url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at
https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-castro-releases-2022-end-of-year-report,Congressman Castro Releases 2022 End-of-Year Report,2022-12-31,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Joaquin Castro,C001091,castro.house.gov,castro,https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"SAN ANTONIO — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released an end-of-year report detailing his 2022 accomplishments on behalf of the 20th Congressional District of Texas.

“Throughout the past year, San Antonians have worked hard to rebuild from the challenges of the pandemic and rise together toward a better future. It’s an extraordinary privilege to represent our great city in Congress, and I’m honored to share the progress my office delivered in 2022. As we approach 2023, I look forward to continuing my work to expand our Infrastructure of Opportunity — the great public schools and universities, sound health care system, and good-paying jobs that allow Americans to pursue their dreams.”

Key 2022 accomplishments include:

$15.6 million in federal funding for Fiscal Year 2023 community projects in San Antonio, including local initiatives to preserve affordable housing, prevent domestic violence, support small businesses, expand access to affordable health care, and more.

$10.5 million in federal funding for Fiscal Year 2022 community projects in San Antonio, including local initiatives to expand workforce development programs at Project QUEST, expand the local reach of Communities in Schools, improve Wi-Fi access in public housing, train mental health providers to meet community needs, and more.

More than $3.2 million in federal benefits recovered for the people of San Antonio, including more than $320,000 from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

More than $163 million in federal grants for programs and services in San Antonio.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://doggett.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-doggett-statement-release-trump-tax-returns,Rep. Doggett Statement on Release of Trump Tax Returns,2022-12-30,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Lloyd Doggett,D000399,doggett.house.gov,doggett,https://doggett.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Contact: Afton Cissell

202-595-4433

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee who led efforts for the release of Trump’s tax returns since February 2017, released the following statement:

“Donald Trump had big deductions, big credits, and big losses—but seldom a big tax bill. Almost six years since my first attempt to obtain Trump’s tax returns, the public can finally see the self-proclaimed “clever genius,” he did not pay the taxes the most modest wage-earner would pay—at one point nothing at all. While customarily released voluntarily by past presidents and President Biden, it took a lawsuit and nearly six years to obtain Trump’s returns.

Many questions about foreign entanglements and conflicts remain unanswered and unknown, since the Committee inquiry was a narrow window into a narrow period of time, looking at only eight of about 500 Trump business entities for a period of only six years. Year after year he is relying on losses to not pay much of anything. It is an outrage that Trump paid so little for so long and that the IRS failed to do its job to audit him like it has prior presidents.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-gonzalez-releases-statement-conclusion-117th-session-us-congress,"Congressman Gonzalez Releases Statement at Conclusion of 117th Session of the U.S. Congress, Transitions to New Congressional District",2022-12-30,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Vicente Gonzalez,G000581,gonzalez.house.gov,gonzalez,https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"McAllen, TX – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) released the following statement after the conclusion of the 117th Congress and begins the transition to the 34th Congressional District of Texas:

""I thank the people of South Texas for their continued support and trust. We have a long road ahead of us to address some of the most pressing issues facing our community. The voters have given me a mandate to work for South Texas, not a political party, and ensure we create innovative solutions for our region. I promise to continue to reach across the aisle to find common-sense solutions for our nation and for the people of the 34th Congressional District of Texas.

""As we wrap up the 117th Congress, I am proud of the work we have accomplished and am confident that we will take this momentum into the 118th Congress as we continue to build on our successes. From legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Safer Communities Act, the CHIPS and Science Act to standing up to Putin's aggression and supporting our allies in Ukraine, Congress is working to bring tangible change for our country.

""As I transition into a the 34th Congressional District of Texas, I want to thank the people of the 15th Congressional District of Texas for allowing me to be their advocate in Washington over the last six years. From COVID-19 relief and infrastructure funding to billions of dollars for education, Veterans and our seniors, our community has stepped-up to the challenge and has created a region full of economic opportunity, first-rate education, and a place to call home.""

On Tuesday, January 3rd, 2023, Congressman Gonzalez will announce new office locations and contact information for the 34th Congressional District of Texas after being sworn into the 118th Congress.

Please note that beginning January 3rd, 2023, new Congressional maps will take effect. Due to the Congressional redistricting, many South Texans will be assigned a new Congressional district. South Texans looking to know who represents them, may do so here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4284,Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Releases 2022 Annual Report for Texas’ Seventh Congressional District,2022-12-29,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Lizzie Fletcher,F000468,fletcher.house.gov,fletcher,https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) released her 2022 Annual Report detailing her work representing Texas’ Seventh Congressional District this year. The report highlights Congresswoman Fletcher’s work on legislation and constituent matters.

“I am honored and proud to represent Texas’ Seventh Congressional District, and to bring the voices of those who live and work here to the national conversation about the challenges and opportunities before us,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. “I am glad to share some of the highlights of this work in my 2022 Annual Report, and I look forward to continuing my work for our community and our country in the 118th Congress.”

Highlights of the 2022 Annual Report include:

Constituent Advocacy: This year, Congresswoman Fletcher reached the milestone of closing more than 9,500 constituent cases since she assumed office;

Community Funded Projects: Congresswoman Fletcher secured nearly $45 million in federal funding for community projects, including

$13.6 million in FY2022 appropriations for the City of Houston Health, Police, and Fire Departments, Harris County Flood Control, and the Cities of Bellaire and Jersey Village, and

$31.1 million in FY2023 appropriations for Harris County Flood Control District; the Cities of Bellaire, Southside Place, and West University Place; the Houston Police Department and Harris County Sheriff’s Department; Harris County Public Health Department; Harris County Public Library; Houston Public Library; and more, providing needed support for our community in direct and tangible ways.

Legislation: Congresswoman Fletcher has introduced or passed several bills in the House of Representatives this year, including:

Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act, H.R. 8297, to protect the right to travel for abortion, which passed the House of Representatives in July;

Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act, H.R. 8452, to establish a grant program to help ease the financial burden of people being forced to travel to access abortion care;

Carbon Limiting Emissions At Refineries (CLEAR) Act, H.R. 6562, to reduce carbon emissions from refineries;

FirstNet Reauthorization Act, H.R. 6768, to promote public safety by ensuring first responders can communicate with each other in times of crisis;

American Gas for Allies Act, H.R. 6977, to expedite U.S. Liquefied Natural Gas exports to North Atlantic Treaty Organization member countries;

Hazard Eligibility and Local Projects (HELP) Act, H.R. 1917, to expedite certain disaster recovery projects, which passed the House of Representatives and Senate and is awaiting President Biden’s signature;

Federal PFAS Research Evaluation Act, H.R. 7289, to implement a federal study to reveal PFAS health and environmental hazards;

To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act to reauthorize the authority to grant certain exemptions, and for other purposes, H.R. 7679, to improve and develop pediatric medical devices, which passed the House of Representatives and Senate as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 and is awaiting President Biden’s signature; and

Reinvesting in Shoreline Economies and Ecosystems (RISEE) Act, H.R. 9049, to create a new stream of funding for coastal infrastructure and flood resiliency projects and help incentivize new clean energy projects.

To view the 2022 Annual Report, click here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases/houston-post-office-be-named-honor-benny-c-martinez-after-biden-signs-bill,HOUSTON POST OFFICE TO BE NAMED IN HONOR OF BENNY C. MARTINEZ AFTER BIDEN SIGNS BILL GARCIA CHAMPIONED,2022-12-29,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Sylvia R. Garcia,G000587,sylviagarcia.house.gov,sylviagarcia,https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – This week a bill by Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) to rename the post office on Broadway Street after Texas legend Benny C. Martinez was signed by President Biden. Martinez was a prominent community leader who worked as a Harris County nurse for 30 years and 5 years as Deputy Sheriff, served the Houston area through countless organizations and advocacy groups, and was a U.S. Army veteran. This will be the first postal service office named after a Latino in the Houston area.

""Benny was a well-loved figure across Texas and the Houston area who spent his life in service to the people,"" said Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia. ""He was extremely active within LULAC, and helped arrange a meeting between President John F. Kennedy and LULAC in 1963 – which was the first time a U.S. President gathered with a Latino organization. The naming of this post office will provide residents with a place to honor and remember Benny C. Martinez's legacy.""

""Naming a U.S. Post Office after my father, Benny Martinez is a true testament to his legacy,"" said Benny C. Martinez's daughter, Loretta Martinez William. ""My father was a hard-working volunteer and served the community through many organizations. He often would be finishing up a volunteer project and would be thinking of the next one. He was also a veteran who proudly served his country. He had the honor to receive numerous awards for his volunteerism. His favorite organization was LULAC and his greatest honor was when he received LULAC Man of the Year for the Nation. He is quoted as saying a ‘volunteer is a hero, and a hero is a volunteer.' My father is a role model that young people can emulate. I thank Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, and her staff for their efforts, and all the support from the elected officials.""

""Benny Martinez was and will always be remembered as a tireless champion for his community and dedicated to serving the underserved,"" said LULAC National President Domingo Garcia. He was committed to the power of education and called knowledge the most important tool for freedom and equality in America. He was a devoted civic leader who advocated for access to the vote as the greatest voice for Hispanics in Texas and across our country. Most importantly, his integrity, character, and passion for truth were lifelong, non-negotiable values that earned him respect from all who knew him. LULAC is richer and truer to its mission because of Benny Martinez.""

The post office being named in honor of Benny C. Martinez is located at 4020 Broadway Street in Houston, Texas, 77087.

###

Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2018, becoming the first Latina ever to represent the Texas 29th Congressional District. She serves on the House Judiciary, Financial Services, and Armed Services Committees.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4281,Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Returns More Than Half a Billion Dollars to Texas’ Seventh Congressional District,2022-12-27,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Lizzie Fletcher,F000468,fletcher.house.gov,fletcher,https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) announced she has helped secure $502,938,988 in federal grant dollars for Texas’ Seventh Congressional District.

“Congress has the power to allocate our resources to further our country’s goals,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. “From promoting public safety, to helping expand small businesses, to providing essential support for survivors of domestic violence, I am proud to have helped return more than half a billion taxpayer dollars to our community to respond directly to the needs of Houston families. I look forward to continuing to support many of our district’s priorities in direct and tangible ways.”

This year alone, Congresswoman Fletcher announced funding to promote public safety, bridge the digital divide, expand small businesses, and more.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-gonzalez-secures-over-237-million-community-projects-south-texas,CONGRESSMAN GONZALEZ SECURES OVER $23.7 MILLION IN COMMUNITY PROJECTS FOR SOUTH TEXAS,2022-12-27,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Vicente Gonzalez,G000581,gonzalez.house.gov,gonzalez,https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) voted to pass the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) Omnibus Appropriations package to fund the federal government and provide supplemental funding to Ukraine. This package includes $23,796,378 for local community projects located throughout the 15th Congressional District of Texas. Congressman Gonzalez also successfully included H.R. 6810, the Housing our Veterans Act, which takes steps to address veteran homelessness.

""This federal funding will allow the United States to deliver on its promise to invest in the American people ,"" stated Congressman Gonzalez. ""The FY23 omnibus appropriations bill will help American families by creating better-paying jobs, help small business owner s and entrepreneurs access capital, keep our communities safe by supporting local, state, and federal law enforcement, increase military pay by 4.6 percent and ensure our military is well equipped to overcome challenges both domestically and abroad. I am also proud to bring home over $23.7 million to support community centers, improve drainage and roads, and give our children a brighter future.

""Additionally, I am proud that my legislation, H.R. 6810, the Housing Our Veterans Act, was included in this critical legislation . This will allow us to gain a clearer picture of the housing challenges our veterans face so we can fully address housing affordability and homelessness among veterans.

""As we wrap up the 117th Congress, rest assured that I will continue to be South Texas' loudest advocate and work to ensure that our community is served and supported.""

H.R. 6810, the Housing our Veterans Act, requires the GAO to conduct a study on the availability of affordable housing for veterans participating in homelessness programs through the Department of Veterans Affairs and the impact this availability has on veterans seeking permanent shelter.

Federal funding projects secured by Congressman Gonzalez:

$325,000 for Project Safe, the Acquisition of Safety Mobile Application for Domestic Violence Victims

$2,000,000 for the Boys & Girls Club of McAllen, TX Community Center

$1,700,000 for the Boys & Girls Club of Weslaco, TX Expansion Project

$1,753,812 for the Boys and Girls Club of Pharr, TX for equipment and supplies for youth development services

$1,500,000 for the Brooks County School Based Health Center Falfurrias, TX

$1,549,044 for the City of Mercedes, TX for an Expansion of Sanitary Sewer Collection System Project

$3,452,972 for the City of San Juan, TX for a Lift Station Rehabilitation Project

$1,265,550 for the Elsa Getting Connected Project in Elsa, TX

$200,000 for the McAllen Independent School District Aviation Program in McAllen, TX for private pilot and remote drone license training

$4,000,000 for the Mile 10 North Road Project in Weslaco, TX

$750,000 for the New VFW Post 8788 in McAllen, TX

$1,000,000 for healthcare workforce development at South Texas College in McAllen, TX

$1,800,000 for Security Fencing at the South Texas International Airport at Edinburg (EBG)

$1,500,000 for the South Texas Juvenile Diabetes Association (STJDA) Inclusive Camp Facility Project

$1,000,000 for the University of Texas Health RGV Cancer and Surgical Center",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-al-green-secures-funds-nearly-50000000-local-houston-area-projects,"Congressman Al Green Secures Funds for Nearly $50,000,000 In Local Houston Area Projects as Part of Bipartisan, Bicameral Omnibus Bill",2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Al Green,G000553,algreen.house.gov,algreen,https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – On Friday, December 23, 2022, Congressman Al Green released the following statement:

“I am proud to announce that the passage of today’s Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations bill will benefit the American people by, among other things, fostering clean energy, creating good-paying jobs, and supporting our military. Additionally, this omnibus package includes nearly $50 million in funding for a number of community projects in our Ninth Congressional District of Texas.” Congressman Al Green shared. “An investment in our local community is an investment in our future. These projects will make a difference for working families, improve the health of residents, and help make our communities safer. I thank President Biden, Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Schumer, and Senator McConnell, as well as all who voted for this legislation.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/chairman-castro-secures-funding-for-key-foreign-affairs-programs-in-2023-omnibus-appropriations,Chairman Castro Secures Funding for Key Foreign Affairs Programs in 2023 Omnibus Appropriations,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Joaquin Castro,C001091,castro.house.gov,castro,https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact, announced that the 2023 federal omnibus appropriations bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on December 23, 2022 includes significant investments he secured to advance American interests and promote sustainable development around the world.

“For the past two years, the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact has worked to strengthen America’s contributions to a healthier, safer, and more equitable world. As our work concludes for the 117th Congress, I’m very proud that the 2023 omnibus includes funding for many of the critical programs our Subcommittee has championed. I thank my Subcommittee colleagues for their dedicated service and I look forward to seeing how our legislative efforts will continue to improve lives around the world,” said Chairman Castro.

Provisions secured by Chairman Castro in the 2023 omnibus include:

Centroamérica Local:

$100 million for USAID to fund locally led development programs in Central America that seek to address causes of irregular migration by strengthening regional governance, promoting economic growth, and improving the rule of law. Chairman Castro secured additional language in the omnibus that allows USAID to use these funds in a flexible and locally responsive manner.

Innovation at USAID

$40 million for USAID’s Development Innovation Ventures program, which promotes innovative approaches to development assistance. This funding represents a $10 million increase from 2022. Chairman Castro secured additional language in the omnibus that removes the limit to how many innovation incentive awards can be provided each year by USAID.

Supporting Global Health Programs for Vulnerable Children:

$30 million for global child health programs, a $2.5 million increase from 2022. This funding supports implementation of the Global Child Thrive Act, legislation authored by Chairman Castro that became law in 2021.

Asia Foundation

$22 million in U.S. contributions to the Asia Foundation, an increase of $500,000 from 2022. The Asia Foundation is a U.S.-based organization committed to improving lives across Asia with a focus on good governance, gender equality, inclusive growth, climate action, and regional and international relations.

Building a Diverse Diplomatic Corps:

$18 million for paid student internships at the State Department, a $10 million increase from 2022. This funding supports implementation of the Castro-authored Department of State Student Internships Program, which passed as part of the FY2023 NDAA. The State Department estimates that $18 million in funding will support up to 1,200 paid interns per year, doubling the size of the program.

Mekong-US Partnership:

$7 million for rule of law and environment programs in the Greater Mekong region of Southeast Asia. This funding represents an increase of $2 million from 2022.

Chairman Castro also worked with his colleagues to secure funding to cover U.S. arrears at the United Nations, as well as an additional $500,000 to support grants, programs, and activities that promote the employment of U.S. citizens by international organizations.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-castro-highlights-progress-for-san-antonio-in-2023-ndaa,Congressman Castro Highlights Progress for San Antonio in 2023 NDAA,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Joaquin Castro,C001091,castro.house.gov,castro,https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, President Joseph R. Biden signed the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for the Fiscal Year 2023 (Fiscal Year 2023 NDAA) into law, authorizing several provisions secured or supported by Congressman Castro, including new limits to surprise medical billing at Brooke Army Medical Center and new funding for Joint Base San Antonio. The Fiscal Year 2023 NDAA also authorizes a 4.6% pay raise for servicemembers and the DOD civilian workforce, along with improvements to military and dental health care and on-base services.

“Every year, Congress has important debates about the size of our national defense budget, but federal investments in our servicemembers will always be a sacred priority,” said Congressman Castro. “This year’s NDAA includes a well-deserved military pay raise and new investments in on-base services for military families to improve their lives and strengthen troop retention. I’m extremely pleased that the NDAA will also enact legislation I wrote to limit surprise medical billing at Brooke Army Medical Center and protect civilians who receive trauma care at the Army’s premier medical training center. As this bill becomes law, I wish all of America’s military families a happy holiday season and a wonderful new year.”

Funding for Joint Base San Antonio in the Fiscal Year 2023 NDAA includes:

$58.6 million for JBSA to construct an Ambulatory Care Dental Center replacement

$29 million for JBSA-Randolph to construct a Child Development Center

$5.4 million for JBSA-Lackland to construct BMT Recruit Dormitories

Provisions secured by Congressman Castro in the Fiscal Year 2023 NDAA include:

Limits to Surprise Medical Bills at Brooke Army Medical Center

The FY2023 NDAA includes a provision authored by Congressman Castro that requires the Director of the Defense Health Agency to implement a modified payment plan based on a sliding-scale discount program for civilians who are underinsured or at risk for financial harm who receive treatment at Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) including Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio.

This provision follows an amendment that Congressman Castro secured in the FY2021 NDAA to provide MTFs with the flexibility to waive medical bills for civilians. BAMC is one of two Level 1 Trauma Centers in San Antonio and must treat civilians to maintain its accreditation for graduate medical education. In recent years, civilians have faced high medical bills after receiving trauma care at BAMC, even though their care helps prepare military medical professionals to meet the medical needs of American servicemembers.

Investments in America’s Workforce and National Security Research

The FY2023 NDAA also includes provisions authored or co-authored by Congressman Castro in his capacity as chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact and as a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence that will:

Improve student internship opportunities at the State Department by providing the Department with permanent authority to pay its interns and requiring it to transition its internships to a paid program in the coming years. The legislation also describes new parameters for the student internship program, including considerations for diversity and requirements for housing and travel costs to be covered for certain interns serving in D.C. or abroad.

Support the employment of U.S. citizens by international organizations by providing additional authorities and funding avenues to place qualified Americans at UN agencies, including through the Junior Professional Officer program.

Restore U.S. leadership in international organizations by authorizing the State Department to provide housing allowances to nine additional members of the Foreign Service who are serving in New York City at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. Under current law, the State Department is only able to provide a housing allowance to 32 members of the Foreign Service who are serving at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, a restriction that has prevented the United States from properly staffing the Mission.

Expand training and professional development opportunities for the civil and foreign service at the State Department by providing authorities to strengthen the Foreign Service Institute, including through additional training offerings, new fellowship programs for Foreign and Civil Service, and other provisions to improve the training of U.S. diplomats.

Provide pay equity for government employees working abroad by requiring members of the Civil Service under a Department Employee Teleworking Overseas (DETO) agreement (most often provided to military/foreign service spouses or dependents) to be paid either at what they would have been paid in the United States or what a member of the Foreign Service at an equivalent level serving overseas is paid.

Expedite the declassification of CIA historical records by requiring the CIA Historical Review Panel to report directly to the Director of the CIA and requiring that the Inspector General of the CIA submit a report to Congress that outlines the CIA’s declassification efforts.

Improve diversity within the Intelligence Community by requiring the Director of National Intelligence to submit a report to Congress that documents barriers or obstacles to promotion for women and minorities, proposals to overcome those barriers, and summarizes existing efforts to strengthen the promotion pipeline for underrepresented populations in the Intelligence Community.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-castro-touts-major-investments-for-san-antonio-in-2023-federal-appropriations-legislation,Congressman Castro Touts Major Investments for San Antonio in 2023 Federal Appropriations Legislation,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Joaquin Castro,C001091,castro.house.gov,castro,https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass fiscal year 2023 federal funding legislation with more than $15.6 million that Congressman Joaquin Castro secured for community projects in San Antonio. The bill also includes billions of dollars to fund health care, nutrition, workforce development, and other programs that benefit working people and seniors in San Antonio and across the nation. The legislation passed the U.S. Senate on December 23, 2022 and will likely be signed into law in the coming days.

“Since the beginning of the 2023 appropriations process, I’ve fought to make sure the federal government’s spending priorities reflect the needs of people in San Antonio. I’m pleased that the final federal funding package includes more than $15 million I got for community projects in San Antonio, in addition to nationwide investments in health care, job creation, and other important areas of progress. This bill will improve lives in San Antonio and across the country, and I look forward to seeing President Biden sign it into law,” said Congressman Castro.

Congressman Castro secured funding for the following community projects in San Antonio:

Housing

Our Casas Resident Council, Inc.

The High Impact Housing Project (HIPP)

This funding will support efforts to repair the homes of low-income homeowners on the Westside of San Antonio. The rehabilitated homes will be renovated to meet building codes and address safety issues among other concerns to provide better living conditions for the homeowners.

Funding: $1,057,257

City of San Antonio Westside Development Corporation / Prosper West

Casa Bella Project

This funding will support a proposal to acquire Westside homes that are chronically vacant, abandoned, or otherwise in a dilapidated condition, and rehabilitate them to modern standards of construction quality and sustainability while also improving their aesthetic contribution to the neighborhood. After a home has been rehabilitated, Casa Bella will sell it to a household that earns 80% or less of the Area Median Income (AMI), thus presenting an opportunity for homeownership that would normally be out of reach for many on the Westside.

Funding: $1,000,000

Health Care & Community Well-Being

El Centro del Barrio / CentroMed

FQHC Renovation: CentroMed South Park Medical Clinic

This funding will support renovation costs for the CentroMed South Park Medical Clinic, part of ongoing efforts to increase and enhance access to comprehensive, culturally competent, quality primary care services and improve health-related outcomes for underserved, vulnerable populations.

Funding: $1,000,000

University of Texas San Antonio

Evaluation and Research Coordinating Center (ERCC) for the Multi-assistance Center (MAC) at Morgan’s Wonderland

This funding will help seed the ERCC, an evaluation and research center led by the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), at the MAC at Morgan’s Wonderland. The ERCC will collaboratively establish a comprehensive research program to provide timely data and improve patient outcomes for people living with disabilities and their caregivers in the San Antonio area.

Funding: $492,370

Guardian House

Guardian House – Triple P Positive Parenting Program Expansion

This funding will support the Triple P Positive Parenting Program, an evidence-based, scalable, and adaptable parenting and family support system. Currently, this program is provided at no cost to the San Antonio community by the City of San Antonio Metro Health and its community partners as part of Metro Health’s ongoing goal of preventing child abuse and breaking generational cycles of family violence.

Funding: $483,963

CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health Care Corporation Center for Miracles

Support Center for Miracles capacity to care for victims of child abuse and neglect.

This funding will support the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio’s Center for Miracles in their work to provide training and education to members of the South Texas community on identifying and handling possible child abuse cases. This funding will help train future counselors, social workers, medical staff and first responders to identify, assess, diagnose, and treat child abuse and neglect.

Funding: $472,699

Texas A&M University San Antonio

The Autism Mobile Assessment Bus and Learning Environment (AMABLE)

This funding will support AMABLE, a mobile unit serving Edgewood ISD and other partner schools in South San Antonio. The mobile unit will assess and develop recommendations for school-based autism services and educational supports; provide training for teachers and parents; and raise awareness of autism-related issues. The AMABLE motorcoach will be a mobile assessment clinic that provides autism assessment services, parent training, community support services, and Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) training to the community.

Funding: $300,000

Education and Research

St. Mary’s University

Construction and Equipment for the Innovation Center at St. Mary's University.

This funding will support the construction of a new Innovation Center and help St. Mary’s University equip seven laboratories related to advanced manufacturing including Robotics and Smart Manufacturing; Measurement and Instrumentation; Human Factors; Additive Manufacturing and Reverse Engineering; Data Science and Machine Learning; Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Supply Chain; and an Engineering Design Studio.

Funding: $5,561,000

University of Texas Health Science Center at SA

Center for Innovative Drug Discovery in Hepatic Steatosis (CIDD-HS)

This funding will support a project to provide laboratory equipment and instrumentation for the CIDD-HS to discover novel treatments for hepatic steatosis. By focusing on new treatments for hepatic steatosis, the CIDD-HS will also help prevent liver failure and liver cancer that arise from hepatic steatosis.

Funding: $1,000,000

University of Texas School of Public Health San Antonio

Renovation of the UT Health San Antonio and UTSA shared school for the University of Texas School of Public Health at San Antonio

This funding will support the renovation of an existing building for a new shared school between UT Health San Antonio and University of Texas San Antonio that will focus on expanding educational outreach and public health access to communities most in need.

Funding: $1,000,000

Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center

Guadalupe Latino Bookstore Education Outreach and Literacy Program

This funding will support the Guadalupe Latino Bookstore, a valuable new resource in the San Antonio community which provides space and new opportunities to offer expanded, expert-designed, culturally relevant, and locally situated bilingual programs to underscore literacy as a social practice and to support the educational advancement of local children and other Texas constituents.

Funding: $102,250

Centro Cultural Aztlan, Inc.

Chicano Arts Curriculum for K-12 Students

This funding will support Centro Cultural Aztlan’s work with artists, educators, historians, and cultural experts to develop a series of lesson plans with audio-visual resources and age-appropriate arts activities to engage K-12 students in learning about Chicano art, culture, and history.

Funding: $95,000

Small Business Support

LiftFund Inc.

SA West Small Business Support Program

This funding will provide LiftFund with capital and administrative support to make grants directly to small businesses to revitalize their business building infrastructure and for LiftFund to identify structures to be purchased for curating small business on the Westside of San Antonio.

Funding: $1,000,000

University of Texas at San Antonio

HUB Government Contracting Academy

This funding will support the HUB Government Contracting Academy, which offers business development, work history reviews and guidance, ongoing and consistent advising, and access to capital education and collaboration as solutions for HUBs to successfully win and complete government contracts.

Funding: $576,000

Transportation

San Antonio International Airport

Electric Shuttle Bus (eBus) Program at the Airport

This funding will allow for the purchase of three electronic passenger buses (eBus), associated chargers, and design and installation of chargers at the San Antonio International Airport’s Consolidated Rental Car Facility (CONRAC).

Funding: $1,500,000

The FY2022 Federal Appropriations Bill also includes billions of dollars in funding for nationwide initiatives that benefit San Antonio. Key funding and programs are highlighted below and a full summary of the bill can be found here.

