Thursday - March 28, 2024
U.S. Congressional Tipoffs Involving Texas Newsletter for Sunday March 07, 2021 ( 115 items )  

Biography Brings Life of Photographer Russell Lee Out of Shadows, Drawing on Library's Photography Archive
WASHINGTON, March 2 -- The Library of Congress issued the following news: His photographs are mainstays in popular culture: The iconic shot of a young Black man drinking from a water cooler marked "colored" was featured in Stephen Colbert's June 1, 2020, "Late Show" monologue on racial injustice. Millions of "Cheers" viewers saw his photo of cheerful patrons in a Depression-era Minnesota saloon in the opening credits. Microsoft offered his 1939 photo of a Texas couple as a screensaver in its Wi  more

Chairwoman Johnson Introduces Gun Violence Research Legislation
WASHINGTON, March 4 -- Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, chairwoman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, issued the following news release on March 3, 2021: Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) introduced the National Gun Violence Research Act. This legislation authorizes a national gun violence research program overseen by the Office of Science and Technology Policy and carried out by the National Science Foundation, National Institute of Standards and Technology, the De  more

Chairwoman Johnson, Chair Grijalva Laud Department of Interior for Revoking 'Open Science' Order
WASHINGTON, March 4 -- Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, chairwoman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, issued the following news release on March 3, 2021: Department of Interior Acting Secretary Scott de la Vega eliminated Secretarial Order 3369, originally signed in 2018 by Deputy Secretary of Interior David Bernhardt. The order sought to limit the types of research the Department could support and to exclude certain types of scientific information and data from considera  more

Granger Raises Concern on Biden Administration Rapid-Processing Hubs for Migrants
WASHINGTON, March 6 -- Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on March 5, 2021: * * * Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX), Lead Republican on the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on reports that the Administration is planning to convert family detention centers into rapid-processing hubs, screening migrants within 72 hours and aiming to release over 100 families a day. "The southwest border  more

Ranking Member Luetkemeyer Issues Statement on Texas, Mississippi Reopening for Business
WASHINGTON, March 4 -- Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-Missouri, ranking member of the House Small Business Committee, issued the following statement on March 3, 2021: * * * House Committee on Small Business Ranking Member Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO) released the following statement on the states of Texas and Mississippi reopening for business. "I applaud Governor Abbott and Governor Reeves in their recent decisions allowing businesses in Texas and Mississippi to fully reopen their doors to the publ  more

Rep. Al Green Thanks President Biden for Visit to Houston in Aftermath of Winter Storm Uri
HOUSTON, Texas, March 1 -- Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, issued the following news release: On Friday, February 26, 2021, Congressman Al Green released the following statement: "As the Greater Houston area and the entire state of Texas work to recover from the devastation of Winter Storm Uri, it was my esteemed privilege to welcome our nation's president to our great city to assess the circumstances and to support us during this unprecedented time," stated Congressman Al Green, who serves as Chair o  more

Rep. Allred Votes for COVID Relief to Stop Spread of Virus and Help North Texans Weather This Crisis
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 -- Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Colin Allred (TX-32) voted to pass a COVID relief package. The package provides aid to state and local governments, funding for vaccine distribution, more help for small businesses, assistance for airline workers and direct payments. "I have been clear since the beginning of this crisis that a once-in-a-generation pandemic calls for a once-in-a-generation response from Congress - the American Resc  more

Rep. Allred Votes for Democratic Reform
WASHINGTON, March 4 -- Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, issued the following news release on March 3, 2021: Congressman Colin Allred (TX-32) today voted for H.R. 1, the For The People Act. Allred is a cosponsor of this bill that would establish automatic and same-day voter registration, end partisan gerrymandering, stop voter purges, and restrict voter ID laws. He introduced the Shell Company Abuse Act and the Know Your Polling Place Act which were included in the legislation that passed the House.   more

Rep. Allred Votes for Democratic Reform, H.R. 1 Passes House With Two Allred Provisions Included
WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, issued the following news release on March 3, 2021: Congressman Colin Allred (TX-32) today voted for H.R. 1, the For The People Act. Allred is a cosponsor of this bill that would establish automatic and same-day voter registration, end partisan gerrymandering, stop voter purges, and restrict voter ID laws. He introduced the Shell Company Abuse Act and the Know Your Polling Place Act which were included in the legislation that passed the House.   more

Rep. Allred Votes to Protect LBGTQ Americans From Discrimination as Equality Act Passes House With Bipartisan Support
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 -- Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Colin Allred (TX-32), today voted for the Equality Act, which passed the House with bipartisan support. Allred is an original cosponsor of the bill which would codify civil rights protections for LGBTQ Americans in federal law. "No American should be discriminated against because of who they are or who they love," said Allred. "The bipartisan Equality Act makes real progress towards ensuring that   more

Rep. Arrington Appears on Fox Across America
WASHINGTON, March 4 -- Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, issued the following transcript on March 3, 2021 of an interview with Jimmy Failla on Fox Across America: Yesterday, Congressman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) joined Fox News Radio's Fox Across America with Jimmy Failla to discuss the Democrats' radical policies hurting Americans. Click here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RMq0PRHo5I&t=2s) to listen to the full interview. On the Biden Administration prioritizing illegal immigrants over America  more

Rep. Arrington Votes Against $1.9T Democrat Partisan Wishlist
WASHINGTON, March 2 -- Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, issued the following floor statement: * * * Over the weekend, Congressman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) voted "no" on the passage of H.R. 1319, "Pelosi's $1.9T Payoff to Progressives Act," which passed the House. If signed into law, this bill would grant $112 million to Speaker Pelosi for an underground train tunnel in Silicon Valley, $86 billion to bailout mismanaged union pensions, $350 billion to Democrat-run states and local governments that  more

Rep. Arrington: Speaker Pelosi Payout Won't Crush Virus, Create Jobs
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 -- Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following news release: Ways and Means Committee member Jodey Arrington (TX-19) joined CNBC's "Squawk Box" to discuss how House Democrats are forcing a $1.9T COVID-19 "relief" bill without any bipartisan support. Click here to watch the interview: https://youtu.be/lICj3eT5HdI "I see no desire on the part of my Democratic colleagues to work with Republicans. This is the first time i  more

