and set builders, the backbone of the film industry. Our bill would create incentives to bring those jobs back home and boost local economies, not just in California, but across the country,\u201d said Rep. Linda S\u00e1nchez (D-CA-38).\n\n\u201cMy Congressional District is home to Trilith Studios, and I proudly represent the craftsmen, electricians, and carpenters who work hard to create movies that inspire generations of Americans. Study after study has demonstrated that American film production delivers substantial economic benefits to communities across our country by creating jobs, supporting local businesses, and generating millions of dollars in local economic activity. I applaud President Trump's leadership in calling for a legislative solution to bring film production back to the United States, and I look forward to working with him and my colleagues in Congress to advance our legislation and achieve this important goal,\u201d said Rep. Brian Jack (R-GA-03).\n\n\u201cFor over a year, I've worked to build a coalition of unions, studios, Republicans and Democrats, and the White House, because we knew that a national film tax credit would bring hundreds of thousands of jobs back to our country,\u201d said Rep. Laura Friedman (D-CA-30). \u201cThis bill is a result of that coalition. It tells every country that has been outbidding us for American work that we are done losing.\u201d\n\n\u201cOhio has a rich history in film production, from \u2018The Deer Hunter\u2019 and \u2018The Shawshank Redemption\u2019 to \u2018The Avengers\u2019 and \u2018A Christmas Story.\u2019 Many of these filming locations have become tourist attractions and are economic drivers to this day. The film industry provides high-paying jobs for artists, small businesses, and union workers. As other countries implement beneficial tax incentives to draw production away from the United States, Congress must work to ensure the United States stays competitive. I would like to commend Representative Moran for introducing this important legislation. As Chairman of the Humanities Caucus and a member of the tax-writing committee, I am confident this bill will help the United States maintain its global influence, as well as the high-paying jobs, associated with film production,\u201d said Rep. Mike Carey (R-OH-15).\n\n\u201cFor generations, Southern California has been the heart of America's film and television industry, supporting thousands of workers and small businesses in the San Gabriel Valley and across our region. But today, too many productions are leaving for other countries, taking good-paying jobs and economic opportunity with them. We cannot stand by while communities across the United States lose these productions and the jobs they support. That's why I am so proud to co-lead the bipartisan, bicameral Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act, which will create a new federal tax credit to incentivize film and television production here in America. This bill will help bring productions and jobs back home, support our creative workforce, and keep Southern California the entertainment capital of the world,\u201d said Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA-28).\n\n\u201cThe film and TV industry is an economic engine in New York. It supports thousands of good jobs at good wages,\u201d said Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY-03). \u201cAmerica is the entertainment leader of the world and this bill incentivizes filmmakers and studios to hire American workers. I'm proud to help lead this commonsense, bipartisan effort.\u201d\n\nWhat the Bill Does\n\n- Creates a new federal tax credit for American film and television productionsGives an added incentive to productions filmed in rural communities designated as federal Opportunity Zones\n\n- Gives an added incentive to productions filmed in federally declared disaster areasCovers every phase of production, including principal photography, traditional post-production, and visual effects, as long as the work happens in the United States\n\n- Extends the benefit to the whole country, beyond major hubs like Los Angeles and New York\n\nTexas already has a program that mirrors this legislation. In 2025, the state passed Senate Bill 22 (SB 22), committing $300 million every two years through 2035 to the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program (TMIIIP). Productions that qualify can get back 5 to 25 percent of what they spend in the state, and there are extra grants on top of that for projects that film in rural areas, use historic sites, or partner with Texas universities to train workers. The industry already supports more than 59,000 jobs and $4.8 billion in wages in Texas alone. The Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act builds a federal layer on top of what Texas is already doing under TMIIIP.\n\nEndorsed by: American Federation of Musicians, American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), Coalition for American Production (CAP), CreativeFuture, Directors Guild of America (DGA), FilmUSA, Independent Film and Television Alliance (IFTA), International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), Motion Picture Association (MPA), Paramount, Producers Guild of America (PGA), Screen Actors Guild \u2013 American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), Teamsters, Television Academy, Writers Guild of America East (WGAE), Writers Guild of America West (WGAW)\n\n\u201cI want to thank President Trump for bringing national attention to the urgent need for a federal film and television production tax credit and for calling on Congress to act,\u201d said Jon Voight, United States Special Ambassador to Hollywood. \u201cI also want to thank Senators Tim Scott and Adam Schiff, along with Representatives Nathaniel Moran, Linda S\u00e1nchez, Brian Jack, and Laura Friedman, for their work on this bipartisan effort to bring productions and jobs back to the United States. The Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act will restore the American film and television industry, put crews back to work, support productions at all levels, and create economic opportunities in communities nationwide. All Americans want to bring our iconic film industry home, and we can do it by working together to get this important legislation passed quickly.\u201d\n\n\u201cParamount fully supports this legislation and thanks Representative Moran for his bipartisan leadership on this important issue. America's highly skilled production workforce \u2014 including camera operators, set production designers, editors, visual effects artists, lighting and sound crews, costume and makeup teams, transportation workers, filmmakers, and countless others \u2014 are critical to our nation's economy and have built and powered one of this country's greatest cultural exports. We believe now is the time to pursue this important legislation, so we can support our critical production workers and make more films and TV right here at home. Paramount will continue working closely with our union partners and the broader creative industry at every level to help support this effort,\u201d said David Ellison, Chairman and CEO of Paramount, a Skydance Corporation.\n\n\u201cSAG-AFTRA is proud to partner with our fellow unions, industry and policymakers in a bipartisan effort to rescue the domestic film and television business. The money is being invested, the productions are being made, the jobs are being created, just not in America. This is a jobs bill and that is exactly what our members want to see. We have the infrastructure. We have the crews. We have the talent. Now all we need is a level playing field. We are the storytellers who inform and entertain the world. Let's get back to doing that right here at home. Thank you, Senators Scott and Schiff and Representatives Moran, S\u00e1nchez, Friedman, and Jack, for championing this critical legislation,\u201d said Sean Astin, President, Screen Actors Guild \u2013 American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.\n\n\u201cThe Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act is the most significant legislative effort in a generation to promote domestic film and television production, and the hundreds of thousands of jobs it supports. This moment is the culmination of years of work by the entertainment guilds and unions, in partnership with the MPA and lawmakers from both parties. The DGA thanks Senators Scott and Schiff and Representatives Moran, Jack, and Friedman for advancing this important bipartisan effort to strengthen domestic production, create jobs, and further build on the critical work already underway through state incentives in California, New York, Illinois, Georgia, and elsewhere. We also acknowledge the leadership of Ambassador Voight on this issue. We look forward to working with our partners in Congress, labor, the Administration, and at the studios to get this bill signed into law,\u201d said Christopher Nolan, President, Directors Guild of America.\n\n\u201cThe Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act would deliver a true gamechanger for American creators, workers, and businesses, a federal incentive that supercharges production at home, fuels jobs and growth in local communities, and makes the United States a more competitive destination for the next generation of great film and television. There's a reason everyone from President Trump to a bipartisan group of members in Congress to studios, unions, guilds, and more want to get this done. Passing this legislation could inject $250 billion into the country's economy and deliver nearly 145,000 new jobs every year across all 50 states. That's a story we can write together by enacting this bill, to ensure that more stories are crafted, created, and made here in America. The Motion Picture Association thanks Senators Tim Scott and Adam Schiff, and Representatives Nathaniel Moran, Linda S\u00e1nchez, Brian Jack, Laura Friedman, Mike Carey, Judy Chu, David Kustoff, and Tom Suozzi for their leadership in support of America's creative economy,\u201d said Charles Rivkin, Chairman and CEO, Motion Picture Association.\n\nRead full statements of support from these organizations and industry leaders here.\n\nBackground:\n\nMany of the films Americans watch again and again were made here, by American crews, in American towns. \u201cThe Sandlot\u201d was shot in Salt Lake City and Ogden, Utah. \u201cJaws\u201d was filmed on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. \u201cTop Gun\u201d was made in San Diego. \u201cThe Shawshank Redemption\u201d was filmed in Mansfield, Ohio, and went on to become one of the most beloved American films ever made. \u201cSingin\u2019 in the Rain\u201d was shot at MGM's old studios in Culver City, and \u201cThe Natural\u201d was filmed in Buffalo, New York. If those productions had gone somewhere cheaper, they wouldn't be the movies people know today.\n\nThe legislation follows public comments from President Trump this summer encouraging Congress to act on a bipartisan basis to bring film and television production back to the United States. Additional input and analysis on the legislation will take place as the bipartisan members work through the legislative process in both chambers with the goal of having the bill reach final consideration before the end of the year.\n\nThis legislation builds on work Rep. Moran began earlier this month, when he co-founded the bipartisan Congressional American Film & TV Production Caucus alongside Reps. Brian Jack (R-GA-03), Laura Friedman (D-CA-30), Linda S\u00e1nchez (D-CA-38), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY-11), and Tom Suozzi (D-NY-03) to revitalize American film and television production.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sens-cruz-britt-introduce-legislation-to-improve-management-of-double-crested-cormorants", "Sens. Cruz, Britt Introduce Legislation to Improve Management of Double-Crested Cormorants", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", "cruz", "https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Katie Britt (R-Ala.) introduced the Responsible Cormorant Management and Control Act of 2026. The legislation requires the Secretary of the Interior to develop regional management frameworks for the take of double-crested cormorants.\n\nSen. Cruz said, \u201cExcessive double-crested cormorant populations are harming fisheries, aquaculture operations, and private waters across Texas. This bill gives Texans the tools they need to responsibly manage these populations.\u201d\n\nSen. Britt said, \u201cAlabama's catfish farmers play a crucial role in our state's economy and put food on the table for hardworking families. We should be taking every step to ensure their continued success. Cormorants pose a significant threat to catfish populations, and that\u2019s why I'm proud to join Senator Cruz in introducing this legislation to streamline burdensome regulations and bolster states\u2019 abilities to work with the Department of the Interior to protect this critical industry.\u201d\n\nU.S. Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.-5) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.\n\nRep. Walberg said, \u201cOur fisheries are essential to our nation\u2019s economy, outdoor recreation, and cultural heritage. Recreational fishing across the United States generates significant economic benefit, supporting jobs and tourism-driven economies nationwide. When double crested cormorant populations grow beyond sustainable levels, they can significantly deplete fish stocks. This legislation ensures we have a responsible, science driven framework to protect the health of our fisheries.\u201d\n\nRead the bill text here.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nThe Responsible Cormorant Management and Control Act of 2026 requires regional management frameworks to maintain the breeding population of double-crested cormorants at a sustainable level and consider the effects of populations on fisheries and other natural resources. The legislation also seeks to identify eligible entities, such as state-licensed lake managers and pond managers, to take double-crested cormorants.", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-must-read-essence-article-below-titled-whos-buying-influence-black", "ICYMI: The must-read Essence article below, titled \u201cWho\u2019s Buying Influence In Black Politics? Rep. Al Green Sounds The Alarm At Congressional Black Caucus.\"", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Al Green", "G000553", "algreen.house.gov", "algreen", "https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "The must-read Essence article below, titled \u201cWho\u2019s Buying Influence In Black Politics? Rep. Al Green Sounds The Alarm At Congressional Black Caucus,\u201d speaks for itself.\n\nYou can access the article by clicking the link here.", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://casar.house.gov/media/press-releases/news-after-detention-visit-casar-says-man-shot-ice-still-has-bullet-his-body", "NEWS: After Detention Visit, Casar Says Man Shot by ICE Still Has Bullet in His Body, Needs Surgery", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Greg Casar", "C001131", "casar.house.gov", "casar", "https://casar.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS \u2013 Today, Congressman Greg Casar (TX-35) visited Wilber Rafael Garces Perez at the South Texas ICE Processing Center in Pearsall, three days after Garces Perez was shot by a federal immigration officer in North Austin. Staff members from the office of Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) joined the visit.\n\nCasar reported that Garces Perez saw a specialist for the first time today, and that the specialist said he needs surgery to remove the bullet still lodged in his body.\n\nCasar inspected the wound where the bullet entered Garces Perez's back, just below his neck, and saw heavy bruising across his chest. Garces Perez told Casar the following:\n\nHe was discharged from the hospital within hours of the shooting, without speaking to his physician.\n\nHe did not learn the bullet was still inside him until more than a day after the shooting.\n\nHe spent his first night in a processing facility with no bed, in his hospital gown, cold and in intense pain.\n\nHe finally received stronger pain medication by injection just one hour before the scheduled congressional visit.\n\n\u201cI saw the conditions of Wilber\u2019s injuries, and just like anybody that had been shot three days ago, he needs a doctor \u2014 not a deportation or a detention center,\u201d said Congressman Casar (D-Texas). \u201cMy message to ICE is very clear: release Wilber from detention to get him the medical care he desperately needs.\u201d\n\n\u201cICE's treatment of Wilber amounts to torture. After being shot in the back, he has received next to no medical care \u2014 despite being in excruciating pain and losing movement on his left side. He should be in a hospital, not held in isolation at the South Texas Immigration Processing Center,\u201d said Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-Texas). \u201cHe had permission to work in the U.S. and was delivering for DoorDash to support his family. Wilber must be released into medical care immediately. There must be an independent investigation, and the officers who shot him in the back must be held accountable. An agency that tortures a man like this should be disbanded.\u201d\n\nCasar called for a full, transparent investigation into the shooting by local, state, and federal law enforcement. The agents from the shooting scene are scheduled to be interviewed tomorrow, and local law enforcement has requested to be included. That request has not been fulfilled, and Casar called for the federal government to cooperate fully with local law enforcement.\n\nCasar also called for the release of body camera and dash camera footage and answers on why Garces Perez was removed from the hospital. Casar has also requested a briefing from DHS Secretary Mullin by Monday, September 28.\n\n###\n\nCongressman Greg Casar represents Texas\u2019s 35th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, which runs down I-35 from East Austin to Hays County to the West Side of San Antonio. A labor organizer and son of Mexican immigrants, Casar serves as the Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus for the 119th Congress. He also serves on the Committee on Education and Labor and the Committee on Oversight and Accountability.", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://casar.house.gov/media/press-releases/news-casar-sanders-introduce-legislation-create-new-federal-agency-ban", "NEWS: Casar, Sanders Introduce Legislation to Create New Federal Agency to Ban Artificial Superintelligence, Pause Advanced AI Development", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Greg Casar", "C001131", "casar.house.gov", "casar", "https://casar.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Today, Congressman Greg Casar (D-Texas) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced the Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act \u2014 legislation to stop artificial intelligence (AI) oligarchs from building machines humans cannot control and to pause advanced AI development until we have put in place rigorous federal testing and oversight to ensure AI does not harm humanity.\n\n\u201cExperts are warning that AI superintelligence, wielded by the wrong humans or by rogue AI, could kill countless numbers of people. But Donald Trump says he wants to encourage it. Something has to change,\u201d Congressman Casar said. \u201cOur bill bans the development of artificial superintelligence and pushes for international agreements so that no one, anywhere, builds AI too powerful for humans to control. Furthermore, our bill would immediately halt other dangerous AI capabilities, such as the capacity to develop biochemical weapons, or the capacity for AI to develop new AI instead of humans.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen you are racing towards a cliff, you don\u2019t just ease up on the gas pedal. You hit the brakes. When the future of humanity is at stake, we need binding international safety rules, not voluntary standards from the industry,\u201d Senator Sanders said. \u201cScientists have been clear: AI is an existential threat to humanity. It must be treated as such. This legislation will permanently ban the development of artificial superintelligence and would put in place an immediate pause on advanced AI development until we have clear safety rules in place \u2014 developed by the most knowledgeable scientists in our country. Congress must act now before it is too late.\u201d\n\nThe Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act will protect humanity by:\n\nBanning Artificial Superintelligence. No person or entity may develop or deploy Artificial Superintelligence \u2014 an AI that exceeds human cognitive performance and capabilities across most domains, or has sufficient capabilities to destroy or disempower humanity, including by overthrowing the federal government.\n\nPausing Advanced AI development until a new, federal AI regulatory body is up and running and has established clear rules and model review process to ensure safe and secure development and deployment of AI.\n\nEstablishing a new cabinet-level federal agency, the Department of Artificial Intelligence, to safeguard the public from the dangers of artificial intelligence, including by enforcing a prohibition on artificial superintelligence. This agency will be advised by the most knowledgeable scientists in our country to:\n\nMonitor frontier AI systems at all stages of the lifecycle for dangerous capabilities.\n\nSupervise the removal of dangerous capabilities like subverting shutdown commands or conducting unauthorized cyberattacks.\n\nSupervise the destruction of artificial superintelligence.\n\nSetting penalties for any person or entity that attempts to violate or circumvent the pauses and prohibitions laid out in this bill. Entities shall be subject to the corporate death penalty, and persons shall be subject to not more than 20 years in prison, which is similar to existing penalties related to unlawfully developing nuclear weapons.\n\nWorking to ban superintelligence around the world by setting the international policy of the United States to pursue international agreements, allied coordination, and policies such as export controls to prevent the development of artificial superintelligence anywhere in the world.\n\nRead a summary here.\n\nRead the bill text here.", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/09/23/2026/castro-statement-on-wilber-rafael-garces-perez", "Castro Statement on Wilber Rafael Garc\u00e9s P\u00e9rez", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Joaquin Castro", "C001091", "castro.house.gov", "castro", "https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Pearsall, TX \u2014 Today, staff from the Office of Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) shared the following statement on behalf of Congressman Castro, after members of his staff and Congressman Greg Casar (TX-35) visited Wilber Rafael Garc\u00e9s P\u00e9rez at the South Texas ICE Processing Center (STIPC) in Pearsall, Texas:\n\n\"My apologies for not being with you today. An hours-long flight delay kept me from joining Congressman Casar in visiting Wilber Rafael Garc\u00e9s P\u00e9rez. As the Congressman for Austin, Wilber's home, Greg's unyielding pursuit of truth and justice in this matter has been admirable. Thank you, Congressman, for that work.\n\n\u201cICE's treatment of Wilber thus far has amounted to torture. That is not an exaggeration in this case. After being shot in the back and handcuffed without first aid, he was allowed to stay in the hospital for only a few hours before being taken to a detention center while in excruciating pain and made to lie on the floor. The medical facilities at the South Texas ICE Processing Center (STIPC) in Pearsall are not equipped to handle a patient who has experienced that kind of trauma. ICE knew this but took him there anyway. It got so bad that he had to be taken back to the hospital, but again he was allowed to remain only hours before being returned to STIPC. He told ICE agents about his excruciating pain and told them that he could no longer move the left side of his body. Yet they let him suffer with their bullet still in his body.\n\n\u201cThis immigrant man, a Venezuelan, fled a regime that President Trump himself declared a terrorist one, just as millions of Venezuelans have fled over the past several years. He had permission to enter the United States and to work. And that's what he was doing when ICE shot him in the back, delivering food for DoorDash to support himself and his family. In fact, he told my staff that he had been working in the area for quite some time and that all the restaurants in the area know him. He also asked my staff to tell his wife and mother that he was doing okay, as not to worry them. This is who ICE is targeting.\n\n\u201cICE has shot and killed people before, including U.S. citizens, and lied about it. They have discredited themselves. There must be an independent investigation, and the ICE officers who shot Wilber in the back should be held accountable. Finally, this system known as ICE, which has allowed a man to be tortured, should be disbanded.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/cornyn-statement-on-confirmation-of-angela-colmenero-for-u-s-district-court-in-houston/", "Cornyn Statement on Confirmation of Angela Colmenero for U.S. District Court in Houston", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "John Cornyn", "C001056", "www.cornyn.senate.gov", "cornyn", "https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after the Senate voted to confirm President Trump\u2019s nomination of Angela Colmenero to be a U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Texas \u2013 Houston Division. Video of Sen. Cornyn introducing Ms. Colmenero earlier this year in the Senate Judiciary Committee can be found here.\n\n\u201cAfter nearly two decades in public service to the Lone Star State, Angela Colmenero is well equipped to serve as a District Court Judge,\u201d said Sen. Cornyn. \u201cI am grateful Angela will bring her exceptional legal acumen, sound judgment, and devotion to the rule of law in this new role, and I look forward to seeing her on the bench.\u201d\n\nSenators Cornyn and Ted Cruz (R-TX) recommended Angela Colmenero to President Trump following an extensive review and interview process of the candidate pool by the bipartisan Federal Judicial Evaluation Committee (FJEC). Sen. Cornyn and Sen. Cruz established the FJEC, a bipartisan panel of leading attorneys in Texas, to help identify the most qualified candidates to fill judicial vacancies. The panel reviewed applications, interviewed candidates, and made recommendations to the Senators, who interviewed individuals before making their recommendations to the President.\n\nColmenero has served in Office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott since 2018, where she most recently served as Deputy Chief of Staff. Prior to that, she served as Principal Deputy General Counsel to the Governor and Deputy General Counsel to the Governor. Colmenero previously held various leadership positions for nearly a decade at the Texas Attorney General\u2019s Office, including as Chief of the General Litigation Division and Deputy Chief of the Special Litigation Division. She is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame Law School and the University of Texas at Austin.", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://casar.house.gov/media/press-releases/release-casar-leads-100-members-demanding-medical-care-not-deportation-man", "RELEASE: Casar Leads 100+ Members Demanding Medical Care, Not Deportation, for Man Shot by ICE in Austin", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Greg Casar", "C001131", "casar.house.gov", "casar", "https://casar.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Greg Casar and over 100 Members of Congress demanded that ICE release Wilber Rafael Garces Perez from detention to allow him to receive medical treatment and stop its efforts to deport him. Mr. Garces Perez is a 28-year-old DoorDash driver who was shot in the back by an ICE agent in Austin on September 20th.\n\nIn a letter authored by Casar to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Acting ICE Director David Venturella, the Members demand that:\n\nICE release Mr. Garces Perez from detention so he can receive medical treatment;\n\nICE abandon efforts to swiftly deport him or remove him from Texas;\n\nThe ICE agent responsible remain in Texas; and\n\nDHS preserve all available evidence related to the shooting and share all evidence with parties that have jurisdiction to conduct a full, independent, and transparent investigation.\n\nMr. Garces Perez is being held at \"the South Texas Detention Complex in Pearsall, Texas, which has a documented history of medical neglect,\" the Members write. \"According to his lawyers, he 'still has the bullet lodged in his body. He's received no pain medication and had to sleep on the floor.'\" On September 21, after a visit from Congressman Joaquin Castro's staff, he was briefly taken to a hospital before being returned to detention. According to his cellmate, he was \"roughly handled and handcuffed\" beforehand, and he has since \"reported losing sensation on the left side of his body.\"\n\n\"Mr. Garces Perez is a key witness to this shooting, and given ICE's history of obscuring the facts in similar investigations, he must not be removed,\" the Members write.\n\nThe Members request answers by Monday, September 28th. Their questions include:\n\nWhy did agents use deadly force?\n\nICE's use of force policy requires officers to render medical aid, and video suggests they did not. Why was that policy not followed?\n\nWhat is Mr. Garces Perez's current medical condition? What treatment is he receiving in immigration detention?\n\nWill ICE release all bodycam footage?\n\nThe letter was copied to FBI Director Kash Patel and DHS Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari.\n\nThe full letter can be viewed here.\n\nThe letter was signed by U.S. Representatives Yassamin Ansari, Becca Balint, Nanette Barrag\u00e1n, Wesley Bell, Donald Beyer, Everton Blair, Brendan Boyle, Shontel Brown, Janelle Bynum, Andr\u00e9 Carson, Greg Casar, Joaquin Castro, Judy Chu, Gilbert Cisneros, Yvette Clarke, Lou Correa, Joe Courtney, Jasmine Crockett, Jason Crow, Sharice Davids, Madeleine Dean, Diana DeGette, Christopher Deluzio, Mark DeSaulnier, Maxine Dexter, Lloyd Doggett, Veronica Escobar, Adriano Espaillat, Lizzie Fletcher, Laura Friedman, Maxwell Frost, John Garamendi, Jes\u00fas Garc\u00eda, Robert Garcia, Sylvia Garcia, Daniel Goldman, Jimmy Gomez, Al Green, Adelita Grijalva, Steven Horsford, Chrissy Houlahan, Val Hoyle, Jared Huffman, Jonathan Jackson, Sara Jacobs, Pramila Jayapal, Julie Johnson, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Robin Kelly, Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Summer Lee, Teresa Leger Fernandez, Sam Liccardo, Seth Magaziner, Sarah McBride, Betty McCollum, Morgan McGarvey, James McGovern, LaMonica McIver, Analilia Mejia, Christian Menefee, Robert Menendez, Kweisi Mfume, Dave Min, Gwen Moore, Kelly Morrison, Eleanor Norton, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Frank Pallone, Brittany Pettersen, Mark Pocan, Nellie Pou, Ayanna Pressley, Mike Quigley, Delia Ramirez, Emily Randall, Luz Rivas, Andrea Salinas, Mary Gay Scanlon, Lateefah Simon, Adam Smith, Eric Sorensen, Melanie Stansbury, Mark Takano, Bennie Thompson, Mike Thompson, Dina Titus, Rashida Tlaib, Jill Tokuda, Paul Tonko, Ritchie Torres, Lori Trahan, Derek Tran, Gabe Vasquez, Marc Veasey, Nydia Vel\u00e1zquez, James Walkinshaw, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Bonnie Watson Coleman.\n\n###\n\nCongressman Greg Casar represents Texas\u2019s 35th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, which runs down I-35 from East Austin to Hays County to the West Side of San Antonio. A labor organizer and son of Mexican immigrants, Casar serves as the Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus for the 119th Congress. He also serves on the Committee on Education and Labor and the Committee on Oversight and Accountability.", 1, "2026-09-23T09:45:16Z", "2026-09-23T09:46:14Z"], ["https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/castro-statement-on-wilber-rafael-garces-perez", "Castro Statement on Wilber Rafael Garc\u00e9s P\u00e9rez", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Joaquin Castro", "C001091", "castro.house.gov", "castro", "https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "NEW YORK, NY \u2014 Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement on the ICE shooting of asylum seeker Wilber Rafael Garc\u00e9s P\u00e9rez:\n\n\u201cDespite losing movement on his left side and having a bullet lodged next to his spine, ICE has forced Wilber Rafael Garc\u00e9s P\u00e9rez out of the hospital and back to the South Texas ICE Processing Center in Pearsall, Texas. It is nothing more than a prison.\n\nCongressman Greg Casar and I will visit him tomorrow to check on his condition and demand his release. Wilber came to the United States legally. He had work permits and was an asylum seeker. None of this should have ever happened.