Families and Communities

Provides $6 billion in funding for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) nutrition program to support needy families and maintain expanded access to fresh fruits and vegetables for post-partum mothers and young children.

Extends Medicaid coverage for children who are most at risk of losing care.

Expands workplace protections for lactating mothers to cover salaried employees and provide recourse against employers who break the law.

Public Safety and Violence Prevention

Provides $20.5 million for the Domestic Violence Hotline, an increase of $5 million from 2022.

Provides $109 million for the Drug-Free Communities Program, an increase of $3 million from 2022.

Provides $95 million for grants to improve the national firearms background check system.

Provides $45 million to prevent and combat hate crimes.

Provides $115 million to prevent recidivism by re-integrating ex-offenders into the workforce. This funding represents an increase of $13 million from 2022.

Education and Workforce Development

Raises the maximum Pell Grant by $500 to $7,395.

Provides $228 million for Hispanic Serving Institutions, an increase of $45 million from 2022.

Provides $285 million to fund registered apprenticeships, an increase of $50 million from 2022.

Provides $65 million to continue and expand Strengthening Community College Training Grants to help meet local and regional labor market demand for a skilled workforce by training to workers in in-demand industries at community colleges and four-year partners. This funding represents an increase of $15 million from 2022.

Housing

Expands housing choice vouchers to nearly 12,000 low-income individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness nationwide, including survivors of domestic violence and veterans. This increase comes in addition to the 25,000 new vouchers provided in fiscal year 2022.

Military families and veterans

Provides a 4.6 percent pay increase for servicemembers in addition to an 11 percent increase in the Basic Allowance for Housing and an 11 percent increase in the Basic Allowance for Subsistence.

Provides $210 million to reduce food prices at commissaries.

Provides $687 million in funding for school construction on military bases — the highest level of funding ever.

Provides additional funding to help military families cope with rising inflation, including $12.1 million for a basic needs allowance as a supplement to eligible servicemembers with dependents, a $23.5 million increase in the dislocation allowance to help offset personal expenses for change of station moves, and $164.2 million for temporary lodging expenses to expand coverage during change of station moves from 10 to 14 days.

Provides $5 billion in new mandatory funds for the Cost of War Toxic Exposures Fund, which supports costs related to implementing the Honoring Our PACT Act.

Eliminates co-pays for the first three mental health appointments that a veteran attends each year.

Small Business

Provides $1.2 billion for the Small Business Administration to support investments in programs to help underserved entrepreneurs access capital and contracting opportunities, including:

$140 million for Small Business Development Centers

$41 million for Microloan Technical Assistance

$30 million for the Federal and State Technology Partnership Program, Growth Accelerators, and Regional Innovation Clusters

$27 million for Women’s Business Centers

Provides $324 million for Community Development Financial Institutions for financial and technical assistance grants and awards to help struggling businesses in underserved communities, an increase of $29 million from 2022.

Provides $70 million for the Minority Business Development Agency to support minority-owned businesses, an increase of $15 million from 2022.

Immigration",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/president-biden-enacts-castro-authored-legislation-to-protect-fair-pay-for-military-and-foreign-service-spouses-,President Biden Enacts Castro-Authored Legislation to Protect Fair Pay for Military and Foreign Service Spouses,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Joaquin Castro,C001091,castro.house.gov,castro,https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, President Joseph R. Biden enacted the Civil Service Federal Employee Serving Overseas Pay Equity Act, legislation authored by Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) to ensure that military and foreign service spouses receive fair pay when teleworking for the federal government from overseas. The legislation is included in the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives on December 8, 2022, and the U.S. Senate on December 15, 2022.

“America’s military and foreign service families make extraordinary sacrifices for their country and Congress should do everything within our power to lessen their burden,” said Congressman Castro. “Every year, we lose too many of our best and brightest public servants because of the financial strains of overseas assignments. With the enactment of the Civil Service Federal Employee Serving Overseas Pay Equity Act, military and foreign service spouses will no longer be financially penalized for serving their country from abroad.”

Domestic federal civil service employees currently earn a base salary with a locality pay adjustment based on the cost of living of the location they are serving in. The adjustment begins at 16.2% for civil servants living in the lowest cost-of-living areas in the United States and can reach up to 42.74% for those living in the most expensive areas of the country. However, under current law, civil servants working abroad under the Domestic Employee Teleworking Overseas (DETO) arrangements (often military or foreign service spouses who receive permission to telework abroad when their spouse is stationed overseas) cannot receive locality pay, regardless of the cost of living in their telework location. Under the current DETO system, an entry-level human resources assistant making $36,488 in San Antonio, Texas would see their salary fall to $31,083 if they followed their spouse on an overseas assignment.

The strength of the DETO program also has a significant impact on the ability of the civil and foreign service to retain mid-career workers, who are often tenured employees with institutional knowledge. The sizable pay cuts faced by civil servants who move abroad can push them to leave federal service for the private sector or leave the workforce altogether, especially if they have children or dependents at home who need full or part-time care.

The Civil Service Federal Employee Serving Overseas Pay Equity Act would require members of the civil service under a DETO agreement to be paid the lower of either what they would have been paid in the United States or what a member of the Foreign Service at an equivalent level serving overseas is paid.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1112,Congresswoman Escobar Votes to Pass Consolidated Appropriations Act,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Veronica Escobar,E000299,escobar.house.gov,escobar,https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Congresswoman Veronica Escobar voted to pass the $1.7 trillion Consolidated Appropriations Act to invest in hardworking families, critical infrastructure, and local quality of life. The legislation, which incorporates critical priorities for El Paso championed by Congresswoman Escobar, includes 14 Community Funding Projects submitted by the Congresswoman that will bring $25,097,706 in funding directly back to El Paso. The Consolidated Appropriations Act will now head to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.

“Throughout the 117th Congress, my Democratic colleagues and I have worked hard to deliver for the American people. From passing legislation that will create good-paying jobs to fighting to lower healthcare costs, investing in infrastructure and manufacturing and so much more, we’ve achieved historic accomplishments and this year’s Consolidated Appropriations Act is no different,” said Congresswoman Escobar. “The wins for El Paso in our final funding bill are historic and reflect our community’s most pressing needs and our aspirational priorities. I am excited to see these dollars come into our community and our hard work continue to improve El Pasoans’ lives.”

In addition to the Community Funding Projects attained for El Paso, the Congresswoman also secured significant investments and policy improvements for the borderland, that include:

$800 million for a FEMA-administered Shelter and Services Program

Funding for this program will be available to non-federal entities like the City of El Paso and the County to help process arriving migrants and prevent overcrowding in short-term U.S. Customs Border Protections (CBP) facilities. These funds will ensure that migrants receive necessary services, have access to food and shelter, and that El Pasoans do not shoulder an unfair share of this process.

Congresswoman Escobar secured these funds after several conversations with House appropriators during which she was the sole advocate for El Paso, which has consistently offered food, shelter, and other services to migrant arrivals. This historic investment will go toward addressing the current migrant situation in El Paso and help with preparations for the eventual winddown of Title 42.

Designate the El Paso Community Healing Garden as a National Memorial

Congresswoman Escobar’s bill, H.R. 4380, the El Paso Community Healing Garden National Memorial Act, to designate the Community Healing Garden at Ascarate Park as a National Memorial was included in the final government funding legislation. The Community Healing Garden will now receive National Memorial status, recognizing the lives lost to domestic terrorism on August 3, 2019.

$550 million for the new El Paso VA Health Care Center

After bringing back $150 million to El Paso earlier this year for the concurrent design and early site development of the new El Paso VA Health Care Center, Congresswoman Escobar championed and included $550 million for the construction of the health care center.

$15 million for Infrastructure at Fort Bliss

This funding will be used to construct a new fire station for the William Beaumont Army Medical Center area, which currently does not have one nearby. This appropriation was included after Congresswoman Escobar also secured the complimentary authorization in the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act.

$2.5 million for the U.S. Mexico Border Health Commission

This increase of $500,000 above Fiscal Year 2022 will help the Commission execute and broaden its mission of promoting solutions unique to the Southern border over the next year.

Over $110 million for the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC)

This funding, which is an increase of nearly $8 million from Fiscal Year 2022, will be critical for the IBWC as it aims to continue working on issues vital to our community, like combatting drought on the Rio Grande, constructing new levees, maintaining existing dams, and more.

Funding for Additive Manufacturing in Future Vertical Lift and Low-Cost Missile Technology

These two requests, which provide $10 million for Additive Manufacturing in Future Vertical Lift and $10 million for Low-Cost Missile Technology, will allow America Makes to work closely with minority-serving institutions like University of Texas, El Paso (UTEP) to support our supply chain and create a diverse defense workforce.

$20 million for the U.S. Space Force’s University Partnership Program

This funding will help the Space Force continue to grow this program, which includes universities like UTEP, and allows them to continue to develop leadership, conduct research, and sponsor projects that supports the Department of Defense.

The Community Funding Projects awarded to TX-16 include:

$595,000 for El Paso Children’s Hospital Pediatric Mobile Clinic

This project would be used for the acquisition of a mobile medical vehicle and the ability to outfit it with technology and equipment necessary for a Mobile Pediatric Clinic. The Mobile Clinic will be able to provide both basic and specialty pediatric healthcare throughout El Paso County while targeting areas in the County that oftentimes lack access to pediatric care and medical resources. Additionally, the unit will provide clinical services, vaccinations, financial education and resources for parents, and education with school district nurses and teachers.

$1,750,000 for the El Paso International Airport Solar Covered Parking Project

This project designs and constructs a solar-covered parking facility located directly in front of the terminal in short-term parking. The 2.5-acre system is expected to generate 1.5MW of solar which will offset the 2.1MW consumed by the Terminal annually.

$2,000,000 for the El Paso ISD After-School Community Learning Centers: Broadening STEAM Learning Ecosystems

This funding will be used to bridge academic and equity gaps in the south side of El Paso by offering after-school enrichment centers focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM), literacy, social emotional development, and health and fitness. The goal of the program will be to positively impact the trajectories of at-risk students into STEAM careers through the establishment of after-school enrichment centers at south side campuses. The program will provide wraparound support that promotes academic excellence by focusing on character building, physical activity, and academic tutoring and enrichment. This program will engage students to increase attendance, improve academic performance, and reduce disciplinary referrals.

$500,000 for the Heritage Tourism Business Connection

This project launches a business retention and expansion effort for businesses along El Paso County’s historic Mission Trail, which stretches from the eastern edge of the City of El Paso, includes the City of Socorro, the San Elizario Historic District, and the Town of Tornillo. The program would provide training and counseling for entrepreneurs as well as skills development for employees to help bolster the tourism industry in El Paso County. Entrepreneurs targeted by the program would include small business owners situated along the Mission Trail corridor including heritage tourism and ecotourism operators.

$1,000,000 for the SAC 1 Sediment Detention Basin

This project constructs a 34-acre-foot desilting basin strategically placed to detain peak flows and sediment affecting the RV Channel (located south of the project site). The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in conjunction with El Paso Water, would construct a desilting basin that will detain peak flows and sediment affecting the RV Channel, street crossings, residential, commercial, and agricultural land. This project will also prevent erosion and collapse of downstream structures some of which have already been reconstructed due to failure caused by the accumulation of sediment and will protect the existing structures from future damage.

$3,000,000 for the TTUHCEP El Paso Border Health Center

This project would be used to target at-risk communities in the border region, leveraging community and clinical partners, to conduct early diagnosis and monitoring, as well as to provide telemedicine services and surveillance for obesity, diabetes, and cancer. With the equipment purchased for this project – including computers, equipment, and other health information technology devices for data storage and analysis –the center would be able to provide generational care to families in the region, particularly in the colonias, establish an electronic health records system, and conduct evidence-based diabetes and cancer research. This request will support a unique collaboration in the region between local physicians, nurses, biomedical researchers, public health researchers, promatoras, and students.

$1,925,000 for the town of Anthony, Texas Police Department, Municipal Court, and Emergency Shelter Facility

This project constructs a new police station, courthouse, and emergency community shelter facility. Currently, the police department and courthouse are housed in the same building as the town hall and other public services and do not have an emergency shelter. The current facility is too small to sustain all these essential services and building a new facility for the police department, courthouse, and an emergency community shelter complex will allow Anthony to keep up with the community’s growth, safety, and tourism.

$1,300,000 for the El Paso County Animal Welfare Pet Wellness Clinic

The funding renovates an existing property into an animal wellness clinic that will offer high-volume spay and neuter programs, as well as vaccinations and microchips to track responsible ownership. In El Paso County, there are few organizations that offer low to no-cost versions of these procedures and this project would directly address this issue.

$4,000,000 for the El Paso County Senior Meal and Community Kitchen

This project, which was requested by El Paso County and will be constructed with El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank, builds a full-scale community kitchen using an existing kitchen concept at the main food bank with the capacity to prepare, serve and deliver 10,000+ meals daily to elderly, disabled homebound, and youth populations as well as meet any emergent meal needs of the community during natural disasters or public health emergencies such as a pandemic. Once completed, the community kitchen along with other food bank services will serve as a teaching facility providing training and workforce development in culinary skills, warehousing, forklift operation, CDL driving and other vocational trades in coordination with the County of El Paso's Reentry/Transitional Center.

$1,735,000 for the Horizon City Transit-Oriented Development Phase 1

This project would be used for the initial design and environmental study of a Transit-Oriented Development in Horizon City. The Transit Oriented Development is intended to provide opportunities for Horizon City residents to live, work and play in a compact area. By creating this development, Horizon City intends to also strengthen its resiliency by diversifying its tax base and revenues. The transit plaza will serve as a hub for transit routes that will provide access to residents in the TOD area, as well as Horizon City as a whole, to educational facilities in east El Paso County and at the University of Texas at El Paso campus and the Rio Grande campus of El Paso Community College.

$2,442,706 for La Casa de los Abuelitos

This project constructs a new Abuelitos facility as a permanent home for El Paso’s elderly and frail homeless male population. The facility will be comprised of both transitional (shelter) and permanent beds and will specifically target homeless men who are harder to serve, those who are frail, in need of additional support services, and most at risk in a normal shelter setting. Utilizing a vacant lot at 150 Brown Street, this proposal involves the development of a new housing facility with 31 beds that will be designed to address the needs of a more elderly and frail population that will include ADA-compliant showers, restrooms, etc. The facility will also include a kitchen/dining area, office space, laundry room, and other essential components.

$750,000 for a Planning Study conducted by Texas A&M Transportation Institute, El Paso to Improve Land Border Crossing Transit and Pedestrian Connectivity to Business Districts in the El Paso Region for Equity, Accessibility and Economic Development

This project is for a planning study to improve land border crossing transit and pedestrian connectivity to business districts in the El Paso region. Land border crossings are a critical economic activity link for U.S. retail businesses and residents in their immediate surroundings and in the lower income neighborhoods they often connect to, as well as for businesses located elsewhere in the community. This study will complement existing community efforts by identifying specific improvements needed to connect transit and pedestrian traffic between the land border crossings with the highest pedestrian traffic and the business, medical and residential districts in their surroundings as well as other major points of attraction throughout the El Paso region.

$4,000,000 for Vinton Water and Wastewater Phase III

This project provides for the expansion of a looped water and sewer system with a wholesale supply of treated potable water and treatment of wastewater for the local business sector. The proposed system includes approximately 21,600 linear feet of 8-to-12-inch waterline, one master meter, 44 fire hydrants, and approximately 65 first-time commercial service connections. On the wastewater side, the system would include 13,980 linear feet of 8-inch sewer line and the decommissioning of 59 onsite sewage facilities. The implementation of adequate water and sewer infrastructure will address public safety and health concerns that include fire flow and environmental health.

$100,000 to conduct an Appraisal Study for Future Projects on the Franklin Canal

This project would have the Bureau of Reclamation, in conjunction with El Paso County Water District No. 1, conduct an appraisal of a 1-mile section of the Franklin Canal in Central El Paso, Texas.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4278,Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher’s Bipartisan Bill To Improve and Develop Pediatric Medical Devices Passes Congress,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Lizzie Fletcher,F000468,fletcher.house.gov,fletcher,https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher’s (TX-07) and Congressman Gus Bilirakis’ (FL-12) bipartisan bill to improve and develop pediatric medical devices by reauthorizing the Pediatric Device Consortia (PDC) grant program and allowing profits for certain Humanitarian Device Exemption (HDE) devices, passed the House of Representatives for a second time. The bill was included in a larger bill, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, which now heads to President Biden’s desk for signature.

“Our children deserve the same commitment to the development of life-saving and life-changing devices that we make to adults,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. “I am glad to have partnered with Congressman Bilirakis in this bipartisan effort to bring beneficial treatments and technologies to children across our country. I look forward to seeing President Biden sign this important legislation into law.”

In May, Congresswoman Fletcher introduced this legislation as H.R. 7679. The bill passed the Energy and Commerce Committee later that month and passed the House in June.

The PDC program funds five consortia throughout the United States. The Southwest National Pediatric Device Innovation Consortium (SWPDC) is anchored by Texas Children’s Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4279,"From Mental Health Care to Infrastructure, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Delivers for Texas’ Seventh Congressional District Priorities",2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Lizzie Fletcher,F000468,fletcher.house.gov,fletcher,https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) voted for the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, a bipartisan government funding bill that funds essential programs, addresses many of the challenges our country faces, and provides more than $31.1 million for fifteen local projects that Congresswoman Fletcher requested through the Community Funded Projects process. The legislation also includes Congresswoman Fletcher’s bipartisan bill to improve and develop pediatric medical devices, H.R. 7679, as well as a modified version of her bipartisan mental health bill, the Collaborate in an Orderly and Cohesive Manner (COCM) Act, H.R. 5218. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, now heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.

“Today, Congress fulfilled its constitutional responsibility to appropriate funds for the benefit of the people, including funds to keep our communities safe, improve public health, and grow our economy,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. “I am glad to announce that this bipartisan funding bill includes critical investments for our community and our country. In particular, the bill provides nearly $10 million for Harris County Flood Control’s improvement of Poor Farm Ditch’s water conveyance, support for Houston and Harris County public libraries, funding for a variety of programs—including domestic violence prevention programs and civic engagement programs for college students—and so much more. This legislation also includes a modified version of my bill to bring mental health care resources to primary care settings. I am proud of this legislation, which reflects many of the priorities TX-07 constituents have asked me to support and I look forward to seeing President Biden sign it into law.”

For TX-07, Congresswoman Fletcher secured the following Community Funded Projects:

$9.8 million for Harris County Flood Control District’s Poor Farm Ditch water conveyance channel restoration and construction;

$5 million for Houston Metro’s Westheimer BOOST bus stop improvements;

$3 million for Southwest Houston Redevelopment Authority’s Harwin Drive and Hillcroft Avenue intersection improvement project;

$2.5 million for the City of West University Place’s Milton Street waterline replacement;

$2.4 million for the City of Bellaire’s water and wastewater line replacement;

$2 million for the Houston Public Library’s digital literacy project for children and adolescents;

$1.4 million for Harris County Public Health’s Black Maternal and Child Health Pilot Program;

$1 million for Harris County Public Health’s Accessing Coordinated Care and Empowering Self Sufficiency (ACCESS) integrated care-coordination model;

$1 million for Houston Police Department’s Mobile Community Storefront Program;

$750,000 for St. George Place Redevelopment Authority’s East and West Greenridge intersection safety project;

$741,000 for the City of Southside Place’s Auden Street drainage improvement project;

$600,000 for the City of Bellaire’s Evergreen Accessible and Inclusive Playground;

$578,000 for Harris County Public Library’s Project GRAD, for college and career guidance programs;

$139,212 for Harris County Public Library’s library lockers for Texas’ Seventh Congressional District; and

$100,000 for Harris County Sheriff’s Office’s virtual reality training equipment.

In July, six of these fifteen projects passed the House. More detail on all fifteen of these projects can be found here.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 includes Congresswoman Fletcher’s bipartisan bill to improve and develop pediatric medical devices by reauthorizing the Pediatric Device Consortia (PDC) grant program and allowing profits for certain Humanitarian Device Exemption (HDE) devices.

It also includes a version of the Congresswoman’s COCM Act, which initially passed the House in June, and will allow states to partner with primary care practices through a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant program to implement integrated models of care, including the collaborative care model (CoCM). The bill will also ensure that SAMHSA allocates 10 percent of grant funds from this program to practices implementing the CoCM.

More broadly, this omnibus appropriations bill provides:

Energy and Water Infrastructure

$10.6 billion for Army Corps of Engineers water infrastructure projects;

$15.3 billion for the research, development, demonstration, and deployment of clean energy and secure, domestic energy supply chains;

Transportation and Infrastructure

$803 million for the Federal Highway Administration to reimburse states for damage from natural disasters to roads and bridges in the National Highway System;

$213.9 million for the Federal Transit Administration to support public transit systems impacted by natural disasters;

$3 billion for the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program for the long-term housing, infrastructure, and economic recovery needs for areas impacted by a natural disaster;

$800 million for the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity Grant Program, which directs the Department of Transportation to invest in a variety of transportation modes, like transit, passenger rail, bicycle and pedestrian, and multimodal projects;

Health Care

$502 million for the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline;

$3.5 billion for the Food and Drug Administration to address medical supply chain issues;

Commerce and Justice

$4.4 billion in grants for state and local law enforcement;

$700 million for Violence Against Women Act prevention and prosecution programs to prevent domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking while improving access to essential support services such as health care and safe housing for all survivors;

$560 million for the Legal Services Corporation to help expand the availability of free legal aid for underserved communities;

$45 million in grant funding to prevent and respond to hate crimes;

Voting Rights

$75 million for election security grants to augment state efforts to improve the security and integrity of federal elections; and

$1 million for the Help America Vote College Program.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://veasey.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-veasey-secures-over-30-million-in-funding-for-north-texas-priorities,Rep. Veasey Secures Over $30 Million in Funding for North Texas Priorities in Government Funding Bill,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Marc A. Veasey,V000131,veasey.house.gov,veasey,https://veasey.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON - Today, Representative Veasey voted to pass the historic Fiscal Year 2023 government funding legislation that delivers historic investments in American families and workers – while strengthening Democracy at home and abroad. The legislation includes $30,478,385 in Community Project Funding that Veasey secured to directly respond to the pressing needs of North Texas.

""I am proud to vote for a bipartisan government bill that delivers for our nation's families and includes $30 million in key funding that I secured to address long overdue community needs for North Texas,"" said Rep. Veasey. ""The investments will make a real difference in North Texas that will foster economic development, improve our infrastructure, bolster access to health care, and so much more. I am proud to have fought for funding that will make better communities across North Texas.""

Rep. Veasey championed funding for 15 projects that will directly benefit North Texas residents. These include:

$2,250,000 for the Center for Transforming Lives' Riverside Early Childhood Education Economic Mobility Center

$2,400,000 for the City of Arlington – Neighborhood Wi-Fi

$1,000,000 for the City of Dallas – Hensley Field Shoreline Modification

$750,000 for the City of Irving - Southwest Park Renovation Project

$500,000 for the Dallas College, Dallas, TX for a teaching residency apprenticeship program

$2,000,000 for the DART Fuel System Modernization Project

$1,000,000 for the Emergency Department Renovation and Expansion Request for Medical Equipment

$4,000,000 for the Hughes House Public Infrastructure Improvements

$7,750,000 for the Southern Gateway Park

$1,439,695 for the Texas Wesleyan University, Fort Worth, TX for STEM education programs, including lab equipment

$4,000,000 for the Transform 1012 N. Main Street professional services and expenses for the design phase, Fort Worth, Texas, Tarrant County

$750,000 for the United Way of Tarrant County - Mission United

$750,000 for the United Way of Tarrant County Workforce Development

$400,000 for the United Way of Tarrant County-Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA).

$1,488,690 for the William M. McDonald YMCA Covered Outdoor Gymnasium Space",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4277,Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher’s Bill To Help Disabled Veterans Access Vehicles Passes Congress,2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Lizzie Fletcher,F000468,fletcher.house.gov,fletcher,https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher’s (TX-07) and House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mark Takano’s (CA-41) Advancing Uniform Transportation Opportunities (AUTO) for Veterans Act, passed the House of Representatives for a second time, following minor modifications in the Senate. The AUTO for Veterans Act expands the eligibility for disabled veterans to obtain vehicles modified for their disabilities. The bill was included in a larger bill, H.R. 7939, which now heads to President Biden’s desk for signature.

“In Houston and in communities across the country, cars are essential transportation,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. “I am glad to have led this bill with Chairman Takano to ensure veterans can access safe and comfortable vehicles that are adapted to their needs, and so that their ability to get places is not impeded. I look forward to seeing President Biden sign this important legislation into law.”

Currently, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has a program that provides service-connected disabled veterans with a one-time payment to adapt their vehicle for their medical needs if their disability prevents them from driving. To adapt for the limited life cycles of vehicles, the AUTO for Veterans Act:

Authorizes the VA to provide, or assist in providing, an additional automobile to an eligible person if 25 years have elapsed since the date the eligible person received the previous automobile;

10 years after enactment of the act, authorizes the VA to provide an eligible person with an additional vehicle if 10 years have elapsed since they received their previously covered vehicle and ten years have elapsed since the bill’s enactment; and

Expands the definition of “medical services” to include certain vehicle modifications.

Congresswoman Fletcher and Chairman Takano introduced the AUTO for Veterans Act in May 2021. In September, the bill passed the House as H.R. 3304. The Senate then amended the bill and returned it to the House as part of H.R. 7939 for final passage. It now heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.

The AUTO for Veterans Act is endorsed by Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases/houston-post-office-be-named-honor-benny-c-martinez-passes-senate-headed,"HOUSTON POST OFFICE TO BE NAMED IN HONOR OF BENNY C. MARTINEZ PASSES THE SENATE, HEADED TO PRESIDENT BIDEN’S DESK FOR SIGNATURE",2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Sylvia R. Garcia,G000587,sylviagarcia.house.gov,sylviagarcia,https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – A bill Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) championed to rename the post office on Broadway Street after Texas legend Benny C. Martinez passed the Senate, and now heading to President Biden's desk for signature. This is the first postal service office named after a Latino in the Houston area. Martinez was a prominent community leader who worked as a Harris County nurse for 30 years and 5 years as Deputy Sheriff, served the Houston area through countless organizations and advocacy groups, and was a U.S. Army veteran.

""Benny was a well-loved figure across Texas and the Houston area who spent his life in service to the people,"" said Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia. ""He was extremely active within LULAC and helped arrange a meeting between President John F. Kennedy and LULAC in 1963 – which was the first time a U.S. President gathered a Latino organization. The naming of this post office will provide residents with a place to honor and remember Benny C. Martinez's legacy.""

""Naming a U.S. Post Office after my father, Benny Martinez is a true testament to his legacy,"" said Benny C. Martinez's daughter, Loretta Martinez William. ""My father was a hard-working volunteer and served the community through many organizations. He often would be finishing up a volunteer project and would be thinking of the next one. He was also a veteran who proudly served his country. He had the honor to receive numerous awards for his volunteerism. His favorite organization was LULAC, and his greatest honor was when he received LULAC Man of the Year for the Nation. He is quoted as saying a ‘volunteer is a hero, and a hero is a volunteer.' My father is a role model that young people can emulate. I thank Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, and her staff for their efforts, and all the support from the elected officials.""

""Benny Martinez was and will always be remembered as a tireless champion for his community and dedicated to serving the underserved,"" said LULAC National President Domingo Garcia. He was committed to the power of education and called knowledge the most important tool for freedom and equality in America. He was a devoted civic leader who advocated for access to the vote as the greatest voice for Hispanics in Texas and across our country. Most importantly, his integrity, character, and passion for truth were lifelong, non-negotiable values that earned him respect from all who knew him. LULAC is richer and truer to its mission because of Benny Martinez.""