Rep. Brady Introduces U.S. Trade Rep-Nominee Katherine Tai at Senate Hearing
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 -- Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following news release: Ways and Means Republican Leader Kevin Brady (R-TX-08) introduced Katherine Tai, a longtime trade counsel for the Committee on Ways and Means, as the nominee for U.S. Trade Representative before the Senate Committee on Finance. His remarks, paired with Ways and Means Chairman Richie Neal (D-MA), emphasized bipartisan support for Tai's nomination b  more

Rep. Brady: Analysis - One Third of All Coronavirus Relief Funds Remain Unspent
WASHINGTON, Feb. 22 -- Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following analysis on entitled "One Third of All Coronavirus Relief Funds Remain Unspent": * * * According to the most recent data available, $46 billion, nearly one third, of the total $150 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) remain unspent. This money, part of a fund created by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act signed into law in March 2020, was  more

Rep. Brady: Bipartisan W&M Committee Leaders Ask IRS to Assist Victims of Identity Theft
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 -- Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following news release: House Ways and Means Committee Republican Leader Kevin Brady (R-TX), Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA), Oversight Subcommittee Republican Leader Mike Kelly (R-PA), Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), Worker and Family Support Subcommittee Republican Leader Jackie Walorski (R-IN), and Worker and Family Support Subcommittee Chai  more

Rep. Brady: Republican Leaders Renew Request for Hearing on New York Nursing Home Deaths, Data Cover-Up
WASHINGTON, March 6 -- Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following news release on March 5, 2021: With new revelations that political aides to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo deliberately interfered with state public health officials in order to mask the true magnitude of COVID-19 nursing home deaths in the state, Republican Congressional leaders urged their House Democrat counterparts to hold a joint hearing regarding the unde  more

Rep. Brady: Tepid Jobs Report Demands We Focus on Jobs, Vaccines
WASHINGTON, March 6 -- Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following statement on March 5, 2021: * * * February's tepid jobs report showing little change from the previous month is exactly why we should focus on jobs and vaccine distribution, says Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX), Republican Leader of the House Committee on Ways and Means in a statement. "Today's jobs report shows little change from last month. We're 10 million jobs sh  more

Rep. Brady: This COVID Stimulus is Neither-It's Pelosi Payoff
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 -- Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following news release: Ways and Means Republican Leader Kevin Brady (R-TX) slammed Democrats' $1.9 trillion Pelosi Payoff bill as neither focusing on the virus nor on creating jobs during Friday night's vote. To watch his remarks click here: https://twitter.com/RepKevinBrady/status/1365546917376196609 Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery. "Thank you, Mr. Sp  more

Rep. Burgess: Election Should Be for the People Not the Politicians
WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), released the following statement after voting against H.R. 1. "It is disappointing that the Democrats are more concerned about keeping their jobs than allowing the American people to decide who holds these sacred offices," said Burgess. "Congress should be wary of allotting so much influence to the Federal Government in the determination of our elections. "Th  more

Rep. Burgess: Johnson & Johnson EUA Is Evidence of American Resourcefulness
WASHINGTON, March 1 -- Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, issued the following statement: * * * Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), the most senior doctor in Congress, released the following statement after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Johnson and Johnson's single dose COVID-19 vaccine. This EUA marks the third COVID-19 vaccine to be available for distribution in the United States. "This is truly a remarkable achievement to see  more

Rep. Burgess: Lasting Police Reform Is Bipartisan
WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), released the following statement after voting against Democrats' messaging bill, the Justice in Policing Act. "Last year, Senator Tim Scott brought forward a bipartisan, bicameral piece of legislation to provide needed reforms to police departments across the nation. "This reform bill put forward policies that would permanently remove bad actors from serving o  more

Rep. Burgess: Passing Legislation Should Not Be About a Scorecard
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 -- Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, issued the following statement: * * * Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX),released the following statement after voting against the H.R. 5, the Equality Act. "I firmly believe that every American should be treated equally. Putting forward vague language in legislation just to score a political point, however, does more harm than good. "Further, the 14th Amendment guarantees all Americans equal protections under the law. The long-t  more

Rep. Burgess: Republicans Were Excluded From Budget Reconciliation Process
WASHINGTON, March 1 -- Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, issued the following statement: * * * Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) - senior member of the Rules Committee, Energy and Commerce, and Budget Committees - released the following statement after voting against the Democrats' American Rescue Plan. "It is disappointing that while Americans are waiting for Congress to act, Democrats continue to push partisan talking points. Budget Reconciliation provides an expedited process since   more

Rep. Carter Introduces More Choice for Career Training Act
WASHINGTON, March 2 -- Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Representative Carter introduced the More Choice for Career Training Act on Friday. This legislation is aimed at expanding the eligibility of Pell Grants to students pursuing career and technical education (CTE). "The More Choice for Career Training Act allows students in career and technical education programs to be eligible to receive Pell Grants and allocate that funding towards their CTE programs. As of ri  more

Rep. Carter Statement on H.R. 1
WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, issued the following statement: * * * Rep John Carter released the following statement after he voted against H.R. 1. "Despite being called 'For the People,' H.R.1 is anything but. In addition to being another attempt at a power grab for the Democrats, H.R.1 greatly expands the role of the federal government in elections. "It takes Americans' hard-earned tax dollars and uses them to fund politician's personal campaigns, meaning citizens have   more

Rep. Carter Statement on the American Rescue Plan
WASHINGTON, March 1 -- Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, issued the following statement: * * * Representative John Carter (TX-31) released the following statement after he voted against H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan. "The most important job I have is to take care of my constituents. It is no question that COVID-19 has left countless Americans devastated and in need. Many have experienced unimaginable loss and are looking for answers and a path forward. The American Rescue Plan takes advantage   more

Rep. Carter Submits Op-Ed to Austin American Statesman
WASHINGTON, March 4 -- Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, issued the following op-ed to the Austin American Statesman: * * * The misnomer that is the 'American Rescue Plan' Not many people could predict that almost a year later, we would still be battling the coronavirus. This pandemic has impacted every single American, from small business owners to elementary students, and has significantly altered our way of life. Over the past year, policies have been enacted on every level, from signs in a sma  more