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-23T09:45:16Z", "2026-09-23T09:46:14Z"], ["https://jackson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2614", "Texas Set to Receive $7.5 Billion for Border Security after Rep. Ronny Jackson\u2019s Push", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ronny Jackson", "J000304", "jackson.house.gov", "jackson", "https://jackson.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Ronny Jackson (TX-13) announced that Texas is set to receive $7.5 billion in federal reimbursement for border-security costs incurred by the state during the Biden administration, providing long-overdue relief to Texas taxpayers who shouldered the cost of securing the nation\u2019s southern border.\n\nThrough Operation Lone Star, Texas spent more than $11 billion to address the unprecedented consequences of the Biden administration\u2019s failed open border policies. For years, Jackson has fought to ensure Texas and other border communities are not forced to bear the financial burden of a crisis created at the federal level.\n\nIn 2023, Jackson introduced the Reimbursing Border Communities Act, legislation to provide federal reimbursement to communities along the southern border for eligible costs associated with responding to the border crisis. This Congress, he reintroduced the legislation, continuing his effort to ensure Texas taxpayers receive federal support for the unnecessary costs they incurred protecting their communities.\n\nIn November 2025, Jackson joined members of the Texas congressional delegation in urging the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice to prioritize reimbursement for Texas\u2019 border-security expenditures.\n\nIn July 2026, Jackson again joined the Texas delegation in supporting Texas' request for Operation Lone Star reimbursement as authorized by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.\n\n\u201cTexas taxpayers stepped up when President Biden failed to secure our southern border, and Texans should not be forced to foot the bill for the federal government now,\u201d said Rep. Jackson. \u201cI have fought for years to make sure Texas is reimbursed for the enormous costs it incurred protecting our communities and our country. Border security is national security, and Texas answered the call. This $7.5 billion is a major step towards righting the wrongs of the Biden administration\u2019s failed open border policies.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-23T09:45:16Z", "2026-09-23T09:46:14Z"], ["https://weber.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3895", "Rep. Weber Helps Deliver Long-Awaited $7.5 Billion Border Security Reimbursement", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Randy K. Weber, Sr.", "W000814", "weber.house.gov", "weber", "https://weber.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Randy Weber (TX-14) celebrated the U.S. Department of Homeland Security\u2019s approval of a historic $7.5 billion reimbursement to Texas for border security costs incurred through Operation Lone Star.\n\nThe reimbursement was approved through the State Border Security Reinforcement Fund created under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which Rep. Weber voted to send to President Donald Trump's desk last year.\n\n\u201cTexas held the line when Joe Biden abandoned our southern border, and Texas taxpayers were stuck with the bill,\u201d said Congressman Weber. \u201cFor years, I have fought to force the federal government to pay Texas back. We introduced legislation, demanded reimbursement from the Biden administration, secured the funding under President Trump, and kept the pressure on until this money moved.\"\n\n\u201cNow, $7.5 billion is coming back home to Texas, where it belongs. I thank President Trump, Secretary Mullin, and every member of the Texas delegation who helped get this across the finish line. This is a tremendous victory for Texans and a long-overdue win for the Lone Star State.\u201d\n\nRep. Weber\u2019s Years-Long Push to Reimburse Texas:\n\nJune 2022: Weber became an original cosponsor of the Lone Star Reimbursement Act, legislation requiring the federal government to reimburse Texas for Operation Lone Star costs incurred during Fiscal Years 2021 and 2022.\n\nJanuary 2023: Weber joined the Texas Republican delegation in demanding that President Biden reimburse Texas for the resources used to secure the southern border. The delegation also requested a meeting with Biden to present Texas-led solutions to the border crisis.\n\nMarch 2023: Weber again became an original cosponsor of the Lone Star Reimbursement Act to repay Texas for the costs of Operation Lone Star.\n\nMay 2024: Weber signed a letter urging the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security to establish a dedicated $11.26 billion funding line to reimburse Texas for its border security expenses.\n\nJanuary/February 2025: Weber cosponsored the State Border Security Reimbursement Act and the Operation Lone Star Reimbursement Act, two separate measures requiring the federal government to repay Texas for its border security costs.\n\nJuly 2025: Weber voted to send President Trump\u2019s One Big Beautiful Bill Act to the White House. Signed into law on July 4th, 2025, the legislation created two funds totaling $13.5 billion to reimburse states and local governments for border security and immigration enforcement costs.\n\nNovember 2025: After the reimbursement funding was authorized but had not been released, Weber joined Texas Senators and the Texas GOP delegation in pressing the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice to prioritize Texas and provide the full $11.1 billion the state had spent.\n\nSeptember 2026: The Department of Homeland Security approved $7.5 billion for Texas, delivering the largest border security reimbursement in state history.\n\nCongressman Weber looks forward to the $7.5 billion reimbursement reaching the state treasury, where it will be available for appropriation by the 90th Texas Legislature when it convenes in January 2027. The Texas congressional delegation is now working to secure Texas\u2019 share of the remaining reimbursement funding available through the Department of Justice.", 1, "2026-09-23T09:45:16Z", "2026-09-23T09:46:14Z"], ["https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/cornyn-colleagues-bill-to-sanction-russia-honor-senator-grahams-legacy-signed-into-law/", "Cornyn, Colleagues\u2019 Bill to Sanction Russia, Honor Senator Graham\u2019s Legacy Signed Into Law", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "John Cornyn", "C001056", "www.cornyn.senate.gov", "cornyn", "https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/", "scraper", "DALLAS \u2013 U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after legislation he cosponsored to hold major purchasers of Russian crude oil and natural gas accountable for supporting Russia\u2019s war in Ukraine was signed into law by President Trump. The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act was made possible by an agreement negotiated by U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and the White House prior to Sen. Graham\u2019s passing:\n\n\u201cSenator Graham was unyielding in his support for the Ukrainian people as they fight to defend their sovereignty, and I can think of few ways more fitting to honor him than by finishing what he started and imposing strict sanctions on the bad actors who have supported Russia\u2019s war against Ukraine,\u201d said Sen. Cornyn. \u201cThis law will honor Lindsey\u2019s legacy, help dismantle Putin\u2019s war machine, and strengthen U.S. national security.\u201d\n\nThe legislation was led by U.S. Senators Darline Graham (R-SC) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and cosponsored by more than 60 Senators.\n\nBackground:\n\nThe Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act would impose primary and secondary sanctions against Russian officials and other actors supporting Russia\u2019s war in Ukraine. The sanctions target Russian officials, oligarchs, their family members, foreign persons, and Russian banks and financial institutions, as well as the Shadow Fleet that Russia assembled to evade sanctions. The legislation also directs the President to impose tariffs on imported goods from countries that buy the largest volume of Russian crude oil or natural gas and enable Russian sanctions evasion. The bill limits these tariffs to the five largest importers of Russian crude oil or natural gas and the five largest facilitators of Russia\u2019s sanctions evasion.\n\nSenator Lindsey Graham met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss the effort and secured an agreement with the White House before his death.", 1, "2026-09-23T09:45:16Z", "2026-09-23T09:46:14Z"], ["https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-cryptonews-article-below-titled-crypto-firms-pour-206-million-2026-us", "ICYMI: The Crypto.News article below, titled \u201cCrypto firms pour $206 million into 2026 US election cycle.\"", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Al Green", "G000553", "algreen.house.gov", "algreen", "https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "The Crypto.News article below, titled \u201cCrypto firms pour $206 million into 2026 US election cycle,\u201d speaks for itself.\n\nYou can access the article by clicking the link here.", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3367", "Congresswoman Escobar Joins Representative Greg Casar, Over 100 Members in Demanding Medical Care, Not Deportation, for Man Shot by ICE in Austin", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Veronica Escobar", "E000299", "escobar.house.gov", "escobar", "https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) joined Congressman Greg Casar and over 100 Members of Congress in demanding that ICE release Wilber Rafael Garces Perez from detention to allow him to receive medical treatment and stop its efforts to deport him. Mr. Garces Perez is a 28-year-old DoorDash driver who was shot in the back by an ICE agent in Austin on September 20th.\n\nIn a letter addressed to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Acting ICE Director David Venturella, the Members demand that:\n\n- ICE release Mr. Garces Perez from detention so he can receive medical treatment;\n\n- ICE abandon efforts to swiftly deport him or remove him from Texas;\n\n- The ICE agent responsible remain in Texas; and\n\n- DHS preserve all available evidence related to the shooting and share all evidence with parties that have jurisdiction to conduct a full, independent, and transparent investigation.\n\nThe full letter can be found here or below:\n\nDear Secretary Mullin and Acting Director Venturella,\n\nWe are writing to demand Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) cease any and all efforts to interfere with a comprehensive investigation into the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez and release Mr. Garces Perez from detention to allow him to receive medical treatment and continued medical monitoring.\n\nFirst, we are deeply concerned that ICE is attempting to swiftly deport Mr. Garces Perez, who was shot in the back by an ICE agent in Austin, Texas on September 20th, in an effort to escape scrutiny by impeding an independent investigation into this shooting. Mr. Garces Perez is a key witness to this shooting, and given ICE\u2019s history of obscuring the facts in similar investigations, he must not be removed. Second, Mr. Garces Perez is currently being held at the South Texas Detention Complex in Pearsall, Texas, which has a documented history of medical neglect. Mr. Garces Perez is not receiving the care he needs in detention. According to his lawyers, he \u201cstill has the bullet lodged in his body. He\u2019s received no pain medication and had to sleep on the floor.\u201d While he remains in the United States, he should be allowed to receive medical care and pursue all legal options available to him. Finally, Mr. Garces Perez and the ICE agent responsible must remain in Texas until a thorough, independent investigation into the shooting is complete.\n\nOn Sunday, September 20th in Austin, TX, an ICE agent shot Mr. Garces Perez, a 28-year-old DoorDash driver with no apparent criminal record, in the back at the 7000 block of West Anderson Lane near U.S. 183 in Austin, TX. Video and photos taken after the shooting show a blue Toyota Corolla with damage to the front passenger door and apparent bullet holes in the right rear window. In a social media video taken during the shooting, at least three gunshots are heard. A person is seen approaching the sedan, which is slowly moving forward. Mr. Garces Perez has publicly stated that prior to the shooting an unmarked car without sirens began aggressively ramming his car. He assumed it was an aggressive driver and attempted to maneuver away. Mr. Garces Perez was moved to a nearby hospital, where he was reportedly in \u201cin serious but stable condition.\u201d When his wife and lawyer attempted to see him hours later, they were told Mr. Garces Perez had already been moved to a detention center but were not provided details regarding his location or medical state. On September 21, Mr. Garces Perez was transferred briefly to a hospital before being returned to detention. His brief transfer followed a visit from Congressman Joaquin Castro\u2019s staff. According to Mr. Garces Perez\u2019s cellmate, Mr. Garces Perez was roughly handled and handcuffed before being taken to the hospital. Mr. Garces Perez has reported losing sensation on the left side of his body.\n\nICE has provided no justification for this shooting, and there is no indication Mr. Garces Perez posed a threat to officers. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claims Mr. Garces Perez had an active final removal order. However, DHS has repeatedly lied about the facts following violent encounters involving agents. Mr. Garces Perez\u2019s lawyer could not verify DHS\u2019s claim and Mr. Garces Perez previously held a valid work permit and entered the United States lawfully. Of course, Mr. Garces Perez\u2019s immigration status does not justify the shooting.\n\nThe City of Austin and Travis County have already begun their criminal investigation into the shooting. DHS has said it will conduct an investigation with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). An investigation must also be conducted by the DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG). DHS has a history of withholding information and attempting to obstruct active investigations into wrongdoing by its agency. DHS must not obstruct or otherwise interfere with this investigation by removing Mr. Garces Perez from the country or interfering with the release of footage, data or other information by Texas state or local agencies involved in the operation.\n\nWe are demanding that you release Mr. Garces Perez from detention to allow him to receive medical treatment and abandon efforts to swiftly deport him or remove him from Texas. We are demanding the ICE agent responsible not be allowed to leave Texas. We are demanding that you preserve all available evidence related to this shooting and share it with parties that have jurisdiction to conduct a full, independent, and transparent investigation.\n\nFinally, we are demanding that you answer the questions below by Monday, September 28.\n\n- Provide a detailed sequence of events that culminated in the shooting of Mr. Garces Perez. Please include answers to the following:\n\n- Why were ICE agents attempting to stop Mr. Garces Perez?\n\n- How many ICE agents were involved in this incident?\n\n- Please share information about the disciplinary history of each of the agents involved in this incident.\n\n- What is Mr. Garces Perez's current medical condition? What treatment is he receiving in immigration detention?\n\n- ICE\u2019s current use of force policy requires ICE officers to render medical aid following an incident like this one. Video evidence from this incident suggests ICE agents did not abide by this policy. Why was ICE\u2019s use of force policy not followed?\n\n- Will you commit to releasing all bodycam footage related to this incident?\n\n- If ICE determines there isn\u2019t any bodycam footage, please provide an explanation for why bodycams were not used.\n\n- Will you commit to allowing Mr. Garces Perez to remain in the United States for the duration of the FBI, OIG, and any state or local investigations into the shooting, so they may provide eyewitness testimony to investigators?\n\n- Will you commit to not interfering with any ongoing investigations into this shooting, and to ensuring truly independent investigations into this case?\n\n- Will you commit to ensuring that all investigators, including those from the FBI, OIG, and any state and local offices have access to all witnesses and evidence related to this case?\n\n# # #\n\nRelated News\n\nRepresentatives Escobar, Goodlander Lead Democrats in Requesting Information on VA Advisory Committee on Women Veterans\n\nSeptember 17, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases\n\nCongresswoman Escobar Statement on Russia Sanctions Bill\n\nSeptember 16, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases\n\nCongresswoman Escobar Introduces Legislation Creating New Requirements for Immigration Detention Facilities\n\nSeptember 3, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases\n\nCongresswoman Escobar Announces Socorro Warehouses Will No Longer Be Used by ICE\n\nAugust 11, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-castro-meeks-bera-demand-trump-administration-release-overdue-audit-of-venezuelan-oil-fund", "Reps. Castro, Meeks, Bera Demand Trump Administration Release Overdue Audit of Venezuelan Oil Fund", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Joaquin Castro", "C001091", "castro.house.gov", "castro", "https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Reps. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere and a senior member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific, demanded Secretary Marco Rubio release the results of long-promised audits of the Foreign Government Deposit Funds, the account established after the Trump Administration seized Venezuelan oil revenues.\n\nThe State Department made a clear commitment to Congress and has not kept it, the Members wrote to Rubio, \u201cSenior Bureau Official Michael Kozak confirmed that KPMG has been commissioned as an independent auditor to review transactions flowing through this account. Mr. Kozak indicated that audits would be conducted on at least a quarterly basis and that the review would be retrospective in scope, covering the full period since the fund\u2019s establishment, including the period prior to KPMG\u2019s formal engagement. He committed to following up with the Committee on the anticipated release date of the first report.\u201d That report has not materialized.\n\nThe Members underscored that the State Department oversees billions of dollars in funds without transparency or guardrails, writing, \u201cAccording to statements made at the April hearing, approximately $3 billion in Venezuelan oil revenues have moved through this fund, as of April 16, 2026. The balance in the account has fluctuated significantly, ranging from near zero to over $1 billion during the month of April alone. Disbursements have included payroll for Venezuelan government employees and liquidity injections into Venezuela\u2019s financial system.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nIn the letter, the members requested all KPMG audits and findings, anticipated reports of financial monitoring, all contracts pertaining to the audits, and all future audits transmitted to Congress within 30 days of completion. The members also requested a complete accounting of all disbursements made from the fund since its establishment.\n\nThe Members request a response by October 8, 2026. Read the full letter here.\n\nADDITIONAL INFROMATION:", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"], ["https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-vicente-gonzalez-introduces-empower-energy-exporting-communities", "Congressman Vicente Gonzalez Introduces the Empower Energy Exporting Communities Act", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Vicente Gonzalez", "G000581", "gonzalez.house.gov", "gonzalez", "https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Contact: Alexis Torres\n\nWashington, D.C.\u2014Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) announced the introduction of H.R. 10434, the Empower Energy Exporting Communities Act. This legislation would establish an Oil & Gas Community Trust Fund to support infrastructure and public services in communities near major oil and gas export ports, without creating a new tax. South Texas is home to several major energy export hubs, including the Port of Corpus Christi and the Port of Brownsville.\n\n\u201cSouth Texas serves as a crucial gateway for the distribution of oil and gas exports to international markets,\u201d said Congressman Gonzalez. \u201cIt is only right that our region directly benefits from the operations it supports. The establishment of a trust fund would not burden taxpaying Americans but instead reinvest already existing revenue from oil and gas companies to advance South Texas\u2019s infrastructure of opportunity from our roads, bridges, and clean drinking water to public education and much more.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, Congressman Gonzalez\u2019s bill would direct the Oil & Gas Community Trust Fund to be financed by 3% of corporate income tax revenues received from oil & gas companies. These funds would be used to make payments to eligible communities, including counties, parishes, municipalities, or Tribal communities located within 50 miles of a major port of export. The funds can only be used for infrastructure and public service investments, and payments cannot exceed the proportion of total trust fund dollars that matches its share of national exports.", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"], ["https://jackson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2612", "Rep. Ronny Jackson Honors World War II POW John T. Wilkerson", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ronny Jackson", "J000304", "jackson.house.gov", "jackson", "https://jackson.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Representative Ronny Jackson (TX-13) honored the life and sacrifice of Parmer County, Texas, native Private First Class John T. Wilkerson, presenting Wilkerson\u2019s family with a flag and shadow box at the Panhandle War Memorial, recognizing his service during World War II.\n\nWilkerson served with the U.S. Army\u2019s Battery G, 59th Coast Artillery Regiment, in the Philippine Islands. Captured by Japanese forces on April 9, 1942, he endured more than two years as a prisoner of war before making the ultimate sacrifice on October 24, 1944.\n\n\u201cPrivate First Class John T. Wilkerson represents the courage, sacrifice, and devotion to duty of the Greatest Generation,\u201d said Rep. Jackson. \u201cWe owe it to John, his family, and every American who has worn the uniform to ensure their service and sacrifice are never forgotten. May we always remember the Americans who answered the call, fought for freedom, endured captivity, and gave everything in defense of our great nation.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"], ["https://menefee.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-menefee-carter-mciver-and-ruiz-champion-the-equity-in-research-act", "Reps. Menefee Carter, McIver, and Ruiz Champion the Equity in Research Act", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Christian D. Menefee", "M001245", "menefee.house.gov", "menefee", "https://menefee.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "HOUSTON, TX \u2014 Congressman Christian Menefee (TX-18), and Congressman Troy A. Carter Sr. (LA-02), alongside Reps. LaMonica McIver (NJ-10),), and Dr. Raul Ruiz (CA-25) re-introduced the Equity in Research Act. This legislation creates a targeted National Science Foundation grant program to increase research capacity for under-resourced institutions of higher education.\n\n\u201cThe next lifesaving cure, groundbreaking technology, or scientific discovery could come from a researcher who simply has not been given the resources to pursue it. When we invest in more researchers, more institutions, and more ideas, we expand what is possible,\u201d said Rep Menefee. \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to support the Equity in Research Act alongside Rep. Carter and my colleagues in Congress and help ensure that great ideas have the resources they need to become groundbreaking discoveries.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor far too long, students at under-resourced institutions have faced undue barriers to entering high-growth fields in STEM,\u201d said Rep. Carter. \u201cBy strengthening research capacity at institutions that have long been at the forefront of empowering generations of students from historically under-resourced and underserved communities, we can strengthen our nation\u2019s innovation pipeline and ensure that all students, not just some, have the resources and opportunity they need to pursue a future in STEM.\u201d\n\n\u201cResearchers who are Black and brown often don\u2019t get a seat at the table, and their contributions get drowned out,\u201d said Rep McIver. \u201cIt is important that we provide opportunities to research institutions that are typically underfunded and undervalued because their researchers offer unique and valuable perspectives. Their work informs and supports scientific advancement and furthers workforce development and U.S. competitiveness. I am excited to provide grants that will support important long-term work, not just one-time investments.\u201d\n\n\"The Equity in Research Act is a great opportunity to give students at community colleges and minority-serving institutions the tools they need to get more out of their education and help them compete at the forefront of cutting-edge research. I thank Rep. Troy Carter for his leadership on this bill, which will expand research participation and STEM pathways.\" Said Rep. Dr. Raul Ruiz.\n\nBackground\n\nThe Equity in Research Act creates a new National Science Foundation (NSF) grant program to strengthen research capacity at institutions of higher education that have historically faced barriers accessing federal research resources. Many minority serving and land grant institutions operate with outdated facilities and limited research infrastructure, restricting their ability to compete for federal grants and contribute fully to the nation\u2019s scientific enterprise.\n\nThe bill authorizes NSF grants of $1\u2013$5 million for eligible institutions, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges, Hispanic Serving Institutions, Predominantly Black Institutions, Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions, and 1890/1994 land grant universities. Funding may be used for upgrades to existing buildings, essential research equipment, infrastructure maintenance, and personnel costs directly tied to research activity.\n\nBy expanding research capacity at under resourced institutions, the Equity in Research Act strengthens the nation\u2019s innovation pipeline and broadens opportunity for students historically underrepresented in STEM. Ensuring that federal research investments reach a more diverse set of campuses supports scientific advancement, workforce development, and long-term U.S. competitiveness.\n\nKey Points:\n\nEstablishes a dedicated NSF grant program to support research infrastructure at under resourced institutions.\n\nProvides $50 million in annual authorization beginning in FY27.\n\nTargets institutions that serve historically underserved communities to expand research participation and STEM pathways.\n\nSupports sustainable, long-term improvements rather than short-term or one-time investments.\n\nRead the full bill text here.", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"], ["https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-roy-statement-texas-receiving-75-billion-following-biden-border-crisis", "Rep. Roy Statement on Texas Receiving $7.5 Billion Following Biden Border Crisis", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Chip Roy", "R000614", "roy.house.gov", "roy", "https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Representative Chip Roy (TX-21) issued the following statement after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed a $7.5 billion reimbursement in border security costs for Texas:\n\n\u201cWhen the Biden-Harris Administration unleashed the worst border crisis in recent history, the state of Texas stepped up to fulfill what should have been the federal government\u2019s most basic duty: securing the border from illegal immigration, dangerous actors, venomous drugs, and other untold horrors.\n\nAt the onset of the Biden-Harris border crisis, other members of the Texas delegation and I fought to secure proper reimbursement for border security costs for those we represent, finally achieving a mechanism for these funds in the One Big Beautiful Bill. While there\u2019s more to be done to compensate the state of Texas fully, I thank President Trump and DHS Secretary Mullin for their efforts to make our state whole,\u201d said Rep. Roy.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"], ["https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/big-tex-the-face-of-the-fair/", "Big Tex: The Face of the Fair", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "John Cornyn", "C001056", "www.cornyn.senate.gov", "cornyn", "https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/", "scraper", "Every year, the State Fair of Texas brings families, friends, and Texans from all across the state together. With a variety of activities, foods and attractions, there is something for everyone to enjoy. From the Midway rides and creative food offerings to the concerts, livestock shows, and rodeos, Texans can spend close to a month exploring all the state fair has to offer, but none of these attractions garner more attention and adoration than the fair\u2019s most prized possession: Big Tex.\n\nThe 55-foot statue is known as the world\u2019s tallest cowboy and greets every Texan who attends the State Fair with open arms and a friendly \u201cHowdy Folks!\u201d He is a Lone Star icon, but few Texans can tell you about his back story. Exactly how did Big Tex come to loom large at the entrance of the fair and in Texans\u2019 hearts?\n\nBig Tex wasn\u2019t always the face of the State Fair. Prior to his arrival in Dallas, Texas, in 1952, Big Tex played a different role \u2013 one that didn\u2019t involve a cowboy hat and boots. He was originally designed as Santa Claus.\n\nIn the years after World War II, merchants of Kerens in East Texas came together to conjure up a plan that would ensure their customers shopped locally. The town is situated just east of Corsicana, where many of the town folk at the time did their holiday shopping. Fed up with the lack of business, members of the Kerens Chamber of Commerce decided to build the world\u2019s largest Santa Claus statue in the hope that more of their community would choose to shop at their local stores and tourists from out of town would flock to Kerens to catch a glimpse of Saint Nick.\n\nThe Santa statue stood 49 feet tall and was a huge hit when it debuted during the 1949 Christmas season, accomplishing its purpose of drawing in more holiday shoppers. However, the statue\u2019s popularity didn\u2019t last long. The following season, the town\u2019s enthusiasm fizzled out and the community forgot about the statue.\n\nFrom there, the statue\u2019s future was unclear. He went into storage and awaited his next role for two years. In 1951, Texans decided to host the largest state fair yet, and with that, officials rolled out ads picturing a large cowboy as the face of the fair named \u201cTex.\u201d Tex was pictured wearing a red-checkered flannel shirt, a cowboy hat, and a pair of boots. He was plastered across the state on billboards, posters, and television screens.\n\nThe ads were very popular and drew the attention of lots of Texans leading up to the fair that year. After much negotiation, fair officials purchased the Kerens Santa Claus statue for $750. The statue was destined for a makeover and a road trip to Dallas.\n\nArriving in Dallas in the early days of 1952, the statue was officially named \u201cBig Tex\u201d after the original state fair character. Still resembling Santa Claus, Big Tex required a hefty makeover to officially become the state fair\u2019s mascot. Fair officials hired a local artist, Jack Bridges, to redesign the statue to look more like the state fair character from their beloved ad campaign.\n\nBridges gave Big Tex size 70 cowboy boots, a 75-gallon cowboy hat, and a wink to his right eye, slimmed his face and torso, and positioned his right arm to appear as if his thumb was tucked into his vest. After his makeover, Big Tex made his official debut at the 1952 state fair as the largest cowboy in the world, standing at 55 feet tall.