The post office being named in honor of Benny C. Martinez is located at 4020 Broadway Street in Houston, Texas, 77087.

###

Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2018, becoming the first Latina ever to represent the Texas 29th Congressional District. She serves on the House Judiciary, Financial Services, and Armed Services Committees.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-al-green-attends-ukrainian-president-zelenskyys-address-joint,Congressman Al Green Attends Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s Address to Joint Session of Congress,2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Al Green,G000553,algreen.house.gov,algreen,https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(Houston, TX) — On Wednesday, December 21, 2022 Congressman Al Green attended the joint session of Congress and released the following statement:

“For nearly one year, the Ukrainian people have displayed courageous fortitude in the face of overwhelming adversity. During that time, realizing freedom is not free, America has extended the hand of friendship by providing humanitarian aid, economic assistance, and defense support. Hence, it is with great respect that I welcome President Zelenskyy’s message of victory through unity. As Ukraine continues forging forward in the battle for freedom, it is imperative that the U.S. not cease its support now or lose faith in the resolve of the Ukrainian people who are fighting to maintain a world order wherein disputes are not escalated to war. Either we will stand together fearlessly against Russian aggression in Ukraine or live separately in fear of Russian aggression everywhere.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4264,Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher’s Bipartisan Bill To Expedite Certain Disaster Recovery Projects Passes Congress,2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Lizzie Fletcher,F000468,fletcher.house.gov,fletcher,https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher’s (TX-07) Hazard Eligibility and Local Projects (HELP) Act, H.R. 1917, which eliminates unnecessary bureaucratic delays to starting recovery projects by allowing certain eligible disaster mitigation projects to begin without the risk of losing potential federal funds, passed the House of Representatives for a second time, following minor modifications in the Senate. The HELP Act now heads to President Biden’s desk for signature.

“The HELP Act is the very first original bill I introduced in Congress, based on the hard lessons we learned in Houston after Hurricane Harvey,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. “I am thrilled to see this bill head to the President’s desk for signature after four years of advocating for these common-sense and important modifications to the disaster recovery process. I am so proud of this bill and all it represents—bipartisan, common-sense, meaningful legislation that was born out of a partnership with Houstonians that will benefit all Americans. I am grateful to my partners in the House and Senate for their work to make this improvement to the disaster recovery process, and I look forward to seeing President Biden sign the bill into law.”

The HELP Act is the first original bill Congresswoman Fletcher filed as a Member of Congress. It allows certain disaster mitigation and recovery projects to begin more quickly without jeopardizing potential federal funding. The House passed the bill in the 116th Congress, but the Senate did not move the bill forward. Congresswoman Fletcher re-introduced the legislation in the 117th Congress, and in November of last year, the House passed the bill. The Senate then amended the bill and returned it to the House for final passage. It now heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases/houston-post-office-be-named-honor-vanessa-guill-n-passes-house-it-s-now,"Bill to Name Houston Post Office to in Honor of Vanessa Guillén Passes the House, Headed to President Biden’s Desk for Signature",2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Sylvia R. Garcia,G000587,sylviagarcia.house.gov,sylviagarcia,https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington D.C. – Today, a bill championed by Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) to rename the post office on Galveston Road in Houston after her constituent, US Army Specialist Vanessa Guillén, passed the House and is now heading to President Biden's desk for signature. The brutal murder of Vanessa at the hands of another soldier sparked a national movement across the country – leading to historic military justice reform that moved sexual assault and harassment investigations outside of the military's chain of command.

""This local post office building will soon provide Houston area residents with another special way to remember our local hero SPC Vanessa Guillén in our everyday lives,"" said Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia. ""Vanessa was a strong and ambitious young woman who was taken from her family and Houston much too soon. However, because of her, countless veterans and service members can live without fear. I hope this post office renaming brings some comfort to Vanessa's family and loved ones.""

""It is an honor to have the post office named on behalf of our loved one, Vanessa Guillén. It will remind the Houston community of her memory and legacy,"" said the Guillén family. ""Thank you, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, for all the hard work and dedication to our family. We are very honored and joyful to see this second bill in her name as it shows how important Vanessa's life is as her only desire was to serve and protect our country, unfortunately, her life was taken but we know her legacy will live on forever. A big thank you to all Congress members that continue to support us. May God bless.""

The bill renames the postal office, located at 5302 Galveston Road, in Houston, Texas, as the Vanessa Guillén Post Office Building. This post office is only a few blocks away from César Chávez High School – which is where she graduated from high school before enlisting in the United States Army.

###

Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2018, becoming the first Latina ever to represent the Texas 29th Congressional District. She serves on the House Judiciary, Financial Services, and Armed Services Committees.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://doggett.house.gov/media/press-releases/five-years-later-statement-report-trump-taxes,Five Years Later: Statement on Report on Trump Taxes,2022-12-20,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Lloyd Doggett,D000399,doggett.house.gov,doggett,https://doggett.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Contact: Kate Stotesbery

202-494-4620

Washington, D.C. – This evening, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee who has been pressing since February 2017 for Trump’s taxes, released this statement:

“Donald Trump had big deductions, big credits, and big losses—but seldom a big tax bill. Almost five years since my first motion to obtain Trump’s tax returns, some of them will soon be public. The success of our inquiry underscores the failure of Trump’s IRS to hold him accountable by failing to initiate timely, thorough Presidential audits—none of which have yet been completed. Trump claimed tens of millions of dollars in losses and credits without the type of substantiation an ordinary taxpayer would likely provide.

Many questions about foreign entanglements and conflicts remain unanswered and unknown, since the Committee inquiry was a narrow window into a narrow period of time, looking at only eight of about 500 Trump business entities for a period of only six years. Nor was the Committee able to speak with any IRS auditor. Many apparently unquestioned aspects of Trump’s returns show the need both for new Presidential audit legislation and a fairer tax system.

Though this is a very narrow glimpse at the ex-President’s claimed finances for a few moments in time, this inquiry has unearthed many questions about how someone who claimed to be so rich can avoid so many taxes and about how the IRS could fail to initiate an audit for so long.”

###

Follow Congressman Doggett",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-gonzalez-reacts-title-42-staying-place-calls-congress-and-president,"Congressman Gonzalez reacts to Title 42 staying in place, calls on Congress and President Biden to address immigration",2022-12-20,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Vicente Gonzalez,G000581,gonzalez.house.gov,gonzalez,https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"McAllen, Texas – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) released the following statement after the Supreme Court of the United States issued a stay of Title 42:

""While I am relieved to see Title 42 stay in place, we are still facing a problem at our southern border unlike any in modern history. We need comprehensive, common sense and long-term solutions to solve these issues while ensuring the humane treatment of migrants, expelling criminals, and ensuring the health and safety of Americans.

""Republicans and Democrats need to stop pointing fingers and playing politics with people's lives and actually solve these problems. Real solutions to this crisis are adequately funding Border Patrol, hiring more immigration judges, funding our immigration courts, and effectively processing asylum claims. My bill, the Safe Zones Act, will allow migrants to apply for asylum closer to their country of origin. This will the relieve the pressure on our southern border and will also take the cartel element out of the equation.

""We need to address the root causes and meet the immediate needs of this crisis. I will continue working with the Biden Administration and my Congressional colleagues to get this done.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://doggett.house.gov/media/press-releases/statement-january-6-panels-findings-referrals-charges-insurrectionist-former,"Statement on January 6 Panel’s Findings, Referrals of Charges for Insurrectionist Former President",2022-12-19,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Lloyd Doggett,D000399,doggett.house.gov,doggett,https://doggett.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Contact: Kate Stotesbery

202-494-4620

Washington, D.C. – Today, after The United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack released the executive summary of its final report and referred criminal charges against Donald Trump to the Justice Department, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) released the following statement:

“This was so much more than a single day’s deadly, destructive riot. Like other insurrectionists already convicted of seditious conspiracy, Trump attempted to overthrow the government—to throw a dagger in the heart of our democracy.

To cling to power, he has been willing to abandon democracy and terminate our Constitution. Like any other criminal, he must be held accountable, despite the many Republicans who have remained so soft on such corrosive crime.”

He added: “The Committee has done an outstanding job in fulfilling its responsibilities, despite the many ways that Trump and House Republican members have tried to subvert it.”

###

Follow Congressman Doggett",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-al-green-proud-have-voted-ike-dike-authorization,Congressman Al Green Proud to Have Voted for Ike Dike Authorization,2022-12-16,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Al Green,G000553,algreen.house.gov,algreen,https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(Houston, TX) – On Friday, December 16, 2022, Congressman Al Green released the following statement:

“I am proud to have voted in favor of the National Defense Authorization Act which authorizes approximately $21 billion for the construction of the Ike Dike. This project once completed will consist of a series of flood walls and storm surge gates designed to protect Galveston and the Greater Houston area from deadly flooding,” Congressman Al Green said.

“The effects of climate change are making cities such as Houston and Galveston increasingly susceptible to the dangers associated with rising sea levels and heightened natural disasters. As such, it is imperative that we do all we can to mitigate these threats, which include substantial, innovative solutions such as the Ike Dike. I pledge to continue advocating for the Ike Dike until it receives full appropriations. I thank all my colleagues who supported this bill and look forward to continuing to address the threat of climate change through future mitigation efforts.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4253,Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Announces Congressional App Challenge Winner for Texas’ Seventh Congressional District,2022-12-16,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Lizzie Fletcher,F000468,fletcher.house.gov,fletcher,https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) announced Ifedolapo Shiloh Olotu as the winner of the 2022 Congressional App Challenge. Ifedolapo’s app, ZoomRead, is designed to help improve reading speed and comprehension.

“I am so impressed with the creative talents of our young neighbors,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. “Ifedolapo’s ZoomRead app is a creative and important contribution to improving the reading skills of our community members. His enthusiasm and resourcefulness are so inspiring. I congratulate him on this accomplishment and look forward to seeing what he does next!”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1110,Congresswoman Escobar Announces FEMA Reimbursements to the City and County of El Paso,2022-12-15,2022,2022-12,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) shared with the community the level of unprecedented effort by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in collaboration with her office to reimburse the City of El Paso and El Paso County for costs related to migrant arrivals.

“We should all be incredibly grateful to Biden Administration, FEMA and its coordinators for their extraordinary efforts to support our community,” said Congresswoman Escobar.“The agency has been responding to this humanitarian crisis created by western hemispheric unrest and decades of congressional inaction on immigration reform. Not only have El Paso’s requests been met with diligent consideration, but subsequent to my conversations this weekend with Secretary Mayorkas and FEMA leadership, they have also been further expedited on our behalf.

“I am proud to have facilitated the administration’s prioritization of our community, which has resulted in an additional $6 million in advanced payment for the City for this quarter and look forward to my continued partnership with the Administration, FEMA, and community stakeholders.

“My team and I are currently working with the House Appropriations Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro and her staff on other solutions and funding opportunities through the FY23 Omnibus being crafted now that will augment the work happening at the local level and provide the financial support needed as well. I remain committed to securing the resources our community needs and ask that all local stakeholders enhance their collaboration. FEMA has asked for a consolidated effort. I shared this request with stakeholders over the weekend and encourage this approach going forward. We need to ensure that we are efficient with these funds and are maximizing their use through closer collaboration.

“I am grateful to the County, City, Annunciation House, the Diocese of El Paso, our federal personnel on the ground, and every person in our community who is stepping up to help those in need. While this is an overwhelming time, and more challenges definitely lie ahead, it’s important that we continue to focus on solutions and lead strategically, with the dignity and good will El Paso has always been known for.”

Thanks to the leadership of Congresswoman Escobar and FEMA:

City of El Paso:

Full reimbursements for Quarters 1 and 2 have been fully paid.

Over $3,750,000 has been approved by FEMA for the City’s reimbursement for Quarter 3, their largest expense of the year for migrant arrivals. The remaining balance is making its way through the approval process and is also being expedited.

An additional $6 million in upfront funding for the current quarter, expected in the coming days and weeks. With the prior $2 million advance, this is a total of $8 million dollars in upfront funding for the City of El Paso.

County of El Paso:

$6 million in up-front funding was secured for a migrant processing center.

The County requested assistance for an extension for Q4, which was granted for an additional quarter.

$1.38 million secured for Q1 in 2023.

Congresswoman Escobar has been tirelessly working to propose solutions to the challenges at out southern border. Below is a (non-comprehensive) list of the legislative reforms she has proposed and the work she has been doing for El Paso:

Statement on Safe Migrant Releases (September 2022)

Hosting White House Homeland Security Advisor Dr. Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall in El Paso (May 2022)

Statement on Biden Administration’s Proposed Changes to Asylum Proceedings (March 2022)

Legislation Proposed to Establish a 21st Century Asylum Process (October 2021)",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://veasey.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-veasey-tx-33-statement-on-manslaughter-conviction-of-aaron,Congressman Veasey (TX-33) Statement on Manslaughter Conviction of Aaron Dean in Atatiana Jefferson Murder Trial,2022-12-15,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Marc A. Veasey,V000131,veasey.house.gov,veasey,https://veasey.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Congressman Veasey (TX-33) released the following statement after former Fort Worth police officer Aaron Dean was convicted of manslaughter in the trial of Atatiana Jefferson:

""Today's guilty verdict is one small step to delivering justice for Atatiana Jefferson and her family. While this verdict means the officer who killed Atatiana will finally be held accountable for his actions, it will never give Atatiana her life back or return her to her family.""

""This verdict underscores the important work that needs to be done locally and nationally to ensure a tragedy like this one does not happen again. Going forward, the Tarrant County District Attorney must thoroughly and properly investigate cases like this and fight hard enough for fair jury representation. It's time for the city of Fort Worth to create a civilian police review board that boosts transparency and accountability.""

""The Senate must also finally pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act that we in the U.S. House of Representatives have already passed multiple times. I proudly supported this critical legislation that addresses racial bias and increases accountability within police departments to build trust between law enforcement and the communities like the ones in Fort Worth.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/castro-torres-sires-lead-introduction-of-armas-act-to-stem-gun-trafficking-to-latin-america-and-caribbean,"Castro, Torres, Sires Lead Introduction of ARMAS Act to Stem Gun Trafficking to Latin America and Caribbean",2022-12-14,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Joaquin Castro,C001091,castro.house.gov,castro,https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Representatives Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Norma Torres (CA-35), Albio Sires (NJ-08), Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03), Nanette Barragán (CA-44) Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), and Ilhan Omar (MN-05) introduced the Americas Regional Monitoring of Arms Sales (ARMAS) Act, legislation that seeks to disrupt firearm trafficking from the United States to Latin America and the Caribbean by implementing stronger transparency, accountability, and oversight mechanisms for U.S. small arms exports.

“As the United States works with our neighbors to tackle the root causes of migration, we need to address the ways that our own practices are contributing to instability and violence in the Western Hemisphere,” said Congressman Castro, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact. “The ARMAS Act would marshal a comprehensive federal strategy to disrupt arms trafficking, restore Congressional oversight over small arms exports and prevent legitimate security assistance from being diverted to criminal groups. I thank Reps. Torres, Sires, Grijalva, Barragán, Espaillat, and Omar for partnering with me on this bill, and I look forward to building bipartisan support for this important step forward for regional security.”

“We must do everything we can to prevent guns from falling into the wrong hands, and the ARMAS Act will help keep people across the Western Hemisphere safe by implementing an all-of-government approach to stop the trafficking of deadly firearms. With this bill, we can bolster both America’s national security and the security of all our neighbors in the Americas, and I am proud that oversight measures I have previously championed are included in this legislation to take on gun violence across the region,” said Congresswoman Torres.

“Violence and insecurity continue to drive migration to the United States. If we fail to implement strict monitoring and take responsibility for the illicit use of American exported weapons, the result will be more of the same.” said Congressman Sires, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Civilian Security, Migration, and International Economic Policy. “This legislation will allow Congress, the Administration, and our regional partners to identify and shore up critical vulnerabilities to prevent arms from falling into the wrong hands, while protecting crucial security assistance programs from corruption and abuse. I’m proud to join my colleagues in support of the rule of law and human rights in the Western Hemisphere.”

""Gun violence is not only an American epidemic, but one that spans borders. Part of acknowledging the role that the United States plays in cross-border gun trafficking and subsequent violence, is building better systems for transparency, interagency collaboration, and regulation. I'm proud to join this effort led by Rep. Castro to help address this issue that has huge implications for my district, our nation and our global allies,"" said Congressman Grijalva.

“The ARMAS Act is a necessary, comprehensive step in tackling firearms trafficking across the Western Hemisphere,” said Congressman Espaillat. “In finding tangible solutions to gun violence, we must acknowledge that the movement of these deadly weapons spans the entire region, and as such must enact a holistic, federal approach that promotes collaboration and common-sense oversight to protect not only our communities here in the United States, but our friends across Latin America and the Caribbean. This is a matter of international cooperation, humanitarian values, and our own national security, and I am proud to stand with my colleagues in Congress in supporting this legislation.”

“Illicit firearms smuggled into Mexico and Central America from the U.S. have contributed to the rise of violence and migration in the region.” said Congresswoman Barragán. “This legislation creates a pathway to address this problem. By ensuring the U.S. can properly monitor exported firearms, we can combat the illegal transfer of our exported firearms to unauthorized users and help to prevent surges of violence in areas such as Mexico, the Northern Triangle, countries of Central America, and the Caribbean.”

“If we are serious about tackling the humanitarian crisis that migrants from Latin America face—both in their home countries and at our own border—we must address the root causes of the crisis. That’s why I am proud to help lead this effort to tackle illegal arms trafficking to Latin America and the Caribbean and ensure that weapons from the United States do not end up in the hands of criminal groups. Arms originating from our country account for nearly three quarters of weapons recovered from Mexico and the Dominican Republic. I hope anyone who cares about human rights, immigration and public safety will join this effort,” said Congresswoman Omar.

In recent years, insufficient end-use monitoring and accountability mechanisms have allowed a significant number of U.S.-origin weapons to be illegally diverted for illicit use across the Western Hemisphere. According to data from the Government Accountability Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, U.S.-sourced weapons accounted for 75 percent of traced firearms recovered from the Dominican Republic and 70 percent from Mexico.

In September 2022, Representatives Castro and Torres and Senators Elizabeth Warren and Chris Murphy sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, expressing serious concerns about the Commerce Department’s process for approving export licenses for U.S.-made weapons and high-capacity magazines. The ARMAS Act seeks to address concerns expressed in the letter while increasing Congressional safeguards over arms exports.

Specifically, the ARMAS Act would:

Require the development of a comprehensive interagency strategy, led by the State and Commerce Departments, to disrupt trafficking and diversion of firearms exported from the United States.

Provide Congressional notification and blocking of certain small arms exports regulated by the Department of Commerce, consistent with safeguards that were in place when the same items were regulated by the Department of State.

Require the submission of a report that will allow Congress to understand the challenges and successes of current efforts to address illegal arms trafficking and inform future strategies.

For “covered countries” (initially Bahamas, Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Haiti, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago), the Commerce Department would report more detailed information on export licenses, granting Congress greater data to understand the effect of current regulations.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-castro-congressional-hispanic-caucuss-latino-film-nomination-included-in-national-film-registry,"Rep. Castro, Congressional Hispanic Caucus’s Latino Film Nomination Included in National Film Registry",2022-12-14,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Joaquin Castro,C001091,castro.house.gov,castro,https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Raul Ruiz (CA-36) celebrated the inclusion of Cyrano de Bergerac (1950) and The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez (1982) in the Library of Congress’s National Film Registry. The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez was one of 25 films nominated for Registry inclusion by the CHC as part of the caucus’s ongoing effort to highlight Latino contributions to American media and entertainment. Last year, under Congressman Castro’s chairmanship, the CHC successfully nominated the 1997 biographical film “Selena” to the National Film Registry.

“Despite Latinos being underrepresented for generations in Hollywood, our community has left a mark on our national film culture,” said Congressman Castro. “By including Cyrano de Bergerac and CHC-nominated The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez in the National Film Registry, the Library of Congress has taken a critical step to preserve the work of Latino actors and industry creatives. For years, I’ve worked with my colleagues in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and advocates like Brenda Castillo, Rafael Agustín, and Charles Ramirez Berg to enshrine Latino contributions in our nation’s cultural heritage, and I look forward to our continued work to uplift diverse Latino stories.”

The National Film Registry is the nation’s preeminent archive of films. Established by the National Film Preservation Act, the Registry is intended to maintain and preserve works of films deemed culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant to life in the United States. On an annual basis, the National Film Preservation Board selects 25 films to add to the registry and preserve in the Library of Congress. The registry currently contains 850 works, of which just 25 (2.9%) are classified by the Library of Congress as connected to the Latino community.

The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez (1982)

The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez is a retelling of the true story of a Mexican farmer turned outlaw folk hero in turn-of-the-century South Texas. In 1988, lead actor Edward James Olmos became the first Mexican American to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in ‘Stand and Deliver’ (1988).

Cyrano de Bergerac (1950)",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1109,Congresswoman Escobar Statement on Governor Abbott’s Calls to Investigate Non-Governmental Organizations in El Paso,2022-12-14,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Veronica Escobar,E000299,escobar.house.gov,escobar,https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) released the following statement in response to Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s calls to investigate non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in El Paso aiding with migrant arrivals a day after the Governor reinstated his economically disastrous DPS port inspections:

“The significant number of migrants arriving at our southern border, which undoubtedly places great stress on communities like El Paso, should be an opportunity for leaders to engage with collaboration and humanity. Governor Abbott’s decision to investigate NGOs that are providing humanitarian care for migrants is shameful and intended to intimidate and instill fear in non-profit and faith-based organizations that exemplify the values we should all aspire to.

“Most border NGOs that work tirelessly on the border help provide temporary shelter, food and hospitality to migrants, most of whom will be awaiting adjudication of their asylum claims with sponsors they have in different parts of the country. They have been doing this work for decades and deserve our praise, not persecution.

“Many of the migrants arriving at our border have been exploited or targeted by criminal organizations along their journey, and while the large numbers are presenting a challenge for all of us, we can and should rise to the occasion without sacrificing our values. It’s important that all of us, especially during the holiday season, remember the values at the heart of our faith. My faith taught me that whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me.

“In Congress, I have been working to address the unprecedented financial strain felt by our community, and I’m grateful for the financial support we’ve received from FEMA and the Biden Administration. I’ve spoken with House Appropriations Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro just this week and had conversations with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about additional support and creative solutions. And I continue to call on my colleagues in Congress to pass legislation that will help address a situation that has been decades in the making.

“For some it’s easier to simply be a critic – or worse yet, a malign force – and a lot harder to be a collaborator. Moments like this call on us to be problem solvers, and I’d encourage the Governor to put his partisan stunts aside and provide meaningful support to the communities he represents.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-gonzalez-announces-nominees-us-service-academies,CONGRESSMAN GONZALEZ ANNOUNCES NOMINEES TO U.S. SERVICE ACADEMIES,2022-12-14,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Vicente Gonzalez,G000581,gonzalez.house.gov,gonzalez,https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) announced the 8 students in the 15thDistrict of Texas who have received nominations to attend the U.S. Service Academies. These academies include U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y. (West Point); U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.; U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.; and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y.

""It is with immense honor that I nominate this amazing group of young South Texans,"" stated Congressman Gonzalez. ""These exemplary students are taking the first step on the path to becoming leaders and I am honored to have a hand in their journey. These young leaders, in more ways than one, embody the values that our military instills in our service members as well as what makes South Texas a great place: humility, leadership, loyalty, and a strong work ethic.""

The nominated students are as follows:

· Freddy Ceciliano of McAllen nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy

· Aditya Nair of Edinburg from South Texas ISD Science Academy nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy

· Madeline Seebeck of New Braunfels from St. John Paul Catholic High School nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy

· Gio Luigi Gianan of Cibolo from Byron P Steele II High School nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy

· Ximena Falcon Meza of Edinburg from Edinburg High School nominated to the U.S. Military Academy (West Point)

· Levi Ferrell of Cibolo from Byron P. Steel II High School nominated to the U.S. Military Academy (West Point)

· Jason Trang Nguyen of McAllen from McAllen Memorial High School nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy

· Jessica Sherman of Cibolo from Byron P. Steel II High School nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy

Applicants need to be of appropriate age, have an aptitude for leadership, and possess the commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation. Interested students can apply for a congressional nomination to one of these academies by visiting gonzalez.house.gov/services/military-academy-nominations.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-sylvia-garcia-celebrates-confirmation-alamdar-hamdani-us-attorney,CONGRESSWOMAN SYLVIA GARCIA CELEBRATES CONFIRMATION OF ALAMDAR HAMDANI AS U.S. ATTORNEY FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS,2022-12-14,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Sylvia R. Garcia,G000587,sylviagarcia.house.gov,sylviagarcia,https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) extended her congratulations to Alamdar Hamdani on being recently confirmed as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas by the U.S. Senate.

""With Alamdar Hamdani for the Southern District, the U.S. Senate has confirmed an honorable public servant who reflects America's diversity and history of excellence,"" said Congresswoman Garcia. ""A University of Houston Law graduate, his track record of transparency and accountability as a law enforcement professional with the Houston U.S. attorney's office is impeccable. I look forward to the remarkable impact Hamdani will now bring as the top federal law enforcement officer in southeast Texas.""

""Having spent significant time getting to know Mr. Alamdar Hamdani during the nomination process, I've seen how committed he truly is to equal justice under the law for all,"" said Roland Garcia, Past President of the Houston Bar Association, Shareholder at Greenberg Traurig. ""­Hamdani will protect our principles of due process and serve the public well.""

""With Alamdar Hamdani as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, our region will be served by a standout professional who embodies Houston's diversity and commitment to the law,"" said Nishi Kothari, VP of Advocacy, South Asian Bar Association. ""He brings a wealth of experience alongside a record of success that will tremendously benefit Southeast Texas.""

Hamdani was recently sworn in as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas.

###

Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2018, becoming the first Latina ever to represent the Texas 29th Congressional District. She serves on the House Judiciary, Financial Services, and Armed Services Committees.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-sylvia-garcia-s-statement-passing-houston-legend-lupe-champ-fraga,Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia’s Statement on the  Passing of Houston Legend Lupe “Champ” Fraga,2022-12-14,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Sylvia R. Garcia,G000587,sylviagarcia.house.gov,sylviagarcia,https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) issued the following statement in honor of the late Lupe ""Champ"" Fraga:

""Lupe Fraga, known affectionately by the community as simply ""Champ"", was a Houston legend who grew up in the East End. Over the decades, Champ became known as a pioneer in the Latino business community, a neighborhood leader, a dedicated public servant, and an honorable veteran who served in the U.S. Army.""

""Champ's company, Tejas Products, was regularly recognized as a top small business in the Houston region by going the extra mile for their customers. But alongside business efforts, he was also Chairman of both the Houston branch of the Federal Reserve Bank and Houston's Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. On top of this, Champ also served on dozens of boards and filled many leadership positions, including serving on the Board of Regents of Texas A&M University following an appointment by the Governor.""

""Houston will miss Champ and his friendly smile. The positivity he brought to our community will be felt for years to come. I send my love and condolences to the entire Fraga family as we remember Champ and all the wonderful things he accomplished.""

###

Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2018, becoming the first Latina ever to represent the Texas 29th Congressional District. She serves on the House Judiciary, Financial Services, and Armed Services Committees.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/castro-kim-introduce-new-framework-to-promote-innovation-at-usaid,"Castro, Kim Introduce New Framework to Promote Innovation at USAID",2022-12-13,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Joaquin Castro,C001091,castro.house.gov,castro,https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Bipartisan Fostering Innovation in Global Development Act would direct USAID to shift toward evidence-driven foreign aid models that leverage the power of the private sector

WASHINGTON – Today, Reps. Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Young Kim (CA-39) introduced the Fostering Innovation in Global Development Act, legislation to improve the effectiveness and impact of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) by authorizing $45 million annually for five years and establishing the appropriate authorities to expand and prioritize innovation-based approaches to international development within USAID.