Rep. Castro & Sen. Blumenthal Commend Biden-Harris Administration for Commitment to Reunite Separated Families Here in U.S., Urge Congress to Take Legislative Action
WASHINGTON, March 2 -- Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, issued the following joint statement with Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut: * * * U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), authors of the Families Belong Together Act, issued the following joint statement after the Biden-Harris administration's announcement to allow families separated by the Trump administration the option to reunite in the United States: "We commend the Biden-Harris admin  more

Rep. Castro and Congressional Hispanic Caucus Nominate 25 Latino Films for National Film Registry
WASHINGTON, March 4 -- Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, sent a letter nominating an additional 25 Latino films to the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress, as part of the ongoing effort to increase Latino representation in the film industry. Congressman Castro had previously nominated "Selena" for the National Film Registry durin  more

Rep. Castro Statement on Gov. Abbott Putting Politics Above People of Texas
WASHINGTON, March 3 -- Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, issued the following statement: * * * U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro (TX-20) issued the following statement on Governor Abbott's reckless and dangerous decision to put politics above the people of Texas: "Governor Abbott's failure to listen to science and medical advice will cost Texans their lives. The easiest thing everyone can do to slow the spread of COVID is to wear a mask and keep a social distance. America's top infectious diseas  more

Rep. Castro, Colleagues Introduce Bicameral, Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Election Administration Practices With International Allies
WASHINGTON, March 6 -- Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact, Representative Ann Wagner (R-MO), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chairwoman of the Senate Rules Committee with oversight of federal elections, and Senator Dan Sullivan (  more

Rep. Crenshaw Introduces Anti-Lockdown Legislation
WASHINGTON, March 2 -- Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, issued the following news release on March 1, 2021: Congressman Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) today introduced new legislation to end disastrous economic lockdowns that were imposed unilaterally largely by local Democrat leaders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The End Lockdowns Now Act would require states and localities to submit economic reopening plans in order to qualify for COVID recovery aid. Crenshaw's legislation also ensures that the pres  more

Rep. Cuellar Provides Current Migrant Apprehension Numbers in the Rio Grande Valley
WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) released the following apprehension data currently taking place in the United States Border Patrol - Rio Grande Valley Sector: Within the last 7 days: * Approximately 10,000 migrants have been apprehended * Approximately 2,500 migrants have been apprehended within the last two days "We are weeks, maybe even days, away from a crisis on the southern border. Inaction is simp  more

Rep. Cuellar Votes for President Biden's American Rescue Plan for Atascosa County
WASHINGTON, March 1 -- Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) voted to pass the American Rescue Plan, a legislative package that will fund vaccinations, provide immediate, direct relief to families bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 crisis, and support struggling communities. "American lives and livelihoods are at stake and they need relief now," said Congressman Cuellar. "The American Rescue Plan takes the bold steps we need to ensure   more

Rep. Cuellar Votes for President Biden's American Rescue Plan for Bexar County
WASHINGTON, March 1 -- Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) voted to pass the American Rescue Plan, a legislative package that will fund vaccinations, provide immediate, direct relief to families bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 crisis, and support struggling communities. "American lives and livelihoods are at stake and they need relief now," said Congressman Cuellar. "The American Rescue Plan takes the bold steps we need to ensure   more

Rep. Cuellar Votes for President Biden's American Rescue Plan for Hidalgo County
WASHINGTON, March 1 -- Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) voted to pass the American Rescue Plan, a legislative package that will fund vaccinations, provide immediate, direct relief to families bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 crisis, and support struggling communities. "American lives and livelihoods are at stake and they need relief now," said Congressman Cuellar. "The American Rescue Plan takes the bold steps we need to ensure   more

Rep. Cuellar Votes for President Biden's American Rescue Plan for La Salle County
WASHINGTON, March 1 -- Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) voted to pass the American Rescue Plan, a legislative package that will fund vaccinations, provide immediate, direct relief to families bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 crisis, and support struggling communities. "American lives and livelihoods are at stake and they need relief now," said Congressman Cuellar. "The American Rescue Plan takes the bold steps we need to ensure   more

Rep. Cuellar Votes for President Biden's American Rescue Plan for Starr County
WASHINGTON, March 1 -- Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) voted to pass the American Rescue Plan, a legislative package that will fund vaccinations, provide immediate, direct relief to families bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 crisis, and support struggling communities. "American lives and livelihoods are at stake and they need relief now," said Congressman Cuellar. "The American Rescue Plan takes the bold steps we need to ensure   more

Rep. Cuellar Votes for President Biden's American Rescue Plan for Webb County
WASHINGTON, March 1 -- Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) voted to pass the American Rescue Plan, a legislative package that will fund vaccinations, provide immediate, direct relief to families bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 crisis, and support struggling communities. "American lives and livelihoods are at stake and they need relief now," said Congressman Cuellar. "The American Rescue Plan takes the bold steps we need to ensure   more

Rep. Cuellar Votes for President Biden's American Rescue Plan for Wilson County
WASHINGTON, March 1 -- Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) voted to pass the American Rescue Plan, a legislative package that will fund vaccinations, provide immediate, direct relief to families bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 crisis, and support struggling communities. "American lives and livelihoods are at stake and they need relief now," said Congressman Cuellar. "The American Rescue Plan takes the bold steps we need to ensure   more

Rep. Cuellar Votes for President Biden's American Rescue Plan for Zapata County
WASHINGTON, March 1 -- Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) voted to pass the American Rescue Plan, a legislative package that will fund vaccinations, provide immediate, direct relief to families bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 crisis, and support struggling communities. "American lives and livelihoods are at stake and they need relief now," said Congressman Cuellar. "The American Rescue Plan takes the bold steps we need to ensure   more

Rep. Escobar and Centro San Vicente Announce COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution for El Paso's Most Vulnerable
EL PASO, Texas, March 6 -- Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) and Chief Executive Officer of Centro San Vicente (CSV) Dr. Christina Paz announced that CSV has been selected for the second phase of the Federally Qualified Community Health Centers (FQHCs) program for COVID-19 vaccination. The FQHCs program, announced by President Joe Biden on February 9, 2021, will directly allocate COVID-19 vaccines to Centro San Vicente and  more