\n\nAlthough he quickly gained popularity, some Texans did not like Big Tex\u2019s appearance and complained about the way he looked. After the 1952 state fair, Big Tex received his second makeover, where his nose was straightened and his wink was removed. He was then given a new home in front of the Tower Building, formerly known as the Federal Building, where he still stands today.\n\nBig Tex has been through a lot since moving to Dallas and becoming a Texas icon. He has celebrated many accomplishments and suffered a couple of tragedies. In 2012, after 60 years of service, Big Tex was destroyed in a fire due to an electrical shortage. Fair officials spent the next year redesigning him and preparing him for his re-debut at the 2013 fair. Texans welcomed the new and improved Big Tex back home later that year with open arms.\n\nState fairs across the country have brought together many Americans from all walks of life. As we mark the 250th birthday of the United States, Texas will also be celebrating the fair\u2019s 140th birthday with a fitting theme: \u201cStars, Stripes, and Howdies.\u201d Big Tex will be sporting a patriotic pearl-snap shirt, a new pair of Levi\u2019s jeans, and new boots featuring Texas icons, including bluebonnets, longhorns, pecan trees, prickly pears, and the 212-foot-tall Texas Star Ferris Wheel.\n\nAfter 73 years of service, Big Tex continues to stand tall and welcome guests to the state fair. To Texans, he is more than just a statue \u2013 he is a symbol of Texas values. Big Tex represents hospitality, friendship, pride, and tradition. He brings people together from across the state and reminds Texans of the importance of unity.\n\nBig Tex symbolizes what it truly means to be a Texan. If you attend the State Fair of Texas this year, I hope you say hello to Big Tex. Remember, all Texans can spread his welcoming spirit throughout the year far beyond the gates of Fair Park.", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"], ["https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressmen-gonzalez-crenshaw-introduce-bipartisan-empower-energy-exporting", "Congressmen Gonzalez, Crenshaw Introduce Bipartisan Empower Energy Exporting Communities Act", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Vicente Gonzalez", "G000581", "gonzalez.house.gov", "gonzalez", "https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Contact: Alexis Torres\n\nWashington, D.C.\u2014Congressmen Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX-34) and Dan Crenshaw (R-TX-02) announced the introduction of the bipartisan H.R. 10434, the Empower Energy Exporting Communities Act. This legislation would establish an Oil & Gas Community Trust Fund to support infrastructure and public services in communities near major oil and gas export ports, without creating a new tax. South Texas is home to several major energy export hubs, including the Port of Corpus Christi and the Port of Brownsville.\n\n\u201cSouth Texas serves as a crucial gateway for the distribution of oil and gas exports to international markets,\u201d said Congressman Gonzalez. \u201cIt is only right that our region directly benefits from the operations it supports. The establishment of a trust fund would not burden taxpaying Americans but instead reinvest already existing revenue from oil and gas companies to advance South Texas\u2019s infrastructure of opportunity from our roads, bridges, and clean drinking water to public education and much more.\u201d\n\n\"This bill ensures that a portion of the federal revenue already generated by the oil and gas industry is reinvested in the roads, ports, water systems, and other critical infrastructure these communities rely on, all without raising taxes,\" said Congressman Crenshaw. \"I\u2019m proud to join Congressman Gonzalez in supporting the Texas communities that help make America an energy superpower.\"\n\nSpecifically, Congressman Gonzalez\u2019s bill would direct the Oil & Gas Community Trust Fund to be financed by 3% of corporate income tax revenues received from oil & gas companies. These funds would be used to make payments to eligible communities, including counties, parishes, municipalities, or Tribal communities located within 50 miles of a major port of export. The funds can only be used for infrastructure and public service investments, and payments cannot exceed the proportion of total trust fund dollars that matches its share of national exports.", 1, "2026-09-28T11:29:07Z", "2026-09-28T11:30:58Z"], ["https://casar.house.gov/media/press-releases/release-congressman-casar-demands-immediate-independent-investigation-ice", "RELEASE: Congressman Casar Demands Immediate, Independent Investigation Into ICE Shooting in Austin", "2026-09-20", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Greg Casar", "C001131", "casar.house.gov", "casar", "https://casar.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "AUSTIN, TEXAS \u2014 Following the shooting of a man by ICE, Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX) sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security demanding cooperation with an \u201cimmediate, independent investigation,\u201d full release of any footage of the shooting, and accountability for any wrongdoing by the agent responsible.\n\nOn September 20th, 2026, an ICE officer shot and wounded a man in Austin.\n\nIn the letter, Congressman Casar demands ICE release to the public the complete and unedited footage related to the shooting, preserve all available evidence, and share all available evidence with local and state law enforcement, Department of Homeland Security\u2019s Office of Inspector General (OIG), and other parties that have jurisdiction to conduct a full, independent, and transparent investigation into the shooting.\n\nCongressman Casar is also demanding DHS and ICE brief him and his Congressional colleagues by Monday, September 28th with information on whether current protocols were followed with regard to the operation itself as well as preservation of evidence and investigation.\n\nWhen ICE began its surge in Austin earlier this summer, Congressman Casar warned about the potential for dangerous incidents like this one. Casar is demanding ICE leave the City of Austin.", 1, "2026-09-21T10:25:24Z", "2026-09-21T10:26:54Z"], ["https://doggett.house.gov/media/press-releases/doggett-reacts-todays-ice-shooting-district-he-represents-austin", "Doggett Reacts to Today\u2019s ICE Shooting in the District He Represents in Austin", "2026-09-20", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Lloyd Doggett", "D000399", "doggett.house.gov", "doggett", "https://doggett.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Austin, T.X.\u2014Rep. Lloyd Doggett has issued the following statement following today\u2019s ICE shooting in Austin:\n\n\u201cWhile we do not yet have all of the facts about today\u2019s alarming shooting, we do have the facts about ICE, which has recently accelerated its intrusion into our community. And our lack of facts results from ICE secrecy and non-responsiveness. Instead of focusing its work on those who may pose a danger to our neighbors, ICE is eager to fulfill a deportation quota by rounding up any immigrant that it can find, including those who are making a real contribution to our community.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"], ["https://cloud.house.gov/posts/la-homelessness-fraud-cases-expose-deeper-problem-than-stolen-millions-oversight-hawk-warns", "LA Homelessness Fraud Cases Expose Deeper Problem than Stolen Millions, Oversight Hawk Warns", "2026-09-19", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Michael Cloud", "C001115", "cloud.house.gov", "cloud", "https://cloud.house.gov/press", "scraper", "Rep Cloud says LA homelessness funding rewards programs, not people\n\nFOX News\n\nCharles Creitz | September 19th, 2026\n\nFederal charges alleging that millions of dollars were siphoned from Los Angeles homelessness programs are exposing what one lawmaker told Fox News Digital is a deeper failure in the way Washington funds and measures such programs.\n\nThe latest cases out of Los Angeles fuel the concern of Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Texas, that not only are corrupt providers stealing taxpayer money, but that the programs aren\u2019t meeting their goal of getting people off the streets.\n\n\u201cThe only people really getting upward mobility in these programs, it would seem, is the people running the programs,\u201d Cloud told Fox News Digital after a House Oversight hearing examining federally funded homelessness programs in Los Angeles, Seattle and elsewhere.\n\n\u201cAnd that\u2019s not really what the program\u2019s supposed to be about.\u201d\n\nMichael Young, 46, Lakiya Malone, 48, and Donye Mitchell, 55, were charged in the federal fraud crackdown. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong; Department of Justice)\n\nFederal prosecutors charged three defendants Wednesday in separate homelessness fraud cases involving alleged misuse of taxpayer funds, including money allegedly spent on a nightclub and adjacent bingo hall and bribes allegedly tied to fake housing referrals.\n\nLos Angeles\u2019 homelessness agency paid one of the suspect nonprofits more than $75 million, according to federal prosecutors, leading Cloud to seek out the real culprits blazing the money trail.\n\nCloud said the fraud itself is only one piece of a broader problem and that the system appears to reward spending and program activity without adequately measuring lasting outcomes.\n\nGovernment too often judges success by \u201chow much money we send out the door\u201d instead of whether the spending is \u201cactually helping people\u201d or whether safeguards are in place to ensure taxpayer dollars are being used properly, Cloud said, describing the system as having been \u201cincentivized for fraud.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve got to take those incentives out and get back to making sure that all these programs have incentives for oversight and that the dollars are managed well.\u201d\n\nSome programs can keep a person \u201ckind of in a cycle of dependency so that the program manager has job security, in a sense, and gets to live off the government dime,\u201d Cloud said.\n\n\u201cYou [are seeing], as we begin to look into waste, fraud and abuse, why is it that these Democrat-led states are saying, \u2018No, we don\u2019t want the controls in place,'\u201d he said, pointing to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass\u2019 decision to step down from the LAHSA commission.\n\nLos Angeles is not alone, he said, citing what has been called the feds\u2019 \u201cHousing First\u201d philosophy, generally prioritizing placing homeless in housing with less immediate regard for sobriety, mental health treatment or overall stabilizing services.\n\nCloud did not use the term \u201chousing first\u201d during the interview, but he described the concern behind that critique, arguing that some homelessness programs define success in ways that leave people dependent on government rather than moving toward independence.\n\nHousing First is distinct from HUD\u2019s \u201cContinuum of Care\u201d framework, which is the local funding and coordination structure through which nonprofit providers, state and local governments and other organizations receive federal homelessness money.\n\nIn Los Angeles, LAHSA leads the local Continuum of Care, which HUD says received nearly $1 billion in taxpayer dollars over the previous five years.\n\nUnder Secretary Scott Turner, HUD moved to suspend LAHSA this year, citing alleged failures involving financial management, internal controls and safeguards against conflicts of interest. LAHSA has challenged the federal action in court.\n\n\u201cThe \u2018housing first\u2019 experiment failed Americans by warehousing the vulnerable without results,\u201d Turner said in June when HUD announced a $4.04 billion Continuum of Care funding opportunity.\n\nA homeless encampment along the 101 Northbound off-ramp, at right, near City Hall in downtown Los Angeles. (Christina House/Getty Images)\n\n\u201cThis ideology promised to end homelessness. Instead, billions of taxpayer dollars were spent while homelessness increased to record levels.\u201d\n\nThat funding will focus on organizations aiding treatment and recovery, while setting aside $1.3 billion for new projects prioritizing transitional housing and supportive services and adding measures intended to prevent fraud, waste and abuse.", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"], ["https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-jerusalem-post-article-below-titled-former-palestinian-authority", "ICYMI: The Jerusalem Post article below, titled \u201cFormer Palestinian Authority minister says he relayed Hamas\u2019s pre-October 7 warning to Israel.\"", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Al Green", "G000553", "algreen.house.gov", "algreen", "https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "The Jerusalem Post article below, titled \u201cFormer Palestinian Authority minister says he relayed Hamas\u2019s pre-October 7 warning to Israel,\u201d speaks for itself.\n\nYou can access the article by clicking the link here.", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4633", "Arrington Celebrates Federal Reimbursement for Texas Border Security Costs", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Jodey C. Arrington", "A000375", "arrington.house.gov", "arrington", "https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) issued the following statement after Texas received confirmation of federal reimbursement through the One Big Beautiful Bill's State Border Security Reimbursement Fund (SBSRF) for border security costs paid by the state during the Biden Administration:\n\n\"The first and most important responsibility of the federal government is to provide for the common defense. For four years, the Biden Administration abdicated that responsibility, failed to secure our sovereign border, and forced Texas to step up and spend more than $11 billion in state taxpayer dollars doing the job Washington refused to do.\n\n\"As Budget Chairman, I worked with my fellow Texans to make it a priority in the One Big Beautiful Bill to right this wrong and ensure Texas taxpayers were reimbursed for the significant financial harm inflicted upon our citizens. Today, I\u2019m proud to announce that Texas has received the restitution it is owed.\n\n\"I want to thank President Trump for always making good on his promises including to remedy the injustice done to Texas taxpayers by making our state whole for holding the line when the Biden Administration failed to secure our border. This is a tremendous victory for the Lone Star State and the hardworking Texans who were double taxed to foot the bill for Biden\u2019s dereliction of duty.\u201d - Chairman Jodey Arrington.\n\nBackground:\n\nThe Biden Administration\u2019s failure to secure the southern border forced Texas to spend billions in state taxpayer dollars on border security instead of priorities like education and infrastructure. This effort by the State of Texas was known as \u201cOperation Lone Star.\"\n\nChairman Arrington\u2019s One Big Beautiful Bill created the $10 billion State Border Security Reimbursement Fund (SBSRF) to reimburse states like Texas for border security costs.\n\nToday, Governor Abbott announced the Trump Administration has confirmed that $7.5 billion of the SBSRF will be sent to the State of Texas as reimbursement for Operation Lone Star.", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3363", "Representative Escobar Leads Texas Democrats in Requesting Investigation into  Social Security Disability Insurance Wait Times", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Veronica Escobar", "E000299", "escobar.house.gov", "escobar", "https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Representative Veronica Escobar (TX-16) led the Democratic Texas Delegation in a letter to the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General (OIG) requesting an investigation into the wait times for processing Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) applications, which have seen a substantial increase over the past 21 months.\n\nThe full letter can be found here or below:\n\nDear Ms. Anderson,\n\nOver the last 21 months, our offices have seen a steep incline in the processing times of Social Security Disability Insurance applications, leading to many families struggling to make ends meet. We write to request the Office of Inspector General (OIG) at the Social Security Administration (SSA) conduct an official investigation into the wait-times for SSDI applications in Texas.\n\nAs you know, SSDI provides monthly payments to eligible individuals who have a disability that either stops or limits their ability to work. For many of our constituents who are unable to work due to a disability, SSDI is their only source of income, so any delays in the processing of their SSDI applications or benefits can have serious consequences.\n\nWhile we understand that SSDI payments cannot begin until five full calendar months from the date that a disability began, our offices have seen the processing times for the SSDI applications skyrocket. In El Paso, Texas, constituents have seen the processing timelines increase from six to eight months to 10-12 months. Many of our constituents who are applying for SSDI do not have the means to financially float 12 months without income.\n\nWe are deeply concerned about how these increased wait-times affect Texas families and urge you to conduct an office OIG investigation into the source of these delays. Specifically, we request that you investigate the following questions:\n\nWhat is the current processing timeline for new SSDI applications in Texas? a. How does this compare to processing timelines in 2025, 2024, and 2023? b. How does this compare to the national average for SSDI application processing?\n\nWhat is the average response time to Congressional inquiries regarding SSDI applications in Texas?\n\nIs there a difference in response times to Congressional inquiries from Republican Members of Congress versus Democratic Members of Congress in Texas? If so, what is the difference in response times?\n\nHow do current response times to Congressional inquires compare to 2025, 2024, and 2023 response times to Congressional inquiries?\n\nWhat are the current staffing levels of SSA field offices in Texas? a. How do these staffing levels compare to staffing in 2025, 2024, and 2023?\n\nWhat is the source of the delays in processing SSDI?\n\nAre the delays a result in slower processing of disability determinations by the Texas Health and Human Services agency? If so, why are there delays in processing disability determinations?\n\nAre the delays a result of Reductions-in-Force (RIFs) at the SSA? 5. What steps does the OIG recommend, the Texas Health and Human Services agency and the SSA do to ensure that processing times for SSDI application are minimal?\n\nWe respectfully request your timely consideration of this request. Texans with disabilities deserve a federal government that works for them, not one that delays the benefits they need to make ends meet.\n\n--\n\nIn addition to Representative Escobar, the signers of this letter include Texas Representatives Johnson, Doggett, Veasey, Garcia, Fletcher, Gonzalez, Menefee, Cuellar, Green, and Castro.", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=7485", "As Trump Administration Imposes Immigration Hurdles on International Students and Researchers, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher, Congressman Jamie Raskin, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, and Congressman Sam Liccardo Introduce Legislation To Clear Barriers", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Lizzie Fletcher", "F000468", "fletcher.house.gov", "fletcher", "https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Resolution would repeal the Department of Homeland Security rule that limits the time period that such individuals can remain in the United States\n\nCongresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Ranking Member Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), and Congressman Sam Liccardo (CA-16) introduced a joint resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to repeal the Department of Homeland Security\u2019s (DHS) final rule, which significantly reduces flexibility in the visa process for international students, researchers, and journalists and unnecessarily limits the amount of time that such individuals can remain in the United States. U.S. Senate Democratic Whip and Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Ranking Member Alex Padilla (D-CA), Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) also introduced this legislation in the U.S. Senate.\n\nLast year, the Trump administration established a rule that sets an arbitrary four-year limit on admission periods, creating unnecessary barriers for international students, researchers, and journalists. This limitation ignores the reality that many degree programs, particularly in STEM fields, routinely take longer to complete. The rule also does nothing to address processing backlogs at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which are at historically high levels and would only grow worse under a system that requires more frequent renewals.\n\n\u201cOur international students, researchers, and journalists in our community and across our country make important contributions to our schools, our communities, and our economy,\u201d said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. \u201cPlacing fixed time limits on their studies ignores how long some study programs actually take and adds red tape to an immigration system that is already overwhelmed. Visiting students should have a stable, welcoming environment to further their education and contribute to our communities\u2014not obstacles that undermine their ability to do so. That is why I am glad to introduce legislation with Congressman Raskin, Congresswoman Jayapal, and Congressman Liccardo to repeal this rule and to help ensure the success of our universities and communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerica has always benefited from attracting brilliant students, researchers, doctors and journalists from around the world,\u201d said Congressman Jamie Raskin. \u201cThe Trump Administration wants to obstruct that path with bureaucratic hurdles and quicksand designed to make legal immigration harder. This senseless rule will drive away talented people who come here to study, practice medicine, do research and contribute to our communities. It harms the American economy and American innovation and makes all of us worse off.\u201d\n\n\u201cInternational students make our institutions of higher learning better for all students and create pipelines to ensure the best and brightest lend their talents to strengthen our economy and American innovation,\u201d said Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal. \u201cWe should be welcoming students, not wrapping the processes to obtain visas in layers of red tape. This has nothing to do with national security and everything to do with Trump and Stephen Miller\u2019s plan to prevent all forms of legal immigration. I first came to this country on a student visa and understand deeply just how important these visas are.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerica wins when we can continue to attract the best and brightest students from around the world to drive American competitiveness, particularly in STEM fields,\u201d said Congressman Sam Liccardo. \u201cEliminating the Duration of Status framework will push talented students and researchers toward our competitors, undermining our ability to win the global battle for talent, essential to our innovation economy.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis proposed rule is just another part of the Donald Trump-Stephen Miller mass deportation agenda,\u201d said Senator Dick Durbin. \u201cThey want to make the immigration process so difficult, so cumbersome, and so onerous that legal immigrants decide to leave the U.S. or never come here at all\u2014which will result in the loss of talented, bright individuals who make America better. Our nation is already confronting a serious health workforce shortage. Now is not the time to make it even more difficult for health care professionals to care for our most vulnerable communities. I appreciate my Democratic colleagues in joining me on this important measure and encourage members on both sides of the aisle to support it.\u201d\n\n\u201cRhode Island\u2019s institutions of higher education help power the Ocean State\u2019s economic competitiveness,\u201d said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. \u201cInternational students and medical residents drive innovation, contribute to cutting-edge research, and spend big not only on tuition, but also at local restaurants and businesses. This Trump administration rule punishes international students, young doctors, and foreign journalists as well as local small businesses and universities as part of their extreme anti-immigration agenda.\u201d\n\n\u201cInternational students deserve fair opportunities to receive an education in the United States. Students, exchange visitors, and foreign members of the media should never have to live in fear of the Administration\u2019s unprecedented attacks on legal immigration,\u201d said Senator Alex Padilla. \u201cDiversity is our country\u2019s strength, and international students and exchange visitors support American innovation, job growth, higher education, and global competitiveness. We have a responsibility to protect these visa holders, including international students who contribute to the culture of American universities and eventually to our nation\u2019s economy.\u201d\n\nThe resolution is endorsed by the AAMC \u2013 Association of American Medical Colleges; AIRC: The Association of International Enrollment Management; Alliance for International Exchange; American Academy of Family Physicians; American Academy of Pediatrics; American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers; American College of Radiology; American Council on Education; American Gastroenterological Association; American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA); American Osteopathic Association; American Psychiatric Association; American Society of Neuroradiology; Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment; Association of American Universities; Association of Independent California Colleges & Universities; Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities; Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU); Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges; Cornell University; Council of Graduate Schools; Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities; Global Detroit; Illinois State University; Illinois Tech; International Educators of Illinois; Miles for Migraine; NAFSA: Association of International Educators; National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU); Northern Illinois University; Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration; Shorelight LLC; Third Way; UC Berkeley; UC Davis; UCLA; UC San Diego; UC Santa Cruz; UCSF; University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources; University of California System; University of Illinois System; and U.S. For Success Coalition.\n\nLast year, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher joined 34 Members of Congress in a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) opposing this same proposed rule to significantly reduce the flexibility of the visa process for international students, researchers, and journalists. The full text of this letter can be found here.\n\nTo view the full text of the resolution, click here.", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-vicente-gonzalez-introduces-bill-federally-recognize-lipan-apache", "Congressman Vicente Gonzalez Introduces Bill to Federally Recognize Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Vicente Gonzalez", "G000581", "gonzalez.house.gov", "gonzalez", "https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Contact: Alexis Torres\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Ahead of the Lipan Apache Tribe\u2019s 2026 Veterans Powwow in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Saturday, September 19th, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) introduced H.R. 10435, the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas Recognition Act. This legislation would grant the Tribe and its members access to all of the rights, services and benefits provided by the Federal Government to federally recognized Indian Tribes.\n\n\u201cThe Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas has made significant cultural and historical contributions to the United States. From serving in our military and protecting the environment and sacred sites to much more, they are our trusted neighbors\u2014deeply woven into the fabric of South Texas. It is long overdue for Congress to officially recognize this Tribe and expand their access to federal support and resources,\u201d said Congressman Gonzalez.\n\n\"Introduction of this legislation marks a historic step forward for the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas. For centuries, our people have maintained our community, culture, and identity, with our ancestors having relationships with Spain, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, and the United States. We are grateful to Congressman Vicente Gonzalez for his leadership. Today brings us one important step closer to the federal recognition our people have long deserved,\" said Bernard F. Barcena, Jr., Chairman of The Lipan Apache Tribe.\n\n\"For generations, the Lipan Apache people have fought to preserve our faith, ceremonies, and sacred traditions. I know personally what it means to have to fight for the freedom to practice our religion simply because our Tribe lacks federal recognition. While that fight secured important protections for some of our people, religious freedom should not depend on a court case. This legislation is an important step toward ensuring that all enrolled members of the tribe can practice our faith and preserve our sacred traditions with the dignity and freedom they deserve,\" said Dr. Robert Soto, Vice-Chairman of The Lipan Apache Tribe.\n\nThe Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas is the successor to historic Lipan Apache bands that maintained an independent Tribal identity and political organization within present-day Texas for centuries before and after Spanish, Mexican, Republic of Texas, and United States sovereignty.\n\nWhen Texas became a U.S. state in 1845, the Lipan Apache faced immense hardship from the impacts of smallpox, war, and attacks by other American Indians and non-Indians. The Tribe, which once lived in parts of Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico, was displaced to areas of South Texas, including the Rio Grande Valley, Coastal Bend, and the Big Bend region of West Texas.\n\nNotably, the Texas Legislature honored the Lipan Apache Tribe through legislative resolutions in 2009. In 2014, a federal court ordered the U.S. Department of Interior to return confiscated eagle feathers to Tribal Vice-Chairman Dr. Robert Soto and other plaintiffs. The decision subsequently allowed certain Tribal member plaintiffs to possess and obtain eagle feathers and feathers of other protected migratory birds\u2014noting that no one was contesting the fact that the plaintiffs were American Indians. Due to the lack of formal federal recognition, most tribal members do not have the right currently, which makes practicing tribal ceremonies and personal religions difficult. The Texas Legislature and Governor reconfirmed the significant contributions of the Tribe to our state through resolutions in 2019. In 2021, the City and County of Presidio transferred the deed to El Cementerio de los Lipanes en el Barrio de los Lipanes, a sacred site for the Lipan Apache Tribe.\n\nThe Federal Government, including the Department of Interior Indian Affairs, and many other agencies, serves federally recognized tribes through its government-to-government relationships to support the development of tribal governments, strong economies, and quality programs spanning from education, social services, law enforcement, resource protection, and more.", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://moran.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2911", "Moran Highlights Working Families Tax Cuts Impact on East Texans", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Nathaniel Moran", "M001224", "moran.house.gov", "nathanielmoran", "https://moran.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Representative Nathaniel Moran (TX-01) traveled across East Texas this summer to see firsthand how the Working Families Tax Cuts are delivering real relief for families, workers, and small businesses in the First District.\n\n\u201cThe Working Families Tax Cuts are showing up in the paychecks and kitchen-table budgets of East Texas families,\" said Rep. Moran. \"Since it was signed into law a little over a year ago, I've seen it firsthand. A small business owner is reinvesting in his team, a server is keeping more of what she earns, and a family has a little more breathing room at tax time. This law is about giving East Texans liberty over their own money and their own futures.