“The United States is the only nation with the power to mobilize the world around effective, sustainable development initiatives that save lives,” said Congressman Castro. “As we rebuild from the pandemic and look ahead to the future, USAID should be a global champion of innovative, scalable, and evidence-based approaches to aid. The Fostering Innovation in Global Development Act will bring the private and public sectors together to make sure that every dollar spent on aid invests in a safer, healthier, and more sustainable future for people in the United States and across the world. I’m pleased to partner with Rep. Kim to introduce this bill and I look forward to our continued bipartisan work to build a resilient and forward-thinking ecosystem for foreign assistance.”

“By incorporating innovative technologies and new ideas into USAID’s operations, the Fostering Innovation and Global Development will bring foreign assistance into the 21st century, improve cost effectiveness and bring in more partners for the U.S. to work with,” said Congresswoman Kim. “I’m proud to lead this important bill with Rep. Joaquin Castro and will continue working across the aisle to ensure the U.S. maintains its leadership on the world stage.”

“At USAID, I saw first-hand how innovation and evidence-driven approaches can maximize the impact of our foreign assistance,” said Ann Mei Chang, the former Chief Innovation Officer and Executive Director of the U.S. Global Development Lab at the United States Agency for International Development. “The Fostering Innovation in Global Development Act will help bring USAID into the modern era and ensure that the United States continues to lead in international development.”

“We can make the United States the partner of first resort for countries and entrepreneurs that want to use innovation to accelerate economic and social progress,” said Walter Kerr, Executive Director of Unlock Aid. “This bill takes the best of what’s worked at other federal agencies to source and scale next-generation solutions and says we can do this at USAID, too.”

“FIGDA strengthens America’s ability to meet the hopes and aspirations of our friends and potential friends overseas,” said Daniel F. Runde, The American Imperative: Reclaiming Global Leadership through Soft Power.

“I congratulate Reps. Castro and Kim for introducing this critical piece of legislation to enhance and expand USAID's investments in new innovations that can be game changers for advancing progress in global development and health. USAID is the world's leading development agency, and it must be at the forefront in driving new technologies and solutions to the biggest development challenges,” said former Congressman Ed Royce, Consensus for Development Reform Co-Chairman and Former Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

“This bill promotes effective foreign assistance by providing USAID with the authorities and resources required to advance innovation and to enable USAID to work more closely with solution providers in the private sector. I applaud this bipartisan effort to strengthen our foreign assistance programming and to ensure that we are investing in the future of development,” said former Congressman Ted Yoho, Consensus for Development Reform Co-Chairman and Former Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Asia-Pacific Subcommittee.

The Fostering Innovation in Global Development Act would:

Authorize $45 million annually for five years to expand innovation within USAID’s programs and practices.

Direct USAID to submit a five-year strategy on advancing innovation.

Authorize the United States to participate in the Global Innovative Fund, a partnership between the United States, the United Kingdom, other governments, and other donor organizations to pool resources through innovative foreign assistance programs.

Establish the position of Chief Innovation Officer at USAID, with a mission to increase the application of innovation at USAID, utilize innovation-driven competitions, maintain a collection of innovative solutions and best practices to be shared across USAID, and administer the innovation grants, contracts, and prize award authorities and Innovation Fellows established by the bill.

Require each USAID bureau to have a senior advisor responsible for advancing matters related to innovation within that bureau.

Authorize the USAID administrator to hire up to 30 individuals at a time as “Innovation Fellows” who would work with the Chief Innovation Officer and then be assigned on detail to other USAID offices to improve integration of innovation programs through the agency.

Establish the Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) program within USAID to include duties, applications, and administrative provisions.

Establish a “Proven Solutions” program to scale up identified approaches to international development.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1108,Congresswoman Escobar Statement on Recent Migrant Arrivals,2022-12-13,2022,2022-12,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 recent migrant arrivals in El Paso’s border sector:

“The extraordinarily high numbers of migrants arriving daily in El Paso has created an unprecedented strain on our community and requires significantly more federal resources as well as a broader, whole-of-government response. Our local governments have been strained as they are asked to perform functions outside their normal operations, NGOs are doing the best they can, and our CBP personnel have been stressed beyond anything they have ever experienced to date. While I am extremely grateful to the Biden Administration for the millions of dollars they have provided El Paso in financial support, in both up-front funding and reimbursements, as well as their ongoing work with neighboring countries to address root causes, that long-overdue work will not bear fruit immediately. In the short-term, I am asking the Administration for more resources for our local governments and direct engagement in the form of federally-operated short-term emergency shelters for those migrants who have been released but need respite for 48 hours or less and bringing in federal personnel from other agencies to support its operations.

“Last night, I spoke with House Appropriations Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro about this idea and requested its inclusion in the final FY23 omnibus funding package. Additionally, this morning I spoke with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Mayorkas, who assured me that El Paso’s funding requests are being favorably and expeditiously processed.

“I am also once again calling on Congress to act. Decades of addressing immigration solely as a border issue, actively shrinking legal pathways, and failing to get beyond paralyzing gridlock has created a humanitarian crisis that is being unfairly shouldered by only a handful of communities like my own. It is in our own self-interest as a nation that Congress do its job and legislate. While the Administration may look to utilizing policies that focus on deterrence, I am again warning that the last three decades should have taught us that deterrence isn’t a solution.

“Finally, it is critically important that as a nation, we rise to the tremendous challenge that we are facing on immigration today and that we do it in a way that both preserves our security and upholds our values. We need not sacrifice our humanitarian values in order to address the overwhelming challenge we must confront. I remain committed to ensuring El Paso gets the resources we need, asking our local leaders to work collaboratively, advocating for relief for our agents, treating the vulnerable among us with the dignity we would want for ourselves, and working with my colleagues in Congress on legislative solutions.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4270,Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Hosts Year-End Town Hall,2022-12-12,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Lizzie Fletcher,F000468,fletcher.house.gov,fletcher,https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) held a year-end virtual town hall meeting, where she provided an update on her work for Texas’ Seventh Congressional District and she answered Constituents’ questions on issues of importance to the community.

“I was glad to share a summary of my work this year and this Congress with residents of Texas’ Seventh Congressional District and to answer questions about issues affecting our community, and the work I’ve done to address them,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. “Looking back, I am proud of the work we have done this Congress—including how we’re helping our economy recover, how we’re protecting our communities, and how we’re rebuilding our infrastructure—as well as provide a space to listen to our neighbors’ concerns and ideas on a variety of issues, from women’s reproductive rights to health care.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-gonzalez-announces-over-7-million-nuestra-clinica-del-valle,CONGRESSMAN GONZALEZ ANNOUNCES OVER $7 MILLION FOR NUESTRA CLINICA DEL VALLE,2022-12-12,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Vicente Gonzalez,G000581,gonzalez.house.gov,gonzalez,https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"San Juan, Texas – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) announced that the Nuestra Clinica del Valle will receive $7,008,351 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

""Nuestra Clinica del Valle continues to provide essential healthcare services to our growing communities,"" stated Congressman Gonzalez. ""This funding ensures that our healthcare professionals at Nuestra Clinica del Valle can meet the needs of our most underserved South Texans who rely on them for primary healthcare services.""

""Nuestra Clinica del Valle, Inc. is grateful to receive funding for our uninsured and underserved population"", stated Lucy Torres, CEO of Nuestra Clinica del Valle. ""These funds will allow NCDV to continue providing access to care which includes comprehensive primary health care, OB/GYN, dental, and behavioral services to residents of Hidalgo County.""

Nuestra Clinica del Valle offers comprehensive primary health care to low income and underserved populations at 11 locations in Hidalgo and Starr Counties. Available services include primary care, OB/GYN, dental, and behavioral health.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-al-green-partners-houston-community-college-hcc-and-houston-mbda,Congressman Al Green Partners with Houston Community College (HCC) and Houston MBDA to Host Informational Webinar for Small Business Community,2022-12-08,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Al Green,G000553,algreen.house.gov,algreen,https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(Houston, TX) – On Friday, December 9, 2022, Congressman Al Green, in partnership with HCC and Houston MBDA, will host an informational webinar for entrepreneurs who are either established or planning to grow their business. He released the following statement:

“Minority-owned small businesses are an indispensable economic engine for our city and entire nation that create jobs, drive innovation, as well as make the U.S. a more competitive player on the global stage. However, for these small enterprises to thrive, minority business owners need to have access to resources and capital,” Congressman Al Green said. “This is why I introduced the Minority Business Resiliency Act, which was codified into law through President Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. My legislation establishes rural minority business centers, establishes a grant program for minority businesses, and makes the Minority Business Development Agency a permanent agency under the U.S. Department of Commerce.”

Congressman Al Green continued, “I am proud to continue championing individual economic mobility for minorities and helping keep the American economy moving forward by hosting this webinar with HCC. Thank you, HCC, for your invaluable support and for expanding business opportunities for minority entrepreneurs across the Greater Houston area.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-castro-votes-for-respect-for-marriage-act-to-protect-the-freedom-to-marry-for-lgbtqia-and-interracial-couples,Congressman Castro Votes for Respect for Marriage Act to Protect the Freedom to Marry for LGBTQIA+ and Interracial Couples,2022-12-08,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Joaquin Castro,C001091,castro.house.gov,castro,https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) voted to pass the Respect for Marriage Act, legislation to protect marriage equality under federal law. The Respect for Marriage Act passed the Senate on November 29, 2022, and now advances to the White House for President Biden’s signature.

“All Americans should have the freedom to marry who they love,” said Congressman Castro. “In the months since the Supreme Court signaled its willingness to overturn Lawrence v. Texas and Obergefell v. Hodges, many families have written to tell me how scared they are about losing their rights. The Respect for Marriage Act is a common-sense bill to protect the rights of LGBTQIA+ and interracial couples and families, and I was glad to cast my vote to send it to President Biden’s desk. No matter who you love, Texas should be a place where y’all means all.”

The Respect for Marriage Act will:

Enshrine marriage equality under federal law. The bill requires that an individual be considered married under federal law if the marriage was valid in the state where it was performed. This gives same-sex and interracial couples additional security that they will continue to enjoy equal treatment under federal law as all other married couples.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-castro-votes-to-pass-ndaa-with-major-progress-for-san-antonio-servicemembers-and-families,Congressman Castro Votes to Pass NDAA with Major Progress for San Antonio Servicemembers and Families,2022-12-08,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Joaquin Castro,C001091,castro.house.gov,castro,https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) voted to pass the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (FY2023 NDAA) with major wins for San Antonio, including limits to surprise medical bills at Brooke Army Medical Center, a 4.6% pay raise for servicemembers and the DOD civilian workforce, improvements to mental and dental health care for military families, and stronger access to justice for victims of military sexual assault.

To view a full fact sheet on the FY2023 NDAA, click here.

“Today, I supported passage of a bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that makes important progress for San Antonio’s military families and all residents of Military City USA,” said Congressman Castro. “I’m particularly pleased that the final language of the FY2023 NDAA includes legislation I wrote to limit the outrageous medical bills that San Antonians often face after emergency trauma care at Brooke Army Medical Center. While I remain concerned about the overall size of our defense budget, there is much to support in this year’s NDAA.”

Limiting Surprise Medical Bills at Brooke Army Medical Center

The FY2023 NDAA includes a provision authored by Congressman Castro that requires the Director of the Defense Health Agency to implement a modified payment plan based on a sliding-scale discount program for civilians who are underinsured or at risk for financial harm who receive treatment at Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) including Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio.

This provision follows an amendment that Congressman Castro secured in the FY2021 NDAA to provide MTFs with the flexibility to waive medical bills for civilians. BAMC is one of two Level 1 Trauma Centers in San Antonio and must treat civilians to maintain its accreditation for graduate medical education. In recent years, civilians have faced high medical bills after receiving trauma care at BAMC, even though their care helps to prepare military medical professionals to meet the medical needs of American servicemembers.

Investing in America’s Workforce and Expediting National Security Research

The FY2023 NDAA also includes provisions authored or co-authored by Congressman Castro in his capacity as chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact and as a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence that would:

Improve student internship opportunities at the State Department by providing the Department with permanent authority to pay its interns and requiring it to transition its internship program to be paid in the coming years. The legislation also describes other parameters of the student internship program, including considerations for diversity and requirements for housing and travel costs to be covered for certain interns serving in D.C. or abroad.

Support the employment of U.S. citizens by international organizations by providing additional authorities and funding avenues to place qualified Americans at UN agencies, including through the Junior Professional Officer program.

Restore U.S. leadership in international organizations by authorizing the State Department to provide housing allowances to nine additional members of the Foreign Service who are serving in New York City at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. Under current law, the State Department is only able to provide a housing allowance to 32 members of the Foreign Service who are serving at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, a restriction that has prevented the United States from properly staffing the mission.

Expand training and professional development opportunities for the civil and foreign service at the State Department by providing authorities to strengthen the Foreign Service Institute, including through additional training offerings, new fellowship programs for Foreign and Civil Service, and other provisions to improve the training of U.S. diplomats.

Provide pay equity for government employees working abroad by requiring members of the Civil Service under a Department Employee Teleworking Overseas (DETO) agreement (most often provided to military/foreign service spouses or dependents) to be paid either at what they would have been paid in the United States or what a member of the Foreign Service at an equivalent level is paid.

Expedite the declassification of CIA historical records by requiring the CIA Historical Review Panel to report directly to the Director of the CIA and requiring that the Inspector General of the CIA submit a report to Congress that outlines the CIA’s declassification efforts.

Improve diversity within the Intelligence Community by requiring the Director of National Intelligence to submit a report to Congress that documents barriers or obstacles to promotion for women and minorities, proposals to overcome those barriers, and summarizes existing efforts to strengthen the promotion pipeline for underrepresented populations in the Intelligence Community.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1105,Congresswoman Escobar Votes for Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act,2022-12-08,2022,2022-12,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), Vice-Chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel, voted for final passage of H.R. 7776, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023, in the House of Representatives. The bill now goes to the Senate for a vote and will then be sent to the President’s desk for his signature.

“I am so proud of this final package that strengthens our national security, prioritizes our servicemembers, and modernizes key facets of our Armed Forces,” said Congresswoman Escobar. “As a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the sole representative for Fort Bliss in Congress, I’m thrilled to see the investments coming home to our community. The FY23 NDAA will make monumental investments in our colonias, military assets, personnel, and so much more.”

“We are grateful to Congresswoman Escobar’s efforts to help revive an important wastewater assistance program that allows communities to step forward for federal funding and bring more infrastructure to our most vulnerable residents,” El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego said. “El Paso County has made robust investments in recent years to connect more of our residents to water and wastewater and so this program is a great vehicle to increase collaboration with the federal government and continue to improve the conditions for people living in our communities.”

“We appreciate the support of Congresswoman Escobar and the House Armed Services Committee to add legislative language that enables projects on land leased from the Department of Defense to be eligible for certain grant assistance,” said Lisa Rosendorf, EPWater’s Chief Communications and Government Affairs Officer. “Locally, this means the Kay Bailey Hutchison Desalination Plant and other facilities on land leased from Fort Bliss will have new grant funding opportunities, but beyond that, it will benefit military communities across the country, supporting critical infrastructure projects while also benefitting our national defense.”

“This bill authorizes important funds UTEP requested for the Space University Partnership program that connects 14 universities, including UTEP, with the Space Force. We look forward to increasing research and developing talent for the Space Force and aerospace industry here in El Paso,” said UTEP President Heather Wilson.

Thanks to the leadership of Congresswoman Escobar and her colleagues, the FY23 NDAA:

Improves Quality of Life for our Servicemembers and Their Families

Ensuring our servicemembers are cared for is a top priority for Congresswoman Escobar. Through the NDAA, a 4.6% pay raise was secured for servicemembers and civilians. Additionally, her bill, H.R. 7930, the Military Spouse Entrepreneur Reimbursement Act, which reimburses qualified relicensing and business costs for military spouse entrepreneurs when their servicemembers are required to move posts, was included in the package.

Invests in Infrastructure

Congresswoman Escobar successfully secured $15 million in construction funding for a new firehouse at Fort Bliss. The new station would serve the William Beaumont Army Medical Center area, which currently lacks a dedicated fire station. Additionally, Congresswoman Escobar ensured language was included in the FY23 NDAA that amended the Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP), which authorizes the Department of Defense to award grants to local and state governments for community infrastructure supportive of military installations. Her amendment would allow critical infrastructure assets located on land leased from the Department of Defense, like Kay Bailey Hutchinson Desalination Plant, to be eligible for these funds.

Promotes the U.S. Space Force’s University Partnership Program

Congresswoman Escobar successfully advocated for increased funding for the U.S. Space Force’s University Partnership Program. Having begun in 2021, this program includes several universities, including the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), and encourages these institutions to connect with the Space Force for the purpose of recruiting students, leadership development, research, and sponsoring projects.

Grows Ties Between the Services and UTEP

Cost and culture have often been barriers to entry into the Air Education and Training Command for women and minorities. To keep up with the high demand for qualified aviators, Congresswoman Escobar championed a provision in the NDAA to have the Secretary of the Air Force provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services on how the Air Force can engage with Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) like UTEP on developing innovative programs aimed at recruiting and training future pilots. Additionally, the NDAA includes provisions to continue growing the defense research capacities at MSIs in order to expose students to opportunities at the Department of Defense and bolster the Department’s workforce.

Increases Funding for the Military Munitions Response Program

Congresswoman Escobar secured additional funding for the Military Munitions Response Program (MMRP) at Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS), which addresses the risks of the presence of military munitions. These sites, like Castner Range, have been left uncleaned for decades and this funding will ensure FUDS across the country are cleaned up and the surrounding communities are protected. The Congresswoman also included bill language requiring the Department of Defense to establish a cleanup target goal for the completion of all MMRP sites, such as Castner Range.

Modernizes Our Military to Tackle the Climate Crisis

Congresswoman Escobar drafted language to establish a pilot program for the Department of Defense, in collaboration with the Department of Energy, to use infrastructure such as microgrids at military installations to electrify vehicle fleets and maintain grid resilience. Additionally, she authored language to require the DoD to conduct a study of military housing resilience and energy efficiency to assess compliance with the Unified Facilities Criteria for Housing and with the latest published editions of relevant codes, specifications, and standards that incorporate the latest hazard-resistant and energy-efficient designs and establish minimum acceptable criteria for the design, construction, and maintenance of residential structures.

Increases Funding for Additive Manufacturing in Future Vertical Lift and Low-Cost Missile Technology

Congresswoman Escobar included language to authorize $10 million for the Additive Manufacturing in Future Vertical Lift program and $10 million Low-Cost Missile Technology program. This funding will allow America Makes and the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining to work closely with minority-serving institutions like UTEP to diversify the defense workforce and build up our supply chain.

Prioritizes Civilian Support Personnel

Those who work in service of our country should be paid a livable wage. The FY23 NDAA includes a provision providing inflation bonuses for civilians with incomes under $45k/year and codifies a $15 minimum wage for employees working on federal service and construction contracts.

Provides $500m over 5 years for our Colonias

There has traditionally been little funding set aside solely for the needs of colonias and oftentimes localities have to tackle colonia-specific priorities on their own or compete for funding meant for other types of communities. The FY23 NDAA includes language authored by Congresswoman Escobar which reauthorizes the Wastewater Assistance to Colonias program and includes $500 million in funding over 5 years for the program while lowering the local cost-share for localities. This provision was drawn from Congresswoman Escobar’s bill, H.R. 3238, the Colonia Infrastructure Improvement Act. Additionally, a project was secured to conduct a flood risk management study specific to El Paso County for economically-disadvantaged communities like our colonias.

Promotes Transparency of the DoD’s 1122 Program

Congresswoman Escobar crafted language that would establish and maintain a publicly available website providing up-to-date and comprehensive information on the purchase of equipment through the 1122 DoD program. This program allows states and local governments access to federal sources to purchase equipment for counter-drug, homeland security, and emergency response activities.

A comprehensive summary of the provisions in the FY23 NDAA is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1106,Congresswoman Escobar Votes to Authorize $500 Million for Colonias and Wastewater Infrastructure,2022-12-08,2022,2022-12,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), voted for the final passage of H.R. 7776, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023, in the House of Representatives. The FY23 NDAA includes a provision authored by Congresswoman Escobar to authorize $500 million in funding for colonias over five years. The bill now goes to the Senate for a vote and will then be sent to the President’s desk for his signature.

“It is spectacular that we were able to secure this funding for the colonias,” said Congresswoman Escobar. “This cause has been near and dear to my heart, going back to my work in local government as a Country Judge. Knowing this legislation will make a difference for families who have waited for generations to have water and wastewater services, while lowering the matched contribution costs from the county to help the community, is a wonderful feeling.”

“We are grateful to Congresswoman Escobar’s efforts to help revive an important wastewater assistance program that allows communities to step forward for federal funding and bring more infrastructure to our most vulnerable residents,” El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego said. “El Paso County has made robust investments in recent years to connect more of our residents to water and wastewater and so this program is a great vehicle to increase collaboration with the federal government and continue to improve the conditions for people living in our communities.”

The NDAA serves as the legislative foundation for elected representatives of the American people to steer U.S. national security priorities and deliver meaningful policy reforms that benefit service members, their families, and communities across the United States. This year’s NDAA includes language authored by Congresswoman Escobar which reauthorizes the Wastewater Assistance to Colonias program and includes $500 million in funding over 5 years for the program while lowering the local cost-share for localities. There has traditionally been little funding set aside solely for the needs of colonias and oftentimes localities have to tackle colonia-specific priorities on their own or compete for funding meant for other types of communities. This provision was drawn from Congresswoman Escobar’s bill, H.R. 3238, the Colonia Infrastructure Improvement Act. Additionally, a project was secured to conduct a flood risk management study specific to El Paso County for economically-disadvantaged communities like our colonias.

For a comprehensive summary of the provisions in the FY23 NDAA, click here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4242,Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Votes To Enshrine and Protect Marriage Equality for Same-Sex and Interracial Couples,2022-12-08,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Lizzie Fletcher,F000468,fletcher.house.gov,fletcher,https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) voted for the Respect for Marriage Act, H.R. 8404, to enshrine marriage equality for same-sex and interracial couples in federal law, repeal the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), and provide legal protections for marriage equality. Congresswoman Fletcher is a co-sponsor of the Respect for Marriage Act.

“Today, the House of Representatives voted to protect families in Houston and across the country by guaranteeing the right to marry for same-sex and interracial couples,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. “In Houston, we celebrate our diverse families and we also know that, in this moment, we must do all we can to protect them. I’m proud to be a co-sponsor of this important legislation and vote again to enshrine and protect marriage equality—and to protect the people I represent.”

The effort to pass federal legislation comes after a concurring opinion by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization explicitly called on the Supreme Court to reconsider its decisions protecting other fundamental rights, including the right to same-sex marriage recognized in Obergefell v. Hodges. If enacted, the Respect for Marriage Act would:

Enshrine marriage equality for federal law purposes, giving same-sex and interracial couples additional security that they will continue to enjoy equal treatment under federal law as all other married couples;

Repeal DOMA, which, despite the Supreme Court’s previous decisions holding marriage equality as a constitutional right, still remains law; and

Provide additional legal tools for individuals to protect their right to marriage equality, including providing the U.S. Attorney General with the authority to pursue enforcement actions and create a way for individuals to sue when their rights are violated.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4246,Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Votes for Annual Bipartisan Defense Bill Supporting Service Members and National Security,2022-12-08,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Lizzie Fletcher,F000468,fletcher.house.gov,fletcher,https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) voted for H.R. 7776, which includes both the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23), and the Water Resources Development Act of 2022, which protects our communities and our country in critical ways.

“I was glad to vote today for a bill that protects our communities and country by supporting our service members and their families, strengthening our national security, and authorizing critical infrastructure projects,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. “This bill authorizes a pay raise and vital benefits for service members, protects military supply chains, makes investments to improve military capability, and authorizes several of the water resources projects I advocated for that benefit our district and our region— including important modifications to the Houston Ship Channel Improvement Project, and the Coastal Texas Study, a transformative project to reduce storm surge at the coast, protecting our region and our country from catastrophic damage.”

H.R. 7776 addresses the following Houston priorities:

Defense

Vital benefits for service members and their families, including a 4.6 percent pay raise for service members and civilian personnel.

Increased basic housing allowance, including a raised eligibility for servicemembers below certain income thresholds to qualify for a basic needs allowance;

Support for spousal employment, including financial reimbursement for moving expenses for spouses with home businesses.

Resources for mental health, including a program to equip civilian behavioral health providers to meet the unique challenges of service members and their families; and

Resources for child care, including a five-year pilot program to reimburse servicemembers for childcare costs incurred by a permanent change of station, and authorization of childcare fee reductions for children of military child development center employees.

New investments in science and technology competitiveness, including $138.9 billion for research and development interests across national security and future technologies, including funding for next-generation capabilities in hypersonics, electronic warfare, artificial intelligence, and 5G technology development.

Supply chain security, including improved risk management of the Department of Defense’s supply chains and expanded authority of the National Defense Stockpile Manager to address shortfalls, and more than $1 billion for acquisition of strategic and critical materials for the National Defense Stockpile Transaction Fund.

Military justice for survivors of sexual assault, including mandatory independent investigators outside of immediate chain of command to investigate cases of sexual harassment and permission for the Secretary of Defense to expand restricted reporting of sexual assault for civilian employees;

Support for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other minority serving institutions, including more than $131 million for HBCU funding and research partnerships, as well as the establishment of a pilot program to increase research capacity at minority serving institutions;

Resources for U.S. allies and partners, including more than $800 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, more than $11.5 billion in funding for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, and more than $6 billion for the European Deterrence Initiative; and

Civilian harm mitigation measures, including the establishment of a Civilian Harm Center for Excellence at the Department of Defense that will help efforts to track and publicly report on civilians hurt and killed by U.S. military operations abroad, as well as the authorization of $25 million for the implementation of a Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan.

Water Infrastructure Projects

Technical assistance for local partners for the removal of sediment obstructing inflow channels to the Addicks and Barker Reservoirs;

Construction of important sections of the Houston Ship Channel Expansion Project to strengthen our nation’s largest port for waterborne tonnage;

A feasibility study to incorporate the construction of barge lanes to a depth of 12 feet as part of the Houston Ship Channel Expansion Project, making barge lanes safer for vessels; and

The Coastal Texas Study, a critical project to stop storm surges at the Gulf Coast and protect our national security.

In March, Congresswoman Fletcher advocated for the inclusion of the Coastal Texas Study in the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 when she testified before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-gonzalez-announces-winners-congressional-app-challenge-15th,Congressman Gonzalez Announces Winners of Congressional App Challenge for the 15th Congressional District of Texas,2022-12-08,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Vicente Gonzalez,G000581,gonzalez.house.gov,gonzalez,https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) announced the winners of the 2022 Congressional App Challenge (CAC) from the 15th Congressional District of Texas. The CAC is a competition that is held to encourage engagement of middle and high school students in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).

""The future of the American workforce is rooted in the advancements we make in the STEM fields and the Congressional App Challenge is a great way to get students engaged and curious about it,"" stated Congressman Gonzalez. ""I am proud to announce the winners of this year's challenge and encourage them, and all South Texas students and educators, to learn more about the many possibilities there are in the STEM fields.""