Rep. Escobar Statement on Reversal of Remain in Mexico Policy in El Paso
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, issued the following statement: * * * Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) issued the following statement ahead of the Department of Homeland Security beginning to process in El Paso, individuals who had been forced to "Remain in Mexico" under the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP): "Today is a day of hope and victory for our shared humanity. Led by President Biden, our nation is reversing the dangerous and unlawful Remain in Mexico pol  more

Rep. Escobar Votes for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021
WASHINGTON, March 4 -- Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, issued the following news release on March 3, 2021: Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16), member of the House Judiciary Committee, voted for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021. This legislation is a bold, comprehensive approach to creating safer communities by supporting good officers and holding law breakers accountable in an effort to change the culture of law enforcement, building trust between law enforcement and our co  more

Rep. Escobar Votes to Pass American Rescue Plan to Deliver Urgent Relief to El Pasoans
WASHINGTON, March 1 -- Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Early this morning, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) voted to pass H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which implements President Joe Biden's urgently-needed American Rescue Plan, which he unveiled on January 20. This landmark, life-saving legislation will provide urgently-needed resources to defeat the virus, get vaccines in El Pasoans' arms, put money into hard-working families' pocke  more

Rep. Escobar Votes to Pass H.R. 1, the 'for the People Act of 2021'
WASHINGTON, March 4 -- Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, issued the following news release on March 3, 2021: Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) voted to pass H.R. 1, the For the People Act of 2021, a sweeping anti-corruption legislative package to protect and expand voting rights, restore the integrity of our government, and put the needs and priorities of the American people ahead of special interests. "The urgent need to restore our Democracy and work to lay a strong foundation for our nat  more

Rep. Escobar, Democratic Women's Caucus, Sen. Klobuchar, Rep. Krishnamoorthi Introduce Bill to Honor Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the U.S. Capitol
WASHINGTON, March 4 -- Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, issued the following news release on March 2, 2021: Democratic Women's Caucus Vice Chair Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16), and Co-Chairs Congresswomen Jackie Speier (CA-14), Lois Frankel (FL-21), and Brenda Lawrence (MI-14) were joined by Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) to celebrate the start of Women's History Month by introducing a bill to honor the legacy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The bill would construct a monument t  more

Rep. Escobar, Members of Border Congressional Delegation Reintroduce the Binational Health Strategies Act to Protect Border Communities Against COVID-19
WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16), along with original cosponsors members of the U.S.-Mexico Border Congressional Delegation: Representatives Juan Vargas (CA-51), Raul M. Grijalva (AZ-03), Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-02), Tony Gonzales (TX-23), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15), and Filemon Vela (TX-34), announced the reintroduction of H.R. 1538, the Binational Health Strategies Act of 2021 in t  more

Rep. Fallon Votes Against the Biden Bailout
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 -- Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Texas, issued the following statement: * * * Congressman Pat Fallon (TX-04) yesterday voted no on H.R. 1319, the Democrat's wasteful and partisan spending bill, and released the following statement: "Democrats, to the detriment of the American people, wasted a golden opportunity to show true bipartisanship. What America needs is increased vaccine production and distribution that can reach every citizen who wants it. Instead, Democrats forced a pork-fi  more

Rep. Fletcher Fights to Protect Texans Against Scams After Texas Winter Storm
WASHINGTON, March 6 -- Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Texas, issued the following news release: With Texans working to recover from the Texas Winter Storm, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) is calling on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to take action and protect consumers from scams. In a letter to FTC Acting Chair Rebecca Slaughter, Congresswoman Fletcher calls on the commission to coordinate with state and local law enforcement to identify, stop, and hold fraudsters accountable. "Times when   more

Rep. Fletcher Highlights Importance of Telehealth Services During COVID-19 Pandemic
WASHINGTON, March 6 -- Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Health Subcommittee, highlighted the importance of telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic. During a hearing focused on how COVID-19 is changing the delivery of health care, Congresswoman Fletcher emphasized the role telehealth services play in removing barriers to care for people with disabilities, medical  more

Rep. Fletcher Statement on Gov. Abbott Lifting Statewide Mask Mandate
WASHINGTON, March 3 -- Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Texas, issued the following statement: * * * Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) issued the following statement after Governor Greg Abbott announced his decision to lift the mask mandate for the state of Texas: "Governor Abbott's decision to lift the statewide mask mandate is the wrong one. We have made progress in our fight against COVID-19, but the virus remains a very real threat for all Texans. Just this week, Houston became the first city   more

Rep. Fletcher Votes for George Floyd Justice in Policing Act
WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) voted to pass H.R. 1280, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021. This legislation implements reforms to create stronger systems of transparency and accountability in policing across the country. It passed the House of Representatives, 220-212. "The killing of George Floyd, a native Houstonian, sparked a national conversation about justice and policing--system  more

Rep. Fletcher Votes in Support of Historic Voting Rights, Anti-Corruption, and Ethics Reform Legislation
WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) voted for of H.R. 1, the For the People Act, a bill to strengthen voting rights across the country, clean up corruption, and bring transparency to our elections. Congresswoman Fletcher is a cosponsor of this legislation, which passed the House of Representatives last night, 220-210. "The right to vote is foundational to our democratic system. And our success as a democ  more

Rep. Fletcher, House Energy and Commerce Committee Call for Briefing With ERCOT Following Massive Power Grid Failures
WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Energy Subcommittee Chairman Bobby L. Rush (D-IL), Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chair Diana DeGette (D-CO), and Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33) wrote to Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) President and CEO Bill Magness to request a briefing to answer for ERCOT's role in preparing   more

Rep. Franklin Joins Military Veterans Caucus
WASHINGTON, March 4 -- Rep. Scott Franklin, R-Florida, issued the following news release: U.S. Representative Scott Franklin (R-Fla.) joined the For Country Caucus, a group of military veterans serving in Congress who are dedicated to working together in a nonpartisan way to create a more productive government. The For Country Caucus will be led by Congressmen Van Taylor (R-Texas) and Jared Golden (D-Maine) as co-chairs through 2022 as its ranks swell to 25 members. Congressmen Jim Baird (R-Ind  more