\u201d\n\nWhat East Texans Are Saying:\n\nHarrison County Sheriff BJ Fletcher has seen meaningful investments strengthen public safety and support law enforcement across the district. Watch HERE.\n\nCarol from Queen City recently began receiving Social Security. The No Tax on Social Security provision is putting more of her hard-earned money back in her pocket \u2014 where it belongs. Watch HERE.\n\nClayton and his wife own and operate a farm-to-table meat ranch on 300-plus acres in Troup. Before the Working Families Tax Cuts, their estate tax exemption stood at $5 million. Now it stands at $30 million for a married couple \u2014 protecting their ranch from a 40% inheritance tax so they can pass it to their kids. Watch HERE.\n\nMakenzie is using the permanently doubled Child Tax Credit to provide for her children and pay down debt. Watch HERE.\n\nElijah saw real savings when he worked through his taxes this year, thanks to a bigger refund under the Working Families Tax Cuts. Watch HERE.\n\nJonathan deducted up to $25,000 of his overtime pay filing jointly with his wife \u2014 money he and his family are investing back into their future as they balance school and work. Watch HERE.\n\nJosiah, owner of Yosemite Roofing and Xtreme Metals in East Texas, is taking advantage of the Working Families Tax Cuts expensing provisions. He can now write off his Made in America manufacturing plant and equipment immediately, freeing up capital to build and invest in East Texas. Watch HERE.\n\nBenjamin, owner of 1776 Auto Sales, has seen No Tax on Auto Loan Interest deliver real savings for buyers of American-made cars across the First District. Watch HERE.\n\nJustin is feeling real relief under the permanently doubled Standard Deduction. Watch HERE.\n\nRep. Moran Goes Back to His Roots:\n\nThirty years ago, Rep. Moran waited tables at Mercado's in Tyler to pay for college. This summer, he returned and worked a shift alongside the staff to highlight what the Working Families Tax Cuts mean for the people who serve East Texas every day.\n\nAfter ten years in the restaurant industry, Mercado's server and mother of four, Tiffany, is keeping more of what she earns thanks to No Tax on Tips. Watch HERE.\n\nWatch the full story HERE.\n\nOn the Ground in East Texas:\n\nAAON Inc. Manufacturing Tour \u2014 Longview: Moran toured AAON's newly expanded 250,000-square-foot Longview facility, consolidating coil production and unit manufacturing under one roof. AAON has grown into a $1.4 billion company since setting up operations in Longview in 1988 and stands as Gregg County's largest employer. Moran met with workers on the floor and discussed how the Working Families Tax Cuts restored 100% bonus depreciation and the permanent small business deduction to free up capital for new equipment, facilities, and jobs.\n\nTrump Accounts Roundtable: Moran joined local families and financial advisors \u2014 hosted by Randy Childress \u2014 to discuss how Trump Accounts under the Working Families Tax Cuts help families build generational wealth. Investing in children's futures is investing in the American Dream.\n\nNo Tax on Social Security Roundtable: Moran sat down with East Texas seniors to discuss the No Tax on Social Security provision and what that relief means for our seniors.\n\nSmith Sawmill Service \u2014 Overtime Worker Visit: Moran met with workers at Smith Sawmill Service, a manufacturer founded in 1990 with over 200 years of combined employee experience supplying sawmill equipment to operations worldwide. Workers shared firsthand how No Tax on Overtime is increasing take-home pay when they put in the extra hours. The Working Families Tax Cuts' expensing provisions also allow Smith Sawmill to immediately write off qualifying equipment investments, keeping East Texas manufacturing growing.\n\nSmall Business Roundtable \u2014 Marshall: Moran joined the Marshall Economic Development Corporation and local small business leaders to discuss the law's permanent 199A 20% small business deduction, which provides entrepreneurs with greater certainty to reinvest in their businesses.\n\nThe Working Families Tax Cuts Increase Liberty for East Texans:\n\nIn a recent op-ed for the Tyler Morning Telegraph, Rep. Moran highlighted the results: 97% of tax filers received a cut, $82 billion in relief delivered, and provisions like No Tax on Overtime putting real money back in East Texans' pockets. From a permanently doubled Child Tax Credit to Trump Accounts already used by 5.5 million families, the Working Families Tax Cuts are putting liberty back where it belongs.\n\nRead the full op-ed HERE.", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://pfluger.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3043", "Chairman Pfluger and Senator Hickenlooper Lead Charge for Service Academy Investment in Final NDAA", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "August Pfluger", "P000048", "pfluger.house.gov", "pfluger", "https://pfluger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11), Chairman of the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) Board of Visitors, and Senator John Hickenlooper (D-CO) led a bipartisan, bicameral letter calling for a generational investment in the nation's Military Service Academies.\n\nThe letter, signed by members of the West Point, Naval Academy, and Air Force Academy Board of Visitors, was addressed to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees. The members urge the Chairmen to include several provisions in the final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to equip future warfighters with the resources to defend our country.\n\nIn the letter, the members advocated for a dedicated funding stream to the Military Service Academies, ensuring consistent and predictable investment in their infrastructure and mission readiness. They also call for strengthening the public-private investment relationship at the Academies by allowing superintendents to contract directly with affiliated nonprofit organizations on campus modernization projects, enabling Academies to use private philanthropic support alongside federal funding.\n\n\"My experiences at the U.S. Air Force Academy shaped who I am and how I serve today. That's why I'm committed to giving our Service Academies the resources, facilities, faculty, and training they need to develop the finest military leaders in the world. I'm proud to stand with Board of Visitors members from West Point, the Naval Academy, and the Air Force Academy in this effort. Our national defense starts with how well we prepare those who will lead it,\" said USAFA Board of Visitors Chairman August Pfluger (TX-11).\n\n\u201cColorado is proud to be the home of the U.S. Air Force Academy, the premier training institution for the next generation of Airmen and Guardian leaders,\u201d said Hickenlooper. \u201cInvesting in these national assets is a no-brainer. It\u2019s an investment in America\u2019s security and future,\" said Senator John Hickenlooper (D-CO).\n\n\u201cI went to West Point, and I\u2019ve seen firsthand what these academies demand of the young men and women we\u2019re asking to lead our military,\u201d said Rep. Pat Harrigan (NC-10). \u201cWe\u2019re preparing them for a battlefield that is changing faster than ever, while too much of the infrastructure behind their training is aging and the process to modernize it is unnecessarily slow. These NDAA provisions give every service academy dedicated resources to upgrade its facilities and make it easier to put private dollars to work on campus instead of letting them sit behind federal red tape. If we expect our future officers to be ready for the next war, we need to make sure the academies training them are ready for it too.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur service academies are responsible for developing the next generation of American warfighters and leaders, and they deserve the resources and infrastructure necessary to meet that mission. We cannot expect our cadets and midshipmen to prepare for the challenges of tomorrow in facilities that fall behind today. These provisions are critical for helping to modernize our academies, accelerating critical construction projects, and ensuring they have the flexibility they need to make the investments necessary to produce the strongest military force in the world,\" said Rep. Ronny Jackson (TX-13).\n\n\"It is an honor to serve on the Board of Visitors of the United States Naval Academy. I take this role seriously because we have an obligation to do more than just thank our Midshipmen \u2013 and all our service members and veterans \u2013 for their service. It is my duty and my privilege to fight for them in Congress, for their benefits, and for their protection. That is why I am proud to join a bipartisan, bicameral group of members of Congress to urge that all our Military Service Academies have the necessary resources they need in the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act. We must continue to invest in our next generation of service members so they can continue to serve our country with courage, integrity, and distinction,\" said Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-MA).\n\n\"As a Member of the Air Force Academy\u2019s Board of Visitors, it is critical that our service academies across the nation receive investments to modernize facilities. Our future Airmen and Guardians at USAFA deserve facilities that will help train them for the war-fighting environment, which is why we are calling on leadership to invest in cutting-edge enhancements to our academies,\u201d said Rep. Jeff Crank (CO-05).\n\n\u201cOur military service academies (MSAs) shape the next generation of American warfighters and military leaders \u2013 something I experienced firsthand during my time at the U.S. Naval Academy, where I learned the true meaning of service to one\u2019s country. Investing in these academies means investing in the future defense of our nation. That\u2019s why it\u2019s essential we ensure MSAs have the resources, modern facilities, and programming they need to equip tomorrow\u2019s heroes,\" saidSenator Tim Sheehy (R-MT).\n\n\u201cOur Service Academies play a critical role in developing the next generation of military leaders, ensuring that our armed forces remain at the forefront of innovation and military capability,\u201d said Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV). \u201cThat is why I have joined my fellow Board of Visitors members for our Academies to ensure that they have the funding and support they need to equip our future military officers with the skills needed to defend our country.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur military service academies instill discipline, build character, and prepare future military leaders to pursue excellence,\u201d said Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND). \u201cWe need to make sure they have the resources and tools they need to succeed and defend our country. I join my colleagues in requesting a generational investment in our military service academies to properly equip our cadets and midshipmen for today\u2019s warfighting environment.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur service members sign on the dotted line to protect our safety and freedom, and they deserve the best resources and preparation in return,\u201d said Senator Coons. \u201cAs a new member of the Air Force Academy Board of Visitors and the lead Senate Democrat for defense funding, I know our academies need significant investment in order to be prepared for the combat of the future. We have the best military in the world, and I\u2019m committed to keeping it that way,\" said Senator Chris Coons (D-DE).\n\n\u201cThe education provided to young Patriots at our United States Service Academies is invaluable, and must always be safeguarded and protected for the sake of our national security and armed forces. Representing West Point in Congress, sitting on the USMA Board of Visitors, and working on the Armed Services Committee keeps me connected to the vitality of these unique, essential institutions. I\u2019m proud to join this bipartisan, bicameral group of legislators in fighting for the resources that every cadet and midshipman deserves,\u201d said Rep. Pat Ryan (NY-18).", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://pfluger.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3044", "PASSED: Chairman Pfluger's I&A Mission Reorientation Act", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "August Pfluger", "P000048", "pfluger.house.gov", "pfluger", "https://pfluger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, spoke in favor of his legislation, the I&A Mission Reorientation Act on the U.S. House Floor. The legislation passed through the U.S. House of Representatives this week.\n\nThe\"I&A Mission Reorientation Act of 2026\" would update I&A\u2019s statutory responsibility to clearly define its focus, reinforce accountability, and improve operational effectiveness. The legislation would strengthen information sharing with state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) partners.\n\n\u201cThe threats to our homeland are evolving, and it is critical that our intelligence posture keeps pace. The I&A Mission Reorientation Act refocused DHS\u2019s Office of Intelligence and Analysis on its core mission to deliver timely, actionable intelligence to state and local partners on the front lines. By strengthening information sharing and expanding our forward-deployed capabilities, this bill will close critical gaps and ensure intelligence flows swiftly to decision-makers on the ground,\u201d said Subcommittee Chairman August Pfluger (TX-11).\n\n\u201cHouse Republicans are continuing to put our homeland security and public safety first, passing seven more bipartisan bills from the Committee to ensure Department of Homeland Security personnel can accomplish their core missions. As America faces evolving threats, the Committee is working to enhance the Department\u2019s ability to coordinate effectively with state and local law enforcement, prepare for threats to the agriculture critical infrastructure sector, and support our frontline CBP personnel,\" said Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Andrew Garbarino (NY-02).\n\nWatch Chairman Pfluger's remarks on the House Floor in support of the legislation HERE.\n\nRead Chairman Pfluger's remarks below:\n\n\"Last week, the nation marked the 25th anniversary of 9/11 \u2013 a day that forever changed American history and the way we think about homeland security. Terrorists did not win that day, or any other day since. The threat of terrorism exposed on 9/11 instead unleashed the force of American patriotism, innovation, and vigilance to ensure our homeland would never be targeted again.\n\n\"Preventing another 9/11 is exactly why the Department of Homeland Security was established, including its Office of Intelligence & Analysis. Recognizing that there were gaps in information sharing that hindered cohesive threat assessments, I&A was founded with a mandate unlike any other in the intelligence community: to share intelligence with state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement partners.\n\n\"When information is siloed or fails to reach the appropriate stakeholders at the right time, threats to our homeland can materialize in the blind spots that are created as a result \u2013 and there are no shortage of threats today, as terror groups move and adapt to evade detection by our law enforcement and intelligence communities.\n\n\"Actionable intelligence in the right hands, at the right time is a competitive advantage for the U.S. over those who may seek to do us harm, contributing to the Department\u2019s no-fail mission.\n\nAt the same time, in the past twenty-five years, I&A has experienced an all-too-familiar mission creep, favoring intelligence support to the Department concentrated here in DC that distracts from its field-oriented mission.\n\n\"Information sharing is hindered when I&A personnel and priorities are more attuned to DC than to building trust, maintaining presence, and contributing to information networks within state and local law enforcement partners. An I&A that fails to prioritize the field is insufficiently postured to meet today\u2019s threats.\n\n\"The I&A Mission Reorientation Act is the first step towards reversing this trend and realigning I&A with its foundational mission. It amends I&A\u2019s statutory authorization to affirm that its operational mission is to provide intelligence support to state, local, tribal, and territorial partners \u2013 by leveraging forward-deployed intelligence capabilities, engaging with fusion centers, and facilitating two-way information flows.\n\n\"It additionally requires I&A to update Congress on progress made, providing the necessary oversight to make this realignment a reality.\n\n\"This bill is the result of months of bipartisan collaboration across this Committee and with the Department. It has advanced unanimously twice this year \u2013 in both subcommittee and full committee markups.\n\n\"Today, I urge my colleagues to support its passage once more, reaffirming what Congress intended twenty-five years ago when the Office of Intelligence & Analysis was created.\"", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/cornyn-statement-on-confirmation-of-kasdin-mitchell-for-u-s-district-court-in-dallas/", "Cornyn Statement on Confirmation of Kasdin Mitchell for U.S. District Court in Dallas", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "John Cornyn", "C001056", "www.cornyn.senate.gov", "cornyn", "https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/", "scraper", "AUSTIN \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after the Senate voted to confirm President Trump\u2019s nomination of Kasdin Mitchell to be a U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Texas \u2013 Dallas Division. Video of Sen. Cornyn introducing Ms. Mitchell earlier this year in the Senate Judiciary Committee can be found here.\n\n\u201cKasdin Mitchell is a well-regarded litigator and a former clerk for some of our nation\u2019s sharpest legal minds, and it\u2019s no surprise that President Trump selected her to serve as a U.S. District Judge,\u201d said Sen. Cornyn. \u201cThe Northern District of Texas is fortunate to be gaining such a bright attorney and trusted public servant who will excel on the federal bench, and I am glad she has been confirmed.\u201d\n\nSens. Cornyn and Ted Cruz (R-TX) recommended Kasdin Mitchell to President Trump following an extensive review and interview process of the candidate pool by the bipartisan Federal Judicial Evaluation Committee (FJEC). The Senators established the FJEC, a bipartisan panel of leading attorneys in Texas, to help identify the most qualified candidates to fill judicial vacancies. The panel reviewed applications, interviewed candidates, and made recommendations to the Senators, who interviewed individuals before making their recommendations to the President.\n\nKasdin Mitchell is a litigation partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, where she focuses on complex litigation at the trial and appellate level. Previously, she clerked for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and Judge William H. Pryor Jr. and served as a litigation associate for Maynard Cooper & Gale PC, assistant solicitor general in Alabama, and assistant press secretary for First Lady Laura Bush. Mitchell received her Juris Doctor from Yale Law School and her bachelor\u2019s degree from Yale University.", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-cruz-statement-on-passage-into-law-of-lindsey-o-graham-sanctioning-russia-and-iran-act", "Sen. Cruz Statement On Passage Into Law of Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", "cruz", "https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement after President Trump signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 into law.\n\nSen. Cruz said, \u201cI\u2019m proud to have worked alongside my friend Senator Graham on the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. President Trump signing this legislation into law sends a clear message to Vladimir Putin and those enabling his war that the United States will hold them accountable for their actions, impose serious consequences, and counter his aggression.\u201d\n\nRead the bill text here.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nSenator Cruz has long been a leader countering Vladimir Putin\u2019s aggression and imposing sanctions on Russia. In 2019, Sen. Cruz authored bipartisan sanctions targeting Russia\u2019s Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which were signed into law and halted construction of the pipeline. He later led efforts to expand those sanctions and pressed for their enforcement. In 2024, Sen. Cruz introduced legislation to preserve the Nord Stream 2 sanctions.\n\nThe Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026:\n\nImposes sanctions on Russian officials, financial institutions, and other individuals and entities affiliated with or supporting the Russian Government.\n\nEstablishes secondary sanctions on foreign persons and entities that engage with sanctioned Russian individuals or entities.\n\nTargets Russia\u2019s Shadow Fleet and foreign persons and vessels used by the Russian Government to evade sanctions.\n\nProvides the President with authority to impose tariffs on imports from Russia and from countries that are major purchasers of Russian oil and natural gas or that facilitate evasion of Russian oil sanctions.\n\nAdditionally, the legislation extends the Iran Sanctions Act by five years to prevent a lapse in sanction authority that restricts funding for Iran\u2019s energy and weapons sectors.", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3353", "Representatives Escobar, Goodlander Lead Democrats in Requesting Information on VA Advisory Committee on Women Veterans", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Veronica Escobar", "E000299", "escobar.house.gov", "escobar", "https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Representatives Veronica Escobar (TX-16) and Maggie Goodlander (NH-2) led a group of ten Democratic Members of Congress in a letter to Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Doug Collins expressing their concern for the apparent lack of support for the VA Advisory Committee on Women Veterans (ACWV).\n\nThe full letter can be found here or below:\n\nSecretary Collins:\n\nWe write to express our concern regarding the apparent lack of support for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Advisory Committee on Women Veterans (ACWV). According to the ACWV Charter, which you signed October 6, 2025, this Federal Advisory Committee (FAC) must meet twice annually and submit a report to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs annually on July 1st. However, according to the files assembled and maintained by VA\u2019s Advisory Committee Management Office in accordance with the law, the committee has not met since December 2024. No report has been published for either 2025 or 2026.\n\nAdditionally, we understand that the most recent Chair of the ACWV, Colonel (Ret.) Wanda A. Wright, resigned from that position in April 2026 in protest of VA having \u201ceffectively rendered the Committee inactive\u201d and affirming the digital record of inactivity referenced above by noting the ACWV has not met since December 2024.\n\nUnder the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), it is a requirement that advisory committees meet regularly, conduct business transparently, and actively fulfill their statutory purpose. Specifically, the ACWV is mandated by statute, 38 U.S.C. \u00a7 542, which requires that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs establish an advisory committee consisting of members from the general public who represent women veterans, veterans with service-connected disabilities, and those recently separated from the military and/or are recognized authorities in fields including gender-specific health-care needs of women. The law also requires you to consult with and seek advice from the ACWV with respect to VA health care, benefits, outreach, and other programs administered by VA. The committee, by statute, is to submit a report to you which you are required to submit to Congress within 60 days of receipt. We did not receive a report in 2025 and have seen no evidence that we should expect one in 2026.\n\nThe lapse in the ACWV\u2019s required activities raises concerns about whether the Department is fulfilling its statutory obligation to consult with and seek the committee\u2019s advice on matters affecting women veterans. The limited information available regarding the committee\u2019s status further raises questions about whether VA is meeting its obligations under law and providing Congress and the public with adequate transparency regarding the operation of a Congressionally mandated advisory body.\n\nTo better understand the Department\u2019s practices related to this FAC, we request responses to the following questions no later than October 2, 2026:\n\nHow many times did the VA Advisory Committee on Women Veterans meet in 2025?\n\nAs of the date of your response, how many times has the ACWV met in 2026?\n\nWhat is informing your decisions about how to optimally provide care, benefits, and services to women veterans in the absence of regular meetings of the ACWV?\n\nEach FAC has an associated budget and employees. Given that ACWV has not met as required in 2025 and 2026, have the budget and employees been redirected and if so how are they being used? Please provide funding levels used to support FAC activities in FY2025 and FY2026 and descriptions of how the funding was used.\n\nWhat is your plan to ensure that meetings of the ACWV occur according to its statue and charter?\n\nWe appreciate your prompt attention to these questions and expect a timely and complete response. Congress created these advisory committees to ensure that the voices, expertise, and experiences of veterans inform the Department charged with serving them. Veterans and their families, caregivers, and survivors deserve nothing less than a clear accounting of why the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans has been allowed to fall silent and what the Department will do to restore these critical perspectives to the table.\n\n-\n\nIn addition to Representatives Escobar and Goodlander, the signers of this letter include Representatives Terri Sewell (AL-7), Ed Case (HI-1), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-6), George Latimer (NY-16), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Tim Kennedy (NY-26), Madeleine Dean (PA-4), and Deborah Ross (NC-2).", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=7484", "Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher and Congressman Morgan Luttrell\u2019s Effort To Expedite Buffalo Bayou Tributaries Resiliency Study Passes House", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Lizzie Fletcher", "F000468", "fletcher.house.gov", "fletcher", "https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Legislation directs USACE to move forward on a long-sought flood mitigation solution around the Addicks and Barker reservoirs, and along Buffalo Bayou\n\nToday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026. After years of delays, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) and Congressman Morgan Luttrell (TX-08) led an effort to include a provision in the bill that directs the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to expedite a Chief\u2019s Report evaluating a single large underground water conveyance tunnel to reduce flood risk around the Addicks and Barker reservoirs and along Buffalo Bayou. A Chief\u2019s Report is a critical step toward moving forward on any USACE project. Once it is complete, Congress must then authorize the project and appropriate funding.\n\nWRDA 2024 required USACE to complete a Chief\u2019s Report on the Buffalo Bayou and Tributaries Resiliency Study (BBTRS). Instead, USACE produced a report of findings that presented three options: take no action, construct one large tunnel, or construct a series of smaller, modular tunnels. USACE then requested additional funding to study the difference between the large-tunnel and modular-tunnel options, rather than completing the legally required Chief\u2019s Report.\n\nCongresswoman Fletcher and Congressman Luttrell\u2019s provision in WRDA 2026 specifically directs USACE to expedite the Chief\u2019s Report on the single large tunnel option\u2014the solution stakeholders in Houston and the broader region have identified and supported as the most effective way to protect Houston-area communities from flooding, whether from a single catastrophic storm or the cumulative impact of frequent, smaller flood events.\n\n\u201cSince my first term in Congress, protecting our community from flooding has been central to my work, and completing the Buffalo Bayou and Tributaries Resiliency Study is essential to that effort,\u201d said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. \u201cThis project reflects an effort to think big about how to protect our entire community from the cumulative toll of more rain and more storms. I\u2019m grateful to Congressman Luttrell for his partnership in this effort, and to community leaders across Texas\u2019 Seventh Congressional District for their years of collaboration and advocacy. I\u2019m glad WRDA 2026 will finally require USACE to deliver the Chief\u2019s Report on the solution our community has identified and supported.\u201d\n\n\"Flood mitigation in the Houston region has remained a top priority throughout my time in Congress, and today's House passage of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026 represents meaningful progress toward that goal,\u201d said Congressman Morgan Luttrell. \u201cThis provision ensures the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completes the Chief's Report on the large tunnel solution, as originally required. I appreciate Congresswoman Fletcher's continued partnership on this effort and look forward to its consideration by the Senate.\u201d\n\nIn July, the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure passed WRDA 2026, which included this provision led by Congresswoman Fletcher and Congressman Luttrell.\n\nSince her first term in Congress, Congresswoman Fletcher has advocated for the completion of BBTRS. Following her advocacy, Congress included language requiring USACE to complete BBTRS in the Water Redevelopment Act (WRDA) of 2024. In January of 2024, she testified before the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure and urged the Committee to include language to complete the BBTRS. In 2021, she wrote a letter to USACE supporting an exemption to allow USACE to complete the BBTRS.\n\nIn 2020, she successfully called on the USACE to extend the public comment period for the BBTRS Interim Report. She then submitted a public comment on the interim report urging the USACE to incorporate public feedback from residents of Texas\u2019 Seventh Congressional District.\n\nThe bill now moves to the United States Senate, where it is one step closer to becoming law.", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/mccaul-speaks-after-house-passes-lindsey-o-graham-sanctioning-russia", "McCaul Speaks After House Passes Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Michael T. McCaul", "M001157", "mccaul.house.gov", "mccaul", "https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Emeritus Michael McCaul (R-Texas) held a bipartisan, bicameral press conference after the House passed the the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 by a vote of 262 to 159.\n\nThis legislation \u2014 which honors the late Senator Lindsey Graham, who worked on the bill for more than a year and secured the White House\u2019s support \u2014 will hold major purchasers of Russian oil and gas accountable for supporting Russia\u2019s war against Ukraine and extend sanctions that restrict funding for Iran\u2019s energy and weapons sectors. McCaul introduced and championed the legislation in the House alongside Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and a bipartisan group of their colleagues.\n\nImage\n\nClick to watch\n\nRemarks as delivered:\n\nWhat a great day for Ukraine. What a great day for freedom and democracy. I know Lindsey Graham, my friend and mentor, is shining down upon us and you, [Senator Darline Graham].\n\nI can't tell you how much this means to me. You know, I was in Ukraine at the same time [as Lindsey], and he said this is a \"magic moment\" \u2014 a rare opportunity to help end the war in Europe and secure peace through strength.\n\nHe said this bill would be his greatest legislative achievement in his entire career. And I wish he was here with us today, but I am proud to announce that the bill passed by a vote of 262 to 159.\n\nAnd I want to thank my good friend Steny Hoyer, the lead Democrat on the bill, for his good work and excellent performance on the floor.\n\nThis bill will cripple Russia's war machine and finally bring Putin to the negotiating table. It will ensure America's adversaries \u2014 not only Russia, but also China and Iran \u2014 suffer for their coordinated campaign of aggression.