The list of the winners is below:

1st Place: Dienda Osric, Mission, TX, Science Academy of South Texas

App: Superscript+ - makes programming easier while producing similar results and teaching this form of coding to new programmers will benefit them as they start learning to code.

2nd Place: Edward Reyna, Palmview, TX, Thelma Salinas ECHS

App: Simply Loan - calculates the monthly payment given the loan amount, annual rate, and the number of payments.

3rd Place: Evie Martinez, Harlingen, TX, Science Academy of South Texas

App: Tritan Colors - tests your eye-hand coordination along with identifying if you have colorblindness. With certain levels focusing on eye-hand coordination part and others on colorblindness.

Sponsored by the Internet Education Foundation and initiated by the Congressional Internet Caucus, the Congressional App Challenge is an annual challenge that aims to encourage students to learn and engage in coding and inspiring them to pursue careers and studies in the field of computer science.

More information on the Congressional App Challenge can be found www.congressionalappchallenge.us",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-gonzalez-votes-national-defense-authorization-act-support-service,"CONGRESSMAN GONZALEZ VOTES FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT TO SUPPORT SERVICE MEMBERS AND MILITARY FAMILIES, STRENGTHENING NATIONAL SECURITY",2022-12-08,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Vicente Gonzalez,G000581,gonzalez.house.gov,gonzalez,https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Gonzalez (TX-15) voted in favor of the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 7776, the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (NDAA), that authorizes $847 billion in discretionary spending to support service members, invests in modern technology, bolsters defense, and maintains strong national security at home and abroad.

""Our service members deserve cutting-edge resources to continue to lead,"" stated Congressman Gonzalez. ""As the son of a Veteran, I am proud to vote for this vital piece of legislation that includes the necessary funding to keep our military ready to address threats against our nation and support research initiatives so that America continues to lead the way in technological advances. Rest assured, I will continue to be a strong advocate for our military and our veterans. We must take care of the brave men and women who continue to protect the freedoms we enjoy every single day.""

Congressman Gonzalez introduced and successfully passed an amendment that requires the Secretary of Defense to provide an annual report to Congress on the number of non-citizen members of the Armed Forces, their immigration status, and how many naturalized that year.

The NDAA includes a 4.6% pay raise for service members, adds funds to Basic Allowance for Housing, increases the maximum allowable income to receive the Basic Needs Allowance to 150% of the federal poverty line, and adds $210 million for commissary funding to offset higher costs.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases/garcia-announces-authorization-30-million-small-shipyard-grant-programs-and-30,GARCIA ANNOUNCES AUTHORIZATION OF $30 MILLION FOR SMALL SHIPYARD GRANT PROGRAMS AND $30 MILLION IN GRANTS FOR MARITIME CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE,2022-12-08,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Sylvia R. Garcia,G000587,sylviagarcia.house.gov,sylviagarcia,https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Garcia announced $30 million for small shipyard grant programs and $30 million in grants for maritime centers of excellence were authorized by the House today. These funds could soon benefit the Houston region's maritime industry and training centers.

""I'm proud to announce $30 million for small shipyard grant programs and $30 million in grants for maritime centers of excellence were authorized,"" said Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia. ""The often-overlooked maritime industry is remarkably important for Houston as it is home to the Maritime Center of Excellence Campus and the Port of Houston. When appropriated, these funds will support the next generation of maritime workers by strengthening maritime education and training programs. This will deliver massive economic improvements for the Houston region, and benefit residents across my district.""

""The San Jacinto College Maritime Technology and Training Center was named a 2021 Center of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education (CoE), by the U.S. Maritime Administration. We are grateful to Congresswoman Garcia for her hard and persistent work to include authorization of both $30 million for the small shipyard grant programs and $30 million in grants for community college maritime centers of excellence,"" said Chancellor Dr. Brenda Hellyer, San Jacinto College. ""These funds, when appropriated, could benefit our region and the maritime industry! We are very grateful to Congresswoman Garcia who spent many hours working on this legislation.""

These maritime amendments were included as part of the FY 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which passed out of the House of Representatives today in a bipartisan 350-80 vote. This is the annual defense funding bill, but often contains many local provisions such as this one. The $847 billion measure will now head to the Senate for consideration ahead of the year-end deadline.

###

Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2018, becoming the first Latina ever to represent the Texas 29th Congressional District. She serves on the House Judiciary, Financial Services, and Armed Services Committees.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://veasey.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-veasey-votes-to-honor-texas-servicemembers-strengthen-national,"Rep. Veasey Votes to Honor Texas Servicemembers, Strengthen National Security",2022-12-08,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Marc A. Veasey,V000131,veasey.house.gov,veasey,https://veasey.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Rep. Veasey voted for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023. This legislation will strengthen America's national security, honor the heroism of Texas servicemembers and make critical investments in cutting-edge technology. Additionally, House Democrats successfully blocked Republicans' attempt to restrict servicemembers' access to healthcare – preserving a Department of Defense program that ensures servicemembers can travel to access reproductive care if they are stationed in a state that criminalizes abortion.

""Today, I was proud to join a bipartisan group of my colleagues to pass this year's NDAA that will provide Texas military families with the support they have earned while bolstering America's national security, strengthening our technological advantage, and promoting our leadership on the world stage. This legislation will also expand pathways to opportunity for our underserved communities, invest in clean energy, and deliver a historic investment in marine conservation,"" said Rep. Veasey.

Thanks to the leadership of Congressman Veasey and his colleagues, the FY23 NDAA includes:

Additional Lockheed Martin F-35 Fighter Jet Funding, made in Fort Worth and used by many of our allies around the world.

Additional Bell V-22 Osprey Funding, used by the Air Force, Marines, and Navy to perform many complex transportation and medevac operations.

Improved oversight on weapons systems sustainment, aiming to increase accountability for how the Pentagon budgets its maintenance accounts.

Key pay increases for service members and their families, including a 4.6% pay raise for service members and civilian personnel and inflation bonuses for service members earning less than $45,000/year

Support for HBCUs and other minority serving institutions, allocating over $131 million for research activities at HBCUs and establishing a pilot program to increase research capacity at minority-serving institutions.

Civilian harm mitigation measures, reflecting the democratic values of the United States as a strategic and moral imperative by creating a DOD Center for Excellence in Civilian Harm Mitigation.

New investments in science and technology competitiveness, including additional funding for next-generation capabilities in hypersonics, electronic warfare, artificial intelligence, and software.

Supply chain security, including an assessment of dual-use technology that the Chinese Communist Party might exploit and improving risk management in DoD supply chains involving pharmaceutical products.

Resources for U.S. allies and partners, including $800 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) and over $11 billion towards the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, as well as authorizing the Taiwan Enhanced Resilience Act of 2022.

Passed annually by Congress since 1961, the NDAA authorizes funding levels for the Department of Defense. This legislation allows the Armed Forces to pay, train and equip U.S. servicemembers, support America's allies around the world, and carry out essential national security operations.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-foreign-affairs-committee-advances-rep-castros-partner-with-asean-act,House Foreign Affairs Committee Advances Rep. Castro’s PARTNER with ASEAN Act,2022-12-07,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Joaquin Castro,C001091,castro.house.gov,castro,https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, the House Foreign Affairs Committee advanced the bipartisan Providing Appropriate Recognition and Treatment Needed to Enhance Relations (PARTNER) with ASEAN Act, legislation introduced by Reps. Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Steve Chabot (OH-01) that would strengthen relations between the United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) by authorizing ASEAN to be designated as an international organization with diplomatic privileges and immunities consistent with the International Organization Immunities Act (IOIA). The IOIA, enacted in 1945, is how the United States provides international organizations with the rights and treatment generally accorded to embassies of countries that have diplomatic relations with the United States.

“Despite the longstanding, bipartisan U.S. consensus on ASEAN’s vital role in the Indo-Pacific, the United States has yet to accord ASEAN the routine diplomatic privileges and immunities it deserves,” said Congressman Castro. “My PARTNER with ASEAN Act would send an important message about U.S. respect for ASEAN centrality and would open the door to a more productive and efficient relationship between the U.S. and ASEAN nations. As co-chair of the ASEAN Caucus, I’m glad to see the House Foreign Affairs Committee advance this important legislation, and I urge Congress to heed President Biden’s call to send the PARTNER with ASEAN Act to his desk for signature.”

During the November 2022 U.S.-ASEAN Summit, the White House released a fact sheet on the U.S.-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that called for the passage of the PARTNER with ASEAN Act. To view the full fact sheet, click here.

Rep. Castro, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact, has introduced several pieces of legislation in recent years to strengthen the relationship between the United States and ASEAN nations, including:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-gonzalez-votes-favor-veteran-service-recognition-act,CONGRESSMAN GONZALEZ VOTES IN FAVOR OF VETERAN SERVICE RECOGNITION ACT,2022-12-07,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Vicente Gonzalez,G000581,gonzalez.house.gov,gonzalez,https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) voted in favor of H.R. 7946, the Veteran Service Recognition Act, which provides certain veterans a pathway to citizenship and brings home wrongfully deported veterans.

""I am proud to vote for this legislation and bring our veterans back home. It is unfathomable that our country has allowed for the deportation of those who put on the uniform and valiantly fought to protect us,"" stated Congressman Gonzalez. ""Our veterans can't wait. Which is why I am proud my amendment to provide for the timely execution of the Veteran Service Recognition Act also passed. Anyone who's put their life on the line for our freedoms should not be repaid by being deported. It is past time that Congress address this injustice and this bill is a step in the right direction.""

H.R. 7946, the Veteran Service Recognition Act, addresses immigration-related issues pertaining to noncitizen (or non-U.S. national) military veterans, including authorizing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide lawful permanent resident status to veterans who are subject to removal.

Congressman Gonzalez introduced and passed an amendment that would require DHS to implement this policy no later than 90-days after being signed into law. His floor speech can be found here.

More information on the bill can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-al-green-chairs-historic-and-consequential-hearing-role-financial,Congressman Al Green Chairs Historic and Consequential Hearing on the Role of Financial Institutions in the Horrors of Slavery,2022-12-06,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Al Green,G000553,algreen.house.gov,algreen,https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) — On Tuesday, December 6, 2022, Congressman Al Green, Chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, released the following statement ahead of the hearing he will chair on Wednesday, December 7, 2022, entitled, “An Enduring Legacy: The Role of Financial Institutions in the Horrors of Slavery and the Need for Atonement, Part Two”:

“Tomorrow’s hearing is an exceedingly important milestone in the ongoing discussion of the role that financial institutions played in the perpetuation of slavery. This historic and consequential hearing will shed additional light on how actions taken by banks and insurance companies in the past helped lay the groundwork for the racial wealth gap that persists to this day (while these institutions became mega wealthy). Additionally, this hearing signals a willingness on behalf of lawmakers to make greater efforts toward acknowledging our seminal sin in tandem with the painful consequences of our failure to atone.” Congressman Al Green said.

“As you will become aware during tomorrow’s hearing, luminous evidence exists revealing that many financial institutions had some degree of historical connection to slavery. Many of today’s financial institutions have ties to slavery via predecessor banks that profited by accepting slaves as collateral for loans and sometimes took ownership of those slaves when borrowers defaulted on loans. Wells Fargo and one of its predecessor institutions that was active in the Antebellum South is a clear example of this: according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, the total value of enslaved people held by one of Wells Fargo’s predecessor institutions between 1842-1843 was estimated to be nearly $49,000, which is approximately $1,500,000 in 2022.”

Congressman Al Green concluded, “I trust that if Members of Congress are willing to listen to the unabridged truth of our nation’s past from our expert witnesses on this topic, then Congress can begin working to deliver overdue justice. I am hopeful that if our leaders realize how our ancestors were exploited, pawned, and insured for profit, they will do more than seek apologies. I also trust that holding hearings such as this will evince how the humble hands of enslaved people helped make the U.S.A. great as well as cause African Americans to say they are the proud descendants of enslaved Africans who deserve justice for their enslavement resulting in over two centuries of free labor.”

“Earlier this year, under Subcommittee Chair Green’s leadership, we brought to attention the extent to which many of our nation’s largest banks and insurance companies profited from the unjust legacy of slavery,"" said Chairwoman Maxine Waters. “Since then, it’s become even more clear that these institutions have a lot more work to do to ensure that the damages resulting from slavery are remediated, including helping address our nation’s widening racial-wealth gap. Public apologies and acknowledgements are simply not enough. I look forward to exploring solutions that these institutions can put forward to properly address this history of exploitation.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-castro-votes-to-help-deported-veterans-get-legal-permanent-residency-and-return-home-to-the-united-states,Congressman Castro Votes to Help Deported Veterans Get Legal Permanent Residency and Return Home to the United States,2022-12-06,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Joaquin Castro,C001091,castro.house.gov,castro,https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) voted for the passage of the Veterans Service Recognition Act, legislation that would help deported veterans obtain legal permanent resident status so long as they have not been convicted of serious crimes. The bill would also make it easier for noncitizen servicemembers to apply for naturalization while in the Armed Forces and establish a review process to protect noncitizen veterans, active servicemembers, and their families from deportation.

Congressman Castro has long advocated for noncitizen servicemembers. In 2017, he led a delegation of members of Congress to meet with a group of deported veterans in Tijuana, Mexico. The following year, he hosted a Congressional forum alongside Reps. Vicente Gonzales, Mark Takano, and Raúl M. Grijalva to bring attention to the challenges faced by deported veterans.

Watch Congressman Castro’s remarks on the House floor

Earlier today, Congressman Castro delivered remarks in support of the Veterans Service Recognition Act during floor debate on the bill. A transcript of the remarks can be found below.

A transcript of the remarks can be found below.

I rise in support of the Veterans Service Recognition Act because it's time to bring our deported veterans home.

Five years ago, I led a delegation of lawmakers to meet with a group of deported veterans at a support house in Tijuana, Mexico.

Most of these folks joined the military after 9/11, putting their lives on the line to defend American freedom and the freedom of our allies thousands of miles away.

When they enlisted, our nation gladly accepted their service.

And if they had perished on the battlefield, they would have been buried as American heroes, right here in the United States.

But when they came back home and struggled, they were kicked out of the nation they would have died to protect.

I represent San Antonio, Texas - known as Military City, USA.

And from how I see it, deporting our veterans is one of the worst acts of betrayal that our federal government can commit.

The Veterans Service Recognition Act will right this awful wrong by providing an opportunity for deported veterans to apply for permanent residency, and it will help current and future servicemembers apply for naturalization for themselves and their families.

This bill is about doing the right thing for those who served.

It's time to bring our deported veterans back home.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1104,Congresswoman Escobar Statement on Newly-Confirmed U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza,2022-12-06,2022,2022-12,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 after the Senate confirmation of Jaime Esparza as United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas:

“I am proud to announce that El Pasoan Jaime Esparza has been officially confirmed as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas. Having lived and worked in El Paso for most of his life, Mr. Esparza will no doubt bring a valuable local and regional perspective to this prestigious role.

“I am grateful to the Senate for his confirmation today. Throughout my tenure in Congress, I have advocated for outstanding El Pasoans to serve in important government positions, and Mr. Esparza is no exception. I have full confidence in his ability and have no doubt he will be deeply committed to this new position in his long public service career.”

The Senate’s confirmation vote now sends Mr. Esparza’s nomination for the President’s signature.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4241,"Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Announces More Than $800,000 for Houston Area Women’s Center",2022-12-06,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Lizzie Fletcher,F000468,fletcher.house.gov,fletcher,https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) announced the Houston Area Women’s Center will receive $813,853 in federal funds through the Improving Criminal Justice Responses to Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Grant Program (ICJR Program). This program supports survivor safety and offender accountability in cases of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by encouraging state and local governments and courts to work collaboratively with community partners to identify problems and share ideas to effectively respond to these crimes.

“The Houston Area Women’s Center provides essential support for survivors of domestic violence and its funding is critical for our community,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. “The COVID-19 pandemic brought an increase in intimate partner violence and now, more than ever, we need resources to stop abuse before it happens. I will continue working to provide much-needed services to help survivors rebuild their lives and to keep our communities safer.”

“With this generous funding, HAWC will expand safety and improve access to life-saving services for survivors through an enhanced partnership with the Houston Police Department,” said Houston Area Women’s Center Chief Development Officer Jennifer Yancey. “Through these funds, HAWC advocates will assist survivors during the legal process, including protective orders and crime victim compensation coordination. We are grateful to Congresswoman Fletcher for her commitment to supporting survivors and her long-standing partnership with HAWC.”

In March, Congresswoman Fletcher voted for the Consolidated Appropriations Act, H.R. 2471, which funded the ICJR Program.

Last year, Congresswoman Fletcher voted for the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021, which protects people from violence and abuse and helps ensure survivors of domestic violence have access to justice and to essential services.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/chairman-castro-to-hold-foreign-affairs-subcommittee-hearing-on-modernizing-international-development-assistance,Chairman Castro to Hold Foreign Affairs Subcommittee Hearing on Modernizing International Development Assistance,2022-12-05,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Joaquin Castro,C001091,castro.house.gov,castro,https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, December 7 at 2:00 PM, Chairman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) will convene a hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact on “Modernizing International Development Assistance: Opportunities and Challenges.”

WHO:

Congressman Joaquin Castro, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact

Members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee

WITNESSES

Mr. Walter Kerr

Executive Director, Unlock Aid

Mr. Kerr is a former Foreign Service Officer who served three overseas tours as a career member of the foreign service. His organization, the Unlock Aid coalition, works to explore issues of aid effectiveness and maximize the value of public resources to solve the world’s most challenging problems.

Mr. Prashant Yadav

Senior Fellow, Center for Global Development

Mr. Yadav is an expert on the issue of healthcare supply chains and has worked with a range of bilateral and multilateral donors on international development and humanitarian response. He will speak to the efficacy of existing aid approaches.

Former Representative Ted Yoho

Consensus for Development Reform

Representative Yoho served on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and was the Republican lead on the passage of the BUILD Act of 2018, which created the U.S. Development Finance Corporation.

WHAT: Subcommittee hearing on “Modernizing International Development Assistance: Opportunities and Challenges”

WHEN: Wednesday, December 7, 2022 | 2:00 PM

WHERE: Rayburn HOB 2200 and streamed online here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/castro-jacobs-bonamici-and-colleagues-lead-over-half-the-house-democratic-caucus-in-push-to-double-child-care-funding-in-omnibus,"Castro, Jacobs, Bonamici, and Colleagues Lead Over Half the House Democratic Caucus in Push to Double Child Care Funding in Omnibus",2022-12-02,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Joaquin Castro,C001091,castro.house.gov,castro,https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), founding co-chair of the Bipartisan Congressional Pre-K and Child Care Caucus, Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (CA-53), and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Chair of the Education and Labor Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Human Services, led more than half of the House Democratic Caucus in a push to double the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) funding in the end-of-year omnibus package. In a letter to House and Senate Appropriations leaders, the lawmakers called for a total funding increase of $6.17 billion to CCDBG to address the nation’s child care crisis, characterized by a lack of providers, rising costs, and limited availability of subsidies to meet the needs of eligible children.

The letter is co-led by Rep. Marc Veasey (TX-33) and Rep. Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) and is endorsed by AFSCME, Center for American Progress (CAP), the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), The Century Foundation (TCF), Early Care & Education Consortium (ECEC), First Focus Campaign for Children, MomsRising, National Education Association (NEA), National Women's Law Center (NWLC), and ZERO to THREE.

“In the first eighteen months of the pandemic, Bexar County lost 20% of the childcare providers that working parents depended on,” said Congressman Joaquin Castro. “As Texas rebuilds from the challenges of the last three years, we need more investments in childcare to support overworked and underpaid providers and help parents – especially women – rejoin the workforce. I urge the House Appropriations Committee to include the highest possible funding amount for the Child Care and Development Block Grant in the FY2023 appropriations package to make sure all children can get high-quality care.”

“Our child care infrastructure is hanging by a thread. In San Diego and across the country, parents can’t find or afford child care and providers have too little pay, benefits, and support to do their incredibly important work,” said Congresswoman Sara Jacobs. “By failing to devote the weight of our country’s resources to address this crisis, we’re holding back our economy, families, and the next generation from their fullest potential. I will keep doing everything I can – including pushing to double child care funding in this year’s omnibus – until every family has access to high-quality, affordable child care and early learning opportunities.”

“Child care is essential, but it is often out of reach,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “Many families struggle to balance paying for child care with covering food, rent, and other necessities. The Child Care and Development Block Grant is a powerful tool to make child care more accessible and affordable, but it’s not enough to meet the demand. We must fund it at the highest possible level in the coming year.”

Text of the letter can be found below or here:

Dear Chair DeLauro, Chairman Leahy, Ranking Member Granger, and Ranking Member Shelby:

As you negotiate a final appropriations package for fiscal year (FY) 2023, we respectfully urge you to include the highest possible funding amount for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG). We appreciate that both the House Committee-passed Appropriations bill and Senator Murray’s Democratic bill include a funding increase of $1 billion above the FY 2022 enacted level for CCDBG—funding that would be a welcome down payment to ensure families can access affordable, high-quality child care. Given the critical needs of the sector, and the call by Members from both parties to significantly increase funding for child care, we urge Committee leadership to include the highest possible funding amount for CCDBG in a final package and to consider calls to double funding for CCDBG, providing a total funding increase of $6.17 billion.

We greatly appreciate your bipartisan support for increasing funding for child care and early learning in recent years. Still, too many families are struggling to find and afford high-quality child care, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only magnified these challenges. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, only 16% of federally eligible children receive a child care subsidy. Additionally, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are currently 100,000 fewer child care workers than there were before the pandemic, contributing to the nation’s child care crisis. The proposed $1 billion funding increase for CCDBG passed by the House Appropriations Committee and proposed in the Senate Chairman’s mark would be a critical down payment to allow states to sustain and expand services for children and families and to take steps to improve compensation for the child care workforce.

Additionally, we urge you to consider calls by Members of Congress and advocates to increase non-defense discretionary spending and double funding for CCDBG, providing a total funding level of $12.3 billion. Even with the critical funding increase proposed by the House and by Senate Democrats, significant gaps remain to adequately meet the needs of children and families. The House recognized this last year when it passed historic increases in funding for child care and early learning through the Build Back Better Act. A doubling of CCDBG funding would dramatically increase the fraction of eligible children and families served, expand support for the child care workforce, and increase child care supply. By one estimate, if Congress were to double funding for CCDBG and use 80% of that funding on direct services, more than 800,000 additional children would be reached. Doubling CCDBG would also benefit our economy by increasing parents’ labor force participation and boosting productivity.

As you know, a large body of research finds that investments in high-quality child care are among the most fiscally responsible investments we can make, improving children’s long-term outcomes and strengthening our economy. We were proud to vote for the child care relief provided through the American Rescue Plan (ARP), which has been essential to keeping the sector from total collapse and vital to our economic recovery. While crucial, these ARP funds are temporary, and they do not diminish the need for increased and sustained child care appropriations to address long-standing challenges, including a decline in child care providers, rising costs, and inadequate availability of subsidies to meet the needs of eligible children and families. For these reasons, we urge you to include the highest level of funding possible for CCDBG, and no less than the proposed increase of $1 billion.

Thank you for your consideration of this request. We appreciate your leadership on this issue and look forward to working with you to continue to improve our nation’s child care sector.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-castro-senator-warren-introduce-bill-to-prevent-surprise-billing-at-military-hospitals,"Congressman Castro, Senator Warren Introduce Bill to Prevent Surprise Billing at Military Hospitals",2022-12-02,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Joaquin Castro,C001091,castro.house.gov,castro,https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON— This week, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) introduced the Financial Relief for Civilians Treated at Military Hospitals Act, legislation that would ensure that Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) run by the Department of Defense (DoD) can continue to enhance military readiness without racking up huge bills for civilians receiving emergency medical care.

“For years, civilian patients treated at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio have faced sky-high medical bills for lifesaving trauma care,” said Congressman Castro. “Domestic military hospitals are designed to train military medical personnel for the battlefield, and the federal government should cover their operating costs. The Financial Relief for Civilians Treated at Military Hospitals Act would erase millions of dollars in prior civilian debt and prevent military hospitals from charging for emergency care going forward.”

“Unexpected medical emergencies should not leave people drowning in debt,” said Senator Warren. “The Financial Relief for Civilians Treated at Military Hospitals Act would ensure that civilians in need of life saving care at military treatment facilities can do so without the fear of taking on overwhelming financial burdens.”

Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) is one of two Level I Trauma Centers in San Antonio and serves nearly half of civilian patients treated by MTFs. For years, Congressman Castro has worked to help constituents who faced extraordinarily high medical bills after receiving trauma care at BAMC. In 2020, Congressman Castro secured an amendment in the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that provided the DOD with the flexibility to waive civilian medical bills. Despite this flexibility, a July 2022 report from the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that military hospitals do not “consistently use or communicate options for financial relief for civilian emergency patients.” The report also found that DoD failed to accurately track debts collected from civilians. Two thirds of the civilian emergency patients who received treatment did not have insurance, leaving them highly vulnerable to massive medical bills. Of the 26,696 civilian medical debt cases GAO reviewed, only .1% had their debt reduced.

The Financial Relief for Civilians Treated at Military Hospitals Act would eliminate previous debts for medical services rendered to civilians at MTFs who are not covered under TRICARE and prohibits an MTF from charging a civilian or their private insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid for any emergency medical treatment.

To view the bill text, click here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-gonzalez-celebrates-rail-agreement-protects-workers-and-strengthens,Congressman Gonzalez Celebrates Rail Agreement that Protects Workers and Strengthens the Economy,2022-12-02,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Vicente Gonzalez,G000581,gonzalez.house.gov,gonzalez,https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) released the following statement after President Biden signed House Joint Resolution 100, an agreement that protects rail workers and strengthens the American supply chain:

""I voted in favor of this deal to ensure that rail workers have the necessary protections to do the hard work required and ensure that the American economy is not burdened with more supply chain issues. A halt in our nation's railway infrastructure would have detrimental effects on our economy and the American people during a time of strong economic growth.

""Our nation's rail workers deserve a fair deal, and while this deal is not perfect, it guarantees workers are paid a living wage with benefits that include healthcare coverage and a long overdue pay raise. The American people need certainty that their leaders will take necessary steps to overcome the lingering effects of global supply chain issues. I will continue working to improve working conditions for rail workers who serve an integral role in our supply chain and economy.""

H.J.Res. 100, adopts the Tentative Agreement between railroads and workers that was reached in September of 2022:

· a 24 percent pay raise and a $5,000 bonus

· no changes in copays, deductibles or coinsurance costs

· some time off for routine, preventative and emergency medical care

· protecting the two-man crew",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://veasey.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/veasey-introduces-legislation-to-designate-wagner-group-as-a-foreign,Veasey Introduces Legislation to Designate Wagner Group As a Foreign Terrorist Organization,2022-12-02,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Marc A. Veasey,V000131,veasey.house.gov,veasey,https://veasey.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Rep. Veasey (D-TX) introduced the Holding Accountable Russian Mercenaries (HARM) Act, bipartisan legislation that would require the Secretary of State to designate the Russian-based PMC Wagner Group as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO). Along with Veasey, Representatives Steve Cohen (D-TN), Joe Wilson (R-SC), and Richard Hudson (R-NC) are original sponsors of the bill. Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) are original sponsors of companion legislation in the U.S. Senate.

""The Wagner Group's mercenaries are doing Vladimir Putin's bidding around the world. This critical legislation will take steps to hold this dangerous group accountable for the atrocities that they commit and help put a stop to future violent crimes from occurring,"" said Congressman Veasey.

""Where the Wagner Group operates, atrocities follow. The HARM Act will identify Putin's private mercenary group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and let the world know that its activities are both malign and illegal. It's time to shine some light on this notorious group and give it the detestable reputation it deserves,"" said Congressman Steve Cohen, co-chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission.