Rep. Gonzales Requests to Designate Medina County a COVID-19 Vaccine Hub
WASHINGTON, March 4 -- Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) sent a letter to the Texas Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel on Wednesday requesting to designate Medina County as a COVID-19 vaccination hub. "Vaccine distribution should continue to be our country's number one priority and that means ensuring that the rural areas of our state have the same access to the vaccine as our big cities," said Congressman Gonzales. "Designating Medi  more

Rep. Gonzalez Announces $16 Million in HUD Funding for Rio Grande Valley
WASHINGTON, March 2 -- Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) announced $16,206,307 was allocated to four cities and one county in the Rio Grande Valley in the 15th District of Texas by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD). Allocations include the following programs: Community Development Block Grants (CDBG); CDBG Recovery Housing Program (RHP); HOME Investm  more

Rep. Gonzalez Announces USDA Disaster Designation for Hidalgo, Duval, Brooks, Jim Hogg, and Live Oak Counties
WASHINGTON, March 6 -- Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack approved a secretarial disaster area designation on March 1, 2021 for the following counties in the 15th District of Texas: Hidalgo and Duval, primary; and contiguous, Brooks, Jim Hogg, and Live Oak. With this designation, those affected by the recent winter weather are qualified to be consid  more

Rep. Gooden & Over Thirty House Republicans Urge President Biden to Recognize Border Crisis & Declare National Emergency
WASHINGTON, March 6 -- Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Lance Gooden (R-TX) and two dozen House Republicans sent a letter to President Biden urging that he recognize the immigration crisis and declare a national emergency at our southern border. This follows reports that U.S. Customs and Border Patrol expect 117,000 unaccompanied children to cross our border this year and that over 3,000 migrants are crossing each day. Until January 20th of this year,   more

Rep. Gooden Opposes Speaker Pelosi's Payoff to Progressives Act
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Lance Gooden (R-TX) released the following statement prior to voting against the $2 trillion liberal wish list put forth by President Biden and Speaker Pelosi. Congressman Gooden - "This bill carves out more money for art museums and blue state bailouts than for actual coronavirus relief. Almost nothing we will vote on tonight has anything to do with the pandemic."  more

Rep. Gooden Votes No on Pelosi's Election-Rigging Overhaul
WASHINGTON, March 3 -- Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Texas, issued the following news release: The House of Representatives voted Wednesday on Speaker Nancy Pelosi's election overhaul. Congressman Lance Gooden (R-TX) opposed the legislation due to numerous provisions that would weaken election security. The bill passed on a party-line vote of 220-210. He released the following statement after the vote: Congressman Gooden - "If Speaker Pelosi has her way, the problems we saw in a few states during the 2  more

Rep. Granger Expresses Disappointment With Latest Coronavirus Relief Package
WASHINGTON, March 1 -- Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, issued the following statement: * * * Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX), Lead Republican on the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 1319, the Democrats' partisan coronavirus relief bill. "The American people need COVID-19 relief that is targeted, temporary, and focused on conquering this virus and improving our economy. Unfortunately, the bill that passed the House tonight misses the mark on all t  more

Rep. Granger on Opposition to H.R. 1
WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, issued the following statement on March 3, 2021: * * * Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX), the Lead Republican on the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 1, a Democratic political power grab. "Tonight, House Democrats passed one of their highest-priority pieces of legislation in the House, H.R. 1, the 'For the People' Act. This sweeping legislation is masked as voter and election reform, but that   more

Rep. Granger Raises Concern on Administration's Rapid-Processing Hubs for Migrants
WASHINGTON, March 6 -- Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, issued the following statement: * * * Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX), Lead Republican on the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on reports that the Administration is planning to convert family detention centers into rapid-processing hubs, screening migrants within 72 hours and aiming to release over 100 families a day. "The southwest border is back in crisis mode. Illegal border crossings have skyrocketed this past month  more

Rep. Granger: Why H.R. 1 Must Be Stopped
WASHINGTON, March 6 -- Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, issued the following e-newsletter: Dear Friends, Wednesday night, Democrats passed one of their highest-priority pieces of legislation in the House, H.R. 1, the 'For the People' Act. This bill is masked as voter and election reform, but that could not be farther from the truth. Despite its misleading name, this bill is not for the American people. Through H.R. 1, Democrats would centralize power in Washington, D.C. and rewrite election rules fo  more

Rep. Green Applauds Security Funding Increase for Members of Congress
WASHINGTON, March 3 -- Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Al Green released the following statement following the increase in security funding for Members of Congress, called for in the resolution he and Congressman David Schweikert introduced in January: "My prayers have been answered! In the wake of rising division in our nation that has resulted in the targeting of Members of Congress, I have had great concern for congressional staff and the public aroun  more

Rep. Green Supports H.R. 1280, George Floyd Justice in Policing Act
WASHINGTON, March 4 -- Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, issued the following news release: On Wednesday, March 3, 2021, Congressman Al Green released the following statement in support of H.R. 1280: "On May 25, 2020, George Floyd took his final breaths after a former Minneapolis police officer mercilessly kneeled on Mr. Floyd's neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. The footage from this tragic incident became inescapable, and the relentless pursuit of justice for George Floyd began," said Congressman Al G  more

Rep. Green: 'Freedom Is Not Free'
WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, issued the following statement on March 4, 2021: * * * Congressman Al Green released the following statement: "I love my country and believe that freedom is not free. "Others have made great sacrifices for the freedoms I enjoy. I refuse to surrender our nation's Capitol to those who would abridge my freedom. "Hence, as a matter of personal principle, I will be in the Capitol complex today."  more

Rep. Khanna: Environment Subcommittee Launches Probe of Electric Reliability Council of Texas Role in Texas Power Crisis
WASHINGTON, March 4 -- Rep. Ro Khanna, D-California, chair of the House Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on the Environment, issued the following news release on March 3, 2021: Rep. Ro Khanna, Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Environment, sent a letter to Bill Magness, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), requesting information and documents regarding their lack of preparation for the recent winter storm that caused millions of power ou  more

Rep. Lizzie Fletcher Joins President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden in Houston
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) joined President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden as they visited Houston in the aftermath of the Texas Winter Storm. President Biden's trip to Houston is the first presidential visit to a state following a major disaster. Their visit today included stops at the Harris County Office of Emergency Management, the Houston Food Bank, and the NRG Park mass vaccination cen  more