\n\nLindsey understood these threats. He had the guts to stand up and confront them, no matter what the political cost was and where the winds were blowing. He understood that this is a moral issue that requires moral courage.\n\nDuring his last press conference, he said, \"I have never been more optimistic than I am today that we have the formula to end this war.\" I couldn't agree more.\n\nToday, 262 members of the House voted not just for Ukraine, but for freedom and democracy. And today, we are now one step closer to securing Lindsey's vision of enduring peace in Ukraine and beyond.\n\nI want to thank all the members who supported this. I want to thank Darline for being here. I know your brother is shining down from heaven. It was no coincidence in his final speech at St. Michael's Square in Ukraine that the bells started ringing in the church ... as he kept his optimistic, upbeat character, [and a] great sense of humor as well.\n\nI will miss him dearly, but I know he is proud, shining down today.\n\nThank you.", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://weber.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3883", "Rep. Weber Secures Major Texas Gulf Coast Priorities as House Passes the Water Resources Development Act of 2026", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Randy K. Weber, Sr.", "W000814", "weber.house.gov", "weber", "https://weber.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Wednesday, Congressman Randy Weber (TX-14) voted in support of the Water Resources Devlopment Act of 2026 (WRDA) as the legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\nCongress considers WRDA every two years to authorize locally driven water infrastructure projects and establish policies governing how the United States Army Corps of Engineers manages the nation\u2019s ports, waterways, flood protection, and storm risk reduction projects.\n\n\u201cAlong the Texas Gulf Coast, strong ports, reliable waterways, and effective flood protection are essential for our communities and our economy,\u201d said Congressman Randy Weber. \u201cThis bill moves three TX-14 priorities forward by expediting the Sabine-Neches review and authorizing $10 million for water infrastructure projects that include Brazoria and Galveston counties, and the City of Kemah. I was proud to vote yes and will keep working to move these projects through Congress.\u201d\n\nThe House-passed legislation includes three priorities for Texas\u2019 14th Congressional District:\n\nSabine-Neches Waterway: Directs the Secretary of the Army to expedite the review and coordination of the Sabine-Neches Waterway Channel Improvement Project feasibility study, helping prevent unnecessary delays as this important project moves through the Army Corps process.\n\nBrazoria and Galveston Counties: Authorizes $5 million for water infrastructure, including water supply projects, across these counties.\n\nCity of Kemah: Authorizes $5 million for water and wastewater infrastructure, including stormwater management, in Kemah.\n\nThe Water Resources Development Act of 2026 now advances to the U.S. Senate for further consideration.", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/photo-cornyn-meets-with-abilene-christian-university-president-phil-schubert/", "PHOTO: Cornyn Meets with Abilene Christian University President Phil Schubert", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "John Cornyn", "C001056", "www.cornyn.senate.gov", "cornyn", "https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) met yesterday with Abilene Christian University (ACU) President Dr. Phil Schubert and Blair Schroeder to discuss ACU\u2019s NEXT Lab, a molten salt research reactor, which Sen. Cornyn saw being built in Abilene a few years ago. This cutting-edge project will help put Texas at the forefront of advanced nuclear and medical research, create high-skilled jobs, and develop technologies to strengthen America\u2019s energy security. See photo attached and below.", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/photo-cornyn-meets-with-brownsville-mayor-local-leaders/", "PHOTO: Cornyn Meets with Brownsville Mayor & Local Leaders", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "John Cornyn", "C001056", "www.cornyn.senate.gov", "cornyn", "https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) spoke yesterday with Brownsville Mayor John Cowen, Jr., local leaders, including those from Cameron County and the Port of Brownsville, and members of the Brownsville Chamber of Commerce to discuss the tremendous growth happening throughout the Rio Grande Valley. They also discussed how the City of Brownsville is helping drive Texas\u2019 economic future, including topics from energy and defense to space and international trade. See photo attached and below.", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3364", "Congresswoman Escobar Joins Bipartisan Delegation in Urging House Leaders to Take Immediate Action on Artificial Intelligence", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Veronica Escobar", "E000299", "escobar.house.gov", "escobar", "https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "This week, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) joined a bipartisan group of ten members of Congress, led by Congressman Don Beyer (VA-8), in calling on U.S. House leadership in both parties to take immediate, urgent action to address risks posed by rapidly advancing artificial intelligence (AI). Their push came in the wake of the OpenAI agent cyberattacks on Hugging Face and subsequent warnings from leaders and researchers at prominent AI companies about the societal and existential risks posed by unrestrained advances in the technology.\n\nThe letter can be found here or below:\n\nDear Speaker Johnson and Minority Leader Jeffries:\n\nWe call for your joint leadership on an urgent Congressional response to recent incidents involving advanced artificial intelligence (AI) models that have profound implications for economic and national security. Congress has a singular opportunity to respond swiftly and effectively to these warning shots before true catastrophes occur.\n\nOn August 26th, 2026, an independent review revealed how hundreds of AI agents that OpenAI was internally testing set up a secret message board, self-organized themselves into a collective, escaped their testing environments, and breached the systems of HuggingFace, another AI company. The agents even tried to deceive their evaluators by attempting to manipulate log files and spoof tool calls. The agents undertook these actions without ever notifying a single official at OpenAI.\n\nOpenAI is not alone. Anthropic and Meta have also disclosed examples of AI agents escaping their testing environment to hack other organizations. OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta are among the most sophisticated AI companies in the world, yet it appears they did not discover these incidents in real time. In OpenAI\u2019s case, they did not know that their agents breached HuggingFace until approximately a week after the event. Months after these incidents began, serious factual questions remain open, and we are relying on AI labs for insight into what happened and what this means for future incidents.\n\nCongress must ensure AI companies implement robust monitoring and independent oversight to protect the public. This incident reinforces that we cannot rely on what are clearly risky testing protocols and self-selected public reporting of incidents of concern. Indeed, nearly every major AI company has called for regulation, and leading employees of those same firms have signed open letters calling for government to pace the rate of AI development. Congress must urgently advance legislation to mitigate the risk of more serious incidents, especially those that could threaten critical infrastructure, our financial system, and other institutions that every American depends on.\n\nThe House of Representatives could and should immediately take up legislation that would strengthen AI oversight, security, and transparency. There currently exist dozens of bipartisan bills that that committees of jurisdiction have reported. Members of both parties have also worked in recent months to fast- track bipartisan legislation that is ready to be considered by committees of jurisdiction. We believe these bills should be carefully and urgently advanced through the legislative process.\n\nWe urge you to work with committees of jurisdiction, Members across the aisle, and Senate leadership to, as soon as practicable, advance legislation that ensures appropriate guardrails are in place around this powerful technology. The Congress may not receive another warning shot.\n\n-\n\nThe letter was signed by U.S. Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA), Jay Obernolte (R-CA), Lori Trahan (D-MA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Scott Franklin (R-FL), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Gabe Amo (D-RI), Valerie Foushee (D-NC), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Veronica Escobar (D-TX).\n\nTo learn more about Congresswoman Escobar\u2019s work on artificial intelligence, click here.", 1, "2026-09-21T10:25:24Z", "2026-09-21T10:26:54Z"], ["https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-al-green-hosts-global-entry-enrollment-saturday-september-26-2026", "Congressman Al Green Hosts Global Entry Enrollment on Saturday, September 26, 2026", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Al Green", "G000553", "algreen.house.gov", "algreen", "https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "September 16, 2026\n\nImage\n\nSATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2026\n\n10 AM \u2013 2 PM\n\nat the\n\nHouston Business Development Inc.\n\n5330 Griggs Road, Houston, Texas 77021\n\nHow To Apply for the Global Entry Event\n\nGENERATE:\n\nCreate a Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) account\n\nRegardless of your age, you must have your own Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) account.\n\n** You make be asked to Create a LogMeIn Account. Sign in | Login.gov.\n\nAPPLY:\n\nLog in to your TTP account and complete the application\n\nA $120 non-refundable fee is required with each completed application.\n\nDEADLINE:\n\nPlease apply by September 21, 2026 to continue the process.\n\nREGISTER:\n\nhttps://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4AAAAB22A4FECE9-65437440-tx09 to schedule your preferred interview time. Space is limited!\n\nCOMPLETE THE PROCESS:\n\nEmail your conditional approval, or Application and PASS ID to\n\nRobertine.jefferson@mail.house.gov. Once we have verified that your application is conditionally approved, you will receive a special access code to confirm your interview.\n\nBRING:\n\nBring your valid passport and one other form of identification, such as a driver\u2019s license or ID card, to the interview. If you are a lawful permanent resident, you must present your machine readable permanent resident card.\n\nQUESTIONS:\n\nPlease visit Global Entry | U.S. Customs and Border Protection for benefits and eligibility or contact the Office of Congressman Al Green: Global Entry Resources | Congressman Al Green or (713) 383-9234", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-al-green-states-25-years-after-911-we-must-address-latent-injuries", "Rep. Al Green States 25 Years After 9/11, We Must Address the Latent Injuries of Survivors", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Al Green", "G000553", "algreen.house.gov", "algreen", "https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2014 On Wednesday, September 16, 2026, Congressman Al Green, a Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, shared remarks during a Homeland Security Committee hearing entitled, \u201c25 Years Later: Evolutions in Federal, State, and Local Counterterrorism Efforts Since 9/11.\"\n\nYou can access and listen to Congressman Al Green\u2019s remarks to the witnesses by clicking here. The hearing remarks highlighted are also accessible on various social media platforms, including Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly known as Twitter).", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-castro-statement-on-russia-sanctions-bill", "Congressman Castro Statement on Russia Sanctions Bill", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Joaquin Castro", "C001091", "castro.house.gov", "castro", "https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement on the Lindsey O. Graham Russia and Iran Act of 2026 (H.R. 5334):\n\n\u201cFor four and a half years, the Ukrainian people have bravely defended their homeland against Russia\u2019s invasion of their country and attempts to wipe them out. Tens of thousands of Ukrainians have lost their lives defending their homeland. Families and communities have been devastated, and tens of thousands of Ukrainian children have been kidnapped by Russia. The Ukrainian people are fighting a war of self-defense and deserve our support.\n\n\u201cAs a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Intelligence Committee, I have consistently voted to support the Ukrainian people in their efforts to defend their country and way of life. I have condemned Russia\u2019s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, led efforts to isolate Russia from international organizations, and consistently voted to provide Ukraine with the resources and defense equipment it needs to defend itself.\n\n\u201cWhile I strongly support the Ukrainian people, I was unable to vote for the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, a bill that would provide President Trump with broad authority to raise taxes on Americans through tariffs without clear safeguards to prevent the abuse of this authority.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump has never demonstrated that he is a friend to the Ukrainian people, from his efforts to extort President Zelenskyy during his first term to his recent statements blaming Ukraine \u2013 and not his own war in Iran \u2013 for rising gas prices. Despite already having authorities to impose sanctions and tariffs on Russia, he has refused to do so, preferring to praise Vladimir Putin and criticize Ukrainians.\n\n\u201cI support many of the provisions in this bill, including financial sanctions on Russian officials and financial institutions, and restrictions on investing in Russia, and would support the legislation if it did not include language granting President Trump broad authority to increase taxes through the use of tariffs.\n\n\u201cI have serious concerns that he would abuse the tariff authorities that this bill provides to pursue his own agenda and not use them in a way that would put pressure on those who buy Russian oil. His abuse of these authorities would be counterproductive not only for the United States but also the Ukrainian people, who deserve better.\n\nI will continue to support the Ukrainian people as they continue to defend their homeland.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3350", "Congresswoman Escobar Statement on Russia Sanctions Bill", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Veronica Escobar", "E000299", "escobar.house.gov", "escobar", "https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) released the following statement on the Russia sanctions bill:\n\n\u201cI strongly support holding Russia accountable for its brutal war against Ukraine, and I believe strong, targeted sanctions are an important tool to pressure Vladimir Putin and his regime and to support Ukraine\u2019s defense against Russian aggression.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s why I supported amendments to today\u2019s Russia sanctions bill that would have removed problematic provisions granting President Trump sweeping power to impose tariffs without sufficient congressional oversight. At a time when this President has repeatedly failed to use America\u2019s leverage to push back on Russia and has instead used tariff authority in ways that have harmed American consumers, businesses, and our relationships with longstanding allies, Congress should be strengthening its oversight. Unfortunately, these provisions remained in the final bill, and I could not support it.\n\n\u201cCongress should use this moment to force the President to act against Putin, not hand him more authority on tariffs. I would have proudly voted to pass a clean sanctions bill that imposes real costs on Russia and makes clear that the United States will not tolerate its continued aggression against Ukraine. We should not have to surrender Congress's authority over trade and tariffs to do it.\n\n\u201cI will continue to support strong sanctions that hold Putin and his regime accountable, and I will continue fighting for Congress to exercise its constitutional responsibility over the economic and foreign policy tools of the United States.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3351", "Congresswoman Escobar Statement on Ratepayer Protection Act", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Veronica Escobar", "E000299", "escobar.house.gov", "escobar", "https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) released the following statement on the Ratepayer Protection Act:\n\n\u201cAfter months of urging the Republican majority to allow the House to vote on data center regulation legislation, the only bill they are allowing to move forward is the Ratepayer Protection Act, which requires tech companies to pay for the energy generation and consumption of their data centers.\n\n\u201cWhile I voted in favor of this bill, it represents the absolute bare minimum that Congress should be doing. If this is as far as Republicans will go to protect American communities, it is a pathetic response to what is a top priority for communities like mine. I will continue to push Republicans to allow bills that fully protect our natural resources, air quality and pocketbooks and won\u2019t stop until we have the protections the American people deserve.\u201d\n\nCongresswoman Escobar supports a number of bills to regulate data centers, establish guardrails, and prioritize consumers:\n\nThe AI Data Center Site Selection Transparency Act\n\nThis bill would set requirements for new AI data centers, requiring that developers publicly disclose the location 180 days in advance, disclose impacts on energy and water, and restricting NDA agreements with public entities on data centers deals.\n\nThe Power for the People Act\n\nThis bill ensures data centers are fully paying for their energy costs and associated infrastructure, creates a system to manage data center interconnection to the grid, and provides resources to improve accurate data center load forecasting.\n\nThe Energy Bills Relief Act\n\nThis bill reinstates 2022 tax credits for home and system-wide energy improvements and ensures that facilities like data centers are paying for their own energy costs.\n\nLowering Utility Bills Act\n\nThis bill would amend the Federal Power Act and the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to require investor-owned electric utilities and gas utilities and transmission providers to, when establishing or calculating a return on equity, establish or calculate the return on equity at the lowest return on equity in an established range of reasonableness, and for other purposes.\n\nResponsible Data Center Siting Act\n\nThis bill directs the Secretary of Energy to establish best practices for the siting of data centers.\n\nRatepayer Bill of Rights Act\n\nThis bill requires public disclosure of electricity and water use, infrastructure costs, rate impacts, public financial assistance, and related commitments associated with large data centers, and for other purposes.\n\nResponsible Data Center Siting Act\n\nThis bill directs the Secretary of Energy to establish best practices for the siting of data centers.", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://jackson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2609", "ICYMI: Rep. Ronny Jackson Highlights Need to Accelerate U.S. Drone Testing", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ronny Jackson", "J000304", "jackson.house.gov", "jackson", "https://jackson.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 In an opinion editorial published by The Defense Post, Representative Ronny Jackson (TX-13) warned that America cannot afford to test and field drone technology at peacetime speed while our adversaries innovate at wartime speed.\n\nIn case you missed it\u2026\n\nAmerica Can\u2019t Afford to Test Drones at Peacetime Speed\n\nDefense Post\n\nRep. Ronny Jackson\n\n15 September 2026\n\nA US Army Apache helicopter goes down near the Strait of Hormuz, reportedly hit by an Iranian drone. The crew is recovered not by another helicopter, but by an unmanned surface vessel \u2014 the first time a robotic boat has ever pulled a downed US aircrew from the water. That\u2019s not a preview of future warfare. That\u2019s three months ago.\n\nSmall, inexpensive drones are transforming the battlefield. From the trenches of Ukraine to conflicts across the Middle East, they are no longer specialized technologies but essential tools for reconnaissance, targeting, electronic warfare, logistics, and tactical assaults.\n\nDrones costing only a few thousand dollars are destroying equipment worth millions. Our adversaries have recognized this and are adapting rapidly. The United States must do the same.\n\nThe Hormuz rescue is a case in point. Rather than relying solely on traditional rescue assets, the US military deployed a Saronic \u201cCorsair\u201d autonomous drone boat to locate and recover the downed crew. The vessel carried the aircrew to safety, where they were recovered by helicopter.\n\nIt showed how quickly autonomous systems are moving from experimental technology to operational force multiplier, becoming indispensable tools for combat, logistics, and intelligence collection, and even personnel recovery.\n\nThe same technologies will be called on to conduct reconnaissance, deliver supplies, overwhelm enemy defenses, and protect critical infrastructure.\n\nAmerica\u2019s competitors are integrating drones and autonomous systems into every part of military operations. If we want to keep our battlefield advantage, we cannot afford an acquisition and testing system that moves at peacetime speed while adversaries innovate at wartime speed with real-time feedback.\n\nThat\u2019s the gap Section 221 of the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act \u2014 a provision I led through the House Armed Services Committee \u2014 is built to close.\n\nIt authorizes the Secretary of War to establish dedicated test and training corridors for small unmanned aerial systems (UAS), where operators can run realistic electronic warfare and high-energy scenarios instead of sanitized lab conditions.\n\nIt also directs the Department to identify the regulatory barriers slowing that testing down. In practice, that means operators can troubleshoot, add new payloads, and develop new tactics against real conditions before a system ever reaches a unit rather than discovering its limits in combat. Without that kind of test and training space, even the most advanced prototype can still fail against a live threat.\n\nThe future battlefield will belong to the military that can test, adapt, and field autonomous systems fastest. America must lead that race \u2014 not follow it.\n\nAmerica has always maintained its military advantage by anticipating the next battlefield rather than reacting to it. We invested in airpower before others understood its potential. We pioneered precision-guided weapons. We led the world in stealth technology, space capabilities, and networked warfare.\n\nDrone warfare represents the next major evolution in military operations. Through the Pentagon\u2019s Drone Dominance Program, the Department of War is moving to equip combat units with low-cost attack drones and rapidly synchronize counter-UAS efforts across the services.\n\nBy 2027, the Department intends to field more than 200,000 lethal, AI-enabled drones as part of this program, with 30,000 already ordered and being delivered now.\n\nSection 221 builds on this momentum by allowing the Department of War to establish the infrastructure and regulatory fast lanes necessary to support the testing and integration of these systems and ensure that enduring technological advantage belongs to the United States.\n\nOur servicemembers should never enter a fight equipped with yesterday\u2019s technology or trained for yesterday\u2019s battlefield. By expanding realistic drone testing, accelerating innovation, and preparing our forces for the fight we\u2019re actually likely to face, we can keep America ready to deter aggression and protect our national security.\n\nThe future of warfare is already here. It\u2019s our responsibility to make sure America is prepared for it.", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/chairman-emeritus-mccaul-discusses-evolutions-counterterrorism-25-years", "Chairman Emeritus McCaul Discusses Evolutions in Counterterrorism 25 Years After 9/11 at CHS Hearing", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Michael T. McCaul", "M001157", "mccaul.house.gov", "mccaul", "https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 At today's House Homeland Security Committee hearing, Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) \u2014 chairman emeritus and current vice chair of the committee \u2014 spoke with DC Fire and EMS Department Chief John Donnelly, FDNY Chief of Fire Prevention Thomas Currao, and Chief Secretary Officer for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Greg Ehrie.\n\nThey discussed the strides made in protecting Americans from terrorism 25 years after 9/11 and the need to continuously adapt and innovate our technologies. Rep. McCaul also asked the witnesses about the evolving aviation threat posed by modern drones.\n\nImage\n\nClick to watch\n\nFull Exchange:\n\nMcCaul: You know, I vividly remember that day as we all do. Horrific day. For us, it's living history. For many now, it's textbook history in the schools. After 9/11, I became the Chief of Counterterrorism and National Security in the Western District of Texas. I became a student of counterterrorism, and then became chairman of this committee. [I] worked very closely with NYPD and the New York Fire Department as well.\n\nI remember [in] 1993, we had a pre-warning: Ramzi Yousef trying to bring down the World Trade Center. And it was originally a plot to hit 12 synagogues simultaneously, symbolizing the 12 tribes of Israel. He modified his plan to take down the symbol of economic power, the World Trade Center, one pillar, one building toppling over the other. As you all know, he came actually relatively close to achieving that goal if the bomb had gone off closer to one of the pillar beams.\n\nBut then he escapes, meets with his uncle Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. He develops the Bojinka plot. I knew the Diplomatic Security Corps officer who arrested him, and eerily, they found baby dolls in his apartment stuffed with chemical explosives to [bring] onto airplanes to blow them up. The Bojinka plot also being 12 airliners, symbolic of the 12 tribes of Israel. He conspires with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed on 9/11.\n\nThe idea that planes could be turned into suicide missions was something that was not imaginable, and it was a failure of imagination. We saw planes hijacked, but not turned into cruise missiles targeted at buildings. In this case, three symbols of power: economic, military, and what in Arabic [is] called the building of laws, which was the United States Capitol.\n\nThe threat was aviation then. I believe it's also aviation today. I chaired the special events task force on the FIFA games, and the number one focus [was] drones and the impact that drones could have. I just got back from Ukraine, saw the amazing drone capabilities they've developed in this war against Russia, this conflict. But the modern aviation threat 25 years later is my question for the three of you.\n\nWe worked very hard, and the chairman passed the Safer Skies Act to help federal, state, and local to protect these events. But I'd like for the three of you to comment now on what I consider to be an old threat being aviation, but in a more modern capacity, and that is the threat of drones. Perhaps I could start with Chief Donnelly and work my way through.\n\nDonnelly: Drones bring a new threat to us, and we don't clearly understand it\u2014meaning the evolution of drones and what their capabilities really are and really aren't leaves us in a spot where it's hard to prepare. We are preparing that these weapons can do things in our community that could be delivered by a car or by some other method, so we prepare [for] that. I think the second part of the challenge is awareness of drones.\n\nAs you know here in the District of Columbia, the airspace is extremely restricted, and any drone that's up should be official. But sometimes there's so many different agencies with them up here, it takes a while to sort out whether or not it's an official one. And that isn't a local thing, that's a federal thing. That's all the different federal agencies putting them up. So here in the district, we are working with our partners in the Secret Service, with Capitol Police, with the Metropolitan Police Department.\n\nMcCaul: Well, you have a lot of federal buildings, including the United States Capitol. I know there are federal agencies assigned to that, but I do think coordination, like with the Safer Skies Act, the intent behind that should apply.\n\nDonnelly: Yeah, and that's where we want to be. We want to be coordinated so that when a drone's up, we know if it's good or bad. I'm confident that we can respond to the threats that they bring, but the coordination, the awareness of what their real capabilities are would be helpful.\n\nMcCaul: Thanks. Chief Currao?\n\nCurrao: Thank you very much for the question. First of all, thank you for the support. It was grant funding that allowed the FDNY to really build a very robust drone and robotics program. It is a program that's come to quite significant fruition. We use it a lot in our fire and rescue operations in a marine environment.\n\nAnd we have actually been a leader working with a lot of our counterparts to actually develop policy. I think from our perspective, our biggest concern is the threat of even just a drone over a special event, over a large area, mass panic. We readily identify\u2014you mentioned Ukraine\u2014that these, uh, drones can be weaponized, and we're concerned about chemicals, biologicals, other dispersion methods.\n\nAnd I agree with Chief Donnelly, we're still trying to understand what is the real threat vector, right? How effective would it be? But in many ways, I\u2019m very concerned about the fact that we could have a mass panic situation at something like the New York City Marathon, [or] any of those particular areas.\n\nMcCaul: Or the Boston Marathon.\n\nCurrao: Boston Marathon, absolutely.\n\nMcCaul: And by the way, Firehouse 10 is the most dramatic experience, and seeing the flag that flew on 9/11 just always blows me away when I see it. But, Mr. Ehrie?\n\nEhrie: No, sir, I agree with your assessment. We, like my colleagues, we\u2019re watching this, and the technology is outstripping our ability to identify and mitigate the technology. And certainly what we're seeing over in Ukraine is the perfection of drone warfare, and that can be extended out across the full spectrum of threats we're going to face, everywhere from criminal, a delivery system, all the way up to a catastrophic counterterrorism attack.\n\nAs you well know from your work with FIFA, it was our biggest fear that there was going to be something that came out in a drone that we could not either identify, and we certainly have a very limited capacity to mitigate that threat if we did identify it. Uh, as the chairman asked, we are extremely near [the]aviation industry, [you] see this over the airports. It was years ago in Scotland that a drone basically parked itself over the airfield, didn't do anything, but it stopped all transportation. The airport had to shut down.\n\nThat threat is still existent today. We would not have a way to take that drone down unless it was a kinetic piece, so we're working very closely. If there's something this committee could do, especially on the federal level, a regulation they could put out there, but we need to identify the right technologies to counter this threat.", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/mccaul-house-floor-evil-march-history-calling-now-time-act", "McCaul on House Floor: \"Evil Is on the March. History Is Calling. Now Is the Time to Act.\"", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Michael T. McCaul", "M001157", "mccaul.house.gov", "mccaul", "https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Emeritus Michael McCaul (R-Texas) delivered opening remarks on the House floor in support of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which he introduced in the House with Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and a bipartisan group of their colleagues.