""For too long the Wagner Group has been engaging in nefarious atrocities around the globe, all at the behest of war criminal Putin and his cronies. I'm grateful to join my bipartisan, bicameral colleagues in introducing legislation that will finally designate the group as the foreign terrorist organization it is and expose them in their true state as a murderous and criminal enterprise,"" said Congressman Joe Wilson.

""The Wagner Group is a threat to the interests and security of the United States, our allies, and its partners,"" said Representative Richard Hudson. ""We must hold those responsible for perpetrating Putin's war against Ukraine and atrocities elsewhere accountable. Designating this mercenary group a Foreign Terrorist Organization will send a strong message to those in Russia and all who seek to do harm across the world.""

Vladimir Putin and his cronies will stop at nothing to accomplish their objectives, including employing mercenaries like the Wagner Group to commit atrocities on their behalf,"" Senator Wicker said. ""The U.S. should call this shadow army what it is: a foreign terrorist group. We must hold them accountable along with any who support them.""

""As Russia's brutal war against Ukraine enters its ninth month, the United States must continue to remove the tools of destruction at its disposal,"" said Senator Cardin, chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission. ""The Wagner Group has been credibly linked to countless atrocities in Ukraine as well as Syria and across the African continent. The U.S. must immediately designate the Wagner Group as a foreign terrorist organization. Doing so will diminish the strength of the Russian armed forces and help hold human rights violators accountable.""

The Wagner Group is a para-military organization that employs thousands of mercenaries. It has been widely recognized for its work as a private military for Russian President Vladimir Putin, conducting terrorist operations in Ukraine, Mali, Sudan, and the Central African Republic that resulted in the massacre of civilians since 2014.

The Wagner Group has also murdered and threatened journalists, kidnapped children, deployed nerve agents against civilians, committed acts of torture, and engaged in rape and sex trafficking of women and children.

The senators' legislation would require the Secretary of State to designate the Wagner Group as a FTO under section 219(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act within 90 days of enactment. The proposal also includes provisions that would apply the FTO designation to any affiliated or successor entity to the PMC Wagner Group.

The legislation follows action by the European Parliament that declared Russia a state sponsor of terrorism and specifically called out the Wagner Group for its atrocities.

The Wagner Group has already been the target of U.S. action. On June 20, 2017, the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned the Wagner Group and its military leader, Dmitry Utkin, pursuant to Executive Order 13660. On September 20, 2018, the Department of State added Yevgeniy Prigozhin and his affiliated entities, including the PMC Wagner Group, to the list of persons identified as part of, or operating for or on behalf of, the defense or intelligence sectors of the Government of the Russian Federation under section 231 of the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act.

Veasey, Cohen, Wilson, Hudson, Wicker, and Cardin are all members of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, which is a U.S. government commission that promotes human rights, military security, and economic cooperation in 57 countries in Europe, Eurasia, and North America. Rep. Veasey also serves as a Member of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's Ad Hoc Committee on Countering Terrorism.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://doggett.house.gov/media/press-releases/remembering-bob-krueger-statement-house-passage-doggett-bill-name-new-0,Remembering Bob Krueger: Statement on House Passage of Doggett Bill to Name New Braunfels Post Office,2022-12-01,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Lloyd Doggett,D000399,doggett.house.gov,doggett,https://doggett.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Contact: Kate Stotesbery

202-494-4620

Washington, D.C. – Just now, after the House of U.S. Representatives passed the H.R.8203 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 651 Business Interstate Highway 35 North Suite 420 in New Braunfels, Texas, as the ""Bob Krueger Post Office,” author of the bill U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) released the following statement on the life and legacy of the late public servant, New Braunfels native Bob Krueger:

“This legislation provides a modest way for us to honor one who did so much in so many ways for so many. My legislation will name this post office, in the heart of his community, just a block away from a twist and turn of the great Guadalupe River, after its great, late Bob Krueger. To honor his memory and make his rich legacy—his values, his grace, his kindness, his commitment to service—a part of our future.”

Rep. Doggett also took to the floor to urge his colleagues to pass this bill in honor of the late Texas statesman. He shared, in part:

“President Clinton appointed him as the Ambassador to Burundi, which he described as the most fulfilling period of his life. There he met Rwandan refugees fleeing massacres, which he documented, putting himself at risk, as one of the first Western voices to report the genocide. He discovered villages where children were slaughtered by the military, but farm animals were allowed to live. Even after the front pages of two local newspapers called for his death, he continued his mission: Sounding the alarm, documenting atrocities, ensuring international notice. He survived an assassination attempt and, only after it became too unsafe for his family, was evacuated and then appointed as Ambassador to Botswana.

He cut a singular figure: a Shakespeare-quoting, former East Coast professor who connected with Texas ranchers, a busy public servant, who nonetheless valued a few hours’ of daily meditation.

Throughout all his types of service, whether he was driving a pickup truck around West Texas or an armored vehicle in Burundi on a diplomatic mission, he always was driven by the same values, same faith, and the same guiding light: his family.

His partner for almost four decades, Kathleen Tobin Krueger, meant the world to him, and they traveled it together. Recently, she has been continuing their work by fiercely advocating for their close friend San Antonian, Paul Rusesabagina. Paul, who inspired “Hotel Rwanda,” received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and remains wrongly imprisoned in Rwanda.

Bob’s wonderful daughter, Mariana, an accomplished photographer, who shares his love of Duke as an undergrad and grad school alumna, now lives in Austin and does good work in his legacy. His daughter, Sarah, also double Duke alumna, works a senior reporter for WRAL in Durham, living there with her husband Will and son Brooks. His son Christian, a former Legislative Assistant here for Rep. Castro, also lives in Texas with his wife Marion.”

Watch his full floor remarks here.

Image

###

Follow Congressman Doggett",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1103,Congresswoman Escobar Statement on DPCC Election,2022-12-01,2022,2022-12,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 her election to the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee:

“I am honored my colleagues have elected me as a Co-Chair of the DPCC. As one of the members entrusted with crafting the messaging for our party over the next two years, I am humbled by this awesome responsibility.

“This upcoming Congress is an opportunity to ensure that the American people see that it is Democrats who - throughout the 117th Congress - delivered historic investments in infrastructure, climate, and manufacturing. Meanwhile, we know that the Republican Party, which largely voted against our good work, has proven unable to govern and remains gripped by the extremism damaging our nation. Using every tool at our disposal, continuing our work to connect with communities of color, addressing difficult topics head-on, and learning from each of our members across every corner of our country is just the beginning of how we will accomplish the goals I have for this invaluable committee.

“I congratulate Chair Joe Neguse and Co-Chairs Lauren Underwood and Dean Phillips, and I am grateful to every member who invested the time and effort to run. I cannot wait to begin working together on behalf of our caucus and the American people.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-sylvia-garcia-announces-nearly-50-million-federal-funds-two-local,CONGRESSWOMAN SYLVIA GARCIA ANNOUNCES NEARLY $50 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS FOR TWO LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS,2022-12-01,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,TX,Sylvia R. Garcia,G000587,sylviagarcia.house.gov,sylviagarcia,https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) recently announced $25,091,359 in federal funds for the Harris County Public Health and $24,771,189 for the Houston Health Department. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was the granting agency and was funded in part by President Biden's American Rescue Plan (ARP) – which Congresswoman Garcia strongly supported in Congress. Specifically, these funds will address long-standing challenges across workforce retention, foundational capabilities, and data modernization.

""Sadly, Texas has the highest uninsured rate in the country, so investing in the region's public health infrastructure is critical to ensuring residents have the health professionals and medical services in place to stay healthy and strong,"" said Congresswoman Garcia. ""I supported President Biden's American Rescue Plan because I knew the funds would help constituents in my district. Now, both Harris County Public Health and the Houston Health Department will have essential funds to recruit and train more diverse public health staff and upgrade their facilities' medical and data systems. This will give patients a better experience when receiving healthcare in our region.""

Both health departments will now have five years to invest the funds. This grant is part of the CDC's Strengthening U.S. Public Health Infrastructure, Workforce, and Data Systems grant program. This first-of-its-kind grant program provides flexible awards directly to state, local, and territorial health departments, to help ensure they have the staff, services, and systems they need to promote and protect health in their communities. It includes significant resources that awardees can use to recruit, retain, and train their workforce. Learn more about the grant program on the CDC's website.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z
https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-castro-congressional-hispanic-caucus-nominate-33-latino-songs-for-inclusion-in-national-recording-registry,"Rep. Castro, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Nominate 33 Latino Works for Inclusion in National Recording Registry",2022-11-29,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,TX,Joaquin Castro,C001091,castro.house.gov,castro,https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – This week, Rep. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Raul Ruiz (CA-36), and CHC Vice Chair Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) led the CHC in nominating 33 works by Latino musicians for inclusion in the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry.

“The National Recording Registry’s very existence speaks to the importance of music and broadcast in American culture and society. Music brings people from all different backgrounds together, and Latino music has had an indelible influence across the American music spectrum on every genre from jazz, rhythm and blues, country, pop, and hip-hop. Yet, Latino contributions in music have been insufficiently recognized,” the members wrote in their nomination letter. “As an art, the diversity of the Latino sound can be heard in every measure and resonates with every beat…These songs were selected with feedback from the public, and they reflect the diversity of Latino identities, histories, and geographies. We hope you will give each of these songs listed below careful consideration and that we will see many of them included in the National Recording Registry.”

The National Recording Registry is the nation’s preeminent archive of recorded sound. Established by the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000, the Registry is intended to maintain and preserve sound recordings and collections of sound recordings that have cultural, historic, or aesthetic significance to life in the United States. On an annual basis, the National Recording Preservation Board selects 25 recordings to add to the registry and preserve in the Library of Congress. The Registry currently contains 600 works, of which just 23 (3.8%) were recorded by Latino musicians.

The works nominated by Rep. Castro and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus were drawn from hundreds of public suggestions submitted through social media. The list was crafted to highlight musicians with no prior songs on the Registry and works were intentionally chosen to represent the diversity of the Latino experience — including Spanish-language and bilingual tracks, tracks from Afro-Latino/a and LGBTQ+ Latino/a musicians, and musicians from across the Latino diaspora.

To view the full nomination letter, click here.

The full CHC list of nominations to the National Recording Registry is as follows:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://veasey.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-veasey-statement-on-fort-worth-star-telegram-staff-strikes,Rep. Veasey Statement on Fort Worth Star-Telegram Staff Strikes,2022-11-29,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,TX,Marc A. Veasey,V000131,veasey.house.gov,veasey,https://veasey.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"FORT WORTH – Today, Rep. Veasey (TX-33) released the following statement in support of the striking Fort Worth Star-Telegram journalists:

""I strongly stand with striking workers at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram fighting for fair working conditions. It is deeply troubling that the Star-Telegram has unfairly suspended the hard-earned benefits of those striking workers.

""I urge the Star-Telegram's parent company, McClatchy, to come to the table to enact a fair contract with their striking workers. As your Congressman, I will always fight for workers, jobs, and unions here in North Texas.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/houston-chronicle-reports-congressman-greens-efforts-bring-his-constituent,Houston Chronicle Reports on Congressman Green’s Efforts to Bring His Constituent Jaime Avalos Back Home to His Wife and Baby in Houston,2022-11-26,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,TX,Al Green,G000553,algreen.house.gov,algreen,https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(Houston, TX) — On Saturday, November 26, 2022, Congressman Al Green released the following statement:

“Yesterday, Friday, November 25, 2022, the Houston Chronicle published a piece on my constituent Mr. Jaime Avalos and the latest updates on my efforts to bring him back to Houston, the city he calls home. Earlier this week I traveled to Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, where Mr. Avalos is currently stranded, with Mr. Avalos’s American-born wife Yarianna, their nearly one-year old infant, and the Avalos family attorney Naimeh Salem. I encourage you to learn more about our visit and about Jaime’s story by reading the Houston Chronicle article here.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/castro-cardenas-lujan-menendez-lead-colleagues-urging-twitter-to-restore-protections-for-spanish-speaking-users,"Castro, Cárdenas, Luján, Menendez Lead Colleagues Urging Twitter to Restore Protections for Spanish-Speaking Users",2022-11-23,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,TX,Joaquin Castro,C001091,castro.house.gov,castro,https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Representatives Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Tony Cárdenas (CA-29) and U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (NM) and Bob Menendez (NJ) led colleagues in a letter to Twitter CEO Elon Musk, urging Twitter to reverse cuts that expose Spanish speakers to fraud and abuse. The letter follows an alarming spike in harassment on the platform and reports that Twitter has fired a large majority of its contractors domestically and abroad who work to detect and remove illegal and harmful content that violates the platform’s own guidelines. The letter was also signed by Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Raul Ruiz (CA-36) and Reps. Lori Trahan (MA-03), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14).

In their letter, the lawmakers underscore the important role a global workforce with adequate language skill and cultural context plays in protecting users from fraud and harassment and urge Twitter to provide information regarding how the platform will enforce its policies and provide non-English language users with the level of service and protections they are equally entitled to.

Earlier this month, Congressman Castro joined his colleagues in sending a letter to Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube, calling on YouTube to address the lack of action and transparency regarding the spread of Spanish-language misinformation and disinformation on its platform. In April, lawmakers sent a letter urging Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, urging Meta to increase platform moderation of Spanish-language disinformation. Last year, the lawmakers also wrote letters to tech CEOs raising the alarm over the increasing rate of Spanish and other non-English language disinformation across Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Nextdoor.

“For years, social media companies have tolerated misinformation and harassment in Spanish that would never be allowed in English. Today, as Twitter purges the workers responsible for global safety, Spanish speakers are facing an unprecedented surge in threats, hate speech, and disinformation. If Twitter wants to be a platform that protects free speech, Elon Musk must reverse cuts to the company’s global safety workforce and build empowered content moderation teams who will keep online trolls and bots from drowning out real voices,” said Congressman Castro.

""We've already seen the devastating consequences on our communities when Spanish-language misinformation goes unchecked,"" said Congressman Cárdenas. ""Elon Musk’s mass layoffs raise serious concerns about Twitter's ability to protect Spanish speakers and enforce reasonable content moderation policies. Social media has come to play a large role in American life, and we need to know that Twitter will take that responsibility seriously as it goes through this leadership transition.”

“Disinformation, harassment and fraud in Spanish was already a prominent issue that wasn’t properly or consistently addressed before Musk took over as CEO of Twitter. Now, amid the abrupt firing of thousands of critical workers, the dangerous lies have only increased,” said Senator Luján. “These workers played a vital role in protecting users in the United States and abroad. Dismissing these workers without having a stop-gap in place, only leaves Twitter and its Spanish-speaking community at risk for long lasting consequences across the platform. Twitter must act urgently to protect all of its users regardless of the language they speak at home or use online.”

“My colleagues and I have long been leading efforts to hold social media platforms accountable for the unfettered spread of Spanish-language mis/disinformation. Following the recent mass layoffs and staff exodus from Twitter, we are raising the alarm to make sure it is taking the necessary precautions to protect users from internal enforcement gaps that might unnecessarily expose them to bad actors looking to harass, defraud, or propagate harmful disinformation, especially when it comes to targeting Spanish and other non-English users,” said Senator Menendez.

""Mis and disinformation take on many forms online, ranging from false information about voting times and locations to false claims that immigration enforcement officials are monitoring polling locations,"" said Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Dr. Raul Ruiz. ""Such information can spread easily on online platforms. Across the board, there is also a lack of transparency about how social media companies tackle Spanish-language misinformation. Our democracy depends on us acting.""

“The cuts that Elon Musk has made at Twitter are deeply concerning and have the potential to harm users, particularly non-English language speakers, if left unaddressed,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “As Twitter’s owner and CEO, Musk has an obligation to ensure all users are protected from harassment and scams, not just the users he likes.”

“Many Spanish-speakers rely on social media as their primary news sources, putting them at greater risk from disinformation. Spanish language disinformation was already a low-priority, but the layoffs of content moderation staff leave Spanish-speaking users more vulnerable to mis- and disinformation, fraud, scams, and harassment. Twitter must address these inequities and put strong protections in place for Spanish-speaking users on the platform,” said Congresswoman Barragán.

The full text of the letter is available HERE and below:

Dear Mr. Musk:

We have serious concerns regarding reports of Twitter terminating a large majority of its contractors working domestically and abroad. These layoffs may have harmful and long-lasting consequences for user safety across the platform, especially for Spanish-language and other non-English language users.

Social media companies, including Twitter, have long outsourced content moderation, one of the most difficult and critical responsibilities on the platform, to overseas contractors. Twitter tasks these workers with reviewing illegal, harmful, and traumatic content in order to ensure the safety of the platform’s users. Twitter relies on these contractors for critical language skills and a deep understanding of the cultural context of the market to ensure users are protected from harassment, scams, and content that violates the platform’s existing policies.

All users deserve the same level of protection from harassment, fraud, and illegal activity regardless of the language they speak at home. Despite this core principle, online platforms have regularly failed to consistently enforce their existing policies across non-English languages, including Spanish. These gaps in enforcement leave communities vulnerable to bad actors who specifically target these languages with harassment, fraud and disinformation. This was particularly damaging during the COVID-19 pandemic, as Spanish-language users in the U.S. and abroad were inundated with disinformation about the virus and vaccination efforts. Reports of a spike in racial harassment over the past weeks on Twitter proves that this issue requires immediate attention. As such, we are deeply concerned that Twitter may have fired critical staff working to protect users who speak these languages. This comes in the wake of other news that Twitter may have already undermined users’ safety on the platform as a result of other recent layoffs, the departure of Twitter’s Global Head of Safety & Integrity, and the elimination of teams responsible for overseeing its ethical AI and algorithmic transparency initiatives.

These workers provided a critical service to Twitter and its users, and reports of their mass and abrupt termination raises serious concerns. Please provide information regarding how Twitter plans to enforce its policies and provide its non-English language users with the level of service and protections they deserve.

How many staff and contractors has Twitter cut who were previously responsible for content moderation? Please provide an account of the staffing level both prior to November 2022, and after the staffing cuts broken down by the following:

Country in which the employee is permanently stationed; and

Language fluency and markets served.

Following the reported staffing cuts, will Twitter maintain the amount of content that it reviews in its original language? What was this ratio prior to, and immediately following the change in staffing?

How will you ensure that the algorithmic processes detecting illegal content and harmful material that otherwise violates Twitter’s policies are equally effective across all languages in which the platform operates?

What support services, including mental health counseling, are currently available to content moderators globally? What percentage of content moderators use these support services? Do you intend to change any of those offerings as part of ongoing restructuring at Twitter?

Twitter recently announced an expansion of its curation program to Latin America, Spain and the US. How will the most recent layoffs impact these efforts?",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://doggett.house.gov/media/press-releases/six-years-lockhart-balloon-tragedy-faa-finally-implements-doggetts-safety-law,Six Years Since Lockhart Balloon Tragedy: FAA Finally Implements Doggett’s Safety Law in Memory of Those Lost,2022-11-23,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,TX,Lloyd Doggett,D000399,doggett.house.gov,doggett,https://doggett.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Contact: Kate Stotesbery

202-494-4620

Austin, TX – Today, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) released the following reaction to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) finally implementing the safety law he authored and passed in 2018 to require commercial hot-air balloon pilots to hold medical certificates when flying paying passengers:

“Almost six and a half years after the Lockhart tragedy from an impaired pilot, a full four years after passage of our law to ensure such tragedies cannot repeat, now, the law is finally in full force. The FAA inexcusably delayed and delayed for years, even after we wrote this requirement into a law, which was explicit. Now, thankfully, we finally have action.

Passage of my passenger safety bill was the result of the dedicated work of the families and all who petitioned for this belated action. For the many who prayed and mourned the loss resulting from this unnecessary tragedy, know that you have been heard. We cannot bring these precious lives back. But, now that this is finally implemented, we hope no more families will be exposed to the horror of a crash from an impaired pilot.”

July 30th of this year marked six years since 16 lives were lost in the Lockhart hot air balloon crash—when a pilot flying under the influence crashed into a power line, leaving no survivors. This was the deadliest commercial balloon crash in our history, and the worst aviation disaster in America since 2009. For years following the crash, Rep. Doggett pressed the FAA to improve balloon safety by implementing a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendation to mandate medical certificates for commercial pilots, since the NTSB found that the FAA’s refusal to require balloon operators to obtain a medical certificate contributed to the crash on July 30, 2016. The FAA failed to take action on their own, so Rep. Doggett worked to pass bipartisan legislation to do so.

Even after Rep. Doggett secured a law in memory of those lost in 2018 with this requirement, the FAA took four years yet to implement the Doggett amendment, exposing more to death. Last September, during the period of bureaucratic delay, four passengers died in Albuquerque after an impaired pilot crashed a balloon into power lines.

The FAA belatedly began the rulemaking process in November 2021 and issued the final rule last week. Rep. Doggett’s amendment passed in 2018; he delivered remarks on the House Floor, which can be found here. He also released this video message for constituents and for victims’ families upon House passage, viewable here.

###

Follow Congressman Doggett",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1089,Congresswoman Escobar Statement on Leader McCarthy’s Visit to El Paso and His Threat to Impeach Secretary Mayorkas,2022-11-22,2022,2022-11,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 after Leader McCarthy’s visit to El Paso and his threat to impeach Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas:

“Leader McCarthy’s threat to impeach Secretary Mayorkas does nothing to improve the situation at our border, and his visit to El Paso today was more of the what Republicans have been doing at the border for years: they parachute in, use the border as a photo-op, and their only solution is to champion more of their same failed, expensive policies that address immigration as a border-only issue.

My work will continue to focus on fighting for funding that helps our border community address our challenges, reforms that will help both agents and migrants, and Congressional legislation to create legal pathways that will alleviate the pressures at our border. I hope Republican members of Congress one day soon decide to act legislatively instead of performatively.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1090,Congresswoman Escobar Sends Letter to Appropriations Committee Leadership to Prioritize Funding for El Paso Joint Processing Center,2022-11-22,2022,2022-11,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) sent a letter to Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro and Ranking Member Chuck Fleishmann urging them to prioritize available funding in the Fiscal Year 2023 Appropriations Package for a Joint Processing Center (JPC) in El Paso.

“In 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) purchased 60 acres of land from the City of El Paso as the first step in building a new JPC for the region; this land was purchased using funds from the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Package for Humanitarian Assistance and Security at the Southern Border Act of 2019,” wrote Congresswoman Escobar. “The updated facility would increase CBP and El Paso’s capacity to efficiently process migrants and ease overcrowding at existing processing centers, which are too old and small to adequately handle current processing needs. However, construction on the facility had not started before the funding from 2019 had to be repackaged and re-appropriated to prevent losing it, leaving CBP with 60 acres of land and no funding for further development.”

She continued, “With additional funding for JPCs available in the final FY23 appropriations bill, I would like to stress the importance of affording communities that consistently welcome migrants into their cities, like El Paso, the opportunity to modernize outdated infrastructure that no longer meets the challenges presented by the new normal of 21stcentury immigration.”

“Local leaders and stakeholders in El Paso have had to assist the federal government over the years through evolving and emerging immigration challenges. For decades El Paso has had to support the federal government, which has failed to adequately address the growing numbers of migrants at the southern border. Congress has failed to modernize antiquated immigration laws and for decades has addressed immigration policy as border policy. At the same time, the situation has become more unsustainable as immigration is increasingly driven by political instability and accelerating climate change in equatorial countries,” she added.

“Last Congress, I brought over 20% of my Congressional colleagues to El Paso to see how outdated border infrastructure, outdated personnel structures, and decades-old immigration laws have created processing inefficiencies, led to frequent overcrowding in processing facilities, fueled mission creep for CBP agents, led to indefensible backlogs in the immigration system, and have ultimately worked to make our border less secure,” she continued. “With these lessons learned in mind, I have advanced several strategies that could help streamline processing at the border, including successfully establishing civilian Processing Coordinator positions, introducing legislation that reimagines asylum processing into a comprehensive process, and calling for more legal immigration pathways.”

“I urge the Committee to consider El Paso a recipient for JPC funding in FY23. Thank you for your consideration of my request as you finalize the final FY23 appropriations bill,” she concluded.

The full text of the letter can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4276,"Ahead of Small Business Saturday, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Visits Small Businesses in Texas’ Seventh Congressional District",2022-11-22,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,TX,Lizzie Fletcher,F000468,fletcher.house.gov,fletcher,https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) visited Dandelion Café and Courtney Barton Home Goods to highlight Small Business Saturday. For more than a decade, Small Business Saturday has served to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities. This year, Small Business Saturday will be held on Saturday, November 26, 2022.

“Small businesses are drivers of our economy and essential pillars of our community,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. “I was glad to visit with local business owners and discuss the ways their businesses support our local economy. I look forward to continuing to support policies that strengthen our small business community.”

Last year, Congresswoman Fletcher voted for the American Rescue Plan Act, H.R. 1319, which provided critical resources for hardest hit small businesses, including $28.6 billion for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-al-green-travels-mexico-visit-daca-constituent-and-us-consulate,Congressman Al Green Travels to Mexico to Visit DACA Constituent and U.S. Consulate General in Ciudad Juarez,2022-11-21,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,TX,Al Green,G000553,algreen.house.gov,algreen,https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(Houston, TX) — On Tuesday, November 22, 2022, Congressman Al Green will be traveling to Ciudad Juarez to visit with his constituent Mr. Jaime Avalos who is currently stranded in Mexico and is celebrating his birthday the day after Thanksgiving. Congressman Green will be joined by Mr. Avalos’s American-born wife of nearly three years, their infant son, and the family’s lawyer. Mr. Avalos is a DACA recipient who was brought to the U.S. at the age of one. Less than four months ago, Mr. Avalos went to the U.S. Consulate General in Ciudad Juarez for a scheduled interview as part of the process to obtain his permanent residency. During the interview, it was discovered that after Mr. Avalos’s entry to the U.S. as an infant, his mother took him back to Mexico as a child of less than eight years of age to register his birth before bringing him back to the U.S. permanently.

Under U.S. law, Mr. Avalos has been barred from re-entering the U.S. for 10 years due to being taken out of the country by his mother and returning to the U.S. before he acquired permanent residency. Mr. Avalos has lived his entire 27 years in the U.S. and calls this country home. He is a graduate of Houston’s Bellaire High School, has held steady employment since he was a senior in high school, has no criminal record, and is married to a U.S. citizen with whom he has a son that will be celebrating his first birthday this December.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-castro-announces-winner-of-2022-congressional-app-challenge-for-the-20th-district-of-texas,Congressman Castro Announces Winner of 2022 Congressional App Challenge for the 20th District of Texas,2022-11-21,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,TX,Joaquin Castro,C001091,castro.house.gov,castro,https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"SAN ANTONIO – Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) announced that Rishi Hariharaprasad, a junior at Brandeis High School, has won the 2022 Congressional App Challenge for the 20th Congressional District of Texas. Rishi’s winning app “Disabled Health” helps people with disabilities access user-friendly technology to search for online information about at-home injuries. ""Disabled Health"" will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building and featured on the website for the U.S. House of Representatives. Congressional App Challenge winners are also invited to the #HouseOfCode Reception in Washington D.C.

Congressman Castro with Congressional App Challenge winner Rishi Hariharaprasad (left) and Congressional App Challenge competitors (right)

“Every year, the Congressional App Challenge give San Antonio students the opportunity to showcase their tech skills and their boundless creativity. This year, every competing student submitted an app that focused on the needs of our community — from helping people with disabilities to easing the transition to middle school. As our students develop in-demand STEM skills, I’m proud that empathy is guiding their work. Congratulations to all the students who competed and thank you to the San Antonio Area Foundation and our esteemed judges for lending their time and support to the Congressional App Challenge.”