Rep. McCaul Issues Statement on U.S. Taking U.N. Security Council Chairmanship
WASHINGTON, March 3 -- Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on March 2, 2021: * * * House Foreign Affairs Committee Lead Republican Michael McCaul has issued the following statement as the United States takes the position of Chair on the United Nations Security Council for the month of March. "This month, the United States will have the ability to significantly shape international debates of vital import  more

Rep. McCaul Requests COVID-19 Vaccines are Readily Available for Teachers, Students
WASHINGTON, March 4 -- Rep. Michael T. McCaul, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Michael McCaul (TX-10) sent a letter the House and Senate leadership asking that vaccines be readily available for teachers and childcare workers to ensure they can safely return to school and childcare. "In-person learning is invaluable and enriches our students learning and social experiences. As we near a year since COVID-19 began to impact our everyday lives, it is the duty of our leaders  more

Rep. McCaul Responds to Reports of Ethnic Cleansing, Massacres of Civilians in Tigray Region
WASHINGTON, March 2 -- Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on Feb. 27, 2021: * * * House Foreign Affairs Committee Lead Republican Michael McCaul has released the following statement in response to reports of ethnic cleansing and mass violence in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. "The horrors detailed in the reports coming out of the Tigray region are incredibly concerning and I am looking into them furthe  more

Rep. McCaul Supports Russian Opposition Leader Navalny Sanctions
WASHINGTON, March 3 -- Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on March 2, 2021: * * * House Foreign Affairs Committee Lead Republican Michael McCaul has released the following statement on the Biden Administration's announcement the United States, in coordination with the European Union, has imposed new sanctions on senior members of the Russian government in response to the poisoning and wrongful detention  more

Rep. Pallone: E&C Leaders Question Electric Reliability Council of Texas About Extreme Weather Event Crisis
WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following news release on March 4, 2021: Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Energy Subcommittee Chairman Bobby L. Rush (D-IL), Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chair Diana DeGette (D-CO), Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX), and Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX) wrote to Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) President and CEO Bill Magness tod  more

Rep. Pfluger Votes Against Democrat Election Reform Power-Grab
WASHINGTON, March 4 -- Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, issued the following news release on March 3, 2021: Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) voted against H.R.1, a sweeping election-reform bill that federalizes our election system, sends taxpayer dollars to Congressional and Presidential campaigns, and makes temporary pandemic-related election practices permanent. The bill is given the distinction of being called 'House Resolution 1' because it is the Democrat Party's number one priority. Congre  more

Rep. Pfluger Votes No on $1.9 Trillion Liberal Wish List
WASHINGTON, March 1 -- Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, issued the following news release on Feb. 27, 2021: Early Saturday morning, the House of Representatives narrowly passed H.R. 1319, the $1.9 trillion so-called "COVID-19 relief" spending bill. If passed by the Senate, this bill will bring the total spent under the guise of COVID-19 relief up to over $6 trillion. Sadly, only 9 percent of the funds appropriated in the Democrat-crafted bill go targeted towards COVID-19 relief. Congressman August  more

Rep. Roy Launches Effort to Improve Veterans' Access to Quality Health Care
WASHINGTON, March 3 -- Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, issued the following news release: On Wednesday, Representatives Chip Roy (TX-21), Madison Cawthorn (NC-11), Ted Budd (NC-13), John Curtis (UT-03), and Pete Sessions (TX-17) introduced the Veterans Access to Direct Primary Care (VADPC) Act to give veterans greater choice and control over their health care. Under the Veteran Access to Direct Primary Care Act, veterans would have the option to enhance their healthcare choices by using VA-managed hea  more

Rep. Taylor Leads Bipartisan Effort to Secure Lifesaving Vaccines for Texans
WASHINGTON, March 2 -- Rep. Van Taylor, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Van Taylor (R-TX-03), alongside Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee (D-TX-18), and twenty seven Members of the Texas Congressional Delegation called on the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to ensure Texas receives an adequate and fair supply of COVID-19 vaccines as dictated by science. Specifically, the letter sent by the bipartisan group to CDC Director Dr. Rochelle P.  more

Rep. Taylor Reintroduces Bill to Improve Accuracy of Public Health Data
WASHINGTON, March 4 -- Rep. Van Taylor, R-Texas, issued the following news release on March 3, 2021: United States Congressman Van Taylor (R-TX-03) was joined by Congresswoman Kathy Castor (D-FL-14) and Congressman Kurt Schrader (D-OR-05) to reintroduce bipartisan legislation in the House of Representatives to harmonize the collection and reporting of public health data across all levels of government. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently provides some reporting  more

Rep. Van Duyne Cosponsors Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Paycheck Protection Program Access for Farmers and Ranchers
WASHINGTON, March 3 -- Rep. Beth Van Duyne, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Last week, Rep. Beth Van Duyne (TX-24) cosponsored the bipartisan "PPP Flexibility for Farmers and Ranchers Act" introduced by Congressman Jim Hagedorn (MN-01), which would allow farmers and ranchers categorized as partnerships to utilize gross income when calculating maximum Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan amounts. "Our farmers and ranchers are a staple of the economy - especially in the great State  more

Rep. Veasey Joins House Democrats in Passing Historic Voting Rights, Anti-Corruption and Ethics Reforms
WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Marc Veasey, co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus, today joined House Democrats in passing H.R. 1, the For the People Act, a sweeping anti-corruption package to safeguard the integrity of our government, protect and expand voting rights, and put the needs and priorities of the American people ahead of special interests. The comprehensive reform package includes provisio  more

Rep. Veasey Votes to Pass George Floyd Justice in Policing Act
WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Marc Veasey voted to pass H.R. 1280, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, Democrats' bold, transformative legislation to reimagine the culture of policing in America with unprecedented reforms to curb police brutality, end racial profiling, eliminate qualified immunity for law enforcement and build greater trust between law enforcement and our communities. "Last summer, our state and the natio  more