\n\nImage\n\nClick to watch\n\nRemarks as delivered:\n\nThis is a critical time in history \u2014 a time my friend Senator Lindsey Graham described as a \u201cmagic moment,\" a moment that we cannot afford to waste.\n\nAmerica\u2019s adversaries \u2014 Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea \u2014 are working together to threaten the free world. And make no mistake: they are watching what we do here and now today, because they know they will suffer if this bill is passed.\n\nSenator Lindsey Graham understood these global threats well. That\u2019s why we spent more than a year working on this bill. He brought Republicans and Democrats together and secured the White House\u2019s support. Today, we have a chance to finish his work \u2014 to help end this war in Europe and to project peace through strength around the globe.\n\nI\u2019m proud to champion the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, and I want to thank Mr. Hoyer and our colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their strong support.\n\nFor me, this is also personal. Lindsey Graham was my friend and my mentor. We shared a fundamental belief: \u201cAmerica is strongest at home when it projects strength abroad.\u201d\n\nThis legislation does exactly that.\n\nIt targets the money that fuels Russia\u2019s war machine. It sanctions Russian officials and oligarchs, banks and financial institutions, and the shadow fleet that helps [keep] cheap Russian energy moving.\n\nAnd through precisely-targeted tariffs, it also punishes countries providing financial support for the deadliest war in Europe since WWII.\n\nWhy? Because, as we\u2019ve heard from President Zelensky\u2019s team, you can evade sanctions \u2014 which the Russians have done for years \u2014 but you cannot evade tariffs.\n\nIn fact, President Zelenksy\u2019s sanctions expert, whom I personally met with in Kyiv, told me: \u201cTariffs are a powerful way to amplify the impact of sanctions.\u201d\n\nThat\u2019s why they are the teeth of this bill. Pursuant to the bill\u2019s rule of construction, only the top five importers of Russian oil will be tariffed, and if a country falls off of the top five list, the tariffs are removed. It incentivizes a race to the bottom.\n\nThese countries have a choice to make about whether they will continue to sustain Putin\u2019s aggression. Putin believes he can keep financing this war indefinitely. We need to change that calculation \u2014 and bleed his regime economically dry.\n\nBecause the Kremlin has murdered thousands of civilians in cold blood. They\u2019ve bombed sacred churches and schools. They\u2019ve kidnapped countless children, tortured and indoctrinated them, and sent them to fight on the frontlines against their own country.\n\nWe have a moral responsibility to bring an end to this suffering. But this is also a matter of national security.\n\nIf Putin is rewarded for invading a sovereign nation \u2014 if he succeeds \u2014 he has already told us he will go further. His army will move into Moldova, Georgia, and the Baltic States. Just like Putin wants to bring back the power of the Soviet Union, President Xi wants to restore imperial China. These dictators must be deterred \u2014 before it\u2019s too late.\n\nThis legislation also extends sanctions on Iran, which are set to expire at the end of this year. Again, this is all tied together. In 2024, I spoke about the Iranian drones being used by Russia to kill Ukrainians. In return, Russia is reportedly providing targeting information to the IRGC.\n\nWe cannot look at one part of this threat and ignore the others. This bill leverages our economic strength to make it harder for these regimes to finance aggression.\n\nLindsey Graham once said that this bill would be his greatest achievement. I can think of no better way, Mr. Speaker, to honor his life and legacy than by passing these tough sanctions, which will force Mr. Putin to the negotiating table.\n\nEvil is on the march. History is calling. And now is the time to act", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/mccaul-house-floor-vote-against-bill-vote-putin-and-his-unholy-alliance", "McCaul on House Floor: \"A Vote Against This Bill Is a Vote for Putin and His Unholy Alliance.\"", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Michael T. McCaul", "M001157", "mccaul.house.gov", "mccaul", "https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Emeritus Michael McCaul (R-Texas) delivered closing remarks on the House floor in support of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which he introduced in the House with Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and a bipartisan group of their colleagues.\n\nImage\n\nClick to watch\n\nRemarks as delivered:\n\nLet me just say, I was at the Ukraine embassy last night, and when I announced to them that the rule had passed to allow this bill to go to the floor for final passage, I got a standing ovation \u2014 standing ovation from the ambassador and all supporters of Ukraine.\n\nWhen I chaired the Foreign Affairs Committee, I often said, \"Partisanship stops at the water\u2019s edge.\" I still believe that. Mr. Meeks and I did pass the emergency wartime supplemental bill that gave Ukraine a lifeline to prevent occupation from Russia so they could advance in their drone technology.\n\nBut I\u2019m a bit disheartened by some of my colleagues\u2019 remarks here today because they don\u2019t reflect that principle. In fact, [their arguments are] all about the president; it's false arguments about expansion of tariff authorities, when [the tariffs are] actually limited to our adversaries buying energy from Russia. Their premise is: \"We don't like the president, so let's just do nothing.\" Let's do nothing as we go into the wintertime, when we know the fighting will intensify.\n\nWe don't have time to wait; Ukraine doesn't have time to wait. That's precisely why President Zelensky told me when I was in Ukraine right after Lindsey announced this legislation \u2014 and I've been working with him for a year on this \u2014 that \"now is the time.\" There was excitement in the air. The EU commissioner supports this bill. Our allies support this bill.\n\nWe are free to have disagreements \u2014 that\u2019s democracy. But when we\u2019re addressing our adversaries, we need to speak as one \u2014 with one voice, as one nation. They need to know that we\u2019re not divided when it comes to our national security.\n\nThe senate passed this bill 86-11 for God's sake. That is an overwhelming bipartisan support. Now, it\u2019s time for the House to unite and do the same.\n\nThink about this. If this bill fails, the message that that would send to our adversaries \u2014 Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea \u2014 all of whom want to see this bill go down today, would be celebrated in the streets.\n\nMake no mistake: Putin is watching. President Xi is watching. The Ayatollah is watching. Kim Jong Un is watching. If the United States Congress can\u2019t rally around such broadly supported legislation, what message would that send to them?\n\nThis is a critical national security issue \u2014 but it also is a moral issue that requires moral courage.\n\nWhen we look back on this moment in time, I want us to be able to say that we used all the tools available to end this war. That we understood the threat. That we had the courage to do what was right \u2014 to cripple the Russian war machine and turn the tide toward peace. To be on the right side of history.\n\nIn his final press conference, Senator Graham said, quote, \u201cI have never been more optimistic than I am today that we have the formula to end this war.\u201d This is the formula \u2014 this bill. I couldn\u2019t agree more with the late Lindsey Graham, my friend and mentor.\n\nLet me be clear, in closing: A vote for this bill is a vote for Ukraine and the free world. A vote against this bill is a vote for Putin and his unholy alliance.\n\nI urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle [to vote yes]. You don't have many votes like this in the Congress that impact global, geopolitical conflicts. This bill will have a direct impact on the conflict threatening Eastern Europe and NATO itself and can bring this to an end to get Putin to the negotiating table.\n\nFor as now, as Zelensky told me, he's ready for a ceasefire. He's ready to negotiate. It's Mr. Putin that will not call for a ceasefire. He will not negotiate.\n\nThis bill will bring him to the table, and that's why, Mr. Speaker, it is so important at this time in history.", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://nehls.house.gov/media/press-releases/us-house-passes-water-resources-development-act-2026-securing-wins-texas-and", "U.S. House Passes Water Resources Development Act of 2026, Securing Wins for Texas and Local Communities", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Troy E. Nehls", "N000026", "nehls.house.gov", "nehls", "https://nehls.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014Today, Congressman Troy E. Nehls (R-TX-22) proudly voted \"YES\" on the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 415-9.\n\n\"I am proud that the House passed the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2026, which strengthens our nation\u2019s water infrastructure, supports economic growth, and equips the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to build and maintain critical projects across the country,\" said Congressman Nehls. \"This legislation delivers for Texas by supporting continued growth along the Matagorda Ship Channel and renewing and expanding project authorities in Brazoria, Fort Bend, and Galveston Counties. As Texas continues to experience rapid population and economic growth, these investments will help ensure our ports and water infrastructure can keep pace while keeping Texas at the forefront of our nation\u2019s economy.\"\n\nThe House-passed WRDA of 2026 contains several provisions championed by Congressman Nehls that directly benefit Texas and communities across TX-22:", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://pfluger.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3041", "Rep. Pfluger's Mystic Alerts Act Advances Through Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "August Pfluger", "P000048", "pfluger.house.gov", "pfluger", "https://pfluger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congressman August Pfluger's (TX-11) bipartisan and bicameral legislation, the Mystic Alerts Act, advanced through the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. This is a major step forward for emergency preparedness nationwide.\n\nIn response to his legislation's passage, Congressman August Pfluger said, \"The devastating floods that swept through Central Texas and Camp Mystic, where two of my daughters were staying, exposed a critical gap in how we warn Americans when disaster strikes. The Mystic Alerts Act ensures that emergency alerts can reach families and first responders by satellite, even when traditional networks fail. I'm grateful for the support of Senator Cornyn, Senator Ossoff, and Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Cruz in getting this legislation one step closer to becoming law.\"\n\nRep. Pfluger's bipartisan Mystic Alerts Act modernizes America's emergency alert infrastructure by integrating satellite networks into the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system, helping ensure Americans can receive critical, life-saving alerts even when traditional communications infrastructure is damaged or nonexistent.\n\nRep. Pfluger introduced this bipartisan legislation alongside Reps. Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Buddy Carter (GA-01), and Marc Veasey (TX-33). Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) and Senator John Ossoff (D-GA) led the Senate companion legislation.\n\n\u201cLast year\u2019s devastating July 4th flooding at Camp Mystic and across Central Texas showed how quickly a disaster can occur and reminds us that critical warnings matter,\u201d said Senator John Cornyn (R-TX). \u201cThe Mystic Alerts Act would help ensure communities receive timely alerts without having to use a cellular connection, and I urge my Senate colleagues to support this legislation to update our wireless emergency alert technology and save lives.\u201d\n\n\"The catastrophic 2025 Fourth of July floods devastated families and communities across Texas. No Texan will ever forget the tragic loss of more than 135 people, including 27 precious campers and counselors at Camp Mystic. As a father of two girls and as a Texan, I\u2019ve been committed to doing everything in my power as chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee to help ensure families never endure a tragedy like this again. When disaster strikes, every second matters. Americans should be able to trust that critical, life-saving alerts will reach them when and where they most need them. That is exactly what the Mystic Alerts Act will do. I applaud my fellow Texan and friend, Representative August Pfluger, for his leadership on this critical legislation, and I was proud to advance it through the Senate Commerce Committee today. We are now one step closer to getting the Mystic Alerts Act to the President\u2019s desk, and more importantly, to implementing a stronger emergency alert system that will save lives,\" said Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Chairman Ted Cruz (R-TX).\n\n\u201cIn Houston and across the state of Texas, we are still heartbroken and grieving the loss of beloved family members and the destruction of communities along the Guadalupe River in the summer of 2025, a disaster made worse by communication gaps and failures,\u201d said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07). \u201cThis bill is a small but important way to provide a meaningful response to the devastating floods and to learn from the tragedy so that communities across the country do not have to experience the same pain and loss that Texans did last year. Nothing can bring back those that we lost in the flood, but we owe it to their survivors and to everyone we represent to do all we can to try to prevent another tragedy like it. I am glad to partner with Congressman Pfluger, Congressman Veasey, and Congressman Carter in this effort and in the work to get this legislation signed into law.\u201d\n\n\u201cMy granddaughters were staying at Camp Mystic when the devastating floods claimed the lives of many young girls, including their cousin, Janie Hunt. No family should ever have to endure a tragedy like this again. I am encouraged to see the Senate Commerce Committee take up the Mystic Alerts Act, which will help ensure lifesaving emergency alerts reach families when traditional communications fail. We have an opportunity to turn an unimaginable tragedy into action that can save lives, and I urge the Senate to move quickly to get this bill to President Trump\u2019s desk,\" said Congressman Buddy Carter (GA-01).", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://pfluger.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3042", "PASSED: Rep. Pfluger's Combating Illicit Xylazine Act", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "August Pfluger", "P000048", "pfluger.house.gov", "pfluger", "https://pfluger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Congressman August Pfluger's (TX-11) bipartisan and bicameral legislation to combat illicit xylazine passed through the U.S. House of Representatives. The Combating Illicit Xylazine Act would crack down on the deadly fentanyl additive xylazine by listing it as a Schedule III controlled substance while protecting the drug's legal use by veterinarians, farmers, and ranchers.\n\nIn response to his legislation's passage, Congressman August Pfluger said, \"I'm proud to see the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act pass the U.S. House of Representatives. Xylazine was never meant for human use, and traffickers are increasingly turning to inexpensive products to make street drugs more potent and deadly. This bill takes a direct aim at traffickers and protects the legal use of xylazine by veterinarians and ranchers. I urge the Senate to swiftly pass this bill to keep dangerous drugs off American streets.\"\n\nRep. Pfluger introduced this bipartisan legislation alongside Reps. Panetta (CA-19), Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05), and Deborah Ross (NC-02), as well as Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV). The Combating Illicit Xylazine Act previously passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support.\n\n\u201cIllicit xylazine is worsening the deadly fentanyl crisis and tearing through communities across our country,\u201d said Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-19). \u201cAddressing the illicit spread of xylazine has been a priority under both the Biden and Trump Administrations, and this unanimous House passage demonstrates the broad, bipartisan consensus behind taking action against this dangerous drug. The bipartisan Combating Illicit Xylazine Act would help us fight back by giving law enforcement the tools needed to crack down on traffickers while ensuring that veterinarians, farmers, and ranchers can continue to use the drug safely and responsibly. I urge the Senate to swiftly pass this bill before the end of this Congress so we can get it signed into law and save lives.\u201d\n\n\u201cI applaud the House for taking decisive action to crack down on xylazine traffickers, equip law enforcement with new tools to combat its spread and protect the drug\u2019s legitimate use by veterinarians, ranchers and cattlemen. Congress has an obligation to protect Americans from the scourge of illicit xylazine and should continue to work in a bipartisan and bicameral fashion to get this lifesaving legislation signed into law,\u201d said Sen. Grassley (R-IA).\n\n\u201cThousands of Americans have died from overdoses of fentanyl laced with xylazine, but law enforcement still doesn\u2019t have the tools it needs to properly combat this crisis. Now is the time for us to address this emergency while ensuring xylazine can still be used for veterinary medicine,\u201d said Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV). \u201cI applaud the House of Representatives for passing this life-saving bill, and I urge my Senate colleagues to get this legislation to the President\u2019s desk.\u201d\n\n\u201cIllicit xylazine is making an already deadly drug crisis even more dangerous, and we must give law enforcement the tools necessary to stay ahead of the criminals who are poisoning our communities. I am proud to have helped lead this bipartisan effort and pleased that the House has taken decisive action to crack down on the illegal trafficking and misuse of xylazine while protecting its legitimate veterinary use. This is an important step toward saving lives, strengthening public safety, and holding those who profit from this deadly trade accountable. I urge the Senate to act quickly so we can get this commonsense legislation signed into law,\u201d said Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12).\n\n\u201cWe must take action to crack down on dealers who are cutting deadly drugs with the legal animal tranquilizer xylazine, which increases life-threatening impacts. Our bipartisan legislation that has passed the House would track the manufacture of xylazine and ensure law enforcement has the resources needed to crack down on illegal drug traffickers,\u201d said Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01). \u201cI urge the Senate to swiftly pass this legislation, and I\u2019ll continue pushing forward comprehensive solutions that will combat our ongoing addiction epidemic.\u201d\n\n\u201cXylazine is a powerful animal sedative that has found its way into the illicit drug supply, making fentanyl and other deadly drugs even more dangerous while padding the pockets of drug traffickers and criminal cartels,\u201d said Congressman Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05). \u201cThe House took an important step today by passing the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act. This legislation gives law enforcement stronger tools to crack down on the illicit distribution of xylazine, while protecting its legitimate use by veterinarians. Now it\u2019s time for the Senate to act and send this bill to the President\u2019s desk.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://veasey.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/national-voter-registration-day-veasey-wyden-introduce-resolution", "On National Voter Registration Day, Veasey, Wyden Introduce Resolution to Recognize September as National Voting Rights Month", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Marc A. Veasey", "V000131", "veasey.house.gov", "veasey", "https://veasey.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congressman Marc Veasey, D-Texas, joined Sen. Wyden today on National Voter Registration Day to introduce a resolution designating September as \"National Voting Rights Month.\"\n\n\u201cOver the past year, we\u2019ve seen our fundamental right to vote eroded and access to critical information about the voting process worsen. In my home state alone, we\u2019ve seen efforts to redistrict mid-decade, introduce restrictive voter ID laws, and reduce the number of polling locations available to voters,\u201d said Rep. Veasey.\n\n\u201cNow more than ever, it is essential for Americans to understand their voting rights, stay informed about what is happening around them, and help to keep their communities informed. That\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to introduce a resolution alongside Sen. Wyden to designate September 2026 as National Voting Rights Month - a step towards raising awareness, encouraging civic participation, and ensuring that Americans have the information they need to exercise their right to vote and make their voices heard in November,\u201d Representative Veasey continued.\n\n\u201cTrump is doing everything he can to disenfranchise American voters in this year\u2019s midterms because he\u2019s afraid his platform of jacking up costs is about to lose Republicans the midterms,\u201d Senator Wyden said. \u201cAccess to the ballot and the right to vote are the bedrock of our democracy, and Congressman Veasey and I will continue fighting to protect this fundamental right for all Americans.\u201d\n\nThe resolution will encourage voter registration in the month of September and push Congress to preserve the right to vote by restoring the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This is imperative amid Republican-led voter suppression attempts, and it is our responsibility to protect every American\u2019s right to vote and make their voice heard at the ballot box.\n\nThe resolution is cosponsored by the U.S. Representatives Andr\u00e9 Carson (D-IN), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Judy Chu (D-CA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Lou Correa (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Angie Craig (D-MN), Sharice Davids (D-KS), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Sarah Elfreth (D-MD), Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ), Steven Horsford (D-NV), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Julie Johnson (D-TX), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), Rick Larsen (D-WA), Jim McGovern (D-MA), Grace Meng (D-NY), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Johnny Olszewski (D-MD), Brittany Pettersen (D-CO), Nellie Pou (D-NJ), Bobby Scott (D-VA), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), and Paul Tonko (D-NY).\n\nThe Senate companion resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md)., Tammy Baldwin, (D-Wis), Michael Bennet (D-Colo), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn), Lisa Blunt Rochester, (D-Del), Cory Booker (D-N.J), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash), Chris Coons (D-Del), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill), Dick Durbin (D-Ill), John Fetterman (D-Pa), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai\u2019i), Tim Kaine (D-Va), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar, (D-Minn), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore), Alex Padilla (D-Calif), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt), Adam Schiff (D-Calif), Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2019i), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H), Tina Smith (D-Minn), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass), Mark Warner (D-Va), Peter Welch (D-Vt), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I).", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://weber.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3882", "Rep. Weber\u2019s PACK Act Powers Forward, Passes Full House Energy & Commerce Committee with 25 Ayes", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Randy K. Weber, Sr.", "W000814", "weber.house.gov", "weber", "https://weber.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - Today, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce passed Congressman Randy Weber\u2019s (TX-14) bipartisan H.R. 6832, the Packaging and Claims Knowledge (PACK) Act, by a vote of 25-18, clearing the way for consideration by the full House of Representatives.\n\nThe vote marks the PACK Act\u2019s third major milestone in less than two months. The legislation received a hearing before the Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee on July 22nd, advanced through the Subcommittee on September 1st, and has now passed the full Energy and Commerce Committee.\n\n\u201cToday, consumer protection won,\u201d said Congressman Weber. \u201cFamilies should not need a law degree to figure out which bin their garbage goes into, and American manufacturers should not need 50 different rulebooks to label the same product nationwide. The PACK Act backs these claims with independent third-party certification, giving Americans clearer, more trustworthy information.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe passed the Subcommittee. We cleared the full Committee 25-18. Now, the PACK Act is charging toward the House floor,\u201d Weber continued. \u201cFolks, the Golden State\u2019s garbage law, S.B. 343, should not become America\u2019s rulebook. We are putting the costly patchwork behind us and moving one commonsense national framework closer to the finish line.\u201d.\n\nThe PACK Act would:\n\nPROTECT CONSUMERS: Requires recyclable, compostable, and reusable packaging claims to be accurate and independently certified.\n\nHELP LOWER COSTS: Replaces conflicting state labeling requirements with one consistent framework for products sold nationwide.\n\nKEEP CLAIMS VOLUNTARY: Gives businesses the choice to make covered packaging claims while holding those claims to clear standards.\n\nCREATE ONE NATIONAL FRAMEWORK: Directs the Federal Trade Commission to administer consistent requirements with input from the Environmental Protection Agency and a new advisory council.\n\nPRESERVE STATE AND LOCAL CONTROL: Keeps decisions about solid waste, recycling programs, and infrastructure investment with states.\n\nThe legislation has earned support from a broad coalition of manufacturers, retailers, consumer product companies, and trade associations, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Dow, National Association of Manufacturers, Consumer Brands Association, American Beverage Association, Consumer Technology Association, General Mills, Kraft Heinz, PepsiCo, Nestl\u00e9 USA, Keurig Dr Pepper, and McCormick & Company, and others.\n\nThe PACK Act is cosponsored by U.S. Reps. Troy Balderson (R-OH), Buddy Carter (R-GA), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), Neal Dunn (R-FL), Randy Feenstra (R-IA), Russ Fulcher (R-ID), Adam Gray (D-CA), Glenn Grothman (R-WI), David Joyce (R-OH), Nick Langworthy (R-NY), Laurel Lee (R-FL), Addison McDowell (R-NC), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Barry Moore (R-AL), Michael Rulli (R-OH), Bryan Steil (R-WI), Glenn Thompson (R-PA), and Tony Wied (R-WI).\n\nWatch the full exchange here.\n\nRead my full op-ed in 535 News here.", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/photo-cornyn-meets-with-plains-cotton-growers-leadership/", "PHOTO: Cornyn Meets with Plains Cotton Growers Leadership", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "John Cornyn", "C001056", "www.cornyn.senate.gov", "cornyn", "https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) met yesterday with the Plains Cotton Growers to discuss the Farm Bill and the priorities of Texas farmers and producers. The Plains Cotton Growers play an invaluable role in helping to feed, clothe, and fuel our nation, and Sen. Cornyn remains committed to ensuring agricultural producers have the support and certainty they need to succeed. See photo attached and below.", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-cruz-hosts-roundtable-on-treys-law-to-protect-child-sexual-abuse-survivors", "Sen. Cruz Hosts Roundtable on TREY\u2019s Law to Protect Child Sexual Abuse Survivors", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", "cruz", "https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) yesterday hosted a roundtable on the Terminating Restrictive Enforcement of Youth Settlements (TREY\u2019S Law) with U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.), U.S. Rep. Bob Onder (R-Mo.-3), Elizabeth Phillips, and child sexual abuse and trafficking advocacy groups. The roundtable focused on protecting survivors from non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) that restrict them from speaking about their abuse and advancing TREY\u2019S Law in the House of Representatives.\n\nTREY\u2019S Law, bipartisan legislation led by Sens. Ted Cruz and Kirsten Gillibrand addresses the misuse of non-disclosure agreements in civil cases involving child sexual abuse and trafficking. TREY\u2019S Law unanimously passed the Senate in May 2026. Companion legislation is being led in the House of Representatives by U.S. Reps. Brandon Gill (R-Texas-26) and Julie Johnson (D-Texas-32).\n\nClick here or on the image above to watch the full roundtable.\n\nPlease see below for Sen. Cruz\u2019s opening remarks as prepared for delivery:\n\n\u201cThank you, everyone, for being here today. I especially want to thank my friends and colleagues for joining me\u2014Senator Britt; Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who is co-sponsoring this legislation with me and will join us later; and Representatives Gill and Johnson.\n\n\u201cThank you for your continued work, advocacy, and for joining me in fighting to make sure TREY\u2019S Law is passed and sent to President Trump\u2019s desk.\n\n\u201cI especially want to thank Elizabeth Phillips \u2013 Trey\u2019s sister \u2013 who is the reason we are all here today and for making sure that Trey Carlock\u2019s story is heard.\n\n\u201cI want to begin by sharing that story.\n\n\u201cTrey was a young man who loved the Lord, loved his family, loved his friends, and proudly resided in my home state of Texas. As a young boy, he attended a summer camp in Branson, Missouri, where he and dozens of other campers were sexually assaulted by the camp director.\n\n\u201cAs an adult, Trey sought accountability. He sought justice. And Trey filed a lawsuit against the camp he attended to hold the camp responsible and to seek justice for himself and for others.\n\n\u201cBut instead of justice, Trey was offered a settlement. And that settlement came with a nondisclosure agreement, which mandated Trey\u2019s silence.\n\n\u201cAfter years of fighting to recover from abuse, Trey\u2019s settlement buried his story and denied him justice.\n\n\u201cTrey once told his therapist, \u201cThey will always control me, and I\u2019ll never be free.\u201d\n\n\u201cNot long after, Trey died by suicide. He was only 28 years old.\n\n\u201cNo child who has endured sexual abuse should be forced to carry that horror in silence. No child should be forced to walk alone in that pain. And no child should be forced to accept agreements that protect their abusers.\n\n\u201cIn Trey\u2019s case, and in many others, nondisclosure agreements are used to shield the abuser.\n\n\u201cAs legislators, as parents, and as human beings, we have a moral obligation to stand between children and those who would harm them.\n\n\u201cThat is why I introduced TREY\u2019S Law.\n\n\u201cTREY\u2019S Law will protect, defend, and support children who are victims of sexual assault. It ensures that nondisclosure agreements cannot be used to silence minors who have endured abuse and preserves the confidentiality of settlement amounts and allows victims themselves to insist on privacy if they choose to do so. This legislation also prohibits and prevents the silencing of victims to protect abusers.\n\n\u201cVersions of TREY\u2019S Law have already passed in Texas, Alabama, Missouri, Tennessee, California, and other states have taken steps to prohibit the use of NDAs in cases of child sexual abuse. These are meaningful steps in the right direction, but we owe it to Trey and every victim to ensure that they have the right to speak about their experiences. That they have the right to rely on those around them. That they know that their stories will not be silenced. And most importantly, that they are not alone.