Every year, the Congressional App Challenge provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate their computer science skills and compete to have their applications displayed in the U.S. Capitol building. Previous winners in the 20th Congressional District of Texas designed apps to support student mental health and help local middle schoolers learn about their options for high school.

In addition to the winning entry, this year’s Congressional App Challenge entries included:

“Brain Fluff,” a simulation game designed to teach physics.

Designed by Ayyub Reese, John Jay High School

“Love Thy Neighbor,” an app to connect elderly or disabled people with volunteers who can help with home and yard work.

Designed by Julian Cuellar, Harlandale ISD

“MMS: Marketplace for School Supplies,” an app to help struggling families access donated school supplies from the community.

Designed by Monica Rubio and Brandon Lee Ramirez, Brentwood STEAM School

“Iodah,” an app designed to support students during the transition from fifth to sixth grade.

Designed by Devonii DeLuna, Benjamin Mejia, Jessika Alvarez, and Jayden Zavala, Brentwood STEAM School",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-al-green-celebrates-one-year-anniversary-his-mbda-legislation,Congressman Al Green Celebrates One-Year Anniversary of His MBDA Legislation Being Codified into Law and Meets with Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development,2022-11-18,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,TX,Al Green,G000553,algreen.house.gov,algreen,https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(Houston, TX) — On Friday, November 18, 2022, Congressman Al Green released the following statement:

“I thank Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development Don Cravins Jr. for meeting with me this week and for his partnership in advancing minority business initiatives. On November 15, 2021, President Joe Biden signed into law my legislation, H.R.2689 – The Minority Business Resiliency Act of 2021, as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), a signature piece of his domestic agenda that made historic investments in America’s roads, bridges, rail, and more. My legislation codified into law the Minority Business Development Agency at the U.S. Department of Commerce after existing via executive order for over 50 years,” Congressman Al Green said. “The Minority Business Resiliency Act of 2021 permanently established the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), which is tasked with aiding in the growth and development of minority-owned businesses across our nation. By making the MBDA permanent, the U.S. will now be able to provide increased tangible aid to help minority entrepreneurs overcome historic barriers that have kept them out of business ownership for far too long.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://doggett.house.gov/media/press-releases/pressing-progress-trade-transparency-human-rights-labor-not-backsliding,Pressing for Progress on Trade Transparency & Human Rights in Labor—Not Backsliding,2022-11-18,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,TX,Lloyd Doggett,D000399,doggett.house.gov,doggett,https://doggett.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Contact: Kate Stotesbery

202-494-4620

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Chair, and Trade Subcommittee Chair Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) led 24 members in urging the Biden Administration to assure continued progress in improving trade data transparency—and, specifically, to reject a current proposal to end public disclosure of import data for goods arriving to the United States via ocean transport. This would make trade data even less accessible, making enforcement of human rights legislation like the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act much more difficult.

“We need to shine a light on the labor and supply chains that produced the contents of each incoming cargo container entering America. Hiding the import data will allow abuse of human rights to flourish in the shadows,” said Congressman Doggett. “Effectively enforcing the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act and protecting Americans from supporting other forms of forced labor, child labor, environmental harm, and additional wrongs demands rejecting this ill-conceived proposal. Instead of undermining transparency, now is the time to seek improved ways of ensuring accountability.”

“The trade data that is currently available to Americans buying goods from overseas that arrives on ocean-going freight should absolutely continue to be made publicly available,” said Congressman Blumenauer. “This ill-conceived proposal to limit trade data transparency goes against the grain of what the public wants, which is the reassurance that goods they are buying from abroad are not made with forced labor, child labor, or at the expense of the environment. My colleagues and I strongly urge the Administration to reject this proposal.”

You can read the letter in full here or below:

The Honorable Chris Magnus

Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection

1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW

Washington, DC 20229

Dear Commissioner Magnus,

We write in strong opposition to the recent proposal submitted to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) by your Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) which calls for ending public disclosure of import data for goods that arrive on our shores via ocean transport.

The public availability of such data is crucial for the enforcement trade agreements, such as those that protect American workers from competing with goods manufactured with forced labor. Currently key import data from goods arriving via air, road or rail is not subject to public disclosure. However, federal law (19 U.S.C § 1431) provides for the public disclosure of key information from vessel manifests. Ocean-going freight is responsible for approximately half of the imported goods entering the United States in a given year, and as such transparency into goods arriving via marine traffic is indispensable in tracing and monitoring forced labor risks in supply chains.

Investigative work by journalists and other members of civil society relying upon the public disclosure of such trade data has been critical in assisting your agency’s enforcement of Section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. §1307), which prohibits importing any product that was mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part by forced labor, in addition to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. Additionally, public transparency of maritime trade data has greatly facilitated Congress’ authority under Article 1 Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution to oversee and regulate commerce with foreign nations. Ending public disclosure of this trade information would impede congressional oversight over foreign commerce and significantly impair CBP’s capacity to ensure goods that arrive on our shores are not produced by forced labor.

Moreover, removing from public disclosure import data from shipping manifests stands in stark contrast to the stated goals of your 21st Century Customs Framework (21CCF). As your agency says, “the complexities of the modern supply chain have made it increasingly difficult to identify and deter violative behavior . . . reform is needed in order to protect American workers and business [and] ensure fair competition . . .” First among your goals for the 21CCF is achieving supply chain transparency, as “Improved visibility into global supply chains will strengthen CBP’s ability to root out violative actors, supporting ethical production methods and leveling the playing field for domestic industry.” We concur, and call upon CBP to adhere to this 21CCF goal to increase and not lessen supply chain transparency.

The COAC’s proposal would obscure public visibility into key trade data, in contravention of clear congressional intent, and inhibit the identification of supply chains that rely upon unfree labor and the exploitation of workers abroad. We urge CBP to reject COAC’s proposal and continue to take a strong stand against initiatives that would permit the prevalence of coerced labor.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to receiving your response.

###

Follow Congressman Doggett",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-castro-seeks-public-suggestions-for-songs-from-latino-artists-to-nominate-for-national-recording-registry,Congressman Castro Seeks Public Suggestions for Songs from Latino Artists to Nominate for National Recording Registry,2022-11-17,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,TX,Joaquin Castro,C001091,castro.house.gov,castro,https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) is requesting public submissions for songs from Latino artists that should be inducted in the National Recording Registry. The National Recording Registry is a federal archive managed by the Library of Congress that works to preserve sounds with cultural and historical significance to the United States.

“For generations, songs from Latino artists have formed the soundtrack to American life. As the Library of Congress works to enshrine the great sounds of the United States into our nation’s historical record, public nominations to the National Recording Registry will shine a spotlight on the Latino artists who have left an indelible mark on our nation. As a child of the ‘70s, I’m especially excited to see nominations from young adults who can add the songs of their childhood to our nation’s playlist,” said Congressman Castro.

To qualify for nomination, songs must be at least ten years old. Songs must be submitted to castro.house.gov/songs by November 26, 2022. Please check the National Recording Registry to avoid submitting duplicates.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1084,Congresswoman Escobar Statement on Speaker Pelosi,2022-11-17,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,TX,Veronica Escobar,E000299,escobar.house.gov,escobar,https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) released the following statement following Speaker Pelosi’s announcement that she will not seek another term in Democratic leadership:

“Speaker Pelosi has been the most consequential leader of my time, a woman of strength, strategy and brilliance. She led our country through some of our darkest moments and she shepherded historic legislation that improved the lives of millions of Americans and future generations. ‘For the children,’ is Speaker Pelosi’s mantra, and it is the children of our country who have been her guiding light. She has been ours. It is with great pride that I can say I have served alongside one of America’s most important patriots, and it is with great love that I thank her for her selflessness and her devotion to all of us.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1086,Congresswoman Escobar Introduces Legislation to Rename Post Office After La Fe Clinic Founder,2022-11-17,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,TX,Veronica Escobar,E000299,escobar.house.gov,escobar,https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Escobar introduced H.R. 9324, her bill to rename the United States Postal Service office located at 4400 E. Paisano Dr. after Enedina “Nina” Sanchez Cordero. Congresswoman Escobar’s legislation to designate the building as the “Enedina Sanchez Cordero Post Office Building” is in tribute to Ms. Cordero’s contributions to El Paso, most notably for her role in founding Centro De Salud Familiar La Fe.

“It is an honor to pay tribute to an El Pasoan whose activism has improved countless lives through the years,” said Congresswoman Escobar. “Ms. Cordero was a trailblazer who worked to ensure that those who lived in El Paso’s Segundo Barrio had a better life. This kind of servant leadership created one of El Paso’s great community assets: Centro De Salud Familiar La Fe, an organization that is still thriving providing care for people to this day.”

“Nina Cordero dedicated her life and her energy to defending the health and wellbeing of Segundo Barrio’s families and her South El Paso neighbors – becoming a catalyst for social justice across the nation,” saidSalvador Balcorta, Chief Executive Officer of Centro De Salud Familiar La Fe. “At the height of the Chicano Civil Rights Movement, she mobilized and led her community in a fight for a better future. Because of her activism, Centro De Salud Familiar La Fe – an award-winning Federally Qualified Health Center serving the entire El Paso, Texas County region — came to be. Thanks to Nina Cordero’s legacy and under La Fe’s watch, no child and no family are ever left behind. ¡Que Viva Nina Cordero! ¡Viva!”

The full text of the bill can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-sylvia-garcia-introduces-resolution-protect-children-physical,CONGRESSWOMAN SYLVIA GARCIA INTRODUCES RESOLUTION TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM PHYSICAL RESTRAINT AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS,2022-11-17,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,TX,Sylvia R. Garcia,G000587,sylviagarcia.house.gov,sylviagarcia,https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) introduced the No Kids in Cuffs Resolution to encourage local and State governments to prohibit the physical restraining of elementary school-age children. Sadly, students are being restrained by using handcuffs, zip ties, or other restraints as a form of disciplinary measure.

""Many children have been put in adult-sized handcuffs as a form of discipline,"" said Congresswoman Garcia. ""As a result, there have been at least 20 student fatalities since 2009 because of poor restraint techniques and children simply being too small. This is heartbreaking. We must acknowledge the trauma young children experience when they are physically restrained to create a safer learning environment for all children. This can be corrected by proper training and policies that ultimately eliminate this practice.""

""By bringing parents, educators, and law enforcement together, No Kids In Cuffs is a common-sense solution towards addressing the issue of trauma in our schools,"" said the Minaret Foundation.

In 2017-2018, nearly 71,000 students were physically restrained. Shockingly, during that same year, while kids with disabilities only made up 13% of the student population, 80% of all physical restraints were on kids with disabilities in schools. Many students have consequently experienced suicidal thoughts and post-traumatic anxiety.

###

Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2018, becoming the first Latina ever to represent the Texas 29th Congressional District. She serves on the House Judiciary, Financial Services, and Armed Services Committees.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/houston-chronicle-reports-congressman-al-greens-domestic-violence-awareness,Houston Chronicle Reports on Congressman Al Green’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month Press Conference,2022-11-16,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,TX,Al Green,G000553,algreen.house.gov,algreen,https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, D.C.) – On Wednesday, November 16, 2022, Congressman Al Green released the following statement:

“Various representatives from local advocacy groups recently joined me for a press conference on domestic violence awareness and prevention. Juhi Varma of the Houston Chronicle published an article this week discussing this news event and shared important information on local resources available to victims. I encourage you to read the article here and join me in advocating for the end of domestic violence.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-gonzalez-one-year-later-infrastructure-law-delivering-south-texans,"Rep Gonzalez: One Year Later, Infrastructure Law Delivering for South Texans",2022-11-16,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,TX,Vicente Gonzalez,G000581,gonzalez.house.gov,gonzalez,https://gonzalez.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – This week, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) marked the one-year anniversary of the historic federal investment through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

""One year ago, Democrats in Congress and President Biden delivered a once in a generation investment in America's roads, bridges, drainage and internet infrastructure,"" stated Congressman Gonzalez. ""South Texas is one of the fastest growing regions in the country and these investments will enable us to keep up with the demands of a growing population. I will continue to work with federal and state officials to advocate for every possible funding source South Texas deserves.""

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is already making historic investments in South and Central Texas, delivering funding for vital projects, including:

· $68 million for the Port of Brownsville in Brownsville, TX in United States Army Corps of Engineers new Construction

· $130 million for Gateway Bridge in Brownsville, TX under the major Land Port of Entry Renovation fund

· $25 million for Anzalduas Bridge in McAllen, TX under the INFRA Grant Program

· $3.9 million for the Port of Harlingen in new Port Infrastructure Development Program funds

· $1.5 million for New Braunfels National Airport under the Contract Tower Program

· $3.2 million for McAllen International Airport under the new Airport Infrastructure Grant

· $2.8 million for Valley International Airport in Harlingen under the new Airport Infrastructure Grant

· $1.5 million for Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport under the new Airport Infrastructure Grant

· $35 million in renovations and updates to the Interstate System

· $10.6 million to the expansion of Veteran's International Bridge

· $9.6 million to the construction of an Anzalduas Bridge Inspection Station",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1083,Congresswoman Escobar Statement on Federal Court Ruling on Title 42,2022-11-15,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,TX,Veronica Escobar,E000299,escobar.house.gov,escobar,https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Congresswoman Escobar (TX-16) issued the following statement on Title 42 in response to today's federal court ruling:

“For too long, members of Congress have championed Title 42 as a “solution” to the challenges we face at the southern border and as a substitute for real and meaningful immigration reform. It is neither.

""The only way to reform what’s happening at the border is to create a system where there truly are legal pathways, and only Congress can do that. In the absence of legislation, we will continue to see migrants making the dangerous journey, desperately attempting enter our country with the help of human traffickers, exacerbating inhumane conditions and further stressing law enforcement and border communities. Congress must stop making excuses and take action to reform our outdated laws now.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/castro-booker-jayapal-lead-83-members-calling-on-biden-administration-to-remove-barriers-to-affordable-health-care-for-daca-recipients,"Castro, Booker, Jayapal Lead 83 Members Calling on Biden Administration to Remove Barriers to Affordable Health Care for DACA Recipients",2022-11-14,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,TX,Joaquin Castro,C001091,castro.house.gov,castro,https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Senator Cory Booker (NJ) and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) led 83 colleagues in a letter calling on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to remove barriers that prevent Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients from accessing affordable health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

“[Current] regulation excludes a significant pool of young, healthy adults—the exact type of participants that Congress sought to encourage to secure and purchase health insurance under the ACA,” the members wrote. “These barriers to health coverage force many individuals and families to go without the health care they need, including essential preventive services and life-saving treatments. They also exacerbate existing health inequities that all immigrant communities face and especially immigrants of color. Moreover, the current regulation leads to worse health outcomes for DACA recipients and their families by foreclosing access to health care, including unsubsidized purchases on ACA health insurance marketplace. We strongly encourage HHS to honor our country’s promise of full integration and support of DACA recipients, including access to affordable health care through the ACA by rescinding this regulation. We anticipate your response within 30 days, and we thank you for your attention and prompt response.”

Under current federal regulations, DACA recipients cannot obtain comprehensive health care coverage under Medicaid or CHIP, even in states that have opted to cover lawfully present children and pregnant people. DACA recipients also cannot receive federal premium tax credits to make private health insurance affordable in the ACA marketplace or purchase marketplace health insurance at full cost using their own funds.

The full letter is here and below.

Dear Secretary Becerra:

We write to urge the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to grant access to benefits under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients. As a result of current regulation and guidance, DACA recipients cannot:

a) Obtain comprehensive health insurance under Medicaid or CHIP in states that have opted to cover lawfully present children and pregnant people.

b) Purchase health insurance in the ACA’s health insurance marketplace, even at full cost using their own funds; and

c) Receive federal premium tax credits to make private health insurance affordable in the marketplace (even though DACA recipients still file and pay federal taxes).

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a final regulation on August 24, 2022 to codify the DACA policy. In the preamble to the new final rule, DHS states that, with respect to the programs under its jurisdiction, “DACA recipients are provided deferred action and should continue to be deemed ‘lawfully present’ like all other deferred action recipients—as they have been since the start of DACA.” Yet, DHS also notes that, “any future revision of this determination for Medicaid, CHIP, or with respect to the ACA Exchange and private market programs would need to be made by HHS.” As such, it is solely in HHS’s hands now to provide this needed health care access for DACA recipients. Doing so not only would be consistent with DHS’s interpretation, it would also advance President Biden’s policy priorities, such as Executive Orders 13985 on racial equity and 14070 on strengthening access to health care.

Specifically, we request that HHS eliminate 45 C.F.R. § 152.2(8), which excludes DACA recipients from the definition of “lawfully present” and, consequently from benefits under the ACA, even though DACA recipients are treated as lawfully present for other federal programs. HHS should then issue a State Health Officials letter clarifying DACA recipients’ eligibility for Medicaid and CHIP. It is crucial that the administration keep its commitment to expanding coverage for undocumented immigrants, including DACA recipients, and rescinding this harmful regulation will help deliver on that promise.

Making ACA coverage and financial assistance available to DACA recipients would advance the goals of the ACA and benefit the American people. Under DACA, immigrant youth with longterm residency in the United States who satisfy a strict set of criminal background and educational criteria are eligible for employment authorization and protection from deportation. Rescission of 45 C.F.R. § 152.2(8) would grant access to the ACA for the approximately 650,000 current DACA recipients and could ultimately benefit over a million individuals as the DACA program resumes. The regulation excludes a significant pool of young, healthy adults— the exact type of participants that Congress sought to encourage to secure and purchase health insurance under the ACA. These barriers to health coverage force many individuals and families to go without the health care they need, including essential preventive services and life-saving treatments. They also exacerbate existing health inequities that all immigrant communities face and especially immigrants of color. Moreover, the current regulation leads to worse health outcomes for DACA recipients and their families by foreclosing access to health care, including unsubsidized purchases on ACA health insurance marketplace.

We strongly encourage HHS to honor our country’s promise of full integration and support of DACA recipients, including access to affordable health care through the ACA by rescinding this regulation. We anticipate your response within 30 days, and we thank you for your attention and prompt response.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-castro-chabot-introduce-partner-with-asean-act-to-extend-diplomatic-privileges-to-the-association-of-southeast-asian-nations,"Reps. Castro, Chabot Introduce PARTNER with ASEAN Act to Extend Diplomatic Privileges to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations",2022-11-10,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,TX,Joaquin Castro,C001091,castro.house.gov,castro,https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Representatives Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Steve Chabot (OH-01) introduced the bipartisan Providing Appropriate Recognition and Treatment Needed to Enhance Relations (PARTNER) with ASEAN Act, legislation that would strengthen relations between the United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) by authorizing ASEAN to be designated as an international organization with diplomatic privileges and immunities consistent with the International Organization Immunities Act (IOIA). The IOIA, enacted in 1945, is how the United States extends the rights and treatment generally accorded to embassies of countries that have diplomatic relations with the United States to international organizations.

Rep. Castro, a Democrat, is chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact and co-chair of the ASEAN Caucus. Rep. Chabot, a Republican, is ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation

“U.S. engagement with ASEAN has contributed to the stability and prosperity of Southeast Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific,” said Reps. Castro and Chabot “The United States was the first non-ASEAN country to appoint an Ambassador to ASEAN, and we have long recognized that engagement with ASEAN as a whole and the ASEAN Secretariat is an indispensable complement to engagement with individual ASEAN member states. It is our hope that the PARTNER with ASEAN Act will underscore U.S. respect for ASEAN centrality and establish a strong legal framework to allow us to explore new areas of cooperation. Congressional support for U.S.-ASEAN relations is robust and bipartisan, and we look forward to working with our colleagues to move this bill forward.”

ASEAN is a grouping of Southeast Asian nations that facilitates cooperation between member states on issues of common concern. The United States has worked closely with ASEAN for more than four decades and became the first non-member to name an ambassador to ASEAN in 2008, as well as the first non-member to establish a dedicated Mission to ASEAN in 2010. The PARTNER with ASEAN Act would enhance engagement between the U.S. and ASEAN by facilitating visits by personnel from the ASEAN secretariat to the United States for dialogues and international events and potentially allowing for a permanent ASEAN mission in the United States.

Rep. Castro has introduced several pieces of legislation to strengthen the relationship between the United States and ASEAN nations, including:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-al-green-co-founder-americas-table-joins-american-jewish-0,"Congressman Al Green, Co-founder of America’s Table, Joins the American Jewish Committee in Lauding the U.S. as a Nation of Immigrants",2022-11-09,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,TX,Al Green,G000553,algreen.house.gov,algreen,https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(Houston, TX) — On Wednesday, November 9, 2022, Congressman Al Green released the following statement:

“As a co-founder of Houston’s America’s Table, I was delighted to be at Minute Maid Park today with Randy Czarlinsky, my friends from the American Jewish Committee (AJC), and local high school students to celebrate the diversity of Houston. America’s Table is a Thanksgiving reader that provides AJC the annual opportunity to highlight the many ways that immigrants positively contribute to our city and nation,” Congressman Al Green said.

Congressman Al Green continued, “The City of Houston alone is home to over 1.6 million immigrants with more than 27 percent of them holding a bachelor’s degree or higher as of 2016. Immigrants not only contribute to Houston’s sociocultural fabric, including through their language, cuisine, faith, and customs, but are also an exceedingly important engine of economic growth. They can be found filling critical gaps in our workforce across the manufacturing, healthcare, retail, as well as construction industries, to name a few. Additionally, immigrants contribute millions of dollars in federal, state, and local taxes each year. By welcoming people for generations from diverse backgrounds seeking a better life, America has truly lived up to its reputation as the land of opportunity where one can succeed on one’s merits. I applaud the AJC for their efforts to find unity as well as beauty in diversity and am proud to help them highlight the stories that truly make the U.S. a nation of immigrants.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-castro-holds-ceremony-to-honor-four-women-veterans-for-service-to-san-antonio-and-the-nation,Congressman Castro Holds Ceremony to Honor Four Women Veterans for Service to San Antonio and the Nation,2022-11-09,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,TX,Joaquin Castro,C001091,castro.house.gov,castro,https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"SAN ANTONIO — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) held a ceremony to honor four San Antonio women veterans for their distinguished military careers and service on the Military Service Academy Nominations Board for the 20th Congressional District of Texas.

Every year, Congressman Castro receives dozens of applications from students seeking a Congressional nomination to support their admission to a U.S. military service academy. As part of the nomination process, a panel of local veterans interviews each student and provides Congressman Castro with recommendations on their character and qualifications.

On November 10, Congressman Castro will submit tributes for the official Congressional Record of the United States to honor four women veterans who served on his nomination panels:

Lieutenant Colonel Olga Custodio, U.S. Air Force

Commander Sherri R. Zimmerman, U.S. Navy

Major Serafina De Los Santos, U.S. Air Force

Major Erika Gonzalez, U.S. Air Force

During today’s ceremony, Congressman Castro presented statements of recognition to Lt. Col. Custodio, CDR Zimmerman, and Maj. De Los Santos. Maj. Gonzalez was unable to attend but will receive her Congressional Record at a later date.

“San Antonio is proud to be home to thousands of veterans who worked tirelessly to protect and defend our nation,” said Congressman Castro. “As Veterans Day approaches, I was glad to honor Lt. Col. Olga Custodio, CDR Sherri R. Zimmerman, Maj. Serafina De Los Santos, and Maj. Erika Gonzalez for their trailblazing careers and their commitment to the community. As members of my Military Service Academy Nominations Board, each of these outstanding women have helped San Antonio students pursue their dreams of serving our nation. It is my privilege to enshrine each of their accomplishments in the official Congressional Record of the United States Congress.”

Left to right: Maj. Serafina De Los Santos, Rep. Joaquin Castro, Lt. Col. Olga Custodio, and CDR Sherri R. Zimmerman.

Background on the honorees

Lieutenant Olga Custodio, U.S. Air Force, 2018 Military Service Academy Nomination Board

Lt. Col. Olga Custodio served 24 years in the U.S. Air Force and is the first Latina to complete the Air Force’s Undergraduate Pilot Training, where she graduated in the top five percent of her class with a qualification to fly the T-38 as an instructor pilot. During her service, she received an Aviation Safety Award for superior airmanship for her handling of an engine failure in-flight emergency.

After transitioning to the U.S. Air Force Reserves, Lt. Col. Custodio became the first Latina commercial airline pilot for American Airlines and was upgraded to captain. Today, Lt. Col. Custodio is retired with over 11,000 flight hours and is a speaker and community leader. She serves on the board of several nonprofit organizations, including the Latino Pilots Association, Order of Daedlians, Dee Howard Foundation, and Women in Aviation Alamo City.

Lt. Col. Custodio lives in San Antonio with her husband, Edwin. They have two children, Marcia and Edwin II, and one grandson, Jedi.

Commander Sherri R. Zimmerman, U.S. Navy, 2018 Military Service Academy Board

CDR Sherri R. Zimmerman enlisted in the Navy in 1993 and quickly distinguished herself as a talented leader. In 1994, she enrolled in the U.S. Naval Academy and graduated four years later with a Bachelor of Science degree in English and a commission as a Cryptologic Officer. She attended the Navy Cryptologic Division Officer training in Pensacola, Florida and later graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California with a Master of Science in Space Systems Operations.

Over her 20-year career, CDR Zimmerman served on military tours within the United States, England, and Iraq. After retiring from Active Duty in 2017, she joined USAA as the Military Affairs Service Academy Relationship Director. She lives in San Antonio with her family and is a proud mother to her sons Orion and Declan and her daughter Eala.

Major Serafina De Los Santos, U.S. Air Force, 2019 Military Service Academy Board

A native of Brownsville, Texas, Maj. Serafina De Los Santos started her military career in 1977 by enlisting in the Air Force. After her early career in the Air Force, she received a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and joined the Army as an Officer. Ten years later, Maj. De Los Santos earned a Master of Science in Management/Logistics Management at the Florida Institute of Technology. In 1999, she attended the Command and General Staff College in Leavenworth, Kansas.

In 2004, Maj. De Los Santos began her civil service career at Fort Sam Houston. She currently serves as the Executive Director for the 502d Force Support Group (FSG) at Joint Base San Antonio, which includes JBSA-Randolph, JBSA-Lackland, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, and JBSA-Camp Bullis.

Major Erika Gonzalez, U.S. Air Force, 2020 Military Service Academy Board

After graduating magna cum laude from St. Mary’s University, Maj. Gonzalez obtained her medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. She returned home after completing 10 years of Active-Duty Service as a Medical Officer in the U.S. Air Force.

Maj. Gonzalez is currently the CEO and President of both South Texas Allergy Asthma & Asthma Medical Professionals (STAAMP) and STAAMP Clinical Research. She also founded the nonprofit, Con Corazon SA, to address inequities and emergency preparedness in San Antonio and the surrounding area. Maj. Gonzalez previously served as the Chief of the Allergy, Immunology & Rheumatology division at the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio. She was also an Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine.

Maj. Gonzalez was selected as a 2019 Presidential Leadership Scholar and was appointed by President Joe Biden to serve on the National Medal of Science Committee.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ahead-of-2022-midterms-castro-cardenas-menendez-and-lujan-press-youtube-to-urgently-address-spanish-language-disinformation,"Ahead of 2022 Midterms, Castro, Cárdenas, Menendez, and Luján Press YouTube to Urgently Address Spanish-Language Disinformation",2022-11-04,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,TX,Joaquin Castro,C001091,castro.house.gov,castro,https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON —Today, Representatives Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Tony Cárdenas (CA-29) and Senators Ben Ray Luján (NM) and Bob Menendez (NJ) joined 11 of their colleagues to send a letter expressing concerns about YouTube's lack of action and transparency regarding the spread of Spanish-language misinformation and disinformation on the platform, particularly in the days before the 2022 midterm elections.