Rep. Veasey Votes to Pass President Biden American Rescue Plan to Deliver Urgent Relief to American People
WASHINGTON, March 1 -- Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Rep. Veasey (TX-33) voted to pass H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan Act -- landmark, life-saving legislation that will provide urgently-needed resources to defeat the virus, get vaccines in people's arms, put money into families' pockets, return children safely to the classroom, and put people back to work. The Biden American Rescue Plan will assist families and communities by the delivering the following:   more

Rep. Vela Announces Nearly $20M Award to Hidalgo County and the City of Raymondville
WASHINGTON, March 4 -- Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Filemon Vela (D-TX) announced that a total of nearly $20 million has been awarded to the City of Raymondville and Hidalgo County from the Texas General Land Office (GLO) for 2015 flood mitigation projects. Hidalgo County will receive $9,858,499 for phase one of the main floodwater channel expansion project and the City of Raymondville will receive $10 million for drainage and wastewater system impr  more

Rep. Vela Announces Passage of H.R. 1, For the People Act
WASHINGTON, March 4 -- Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Filemon Vela (TX-34) announced the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1, the For the People Act of 2021, a historic piece of legislation with ambitious anti-corruption and clean election reform provisions. The legislation was cosponsored by all House Democrats, and a previous version of the bill passed the House of Representatives in the 116th Congress. "The American people deserve to feel   more

Rep. Weber & Rep. Crist Form Bipartisan Space & Aeronautics Congressional Caucus
WASHINGTON, March 6 -- Rep. Randy Weber, R-Texas, issued the following news release on March 5, 2021: Friday, February 5, 2021, U.S. Representatives Randy Weber (R-TX) and Charlie Crist (D-FL) announced the establishment of the Bipartisan Space & Aeronautics Caucus for the 117th Congress. "I am excited to co-chair this Caucus with Congressman Charlie Crist. This bipartisan space caucus will promote awareness and hopefully encourage members and their staff to engage more closely on these issues  more

Rep. Williams Opposes Democrats' 'For the Politicians' Act
WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Roger Williams (R-TX-25) released the following statement after voting NO on H.R. 1, Democrats' partisan election reform bill. "H.R. 1 is the Democrats' concerted effort to strip the states' election authorities and handover complete control to the federal government. As a former Texas Secretary of State, I know that the Constitution clearly states that Texas, and Texas alone has the right to de  more

Rep. Williams' Opposes Pelosi's Progressive Payoff
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Roger Williams (R-TX-25) opposed Speaker Pelosi's partisan COVID-19 relief package that directed 91% of relief funds to a democrat wish list, instead of struggling Americans. Less than 9% of the relief bill will go to critical COVID-19 health spending such as a national vaccination program, tracking, testing and esources to reopen. Democrats also continued their assault on conservative policies,   more

Reps. Brady, Nunes, Reed Call for Investigation Into New York Nursing Home Deaths, Data Cover-Up
WASHINGTON, Feb. 22 -- Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following news release: Ways and Means Republican Leader Kevin Brady (R-TX) sent a letter to House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal (D-MA) calling for an immediate hearing to investigate New York nursing home deaths. The letter was joined by Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Republican Leader Devin Nunes (R-CA) and Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY). In New York, New Y  more

Reps. Brady, Nunes, Reed Call for Official Briefing From Biden Admin on NY Nursing Home Deaths & Cover-Up
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 -- Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following news release: After Democrats refused a request for a bipartisan hearing, Ways and Means Republican Leader Kevin Brady (R-TX) moved forward with Republican leaders in calling for a briefing from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding its role in collecting state government data related to New York nursing home deaths. The letter was joined   more

Reps. Burgess and Gonzalez Lead in Removing Ban on Physician Owned Hospitals
WASHINGTON, March 3 -- Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) and Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX) introduced bipartisan legislation that would repeal the Affordable Care Act's ban on new physician owned hospitals - H.R. 1330, the Patient Access to Higher Quality Health Care Act of 2021. "Physician-owned hospitals play an important role in providing quality, efficient, and cost-effective care in modern medicine," said Co  more

Reps. McCaul, Pfluger Lead Call for Russia to Release Texan Veteran Trevor Reed
WASHINGTON, March 4 -- Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following news release on March 3, 2021: House Foreign Affairs Committee Lead Republican Michael McCaul (TX-10) and Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) introduced a resolution calling for the release of U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Trevor Reed, who is currently being detained as a political prisoner in Russia. The resolution was introduced with bipartisan support from 25  more

Reps. McCaul, Rogers Oppose Biden Administration Limitations on Counterterrorism Efforts
WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following joint statement on March 4, 2021, with Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Alabama: * * * House Foreign Affairs Lead Republican Michael McCaul (R-TX) and House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Mike Rogers (R-AL) released the following statement after reports that the Biden Administration secretly imposed limitations on our military and intelligence personnel to cou  more

Reps. Pfluger and McCaul Lead Call for Russia to Release Texan Veteran Trevor Reed
WASHINGTON, March 4 -- Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, issued the following news release on March 3, 2021: Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) and Congressman Michael McCaul (TX-10), the Lead Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced a resolution calling for the release of U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Trevor Reed, who is currently being detained as a political prisoner in Russia. The resolution was introduced with bipartisan support from 25 lawmakers, including Republican Leader K  more

Reps. Pfluger, Green, and Salazar Call for Comprehensive Strategy on Venezuela
WASHINGTON, March 4 -- Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, issued the following news release on March 3, 2021: In a hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Republican Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11), Congressman Mark Green (TN-07), and Congresswoman Maria Salazar (FL-27) called on Congress and the Biden Administration to develop a comprehensive strategy to address the humanitarian and security crisis in Venezuela. The lawmakers condemned the illegitimate Madur  more

Reps. Rogers, McCaul Oppose Biden Administration Limitations on Counterterrorism Efforts
WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Alabama, ranking Republican member of the House Armed Services Committee, issued the following joint statement on March 4, 2021, with Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas: * * * House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) and House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Michael McCaul (R-Texas) released the following statement after reports that the Biden Administration secretly imposed limitations on our military and intelligence per  more

Sen. Cornyn Appears on Fox News' America Reports
WASHINGTON, March 6 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following transcript of an interview on March 5, 2021, on Fox News' America Reports: * * * Today on Fox News' America Reports, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) excoriated President Biden for his administration's failure to appropriately address the growing crisis on America's southern border. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn's remarks are below, and video can be found here: https://youtu.be/fQ2GYwQ-oUU "I think the Biden Administration has m  more