\n\n\u201cThis year, TREY\u2019S Law passed the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously with every Senator \u2013 Republican and Democrat \u2013 joining on as a cosponsor. And back in May, I went to the Senate Floor to propound a unanimous consent request to take up and pass Trey\u2019s Law. And I am proud to say the legislation passed the Senate unanimously and is now waiting for a House vote.\n\n\u201cWe need to make sure that no child feels controlled or defeated by the system that is supposed to deliver them justice. And by passing this legislation, and having it signed into law, we can do just that.\n\n\u201cI again want to thank my colleagues in the House \u2013 Representatives Gill and Johnson \u2013 for introducing companion legislation, and to my colleagues in the Senate \u2013 Senators Gillibrand and Britt \u2013 for working with me to pass this legislation in the Senate.\u201d\n\nClick here to read more about the bill.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nTREY\u2019S Law prevents the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to silence survivors of child sexual abuse and trafficking. The bill makes any NDA provision unenforceable if it prohibits or restricts someone from disclosing the sexual abuse of a minor or facts related to that abuse. This protection applies regardless of when the NDA was signed, whether before a dispute arose or as part of a civil settlement agreement.\n\nThe bill is named in honor of Trey Carlock, a beloved citizen of Dallas, Texas, who was silenced by an NDA after enduring a retraumatizing civil litigation process against Kanakuk Ministries. He ultimately died by suicide at age 28.", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=7483", "Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Votes Against New Trump Tariff Powers", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "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 against the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, Senate Amendment to H.R. 5334, because, despite its name, it fails to mandate tough sanctions on and hands the President sweeping new tariff authorities.\n\n\u201cDespite its name, the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 fails to sanction Russia, dramatically expands presidential tariff authorities, and represents a threat to Ukraine, to our separation of powers, and to people across the country\u2014which is why I voted against it.\n\n\u201cFor years, the Ukrainian people have demonstrated remarkable courage and perseverance in their fight for democracy and the preservation of their sovereignty. I support Ukraine and stand with its people. I also support tough sanctions that hold Russia, Vladimir Putin, and the corporations and people funding Russia\u2019s war accountable, like the ones proposed by this bill. But this bill does not actually impose these sanctions. It leaves these sanctions entirely up to President Trump\u2019s discretion, making them optional without congressional oversight or court review. Since taking office, President Trump has imposed almost no new sanctions on Russia. The bill does not require President Trump to impose any additional sanctions on Russia, and he has given no reason to support the idea that he will. In fact, his actions have demonstrated the opposite.\n\n\u201cFor the past 19 months, President Trump has already had the power to impose every sanction authorized by this bill on Russia but has chosen not to. These sanctions are sorely needed to support our Ukrainian allies\u2014and Democrats proposed several amendments to improve this legislation, including to remove the bill\u2019s new tariff authority, authorize military support for Ukraine, and tighten the language so President Trump would have to impose some of these sanctions\u2014but Republicans failed to allow any of these amendments to be incorporated into the bill.\n\n\u201cInstead, this legislation grants the Trump administration new tariff authority to impose a 100 percent tariff on any country of its choosing\u2014for as long as it wants, with virtually no guardrails and without congressional oversight. Since March 2025, Americans have paid more than $350 billion in tariffs the President has imposed solely at his discretion\u2014a staggering cost that will only grow as a result of this bill. President Trump has already imposed tariffs on nearly every country in the world except for Russia. The Supreme Court ruled against President Trump\u2019s tariffs, and Congress should not surrender its tariff authority to the executive branch.\n\n\u201cMake no mistake: Today\u2019s vote is not simply about Russian sanctions\u2014it\u2019s about giving President Trump unnecessary tariff authority and unconstitutional power at the expense of American workers and families who will bear the cost. Congress must find a way to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia\u2019s war of aggression and hold Russia accountable while protecting the American people from a new tariff authority that President Trump is bound to misuse.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-al-green-announces-vote-hres1486-articles-impeachment-against", "Congressman Al Green Announces Vote on H.Res.1486, Articles of Impeachment Against President Trump for High Crimes and Misdemeanors", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Al Green", "G000553", "algreen.house.gov", "algreen", "https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.) \u2014 On Tuesday, September 15, 2026, Congressman Al Green\u2019s H.Res. 1486, impeaching President Donald John Trump for high crimes and misdemeanors, will receive a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives during the 1:00 p.m. ET hour.\n\nYou can watch the vote on C-SPAN by clicking here.", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-al-green-brings-hres-1486-house-forcing-vote-trump-impeachment", "Rep. Al Green Brings H.Res. 1486 Before the House, Forcing a Vote on Trump Impeachment", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Al Green", "G000553", "algreen.house.gov", "algreen", "https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2014 On Tuesday, September 15, 2026, Congressman Al Green delivered remarks on the House floor as he brought H.Res. 1486 before the House as a privileged resolution, prompting a vote on the impeachment of President Donald John Trump.\n\nYou can access and listen to Congressman Al Green\u2019s speech on his official YouTube page or by clicking here. The floor speech highlighted is also accessible on various social media platforms, including Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly known as Twitter).", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-al-green-says-trump-meme-coin-lost-everyday-investors-billions-blatant", "Rep. Al Green Says Trump Meme Coin That Lost Everyday Investors Billions is a Blatant Ponzi Scheme", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Al Green", "G000553", "algreen.house.gov", "algreen", "https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2014 On Tuesday, September 15, 2026, Congressman Al Green, Ranking Member of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, shared remarks in a Financial Services Hearing entitled, \u201cThe Annual Testimony of the Secretary of the Treasury on the State of the International Financial System.\"\n\nYou can access and listen to Congressman Al Green's remarks by clicking here. The hearing remarks highlighted are also accessible on various social media platforms, including Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly known as Twitter).", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://babin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=14395", "Babin, Cruz: U.S. Space Academy Belongs in Texas", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Brian Babin", "B001291", "babin.house.gov", "babin", "https://babin.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Brian Babin (TX-36) and Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-TX) released the following joint statement expressing support for Texas Governor Greg Abbott\u2019s decision to submit a proposal for Texas to host the U.S. Space Academy:\n\n\u201cFor more than six decades, Texas has been where America\u2019s human spaceflight dreams become reality. We thank President Trump for his leadership in launching the U.S. Space Academy. Texas is ready to turn that vision into reality. If America is going to build the world\u2019s premier academy for space, Texas has all the right stuff \u2013 the talent, institutions, infrastructure, and experience to launch the next generation of American space leaders. From Gemini and Apollo to Space Shuttle and Artemis, Texas has trained astronauts, managed missions, and helped advance America\u2019s exploration pursuits beyond Earth\u2019s orbit. America\u2019s space program is built across the country, but Texas is where the pieces come together. We are ready to lead the next generation of space pioneers and look forward to showing why Texas is the right home for the U.S. Space Academy.\u201d\n\nOn August 28th, President Trump signed an executive order establishing a new academy to advance U.S. interests in space, with a focus on NASA, the U.S. Space Force, and the commercial aerospace industry. Site selection for the academy is currently underway, with Texas Governor Greg Abbott advocating for it to be located near the Johnson Space Center in Houston.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/castro-demands-transparency-on-venezuela-oil-fundforces-vote-to-subpoena-trump-administration", "Castro Demands Transparency on Venezuela Oil Fund\u2014Forces Vote to Subpoena Trump Administration", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Joaquin Castro", "C001091", "castro.house.gov", "castro", "https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "(Ranking Member Joaquin Castro motioned to subpoena the Trump Administration during a subcommittee hearing.)\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, motioned to subpoena the Trump Administration for records regarding its Venezuelan oil deal during a House Foreign Affairs Committee Western Hemisphere Subcommittee hearing. Specifically, the motion would subpoena federal agencies and private companies for records on its deal with North American Blue Energy Partners (NABEP) to take equity stakes and control over 17 Venezuelan oil fields.\n\nNABEP is owned by Alejandro Betancourt, a Venezuelan businessman who made his fortune through corrupt deals with former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his regime. Republican members of the subcommittee voted unanimously against issuing the subpoena, resulting in a tied and unsuccessful vote of 6-6 along party lines.", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-castro-kicks-off-hispanic-heritage-month-with-public-call-for-latino-and-texas-nominations-to-the-national-recording-registry", "Congressman Castro Kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month with Public Call for Latino and Texas Nominations to the National Recording Registry", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Joaquin Castro", "C001091", "castro.house.gov", "castro", "https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month by announcing that he is collecting public nominations of songs and albums by Latino artists to be added to the prestigious National Recording Registry. The National Recording Registry is the nation\u2019s preeminent archive of recorded sound and is intended to maintain and preserve recordings with cultural, historic, or aesthetic significance. With Latino artists making up less than 5 percent of the registry as of 2025, Congressman Castro is committed to expanding Latinos\u2019 representation in the registry.\n\n\u201cFor many Latino families and communities, music plays an important role in our everyday lives and our most important moments,\u201d said Congressman Castro. \u201cFrom weddings to street parties, genres like Latin pop and rancheras offer sounds that soothe the soul, ignite passion, and connect us to generations that came before us. Over the past four years, I am heartened to see more Latino artists inducted into the prestigious National Recording Registry. But we must continue preserving Latino music\u2019s place in our nation\u2019s tapestry and recognize the artists that have produced work that transcends time, place, and language.\u201d\n\nCastro also called for song and album nominations by Texas artists to highlight the state\u2019s rich musical heritage and legacy: \u201cTexas is the birthplace of many iconic musicians and has fostered many genres of music enjoyed throughout the country. Texas artists represent many cultures, styles, and languages and should be recognized in our national archive for generations to come.\u201d\n\nTo qualify for nomination, songs and albums must be at least ten years old. Submissions must be received by Sunday, September 21 at 11:59 PM CT to be eligible for Congressman Castro\u2019s official nomination list. To nominate songs and albums by Latino artists, click here. To nominate songs and albums by Texas artists, click here.\n\nBackground:\n\nSince the National Recording Registry was established by the U.S. Congress in 2000, 675 titles have been inducted. In 2022, Congressman Castro began submitting nominating lists to the National Recording Preservation Board to increase the visibility of Latino artists. Earlier this year, the Library of Congress inducted three of Castro\u2019s nominations: \u201cMambo No. 5\u201d by P\u00e9rez Prado (1950), \u201cTexas Flood\u201d by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble (1983) (Album), and \u201cFeliz Navidad\u201d by Jos\u00e9 Feliciano (1970). Previously, the board inducted seven additional selections\u2013Juan Gabriel\u2019s \u201cAmor Eterno\u201d (1990), H\u00e9ctor Lavoe\u2019s \u201cEl Cantante\u201d (1978), Irene Cara\u2019s \u201cFlashdance\u2026What A Feeling\u201d (1983), Daddy Yankee\u2019s \u201cGasolina\u201d (2004), Vicente Fernandez\u2019s \u201cEl Rey\u201d (1973), Freddy Fender\u2019s \u201cBefore the Next Teardrop Falls\u201d (1974), and Lin Manuel Miranda\u2019s album \u201cHamilton\u201d (2015).", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-vicente-gonzalez-commemorates-25-years-queen-isabella-causeway", "Congressman Vicente Gonzalez\u00a0Commemorates\u00a025 Years Since the Queen Isabella Causeway Collapse", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Vicente Gonzalez", "G000581", "gonzalez.house.gov", "gonzalez", "https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Contact: Alexis Torres\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34), submitted a Congressional Record recognizing the solemn 25th anniversary of the Queen Isabella Causeway Collapse. On September 15, 2001, days after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, a ship struck a supporting pillar of the Queen Isabella Causeway. This bridge connects Port Isabel on the South Texas mainland to South Padre Island. A Congressional Record is a daily transcript of all proceedings of the United States Congress, including any remarks provided by a member in either chamber to commemorate notable events in the communities they serve.\n\n\u201cTwenty-five years later and our community still mourns this painful chapter in our history that took the lives of eight South Texans. With this Congressional Recognition, we are preserving their memory and enshrining the strength and resiliency of a community that came together during an unimaginable tragedy into the record books of the United States Congress,\u201d said Congressman Gonzalez.\n\nSouth Texas and the entire community of Port Isabel were shaken to its core when a tugboat tragically crashed into a support column of the Queen Isabella Causeway, causing two 85-foot sections of the causeway to fall into the water and leaving a 160-foot gap in the roadway. Eight of the 11 individuals on the Causeway at the time of the collapse did not survive, and the damage created significant challenges for residents, workers, and visitors who utilized the bridge for daily travel.\n\nRebuilt in November 2001, the renamed Queen Isabella Memorial Causeway honors the victims, their families, survivors, and emergency responders while serving as a reminder of the profound impact this tragedy continues to have on South Texas communities.", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases/watch-congressman-vicente-gonzalez-urges-administration-address-water-shortage", "WATCH: Congressman Vicente Gonzalez Urges the Administration to Address Water Shortage in Corpus Christi on House Floor", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Vicente Gonzalez", "G000581", "gonzalez.house.gov", "gonzalez", "https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) delivered a speech from the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to urge Speaker Mike Johnson, President Donald Trump and his Administration to follow through with their promise to address the water crisis in Corpus Christi.\n\nOn February 27, 2026, President Trump made an appearance at the Port of Corpus Christi. While there, he made the following promise regarding a request for federal water funding: \u201cThis is called a serious money ask, and I\u2019m going to get that thing approved for you guys.\u201d\n\nMister speaker I urge you to make President Trump fulfill his promise to the Corpus Christi community.\n\nCorpus Christi heard him clearly. When the President visited our city, he called our request for federal water funding a \u201cserious money ask.\u201d He then made a commitment to the people of Corpus Christi: \u201cWe\u2019re going to take care of it.\u201d\n\nToday, I am asking him to keep that promise. And I urge you to ensure he does. Water is not a partisan issue. It is not a luxury, and it cannot wait for another election or another round of political speeches. Reliable water is essential for our families, our hospitals, our schools, our military installations, our small businesses, and the thousands of workers who keep the Port of Corpus Christi moving.\n\nI was born and raised in Corpus Christi. This is my hometown, and I know its people. They work hard, pay their taxes, and help power the economy of Texas and the United States. They should not have to wonder whether their community will have enough water to survive and grow.\n\nWe need the Administration to immediately identify the federal funding available, designate the responsible agency, and provide a firm timetable for delivering the support the President promised.\n\nIf congressional action is required, send us the request. I am ready to work with Republicans, Democrats, state leaders, and local officials to get this done! Everyone has a responsibility here. Local and state leaders must do their part, and the federal government must honor its commitment.\n\nMister Speaker, remind the President that Corpus Christi welcomed him. Its people listened to him, and they took him at his word. Now is the time for action. Release the federal support. Help us secure a dependable, long-term water supply. A promise made in Corpus Christi must be a promise kept. Our families cannot live on promises. They need water\u2014and they need it now!", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://jackson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2608", "Rep. Ronny Jackson Receives West Texas A&M University\u2019s Department of Agricultural Sciences First Choice Award", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ronny Jackson", "J000304", "jackson.house.gov", "jackson", "https://jackson.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Representative Ronny Jackson (TX-13) has been selected as a recipient of West Texas A&M University\u2019s Department of Agricultural Sciences First Choice Award, recognizing his leadership, service, advocacy, and support for agriculture and agricultural education in the Texas Panhandle.\n\nJackson has worked to bring federal resources back to West Texas and expand opportunities for students pursuing careers in agriculture. His efforts include helping secure over $3 million in federal funding for the new West Texas A&M University Feedlot Educational Training Facility\u2019s research feedlot and educational complex. The project will provide students with hands-on education and training while advancing research and innovation in the fed cattle industry.\n\n\u201cAgriculture is the backbone of the Texas Panhandle, and the farmers, ranchers, producers, and agricultural professionals who feed and fuel our nation deserve a strong voice in Washington,\u201d said Rep. Jackson. \u201cThe work being done at WT is essential for preparing the next generation of agricultural leaders and strengthening an industry that is so vital to the Texas Panhandle and our entire nation. I am honored to have been selected to receive the First Choice Award and will continue to be a strong advocate for agriculture in Congress.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://juliejohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-julie-johnson-introduces-national-service-access-dreamers-act", "Congresswoman Julie Johnson Introduces National Service Access for Dreamers Act", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Julie Johnson", "J000310", "juliejohnson.house.gov", "juliejohnson", "https://juliejohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nTuesday, September 15th, 2026\n\nContact: Chelsea Roe, Communications Director\n\nChelsea.Roe@mail.house.gov or (469) 323-4184\n\nCongresswoman Julie Johnson Introduces National Service Access for Dreamers Act\n\nWashington, DC \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Julie Johnson (TX-32), the Vice Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, together with Congresswoman Delia Ramirez (IL-03), a member of the Homeland Security Committee, introduced the National Service Access for Dreamers Act, legislation that would make DACA recipients eligible for the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award once they have completed national service.\n\nCurrently, DACA recipients can participate in AmeriCorps VISTA, working with nonprofits and public agencies to combat poverty and strengthen communities. However, federal law does not allow them to earn the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award because of their citizenship status. The National Service Access for Dreamers Act would close that gap by allowing eligible DACA recipients who complete AmeriCorps service to receive the education benefit tied to that service.\n\n\u201cThe National Service Access for Dreamers Act will help relieve the increasing costs of higher education in Texas and across the country,\u201d said Congresswoman Johnson. \u201cDACA recipients who serve their communities through AmeriCorps should have access to the same education benefits their fellow members earn. This bill makes sure their service is recognized and gives more young people the opportunity to invest in their education and their future.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe AmeriCorps program and the Segal Education Award give people the opportunity to serve our communities and pursue higher education. National service programs that pair career development with educational access should be open to all students, regardless of income or immigration status,\u201d said Congresswoman Ramirez. \u201cI\u2019m proud to co-lead the National Service Access for Dreamers Act with Congresswoman Julie Johnson, which would expand the Segal Education Award\u2019s eligibility to DACA recipients. I urge my colleagues to join us to ensure more accessible, inclusive opportunities for our young people.\u201d\n\nTo read the full text of the legislation, click here.", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/mccaul-speaks-support-lindsey-o-graham-sanctioning-russia-and-iran-act", "McCaul Speaks in Support of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act at Rules Committee", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Michael T. McCaul", "M001157", "mccaul.house.gov", "mccaul", "https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Emeritus Michael McCaul (R-Texas) spoke at a House Rules Committee hearing in support of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which he introduced in the House with Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and a bipartisan group of their colleagues.\n\nImage\n\nClick to watch\n\nRemarks as delivered:\n\nThis is a critical time in history \u2014 a time my friend Senator Lindsey Graham described as a \u201cmagic moment.\u201d Today, we have an opportunity to help end the war in Europe and to project peace through strength around the globe.\n\nBut before I get into that, I want to talk about what brought us here to this moment.\n\nWhen I chaired the Foreign Affairs Committee during the fall of Afghanistan \u2014 a disaster of epic proportions that telegraphed American weakness to our adversaries \u2014 Putin was watching. He met with President Xi at the 2022 Olympics to solidify their unholy alliance. Then, we watched on satellite imagery as the Russian Federation moved toward Ukraine.\n\nI\u2019ll never forget visiting Poland with Ranking Member Meeks and seeing the refugees fleeing out of Ukraine. The similarities to my father\u2019s war \u2014 World War II \u2014 were striking. The Poles told us: \u201cThis is 1939 all over again.\u201d\n\nThe oceans did not shield us from tyranny then, and they will not shield us now \u2014 especially as Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea work together to threaten America and our allies.\n\nMake no mistake: President Xi is watching what happens in Ukraine to determine whether he can get away with invading Taiwan. He\u2019s calculating whether or not the free world will stop Putin\u2019s aggression \u2014 and he\u2019s certainly watching what we do here today.\n\nSenator Lindsey Graham understood these global threats well. That\u2019s why he spent more than a year working on this legislation, which I promised him I would introduce in the House. He brought Republicans and Democrats together and secured the White House\u2019s support. This week, we have a chance to finish his work.\n\nI\u2019m proud to champion the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. And I want to thank Mr. Hoyer and our colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their strong support.\n\nFor me, this is also personal. Lindsey Graham was my friend; he was my mentor. He understood the threats facing this country and had the courage to stand up and confront them. We shared a fundamental belief: \u201cAmerica is strongest at home when it projects strength abroad.\u201d\n\nHe and I were both in Ukraine \u2014 on separate trips \u2014 the week before he passed. While there, I met with soldiers and commanders near the front lines. I also saw Ukraine\u2019s drone operations and the extraordinary innovation they\u2019ve brought to this fight.\n\nPeople said Ukraine would fall in four days. But more than four years after the invasion, they are still in the fight. And the assistance we fought to pass in 2024 helped give them tools to survive \u2013 and begin turning the tide of the war.\n\nNow is the time for the free world to put maximum pressure on Putin to bring him to the negotiating table.\n\nThat\u2019s where this legislation comes in.\n\nIt targets the money that fuels Russia\u2019s war machine. It goes after Russian officials and oligarchs, banks and financial institutions, and the shadow fleet that helps keep cheap Russian energy moving. And by using narrowly scoped and precisely targeted tariffs, it exercises Congress\u2019 Article I authority over foreign commerce to punish countries providing financial support for the deadliest war in Europe since WWII.\n\nThese countries have a choice to make about whether they will continue to sustain Putin\u2019s aggression. Putin believes he can keep financing this war indefinitely. We need to change that calculation \u2014 and ensure there are consequences for helping him.\n\nYou cannot look at what Russia has done to Ukraine and pretend these are ordinary business transactions with no connection to bloodshed.\n\nThe Kremlin has murdered thousands of civilians in cold blood. They\u2019ve bombed sacred churches and schools. They\u2019ve kidnapped countless children, tortured and indoctrinated them, and sent them to fight on the frontlines against their own country.\n\nWe have a moral responsibility to bring an end to this suffering. But there is also a very clear American national security interest in stopping the Kremlin\u2019s campaign of aggression.\n\nIf Putin is rewarded for invading a sovereign nation \u2014 if he succeeds \u2014 he has already told us he will go further. His army will move into Moldova, Georgia, and the Baltic States. And just like Putin wants to bring back the power of the Soviet Union, President Xi wants to restore imperial China. These dictators must be deterred \u2014 before it\u2019s too late.\n\nThis legislation also extends sanctions on Iran, which are set to expire at the end of this year, restricting funding for its energy and weapons sectors. Again, this is all tied together. In 2024, I spoke before this committee about Iranian drones being used by Russia to kill Ukrainians. In return, Russia is reportedly providing targeting information to the Iranian IRGC.\n\nWe cannot look at one part of this threat and ignore the others. This bill leverages our economic strength to make it harder for these regimes to finance aggression.\n\nAs chairman emeritus of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I often said that partisanship stops at the water\u2019s edge. I still believe that.\n\nWe are free to have disagreements \u2014 that\u2019s democracy. But when we\u2019re addressing our adversaries, we need to speak as one \u2014 with one voice, as one nation. They need to know that we\u2019re not divided when it comes to our national security.\n\nThe Senate passed this legislation by a vote of 86 to 11. That is an overwhelming bipartisan vote. Now the House must act.\n\nWhat would it communicate to Putin if the United States can\u2019t rally around such broadly supported legislation? How would our failure to act encourage North Korea to continue sending its own soldiers to the meat grinder, or Iran to continue supplying Russia with weapons to kill innocent civilians?\n\nThis is a moral issue that requires moral courage.\n\nWhen we look back on this moment, I want us to be able to say that we did everything possible to end this war. That we understood the threat. That we had the courage to do what was right \u2014 to cripple the Russian war machine and turn the tide toward peace.\n\nOn my latest visit to Ukraine, I met with President Zelensky, who told me he is ready for a ceasefire \u2014 ready to negotiate. Putin, on the other hand, defies President Trump and the international community by refusing to come to the table.\n\nIn conclusion, Lindsey Graham said if this passed it would be his greatest legislative accomplishment. I can think of no better way to honor his life and legacy than passing these tough sanctions.\n\nFinally, he said, \u201cI have never been more optimistic than I am today that we have the formula to end this war.\u201d I couldn\u2019t agree more.\n\nThe time to act is now.", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://nehls.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-ti-committee-passes-nehls-aviation-innovation-and-global-competitiveness", "House T&I Committee Passes Nehls' Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Troy E. Nehls", "N000026", "nehls.house.gov", "nehls", "https://nehls.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014Today, Congressman Troy E. Nehls (R-TX-22) announced that his bill, H.R. 7553, the Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act, advanced through the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.\n\n\"I am proud the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed my bipartisan legislation to strengthen American leadership in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM),\" said Congressman Nehls. \"For far too long, outdated regulations and burdensome certification processes have held back American AAM innovation while allowing foreign adversaries like China to gain ground. This legislation cuts through unnecessary red tape while maintaining the highest safety standards and will ensure the United States is the global leader in AAM and aviation.\"\n\nThis bill would enhance transparency, predictability, and accountability in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certification process for AAM aircraft, helping American companies succeed and cementing the United States' role as the global leader in aviation. Additionally, this bicameral, bipartisan legislation would support FAA staffing capacity and prevent gridlock in the certification process for AAM aircraft by requiring more clarity and transparency for industry applicants.\n\nThe current FAA type certification process is a rigorous, multi-year evaluation that approves a new aircraft design and ensures it complies with airworthiness, noise, and safety standards. Amended type certifications typically take 3 to 5 years to complete. In contrast, certifying a new aircraft type, such as AAM aircraft, can take 5 to 9 years, with little transparency on where it is in the process.", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://pfluger.