In prior discussions, YouTube assured members of Congress that tackling disinformation for non-English speakers is a top priority. However, repeated reports of disinformation on the platform raise alarm about YouTube's genuine commitment to content moderation and user safety.

“False and misleading information online inflicts serious damage when it comes to issues like vaccination, reproductive health care, and election misinformation,”the members wrote.“In particular, we are deeply troubled by reports that Spanish-language misinformation and disinformation continue to find a home on your platform. These false narratives have reportedly found widespread foothold on YouTube, including on channels with over a million subscribers that remained active for years, with YouTube only terminating the channels after public reporting. Reports of recently emerging false narratives across other social media platforms also reinforce the urgency of this issue, including a disturbing rise in the prevalence of abortion-related mis/disinformation targeting Latinas across social media platforms following the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs vs. Jackson Women's Health Organization.”

Additional signers on the letter include Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27), as well as Reps. Raúl Grijalva (AZ-03), Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44), Frederica Wilson (CA-24), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Linda Sánchez (CA-38), Jesús G. ""Chuy"" García (IL-04), andRuben Gallego (AZ-07), andSens. Amy Klobuchar (MN),Tim Kaine(VA)andRon Wyden (OR).

The letter can be foundhereand below.

Ms. Susan Wojcicki

Chief Executive Officer

YouTube, Inc.

1000 Cherry Ave

San Bruno, CA 94066

Dear Ms. Wojcicki,

We write to express our serious concern with the continued lack of action and transparency on the part of YouTube regarding the spread of Spanish-language misinformation and disinformation on its platform, particularly as it pertains to the upcoming midterm elections.

False and misleading information online inflicts serious damage when it comes to issues like vaccination, reproductive health care, and election misinformation. In particular, we are deeply troubled by reports that Spanish-language misinformation and disinformation continue to find a home on your platform. These false narratives have reportedly found widespread foothold on YouTube, including on channels with over a million subscribers that remained active for years, with YouTube only terminating the channels after public reporting. Reports of recently emerging false narratives across other social media platforms also reinforce the urgency of this issue, including a disturbing rise in the prevalence of abortion-related mis/disinformation targeting Latinas across social media platforms following the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs vs. Jackson Women's Health Organization.

It is critical that YouTube prioritize platform safety and content moderation for non-English speakers on the platform. However, despite repeated assurances that this is a top priority for the company, reporting on rampant misinformation spread on the platform continues. Furthermore, while YouTube has assured members of Congress that it is working on publicly releasing more of its core accountability metrics (such as its Violative View Rate) for non-English languages, we do not believe the company has delivered on those commitments. The lack of progress here raises serious concerns that YouTube does not prioritize safeguarding trust in our democracy across non-English and Spanish speaking communities, despite assurances to the public and members of Congress to the contrary.

Forty-seven percent of Latinos have indicated that they turn to YouTube as a source of news “often” on a weekly basis. False election information erodes trust in our democratic process with possible repercussions ranging from depressed voter turnout to political violence. It is critical that YouTube prioritize this pressing concern at a staffing and organizational level to address this issue.

In line with YouTube's stated commitment to safety across non-English languages, we request the following information regarding the steps that your company is taking to combat mis/disinformation:

In line with past statements and commitments, when will YouTube release additional safety metrics broken down across non-English languages?

YouTube has stated it employs more than 20,000 employees reviewing and removing misinformation on your platform.

How many content-moderators does YouTube employ specifically designated to review non-English language content?

How many employees are specifically reviewing and removing Spanish-language content?

What steps has YouTube taken to ensure that employees tasked with non-English content moderation are able to cover a wide range of regional dialects and cultures?

Your community guidelines prohibit content that “contradicts expert consensus on certain safe medical practices.” Are abortion procedures covered under this guideline, and if so, have Spanish language misinformation videos on the efficacy, safety and accessibility of these procedures been targeted for removal by your content moderators?

Besides content moderation staffing, what other processes have been put in place to track Spanish-language misinformation and disinformation related to election and reproductive health care? Please share any newly adopted technologies for detection, analysis and automatic removal.

How does YouTube determine when updates are needed for its policy? How often do these reviews occur?

What efforts has YouTube taken to educate viewers about the videos including misinformation and disinformation? Are disclaimers or warnings issued to viewers on particular disinformation content?

YouTube has previously shared it has been looking at ways to decrease the spread of “borderline content”. This is content that does not violate quite YouTube's policy but is problematic. Is YouTube still considering disabling the share button or breaking the link on “borderline content” videos?

We look forward to your responses, which we request by November 21, 2022.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-castro-holds-press-conference-with-student-journalists-to-discuss-democracy-college-affordability-school-safety-and-more-,"Congressman Castro Holds Press Conference with Student Journalists to Discuss Democracy, College Affordability, School Safety, and More",2022-11-04,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,TX,Joaquin Castro,C001091,castro.house.gov,castro,https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"SAN ANTONIO — Yesterday, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) held a press conference with student journalists from San Antonio high schools and colleges to take questions about democracy, college affordability, school safety, and other issues of importance to young people and their campus communities.

Congressman Castro meets with San Antonio student journalists

“San Antonio is home to the best and brightest students in the country, and I was so pleased to hear their thoughtful and well-researched questions during yesterday's press conference,” said Congressman Castro. “For the last several years, I’ve been pushing the American media industry to hire people who can bring diverse stories into our national narrative. As newsrooms search for the next generation of journalists, I strongly urge them to take notice of the talented students honing their craft in San Antonio colleges and universities.”

Colleges and universities in attendance included the University of Texas at San Antonio, Texas A&M University-San Antonio, Trinity University, and Palo Alto College.

High Schools in attendance included John Marshall High School, Oliver Wendell Holmes High School, Louis D. Brandeis High School, Sandra Day O’Connor High School, Tom C. Clark High School, Sam Houston High School, Burbank High School, Communication Arts High School, and Judson High School.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-al-green-embarks-mission-mercy-bring-daca-constituent-home,Congressman Al Green Embarks on Mission of Mercy to Bring DACA Constituent Home,2022-11-03,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,TX,Al Green,G000553,algreen.house.gov,algreen,https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(Houston, TX) — On Thursday, November 3, 2022, Congressman Al Green released the following statement:

“On August 16, 2022, my constituent Mr. Jaime Avalos, a DACA recipient, left the U.S. with his wife for an interview appointment made in good faith at the U.S. Consulate in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Mr. Avalos traveled for his appointment as part of the process to obtain permanent residency in the U.S. Upon being interviewed by consular officers, it was discovered that following his initial entry to the U.S. as an infant, Mr. Avalos was taken to Mexico, at which time his birth was registered. Thereafter, he returned to the U.S. permanently. As a result of this exit as a child under eight years of age, U.S. law bans Mr. Avalos from reentering the U.S. for 10 years,” Congressman Al Green shared.

“To deny Mr. Avalos reentry to the country he calls home, as well as separate him from his American-born wife and 11-month-old baby for 10 years, is unconscionable,” Congressman Al Green continued. “Immigration policies such as this one preventing Mr. Avalos from coming home tear families apart. Millions of law-abiding undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. contribute immensely to our great nation, including through their work during the pandemic as well as our military. This is why I support comprehensive immigration reform. The system needs to be repaired. Until then, I will continue doing all I can to reunite Mr. Avalos with his family.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-sylvia-garcia-introduces-bill-expand-technical-assistance-limited,Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia Introduces Bill to Expand Technical Assistance for Limited English Proficiency Individuals,2022-11-03,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,TX,Sylvia R. Garcia,G000587,sylviagarcia.house.gov,sylviagarcia,https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C - Today, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) announced the introduction of the Community Finance Language Inclusion Act. This bill would expand the official definition of ""technical assistance"" within the Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Fund to include outreach materials in additional languages other than English. The CDFI Fund is overseen by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and is responsible for helping CDFIs promote access to financial capital and economic growth in urban and low-income communities.

This legislation has major national implications as the United States is home to more than 380 spoken languages and roughly 9% of people speak English ""less than very well."" This will ensure better service to these individuals.

""More than 26 million people in our country have limited English proficiency, and it's imperative we help these individuals fully access all the financial resources available so they can thrive,"" said Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia. ""Helping everyone, especially minorities and first-generation Americans, achieve financial success is one of my top priorities. Ensuring that CDFIs can now reach individuals who struggle to speak English is a significant step towards making that a reality.""

""Consumers with limited English proficiency face unique and often significant challenges when interacting with the financial system. Borrowers often will need language assistance from their children or other family members and may enter into transactions without any written materials they can fully comprehend,"" National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients).""Rep. Garcia's bill will help CDFIs better reach these consumers in a meaningful way, promoting access and equity.""

""Today, limited English proficiency can limit economic opportunities for nearly 26 million consumers who are mostly Latino. Removing these barriers to financial resources can unlock their full economic potential. This legislation is an important step in the right direction,"" UnidosUS. ""Community Development Financial Institutions can play a pivotal role in reaching and engaging these consumers with more targeted resources that expand their capacity. This is one way Congress can act to improve the economic status of the Latino community.""

You can find the full bill text PDF

Document

garctx_065_xml.pdf (32.83 KB)

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Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2018, becoming the first Latina ever to represent the Texas 29th Congressional District. She serves on the House Judiciary, Financial Services, and Armed Services Committees.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1082,Congresswoman Escobar Sends Letter to Internal Revenue Service for Potential Violations of the Internal Revenue Code by America First Legal,2022-11-02,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,TX,Veronica Escobar,E000299,escobar.house.gov,escobar,https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Escobar sent a letter to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Charles P. Rettig referring America Legal First for an investigation into potential violations of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC).

“During the week of October 22, 2022, residents of El Paso, TX, the community I represent, reached out to my congressional District Office to report receiving unsettling Spanish-language political mailers,” Congresswoman Escobar wrote. “Upon reviewing these mailers, my staff learned that they had been paid for by America First Legal, a national 501(c)3 tax-exempt nonprofit organization.”

She continued, “the mailer features an array of right-wing lies and political talking points, including fearmongering rhetoric about transgender women using public restrooms and the partisan lie that Critical Race Theory (CRT) and ‘gender ideology’ are taught in elementary schools. The mailer explicitly accuses President Biden and his ‘progressive allies’ of championing these policies.”

“This effort by America First Legal appears to be in direct violation the IRC, which governs the operations of 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations,” Congresswoman Escobar added.

“I urge the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to investigate America First Legal for potential violations of the IRC. And if the IRS discovers violations of the law, that they impose commensurate disciplinary action or refer their case to the appropriate disciplinary body,” she concluded.

The full text of the letter can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-garcia-colleagues-send-letter-doj-calling-investigation-racist,"Congresswoman Garcia, Colleagues, Send Letter to DOJ Calling for Investigation of Racist Election Mailer",2022-11-02,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,TX,Sylvia R. Garcia,G000587,sylviagarcia.house.gov,sylviagarcia,https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Houston, Texas – Recently, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) led both Congressman Al Green and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) urging an investigation into a racist and divisive election mailer sent to Houston residents recently.

""I'm deeply troubled by this racially charged election mailer many of my constituents received mere days before the election,"" said Congresswoman Garcia. This mailer was sent by an unnamed group, and it was clearly intended to pit minority voters against one another for political gain. There's no place for racist and divisive campaign tactics in Houston and our region. I call on the DOJ to conduct a full investigation into this mailer and its anonymous sender for potential violations of federal law.""

Congresswoman Garcia and her colleagues also strongly requested that the DOJ's Civil Rights Division assign election monitors to Harris County to ensure election integrity. This additional request was a follow up to a letter sent on Friday, October 28, 2022. This would help slow the spread of disinformation, would curb voter intimidation, and increase election transparency.

You can read the full letter

.

###

Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2018, becoming the first Latina ever to represent the Texas 29th Congressional District. She serves on the House Judiciary, Financial Services, and Armed Services Committees.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://doggett.house.gov/media/press-releases/new-rule-expands-medicare-coverage-dental-care-beginning-progress,New Rule Expands Medicare Coverage for Dental Care: The Beginning of Progress,2022-11-01,2022,2022-11,Democrat,House,TX,Lloyd Doggett,D000399,doggett.house.gov,doggett,https://doggett.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Contact: Kate Stotesbery

202-494-4620

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Chair of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, released a statement regarding tonight’s release of the Calendar Year 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which includes a modest expansion of dental coverage for Medicare beneficiaries—as Rep. Doggett has pressed for. He said:

“Today’s action expanding Medicare coverage for some dental care is a positive step forward that will improve the health of seniors and people with disabilities, alleviating suffering for some soon—but much more work remains to secure lasting access to life-improving care. Ultimately, passing legislation like my Medicare Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit Act is necessary to provide comprehensive coverage, but there is more the Administration can and should continue to do, as seniors and others with disabilities struggle without the essential dental coverage they need and deserve.”

Representative Doggett and Representative Nanette Barragán (D-CA) led 107 Members in September in submitting comments supporting the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed rule to expand Medicare coverage for medically necessary dental care. The Members welcomed CMS’s proposal and encouraged the agency to expand coverage even further to the broadest range of services possible. The full letter is available here.

Responding to a June letter from Representatives Doggett and Barragan, CMS proposed this rule on July 29th with public comments permitted through September 6th.

###

Follow Congressman Doggett",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z
https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-al-green-congressman-garret-graves-introduce-bipartisan-original-0,"Congressman Al Green, Congressman Garret Graves Introduce Bipartisan Original National Domestic Violence Awareness Month Resolution of 2022",2022-10-31,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,TX,Al Green,G000553,algreen.house.gov,algreen,https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(Houston, TX) — On Friday, October 28, 2022, Congressman Al Green (TX-09) and Congressman Garret Graves (LA-06) introduced the Bipartisan Original National Domestic Violence Awareness Month Resolution of 2022. It garnered over 170 cosponsors in Congress and can be viewed here. They released the following statement:

“Since my arrival in Congress in 2005, I have regularly introduced legislation to bring greater awareness to the dangerous situation that domestic abuse victims are in. My legislation is also meant to help hold perpetrators accountable and encourage everyone to do their part in preventing further abuse from taking place,” Congressman Al Green stated. “According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, violence perpetrated by an intimate partner affects over 12 million people each year. Additionally, one in three women and one in four men in the United States experience rape or other forms of violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime.”

Congressman Green added, “These statistics demonstrate that domestic violence remains an exceedingly serious, pervasive issue across our nation. I will continue to be a strong advocate of domestic violence prevention as long as I remain in Congress and urge all people of goodwill to continue bringing visibility to this very important issue. I thank Congressman Graves for his continued partnership in introducing this legislation.”

“We must all understand the severity of family violence in America. 50 percent of all homeless women and children in the U.S. are fleeing from domestic violence and abuse. Domestic violence's costs add up to more than $37 billion dollars a year. This includes medical and mental health, law enforcement involvement, legal work, and lost productivity at their jobs. Every 9 seconds a woman is assaulted or beaten in the United States. These are facts that cannot be ignored. We must recognize that our nation has leaders that are tolerating and perpetuating violence against women and children. Then we must stand with the leaders who are fighting to protect women's and children's rights,"" Jacquelyn Aluotto, President of No Trafficking Zone (NTZ) said.

""Stay-at-home orders designed to prevent COVID-19 and the socio-economic fallout of the pandemic has contributed to a surge of domestic violence across the nation. Far too often, Texans experience social tensions that manifest as violence against a partner or a family member, especially in minority communities. This rapid surge of domestic violence has highlighted the need for communities to design coordinated community responses that include culturally specific providers like The Empowered Survivor, a nonprofit designed to prevent domestic violence in communities of color. From May 2020 - present, the Empowered Survivor provided resources such as housing, education, employment, and wellness care to over 1,100 victims of domestic violence. By standing in the gap alongside Congressman Al Green and our other community partners, we will continue to empower domestic violence survivors and decrease their risk level for continued violence and/or homicide,"" Carvana Cloud, Founder & Executive Director of The Empowered Survivor, said.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z
https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-castro-secures-17-million-for-utsa-to-train-next-generation-of-nuclear-science-and-nonproliferation-policy-leaders,Congressman Castro Secures $1.7 Million for UTSA to Train Next Generation of Nuclear Science and Nonproliferation Policy Leaders,2022-10-28,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,TX,Joaquin Castro,C001091,castro.house.gov,castro,https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"SAN ANTONIO – Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) announced that his office secured $1,749,997 in federal funding for the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) to train the next generation of nuclear security science and technology leaders through the Consortium on Nuclear Security Technologies (CONNECT) program. These funds, awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy, will help UTSA recruit and retain students interested in nuclear science, engineering, and nonproliferation policy and strengthen the pipeline for underrepresented scientists to serve their country at U.S. national laboratories.

“Since I was elected, my work in Congress has focused on expanding what I call the Infrastructure of Opportunity — the great public schools and universities, good-paying jobs, and community services that help San Antonians achieve their dreams,” said Congressman Castro. “This grant funding will strengthen opportunities for aspiring scientists and engineers to address complex nuclear challenges and put their skills to work at our national labs. The CONNECT program is essential to our national security, and I’m proud that San Antonio’s universities continue to build pathways for students of all backgrounds to pursue a career in STEM and lead our nation.”

""The continued support by the Department of Energy for this program strengthens our future-focused efforts to support diverse students in our STEM programs at UTSA and collaborating institutions. We are recruiting and engaging students interested in not only nuclear science and engineering but also nuclear and nonproliferation policy. By advancing these students to graduation, we aim to strategically increase our student presence and leadership at U.S. national laboratories and foster collaborative, multi-disciplinary faculty research programs beyond the life of the funding,"" said Dr. Kelly Nash, the founding principal investigator of this award.

With the successful renewal of CONNECT, Dr. Elizabeth Sooby will become the principal investigator and lead the consortium for the next five years.

“Through CONNECT, we are offering our students direct access to cutting edge research opportunities, which we hope will help them establish long and productive careers in nuclear science and engineering. We have built and continue to strengthen a pipeline from our institution and our collaborating MSIs to the leading laboratories in fissionable fuels, forensics, and computational science, places such as Los Alamos National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory whose facilities are technically unmatched globally. We are also offering new courses and professional development curriculum to better prepare our students, thereby enhancing retention and ensuring their success in their DOE laboratory careers,” added Dr. Sooby.

Established in the Fall of 2019, CONNECT is a student-focused program led by UTSA in collaboration with partners at St. Mary’s University, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, the Los Alamos National Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory. CONNECT forms a cross-disciplinary network of faculty, scientists and engineers to support the nuclear security research and professional development efforts of over 50 students across these three institutions. Students studying physics, computer science, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering, among other disciplines, receive an opportunity to work on interdisciplinary research and network with experts in the nuclear science field.

CONNECT has a retention rate of 86 percent, with 56 percent of participants identifying as underrepresented minorities, and has provided funding for two postdoctoral fellows, 21 graduate students, and 32 undergraduate students.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z
https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-castro-visits-k9s-for-warriors-campus-in-san-antonio-to-highlight-value-of-innovative-mental-health-services-for-veterans-,Congressman Castro Visits K9s For Warriors Campus in San Antonio to Highlight Value of Innovative Mental Health Services for Veterans,2022-10-28,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,TX,Joaquin Castro,C001091,castro.house.gov,castro,https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"SAN ANTONIO – Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) visited the K9s For Warriors Petco Love K9 Center on the city’s West Side to learn about the center’s work to train service dogs for veterans in need. During the visit, Congressman Castro also highlighted the bipartisan PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act, a new federal law he voted to pass that will help connect service dogs with veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Congressman Castro visits with veterans, staff, and service dogs at the K9s For Warriors Petco Love K9 Center in San Antonio. Congressman Castro engaged with service dogs only at the explicit invitation of their handlers. To download high-resolution photos, click here and here.

“San Antonio is home to thousands of veterans and military families who made enormous sacrifices in service of their country. When they need help, it’s an honor for our community to step up and care for them. I’m thankful for K9s For Warriors and all of the organizations in the San Antonio area who are working to connect service dogs with veterans, and I look forward to seeing the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act help more of our veterans get the support they need,” said Congressman Castro.

“K9s For Warriors is grateful to Rep. Joaquin Castro and his team for taking the time to learn about our vital mission to end veteran suicide,” said K9s For Warriors CEO Carl Cricco. “K9s For Warriors has the privilege every day to see the impact a Service Dog has on a veteran. With a battle buddy by their side, the veteran returns to a life of dignity and independence. We appreciate Rep. Castro’s support for our veterans and the important work we do each day.”

The PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct a five-year pilot program to provide canine-centered mental health services to veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Veterans who participate in the program will have the opportunity to train potential future service dogs, which they may later adopt if adoption aligns with their needs. The Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans’ Hospital in San Antonio will serve as one of five pilot sites for the PAWS for Veterans Therapy implementation and will work with selected local partners on implementation. If the program successfully expands beyond a pilot, organizations like K9s For Warriors could partner with the VA to provide direct services to more veterans in the San Antonio area and across the country.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z
https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-sylvia-garcia-tx-29-hosts-hhs-secretary-xavier-becerra-during,Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) hosts HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra During a Healthcare Roundtable in Houston,2022-10-27,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,TX,Sylvia R. Garcia,G000587,sylviagarcia.house.gov,sylviagarcia,https://sylviagarcia.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Houston, Texas – Yesterday, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia hosted Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary, Xavier Becerra, during a healthcare roundtable in Houston, Texas.

Secretary Becerra announced HHS' new healthcare report which shows significant improvements in health insurance coverage attainment for minorities, including Latinos, during 2021 and 2022. According to the report, Latino consumers saw a 53 percent increase in enrollment through Healthcare.Gov's 2021 enrollment period. These results were produced by strengthening Affordable Care Act (ACA) education, improved outreach materials, and by Democrats passing key legislation – like the American Rescue Plan.

""As the Representative for a district that is 77% Latino, I'm proud to see the Biden-Harris Administration's efforts producing remarkable results in minority healthcare access,"" said Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia. ""Many residents, like those in my district, have historically struggled to secure health insurance because of systemic barriers. This report proves Democrats are helping America make progress on the healthcare coverage front. However, more still must be done to ensure everyone has access to affordable and high-quality healthcare. That's why I was proud to strongly support Biden's Inflation Reduction Law in Congress which will allow most consumers to find health coverage for less than $10 a month through the Affordable Care Act.""

""Access to high-quality, affordable health care is top priority of the Biden-Harris Administration, and the Affordable Care Act is central in our efforts to increase access for America's families,"" said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. ""This report shows that our efforts are working, including among Black, Latino, and American Indian and Alaska Native consumers. The uninsured rate is at a record low in the country, but we know we have more to do to close gaps in coverage and increase equity. That's why HHS is focused on building on these coverage gains during this next Open Enrollment Season starting on November 1. I encourage anyone and everyone to check out their plan options on HealthCare.gov – thanks to the President's Inflation Reduction Act, four out of five consumers will be able to find high-quality coverage for less than ten dollars a month.""

All are encouraged to learn more about the ACA Marketplace ahead of the Open Enrollment period for 2023 which begins November 1 by visiting Healthcare.Gov. A recording of the program featuring Secretary Becerra can be viewed here. To read the full report, visit HHS' website.

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Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2018, becoming the first Latina ever to represent the Texas 29th Congressional District. She serves on the House Judiciary, Financial Services, and Armed Services Committees.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z
https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-al-green-joins-us-department-health-and-human-services-secretary,Congressman Al Green Joins U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra for MD Anderson Cancer Moon Shots Event,2022-10-26,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,TX,Al Green,G000553,algreen.house.gov,algreen,https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(Houston, TX) — On Wednesday, October 26, 2022, Congressman Al Green released the following statement:

“I am honored to welcome Secretary Becerra to Houston and accompany him on a tour of MD Anderson, a premier institution for cancer care and research of international renown. Since 1944, MD Anderson has welcomed nearly 1.8 million people for cancer care and in 2021 alone cared for over 174,000 patients,” Congressman Al Green stated. “One of MD Anderson’s most ambitious cancer detection, prevention, and treatment initiatives is the Moon Shots Program launched in 2012. Inspired by President Kennedy’s promise 60 years ago to put a man on the moon, the goal of this program is to drastically reduce cancer mortality and suffering in 13 cancer types, which will form the basis for future treatment of all cancer types.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:34:28Z
https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1074,"Congresswoman Escobar Hosts USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Gloria Montaño Greene, USDA Rural Development State Director of Texas Lilliana Salerno, and IBWC Commissioner Maria-Elena Giner",2022-10-26,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,TX,Veronica Escobar,E000299,escobar.house.gov,escobar,https://escobar.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Escobar hosted United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Gloria Montaño Greene, USDA Rural Development State Director of Texas Lilliana Salerno, International Boundary and Water Commissioner Maria-Elena Giner, and various stakeholders around El Paso to discuss the USDA’s role supporting local farms and infrastructure.

“Our community is no stranger to the effects of climate change,” said Congresswoman Escobar. “The climate crisis is quickly transforming our planet, requiring us to address its impacts on our critical water and farming infrastructure. I’m grateful Deputy Under Secretary Montaño Greene, Director Salerno, and IBWC Commissioner Giner joined us today to see first-hand how our community has adapted to recording breaking droughts.”

During their visit, the group joined Congresswoman Escobar and toured several locations in El Paso. They met with local farmers and stakeholders to discuss the effect drought is having on the Rio Grande, the local farmers who depend on its water, and how local agencies and the USDA can address drought issues. They also joined Desert Spoon Food Hub directors and producers to discuss USDA funding and impact on small and organic farms.

Another stop for the group was to visit with AYUDA to learn more about the challenges and opportunities for colonias and explore how USDA may support for infrastructure and economic development. This particular visit coincides with Congresswoman Escobar’s priorities and history of addressing disparities faced by colonia residents.

In May 2021, Congresswoman Escobar introduced H.R. 3238, the Colonia Infrastructure Improvement Act, that invests $1.5 billion in drinking water, wastewater, and surface infrastructure while creating good-paying jobs. Several of these provisions were also included in the INVEST in America Act. Additionally, financial support for colonias was included in the House FY23 NDAA by Congresswoman Escobar that reauthorized the dormant EPA wastewater grant program at $100 million a year over a 5-year period and reduced the local cost share to 20 percent. Congresswoman Escobar also secured $70 million for drinking and wastewater USDA loans/grants for colonias and Native American communities in the FY22 appropriations omnibus bill, which was $2 million more the previous year.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z
https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4274,Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Holds  Town Hall on Veterans’ Affairs,2022-10-25,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,TX,Lizzie Fletcher,F000468,fletcher.house.gov,fletcher,https://fletcher.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Yesterday, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) held a town hall on veterans’ affairs to discuss the work Congress is doing and leaders in our community are doing to support the veteran community. The event featured VA Houston Deputy Medical Director Lindsey Crain, MHA, FACHE; Combined Arms Texas Veterans Network Executive Director Mia Garcia; and City of Houston Office of Veterans and Military Affairs Director Robert Dembo III, USN.

“Houston is home to one of the largest military veteran populations in the country and we have a duty to serve our veteran community,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. “I was glad to convene this town hall and provide support for veterans and their families. I am so grateful for the work of our panelists, and I look forward to continuing to work together to honor veterans’ contributions to our country.”

In September, Congresswoman Fletcher’s bill, the Advancing Uniform Transportation Opportunities (AUTO) for Veterans Act, H.R. 3004, passed the House. This bill expands the eligibility for disabled veterans to obtain vehicles modified for their disabilities.

Earlier this year, she voted for the Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, H.R. 3967, to ensure and expand benefits for all veterans who have been exposed to toxic substances. Shortly after, President Biden signed the bill into law.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:34:28Z