Sen. Cornyn Honors Texas Independence Day on Senate Floor
WASHINGTON, March 3 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following floor statement on March 2, 2021: * * * Today in honor of Texas Independence Day, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) read Lieutenant Colonel William Barrett Travis's famous letter on the Senate floor . Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn's remarks are below, and video can be found here. "185 years ago on March 2, 1836, Texas adopted its Declaration of Independence from Mexico." "Virtually everybody died at the Battle of the Alamo. It wa  more

Sen. Cornyn Slams President Biden's Radical DOJ Picks
WASHINGTON, March 2 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following remarks on March 1, 2021: * * * U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) voiced concerns about some of President Biden's selections to fill deputy roles at the Department of Justice, namely Vanita Gupta, for Associate Attorney General, and Kristen Clarke, for Civil Rights Division head. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn's remarks are below, and video can be found here. "I'll also note that Judge Garland didn't really answer anything in his Q  more

Sen. Cornyn Submits Op-Ed to Fort Worth Star-Telegram
WASHINGTON, March 4 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following op-ed to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: * * * Billions States Don't Need, Lush Leave for Fed Workers: Dems' COVID Relief is a Mess In advance of the Senate vote on Democrats' partisan "COVID relief" bill, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) authored the following op-ed in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram highlighting all the non-COVID related items on the Democrats' wish list they included in the bill: Billions States Don't Need,   more

Sen. Cornyn Votes to Advance Garland's Nomination for A.G.
WASHINGTON, March 2 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after voting in the Senate Judiciary Committee to advance the nomination of Merrick Garland to be U.S. Attorney General to the Senate floor: "Judge Garland's extensive background and commitment to depoliticizing the Justice Department make him the right choice under this Administration to serve as Attorney General," said Sen. Cornyn. "However,   more

Sen. Durbin Meets With Illinois Members of American Public Power Association
WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release on March 4, 2021: U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with Illinois members of American Public Power Association (APPA), which represents publicly owned municipal electrical systems, to discuss clean energy and how the energy crisis in Texas affected natural gas bills in many towns in southern Illinois who rely on pipelines from Texas. "The recent energy crisis in Texas hig  more

Sen. Feinstein: Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce Legislation to Strengthen Victims of Crime Act
WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, issued the following news release: Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) joined Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and a bipartisan group of their colleagues to introduce critical legislation to strengthen the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) by fixing how the Crime Victims Fund (CVF) is funded. This   more

Sen. Hagerty Statement on Releasing Migrants Who Have Tested Positive for COVID Into U.S.
WASHINGTON, March 4 -- Sen. Bill Hagerty, D-Tennessee, issued the following statement on March 3, 2021: * * * United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) today released the following statement regarding the recent release into Texas of more than 100 illegal immigrants who tested positive for COVID-19 and who are now free to travel anywhere in the country: "A couple of weeks ago, I wrote to President Biden asking some basic questions about his Administration's termination of the Migrant Protecti  more

Sen. Menendez: Bipartisan Senators Introduce Legislation to Reassert Democratic Leadership in Technology Strategy & Development
WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on March 4, 2021: U.S. Sens. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, along with Sens. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.), today int  more

Sen. Murphy Joins Truman Center in Releasing Report That Calls for Diversity, More Engagement at U.S. State Department
WASHINGTON, March 4 -- Sen. Christopher Murphy, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Wednesday released a report with the Truman Center for National Policy that presents groundbreaking recommendations to achieve one of the Biden administration's most urgent diplomatic priorities: transforming the State Department into a more just, equitable, and innovative institution. Murphy led the Tr  more

Sens. Coons, Cornyn Introduce Landmark Legislation to Invest $1B Annually in Civics Education
WASHINGTON, March 4 -- Sen. Christopher Coons, D-Delaware, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) introduced landmark legislation to invest $1 billion annually in civics and history education from K-12 through higher education. The Educating for Democracy Act would create a variety of grants to states, non-profits, institutions of higher education, and civics education researchers to support and expand access to civics and history educati  more

Sens. Cornyn, Feinstein Release Report on Marijuana Usage and Public Health
WASHINGTON, March 4 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Chairman of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), co-Chairman, issued the following statements after the caucus released their report titled, "Cannabis Policy: Public Health and Safety Issues and Recommendations," which contains a number of findings and recommendations related to cannabis and cannabis policy: "Despite growing accept  more

Sens. Cornyn, Klobuchar Urge Biden Administration to Use Live Event Venues as Vaccine Administration Sites
WASHINGTON, March 3 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) led a letter to White House Coronavirus Task Force Response Coordinator Jeff Zients urging the administration to use live event venues as vaccination administration sites. Leveraging live venue facilities holds the potential to further assist in the federal government's response to this pandemic by helping expand the availability of vaccination centers t  more

Sens. Feinstein, Merkley, Colleagues Push to Protect Americans From Losing Access to Vital Utilities During Pandemic
WASHINGTON, March 4 -- Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, issued the following news release: Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) joined Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and a group of their colleagues to urge Senate leadership to include safeguards in the upcoming coronavirus relief package to protect the American people from losing access to critical utilities--including power, heat, water and internet services--during the pandemic. The lawmakers' letter comes after extreme cold in Texas and a  more

Sens. Grassley, Tillis, Cornyn Reintroduce Bill to Protect Asbestos Victims Trust Fund
WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) this week joined, U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) to reintroduce the PROTECT Asbestos Victims Act, commonsense legislation that provides much-needed oversight of asbestos bankruptcy trusts to ensure victims receive fair and just compensation. "Fraudsters and poor management cannot be allowed to cheat victims of asbestos-related diseases out of   more

Sens. Grassley, Tillis, Cornyn Reintroduce Bill to Protect Asbestos Victims Trust Fund
WASHINGTON, March 5 -- Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release on March 4, 2021: U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) this week joined, U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) to reintroduce the PROTECT Asbestos Victims Act, commonsense legislation that provides much-needed oversight of asbestos bankruptcy trusts to ensure victims receive fair and just compensation. "Fraudsters and poor management cannot b  more