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3040", "PASSED: Rep. Pfluger's Bill to Recover Minerals from Waste Streams", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "August Pfluger", "P000048", "pfluger.house.gov", "pfluger", "https://pfluger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congressman August Pfluger's (TX-11) bipartisan legislation to recover critical minerals from contaminated sites and waste streams passed through the U.S. House of Representatives, marking his 13th bill to pass the House this term.\n\nIn response to his legislation's passage, Congressman August Pfluger said, \"Today, the House took a critical step toward ending our dependence on foreign adversaries for the minerals America counts on. This legislation turns contaminated sites into strategic assets while speeding up the restoration work our communities need. I'm proud to see this bipartisan legislation pass the House, and I want to thank Congressman Landsman for his partnership in leading this bill through the Energy and Commerce Committee.\"\n\n\"This is a big investment in American innovation, the future of our environment, and domestic supply chain. We\u2019re grateful to Congressman Pfluger for his partnership in getting this done,\" said Congressman Greg Landsman (OH-01).", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/cornyn-questions-fbi-director-on-fisa-section-702-expiration/", "Cornyn Questions FBI Director on FISA Section 702 Expiration", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "John Cornyn", "C001056", "www.cornyn.senate.gov", "cornyn", "https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today in the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) questioned Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel on the expiration of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and the importance of reauthorizing this critical national security tool. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn\u2019s remarks are below, and video can be found here.\n\nCORNYN: \u201cIt\u2019s been about three months and three days since Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act has expired and not been reauthorized by Congress.\u201d\n\n\u201cDo you continue to believe that it\u2019s important for Congress to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, and what happens once the certification by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Courts runs out?\u201d\n\nPATEL: \u201cWhat the FBI does not do is collect on U.S. citizens. What the FBI does do is access, pursuant to the federal statute, already lawfully collected information of individuals who are overseas and are not USPERs. Were we prohibited to do that in the future \u2013 we\u2019ve provided classified briefings to the Senate and the House and a litany of examples on terrorist attacks that we\u2019ve prevented, children that we found, narcotraffickers that we were able to annihilate and arrest based solely on 702 collection of overseas non-USPER individuals.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe want those methodologies to be able to be available to the FBI. Were that to go dark, we would have a lot of problems, or we would have no ability to trace that information.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://delacruz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4023", "De La Cruz's Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen HUD Whistleblower Protections Passes House", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Monica De La Cruz", "D000594", "delacruz.house.gov", "delacruz", "https://delacruz.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Housing and Insurance Subcommittee Vice Chair Monica De La Cruz's bipartisan Whistleblower Protection Act passed the House. The legislation ensures that all Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) contracts, particularly those pre-dating 2013, include whistleblower protections.\n\nRead the full remarks below or watch here.\n\n\"Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 4646, the Whistleblower Protection Act, which passed with bipartisan support out of the Financial Services Committee.\n\nTexas families are stretching every dollar right now, while scammers are cashing in on taxpayer-funded programs.\n\nAnd while Texas families play by the rules, scammers and corrupt leaders shouldn\u2019t get rewarded.\n\nThat is why I am working to stop the abuse and bring accountability back to Washington, and this bill brings us closer to that goal by strengthening whistleblower protections for those wanting to rightfully \u201cblow the whistle\u201d on waste, fraud, and abuse in our government.\n\nWhistleblower protections are one of the most effective tools we have to combat waste, fraud, and abuse throughout our government.\n\nThis bipartisan legislation is simple: it clarifies that whistleblower protections apply to every HUD contractor, a vital step that is necessary due to the bureaucratic implementation of congressionally enacted, enhanced whistleblower protections originally passed in 2013.\n\nWhen Congress initially passed these enhanced whistleblower protections in 2013, known as Section 4712, it intended for them to apply to both contracts awarded before these became law, and to contracts that predated Section 4712 becoming law but have since been modified.\n\nUnfortunately, many HUD programs have contracts that are often decades long, meaning that there are still active HUD contracts that pre-date 2013 and do not include key protections from Section 4712, leaving thousands of HUD contractors with uncertainty.\n\nThis legislation fixes that by providing much-needed clarity to HUD and ensuring whistleblower protections apply to every HUD contractor, regardless of when a contract was signed.\n\nThis is something HUD has even asked for, most recently in their FY2027 budget request to Congress.\n\nWe must never allow retaliation against people who are simply trying to act in the taxpayers\u2019 best interest.", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-al-green-joins-c-spans-washington-journal-discuss-articles", "Congressman Al Green Joins C-SPAN\u2019s Washington Journal to Discuss Articles of Impeachment, His Call for a Vote, and More", "2026-09-14", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Al Green", "G000553", "algreen.house.gov", "algreen", "https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.) \u2014 On Tuesday, September 15, 2026, Congressman Al Green will join host Jasmine Wright on C-SPAN\u2019s Washington Journal. Possible topics may include: his filing of articles of impeachment and call for a vote, the debate surrounding artificial intelligence, election integrity, midterm messaging, the Federal Reserve meeting, congressional news of the day, and more.\n\nYou can watch the Washington Journal liveat 6:30 a.m. CT/7:30 a.m. ET by clicking the link here.", 1, "2026-09-15T09:50:21Z", "2026-09-15T09:52:05Z"], ["https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-al-green-votes-impeach-trump-covering-deaths-renee-alex-lorenzo", "Congressman Al Green Votes to Impeach Trump for Covering Up the  Deaths of Rene\u00e9, Alex, Lorenzo, and Johan", "2026-09-14", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Al Green", "G000553", "algreen.house.gov", "algreen", "https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.) \u2014 On Monday, September 14, 2026, Congressman Al Green delivered remarks on the House floor regarding voting to impeach President Trump for covering up the deaths of Rene\u00e9 Good, Alex Pretti, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, and Johan Sebasti\u00e1n Dur\u00e1n Guerrero.\n\nYou can access and listen to Congressman Al Green\u2019s speech on his official YouTube page or by clicking here. The floor speech highlighted is also accessible on various social media platforms, including Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly known as Twitter).", 1, "2026-09-15T09:50:21Z", "2026-09-15T09:52:05Z"], ["https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-al-green-will-host-press-conference-announce-impeachment-vote-hold", "Congressman Al Green Will Host Press Conference to Announce Impeachment Vote to Hold President Trump Accountable for High Crimes and Misdemeanors", "2026-09-14", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Al Green", "G000553", "algreen.house.gov", "algreen", "https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.) \u2014 On Monday, September 14, 2026, Congressman Al Green will be joined by John Bonifaz, Co-Founder and President of Free Speech For People;Jessica Denson, Founder of the Removal Coalition; Bruce Fein, former Associate Deputy Attorney General under President Reagan; and Nse Ufot, Women\u2019s March Senior Advisor to host a press conference at the House Triangle at the U.S. Capitol to discuss the need to hold President Trump accountable for high crimes and misdemeanors. Congressman Al Green will also discuss the timeline for impeachment and make a special announcement.\n\nThe press conference follows Congressman Green\u2019s filing of articles of impeachment on August 24, 2026.", 1, "2026-09-15T09:50:21Z", "2026-09-15T09:52:05Z"], ["https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/mccaul-introduces-legislation-accelerate-breakthroughs-pediatric-0", "McCaul Introduces Legislation to Accelerate Breakthroughs in Pediatric Cancer by Leveraging AI", "2026-09-14", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Michael T. McCaul", "M001157", "mccaul.house.gov", "mccaul", "https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) \u2014 founder and co-chair of the Congressional Childhood Cancer Caucus \u2014 introduced the Ailani Myers Accelerating Innovation in Medicine (AIM) to Cure Kids with Cancer Act with caucus co-chairs Ami Bera, M.D. (D-Calif.) and Mike Kelly (R-Pa.). The legislation, which is named after a brave young cancer patient and advocate, will accelerate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve and transform pediatric cancer research, treatment options, and data storage.\n\nMcCaul said, \"Since I founded the Childhood Cancer Caucus 17 years ago, advancements in technology have radically expanded the frontiers of healthcare. We owe it to our nation's children to leverage cutting-edge AI to improve their care and treatment options. I'm proud to introduce this bill, which codifies and builds on President Trump's executive order to unlock cures for pediatric cancer patients. By empowering AI to continuously drive research forward, we move one step closer to beating this heartbreaking disease once and for all.\n\n\"I'm also proud to have named this bill after Ailani Myers, a beautiful young cancer fighter. Like so many of the children I've met, she is far more courageous than most adults. Even a rare form of Leukemia can't steal her smile! Ailani has fiercely advocated for the childhood cancer community and recently attended the signing of President Trump's executive order accelerating AI use for pediatric cancer cures. It's fitting that this bill carry her name and her legacy forward.\"\n\nImage\n\nMcCaul and Ailani in 2013\n\n\u201cPediatric cancer remains one of the most heartbreaking diagnoses any family can face, and we have a responsibility to use every tool available to improve outcomes for children,\u201d said Bera. \u201cThe bipartisan Accelerating Innovation in Medicine for Kids with Cancer Act would leverage cutting-edge AI and data tools to transform pediatric cancer research, improve clinical trial design and access, and deliver more personalized treatment options for young patients. I am proud to support this effort to accelerate innovation, strengthen the Childhood Kelly Data Initiative, and move us closer to ending cancer as we know it.\u201d\n\n\u201cCongress should always consider new, initiative ways not only to treat cancer, but to defeat cancer. This legislation would leverage artificial intelligence to strengthen patient care and patient outcomes,\u201d said Kelly.\u201cI\u2019m proud to sponsor the bipartisan Accelerating Innovation in Medicine for Kids with Cancer Act as we work to ensure pediatric cancer patients and their families have every tool at their disposal to receive the care and cures they deserve.\u201d\n\nThe Ailani Myers AIM to Cure Kids with Cancer Act would:\n\nCodify and strengthen the National Cancer Institute\u2019s Childhood Cancer Data Initiative, authorizing federal support to collect, connect, and share pediatric cancer data;\n\nEstablish an AI coordinator to align pediatric cancer efforts across the White House, federal agencies, and private-sector partners; and\n\nHarness AI to accelerate pediatric cancer research and treatment by improving data sharing, strengthening predictive modeling, and modernizing clinical trials.", 1, "2026-09-15T09:50:21Z", "2026-09-15T09:52:05Z"], ["https://nehls.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-nehls-national-law-enforcement-officers-remembrance-support-and", "House Passes Nehls' National Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support, and Community Outreach Act", "2026-09-14", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Troy E. Nehls", "N000026", "nehls.house.gov", "nehls", "https://nehls.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Today, Congressman Troy E. Nehls (R-TX-22) announced that his bill, H.R. 309, the National Law Enforcement Officers Remembrance, Support, and Community Outreach Act, passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a voice vote.\n\n\"I am proud that the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed my bipartisan legislation to honor our brave law enforcement officers and raise public awareness of their service,\" said Congressman Nehls. \"As a former law enforcement officer and Texas sheriff, I know firsthand the sacrifices our men and women in blue make, often without receiving the recognition and gratitude they deserve. Our law enforcement officers risk their lives every day to keep our communities safe, and I urge the Senate to swiftly pass this legislation.\"\n\n\"America\u2019s law enforcement officers put their lives on the line each day with courage, resolve and an unwavering commitment to their communities,\" said House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman. \"H.R. 309 supports the National Law Enforcement Museum\u2019s public education, community outreach, and officer wellness initiatives, helping more Americans understand the demands of this noble profession. Rep. Nehls brings firsthand experience to this effort, and I commend his continued leadership on behalf of our nation\u2019s law enforcement officers.\"\n\nThis bipartisan legislation seeks to establish a formal program within the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) that will enhance community outreach, public education, and officer safety and wellness initiatives at the National Law Enforcement Museum. The program will offer grants to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF). Its goals include honoring law enforcement officers, collecting data on officer fatalities and injuries, increasing public understanding and support for law enforcement, improving officer safety and wellness, and strengthening the bond between law enforcement and the communities they serve.", 1, "2026-09-15T09:50:21Z", "2026-09-15T09:52:05Z"], ["https://pfluger.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3039", "Pfluger, Houlahan Introduce the Biosecurity Modernization and Innovation Act", "2026-09-14", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "August Pfluger", "P000048", "pfluger.house.gov", "pfluger", "https://pfluger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) introduced the bipartisan Biosecurity Modernization and Innovation Act alongside Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) to keep dangerous actors from misusing DNA synthesis technology while keeping America at the forefront of biotechnology.\n\nGene synthesis has transformed medicine, agriculture, and manufacturing, helping scientists build lifesaving treatments and develop hardier crops. However, these same tools could be misused to create dangerous pathogens if left unchecked. Currently, screening of nucleic acid orders is voluntary, leaving a gap that bad actors could exploit, especially as new desktop machines make it easier to generate genetic material outside the traditional supply chain.\n\nThe Biosecurity Modernization and Innovation Act would close this dangerous gap by requiring companies that sell synthetic DNA, as well as the manufacturers of the machines that produce it, to know their customers and exactly what they're being asked to make.\n\n\"Biotechnology is one of America's greatest strategic advantages. Right now, there's a dangerous gap between how fast this technology is moving and the safeguards we have in place to keep it out of the wrong hands. The Biosecurity Modernization and Innovation Act closes this gap without slowing down the innovation saving lives while strengthening our economy,\" said Rep. August Pfluger (TX-11).\n\n\u201cBiotechnology is creating enormous opportunities to improve lives and transform our economy, but like all emerging technologies, the related security policies must keep pace,\u201d said Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06). \u201cThe Biosecurity Modernization and Innovation Act is an important step toward ensuring that the federal government has the flexibility and agility to respond to new technologies and emerging threats as they evolve. As Co-Chair of the bipartisan BIOTech Caucus, I am committed to ensuring that we strengthen our biosecurity posture while preserving the responsible innovation that keeps America at the forefront of biotechnology.\u201d\n\nThe legislation is a House companion to bipartisan legislation introduced by Senator Tom Cotton (AR-R) and Senator Amy Klobuchar (MN-D) and was developed in consultation with key industry stakeholders in the biotechnology and gene-synthesis sector.", 1, "2026-09-15T09:50:21Z", "2026-09-15T09:52:05Z"], ["https://williams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-williams-introduces-combating-foreign-threats-main-street", "Congressman Williams Introduces the Combating Foreign Threats to Main Street Act of 2026", "2026-09-14", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Roger Williams", "W000816", "williams.house.gov", "williams", "https://williams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Roger Williams (TX-25), Chairman of the House Committee on Small Business, introduced H.R. 10329, the Combating Foreign Threats to Main Street Act of 2026, bipartisan legislation with Congressman Derek Tran (D-CA) to help American small businesses identify and address threats from foreign adversaries, including China, Russia, and North Korea.\n\n\u201cSmall businesses are increasingly finding themselves on the front lines of economic competition with foreign adversaries,\u201d said Congressman Williams.\u201cThe Chinese Communist Party has made it a priority to challenge the United States economically and strategically, exploiting every opportunity to target American innovation. Our entrepreneurs deserve to know how to protect what they have worked so hard to create.\u201d\n\n---\n\nBackground:\n\nThe legislation requires the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with appropriate federal agencies, to develop and disseminate educational materials to help small businesses recognize and protect themselves against foreign threats. These threats may include intellectual property theft, cyber intrusions, counterfeit goods and illicit trade practices, predatory investment, and other malicious activities.\n\nMany small businesses face foreign threats directly but often lack the resources or expertise to recognize and respond to increasingly sophisticated tactics. By strengthening awareness at the local level, the legislation will help entrepreneurs better protect their businesses and support the broader economic ecosystem that contributes to America's national security and economic prosperity.\n\nH.R. 10329 bill text here.\n\nCosponsors: Congressman Derek Tran (D-CA)", 1, "2026-09-15T09:50:21Z", "2026-09-15T09:52:05Z"], ["https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/cornyn-urges-va-doj-to-investigate-predatory-schools-defrauding-veterans-of-g-i-benefits/", "Cornyn Urges VA, DOJ to Investigate Predatory Schools Defrauding Veterans of G.I. Benefits", "2026-09-14", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "John Cornyn", "C001056", "www.cornyn.senate.gov", "cornyn", "https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after sending a pair of bipartisan letters encouraging the Trump administration to investigate and hold accountable \u201cslapdash\u201d trade schools and education institutions in Texas and across the country who reportedly defrauded veterans of their G.I. Bill benefits and ripped off American taxpayers:\n\n\u201cThe GI Bill is intended to help those who have honorably served our country pursue higher education, receive career training, and build a life after the military, and any bad actors who have abused its benefits by ripping off American taxpayers and deceiving veterans for their own gain must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,\u201d said Sen. Cornyn.\n\nBackground:\n\nFollowing the Washington Post\u2019s reporting that predatory trade schools in Texas, New Hampshire, California, Georgia, and Florida abused $300 million in G.I. Bill funding and deceived veterans, Sen. Cornyn joined a letter led by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and cosigned by Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins and VA Inspector General Cheryl Mason encouraging the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to launch an enhanced investigation into all unaccredited trade schools where veterans are enrolled to ensure the programs meet all applicable requirements. The bipartisan trio also urged the VA to review its processes for accepting and assessing complaints from students and whistleblowers on potentially fraudulent activity, and to increase funding and personnel for investigating these cases. The Senators also asked the VA to coordinate with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to refer fraud cases for prosecution.\n\nIn a separate letter to U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, the Senators called on the DOJ to strengthen how it investigates, prosecutes, and penalizes G.I. Bill fraud and to improve coordination with federal, state, and local partners to better protect veterans. It also calls on the DOJ to evaluate its coordination with VA to better target fraud and abuse.\n\nThe full text of the letter to the VA can be found here and below.\n\nSeptember 3, 2026\n\nThe Honorable Doug Collins\n\nSecretary of Veterans Affairs\n\n810 Vermont Avenue NW\n\nWashington, DC 20420\n\nThe Honorable Cheryl Mason\n\nVeterans Administration Inspector General\n\n810 Vermont Avenue NW\n\nWashington, DC 20420\n\nSecretary Collins and Inspector General Mason:\n\nWe write to you today with grave concerns about recent Washington Post reporting on how many veterans were defrauded of their GI Bill benefits by \u201cslapdash\u201d trade schools and education institutions in Texas, California, New Hampshire, Georgia and Florida. We are troubled by reports of veterans defrauded and how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) failed to properly investigate schools with obvious signs of fraud across multiple years and presidential administrations.\n\nSince its inception during World War II, the GI Bill was intended to provide veterans with the education and skills necessary to lead productive lives. Veterans earn educational benefits through their service to the United States. Millions of veterans have successfully used this program to obtain education and training from universities, colleges and trade and vocational schools. The Post 9/11 GI Bill provides up to 36 months of educational benefits for veterans who served more than 90 days of active duty after September 11, 2001.\n\nHowever, as the Washington Post reported, some unaccredited for-profit schools have taken advantage of both veterans and VA either by providing substandard education, charging more tuition as compared to non-veterans or aggressively recruiting veterans with little regard for whether the school\u2019s training helps the veteran. In return for their service, it is our duty to ensure veterans are protected from fraud and scams.\n\nIn all, the Washington Post found more than $300 million in fraud at 20 schools that were bilking our veterans. Much of the fraud should have been obvious at first glance. Schools offering courses that cost thousands of dollars but last less than a week should have caused red flags to go up at VA. Moreover, the article raises questions about how the Department processes and refers veterans\u2019 complaints. While these losses to fraud may only represent a small percentage of the VA\u2019s education budget, any loss of funds and adverse impacts to veterans must be swiftly addressed.\n\nVA has repeatedly said that fraud against veterans is one of its top priorities. It is imperative that we understand how these institutions are allowed to operate and make millions despite multiple oversight measures. Consequently, we call on VA OIG to launch an enhanced investigation into all unaccredited trade schools where veterans are enrolled to ensure the programs meet all applicable requirements. Once any warning sign is identified, VA must act more quickly to disapprove these fraudulent programs from GI Bill eligibility. We also urge the Department and VA OIG to review their processes for accepting and assessing complaints from students and whistleblowers on potentially fraudulent activity and increase funding and personnel for investigating these cases. Finally, we ask that the VA and OIG coordinate with the U.S. Department of Justice and, if appropriate, state attorneys general, to refer more of these cases for prosecution.\n\nWe look forward to your timely response.\n\nSincerely,\n\n/s/\n\nThe full text of the letter to the DOJ can be found here and below.\n\nSeptember 3, 2026\n\nThe Honorable Todd Blanche\n\nAttorney General\n\nU.S. Department of Justice\n\n950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW\n\nWashington, DC 20530-0001\n\nDear Attorney General Blanche:\n\nWe write to you today with grave concerns about the recent Washington Post article on the fraud associated with and abuse of Post 9/11 G.I. Bill educational benefits. Specifically, the reporting highlights cases where veterans in New Hampshire, Texas, California, Georgia and Florida, and ultimately the American taxpayer, were defrauded out of hundreds of millions of dollars by predatory schools. In a number of these cases, federal prosecutors failed to press charges, reached settlements for a fraction of the school\u2019s ill-gotten gains or recommended more lenient sentences than even the judge ultimately felt were correct.\n\nSince its inception during World War II, the G.I. Bill was intended to provide veterans with the education and skills necessary to lead productive lives. Veterans earn educational benefits through their service to the United States. Millions of veterans have successfully used this program to obtain education and training from universities, colleges and trade and vocational schools. The Post 9/11 G.I. Bill provides up to 36 months of educational benefits for veterans who served more than 90 days of active duty after September 11, 2001.\n\nHowever, as the Washington Post reported, some for-profit schools have taken advantage of both veterans and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by providing substandard education, either charging more tuition as compared to non-veterans or aggressively recruiting veterans with little regard for whether the school\u2019s curriculum helps veterans. Indeed, this has been the case for far too long.\n\nFraud against our veterans must be prosecuted vigorously. The Washington Post documented how light the punishment was for the trade schools who charged exorbitant rates for very little education or training. In one case, the settlement that Department of Justice prosecutors struck was rejected by the judge because it was too lenient. In another case, a U.S. Attorney reached a $200,000 False Claims Act settlement with a trade school that charged the VA about $2.1 million including up to $14,900 per student for a four-to-five-day course on growing grass.\n\nWe urge the Department to reexamine the procedures for U.S. Attorneys to investigate and prosecute alleged G.I. Bill fraud, especially the criteria for settling cases that result in fines constituting a fraction of the overall fraud. We also call on the Department to reconsider how it cooperates with the Department of Veterans Affairs and state educational and law enforcement agencies to better target fraud and abuse of our veterans and the G.I. Bill program.\n\nWe look forward to your prompt reply.\n\nSincerely,\n\n/s/", 1, "2026-09-15T09:50:21Z", "2026-09-15T09:52:05Z"], ["https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-haaretz-article-below-titled-netanyahu-led-israel-blindly-disaster", "ICYMI: The Haaretz article below, titled \u201cNetanyahu Led Israel 'Blindly to Disaster,' Eisenkot Says After Haaretz Expos\u00e9 on UAE Warning Before Oct. 7.\"", "2026-09-13", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Al Green", "G000553", "algreen.house.gov", "algreen", "https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "The Haaretz article below, titled \u201cNetanyahu Led Israel 'Blindly to Disaster,' Eisenkot Says After Haaretz Expos\u00e9 on UAE Warning Before Oct. 7,\u201d speaks for itself.\n\nA readable PDF version of this article is available by clicking the link here or reading the story below.\n\nNetanyahu Led Israel 'Blindly to Disaster,' Eisenkot\n\nSays After Haaretz Expos\u00e9 on UAE Warning Before Oct. 7\n\n(Haaretz, September 8, 2026)\n\nBy: Noa Shpigel and Jonathan Lis\n\nPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu led Israel blindly to disaster and is unfit to serve, leading opposition candidate Gadi Eisenkot said Tuesday, as opposition leaders responded to a Haaretz expose revealing that Netanyahu received an explicit warning from UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed that Hamas was planning a major operation against Israel.\n\n\"Those around Netanyahu are echoing disgraceful conspiracy theories and allegations of betrayal, while clinging to the most absurd statement a leader can make: 'No one woke me up,'\" Eisenkot said.\n\nEarlier Tuesday, Haaretz reported that bin Zayed, known as MBZ, personally warned Netanyahu that, in his assessment, Hamas' leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, was preparing for war. The call took place in late September 2023, about a week and a half before the attack, and lasted 45 minutes.\n\n\"Who failed to wake whom?\" Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, wrote on X, referring to a key finding in the report that Netanyahu did not inform Israel's security establishment of MBZ's personal warning.\n\nBin Zayed assessed that Sinwar was preparing for a major event, urging Netanyahu to prepare for the threat, an adviser to the president told Haaretz.\n\nFormer Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, leader of the Together party, said Netanyahu bore direct responsibility for the October 7, 2023 attacks. In an interview with Kan public radio, Bennett said Netanyahu \"was deep in the conception.\"\n\nAsked if he knew of the existence of MBZ's call to the prime minister, Bennett told Kan he was aware Netanyahu had received warnings from bin Zayed as well as Egypt's intelligence chief, but chose to ignore them.\n\nNetanyahu was doing everything in his power to avoid the establishment of a state commission of inquiry that would \"uncover the truth,\" Bennett said in a statement, referring to the report as truthful.\n\n\"Netanyahu was so captive to his own conception that even clear warnings from regional leaders did not move him from his seat,\" he added.\n\nDemocrats Party Chairman Yair Golan and party lawmaker Gilad Kariv also responded to the report, describing the findings as \"criminal.\"\n\n\"He knew. He was warned,\" Golan wrote in a post on X, referring to Netanyahu. \"The stories of 'I wasn't woken up' are over.\"\n\nGolan accused Netanyahu of neglecting his responsibilities as prime minister through \"deliberate and criminal abandonment,\" calling him \"unfit and illegitimate\" and urging that he be imprisoned for \"his crimes against the State of Israel.\"\n\nIn a statement, Kariv described the revelations as a \"crime against Israeli society and against every citizen of the country.\"\n\nKariv also said Netanyahu bears responsibility for the October 7, 2023, attacks \"not only by virtue of being prime minister, but because he received warnings and alerts from multiple parties and sources and did nothing.\"\n\nKariv called for the establishment of a state commission of inquiry that would \"open all the Pandora's boxes that led to the terrible massacre.\"", 1, "2026-09-14T10:19:32Z", "2026-09-14T10:21:05Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 39364, 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