WASHINGTON, April 20 -- Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, issued the following news release on April 19, 2021: Last week, Rep. Chip Roy (TX-21) introduced legislation that would designate drug and human trafficking cartels as Foreign Terror Organizations (FTOs) under federal law. The bill has been widely reported and gotten a wide range of support from those on and off Capitol Hill. The "Drug Cartel Terrorist Designation Act" would formally designate the Reynosa/Los Metros faction of the Gulf Cartel and  more

WASHINGTON, April 22 -- Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, chairwoman of the House Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee on Environment, issued the following opening statement as part of a video conference hearing entitled "Equity: the Case for a Federal Climate Service" on April 21, 2021: * * * As we heard at last month's climate hearing, climate change is impacting many facets of our society, and the time to make adaptation and mitigation decisions is now. It is vital that decision ma  more

WASHINGTON, April 23 -- The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee issued the following testimony by Brian Anderson, director of the Energy Department's National Energy Technology Laboratory, at a hearing on carbon utilization technologies on April 22, 2021: * * * My name is Dr. Brian Anderson, and I am the Director of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). NETL's research and development (R&D) campuses are located in Morgantown, West Virginia  more

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- The House Education and Labor Committee issued the following testimony by Andrew Gillen, senior policy analyst at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, as part of a virtual hearing entitled "For-Profit College Conversions: Examining Ways to Improve Accountability and Prevent Fraud": * * * The recent Government Accountability Office report IRS And Education Could Better Address Risks Associated with Some For-Profit College Conversions provides valuable insight into issues   more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- The House Education and Labor Committee issued the following information for a virtual hearing entitled: "For-Profit College Conversions: Examining Ways to Improve Accountability and Prevent Fraud" at 10:15 a.m. on April 20, 2021: Witnesses * Ms. Yan Cao, J.D., Fellow, The Century Foundation, Brooklyn, NY * Brian Galle, J.D., LL.M., Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, D.C. * Andrew Gillen, Ph.D., Senior Policy Analyst, Texas Public Policy F  more

WASHINGTON, April 23 -- The House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties issued the following testimony by Ex-Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro at a hearing entitled "Oversight of the Voting Rights Act: The Evolving Landscape of Voting Discrimination": * * * I'm honored to address this committee on the fundamental and timely issue of safeguarding the franchise. My testimony this morning is a family affair in more ways than one. My brot  more

WASHINGTON, April 23 -- Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Colin Allred (TX-32), a member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, introduced the bipartisan Veterans Claim Transparency Act. The bill reinstates and codifies "the 48-hour rule" which allows a veteran's representative to review VA's preliminary determination of a veteran's benefits 48 hours before finalizing the benefit determination. The VA moved to end the rule in 2020. The bill is co-s  more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- Rep. Andy Barr, R-Kentucky, issued the following news release on April 19, 2021: House Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) was joined by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), House Committee on Agriculture Ranking Member Glenn 'GT' Thompson (R-Penn.), House Committee on Appropriations Ranking Member Kay Granger (R-Texas), House Committee on Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) and 67 other membe  more

WASHINGTON, April 16 -- Rep. Ami Bera, D-California, issued the following joint statement with Reps. Steve Chabot, R-Ohio, Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, and Adrian Smith, R-Nebraska: * * * Rep. Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, and Reps. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) and Adrian Smith (R-NE), Co-Chairs of the U.S.-Japan Caucus, released the following statement on Japan  more

WASHINGTON, April 22 -- Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following news release: Ways and Means Committee Republican Leader Kevin Brady (R-TX), Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), and Education and Labor Committee Republican Leader Virginia Foxx (R-NC) today released legislation - the Lower Costs, More Cures Act - to lower drug costs for Americans without limiting access to cures. T  more

WASHINGTON, April 24 -- Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following news release: As President Biden's border crisis poses increasing challenges to America's foster care system, Ways and Means Republicans this week called on Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Beccerra to provide a briefing for members to address their concerns. KEY TAKEAWAYS: * More than 29,000 migrant children crossed the southern border in Fe  more

WASHINGTON, April 23 -- Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following news release on April 22, 2021: Today on Earth Day, Republican Ways and Means Leader Kevin Brady (R-TX) led Ways and Means Republicans in sending a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Tai urging the United States to resume negotiations to complete an Environmental Goods Agreement (EGA). EGA negotiations would eliminate tariffs on U.S. clean energy   more

WASHINGTON, April 22 -- Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), released the following statement after he re-introduced the Technological Innovation through Modernizing Enforcement Act or the TIME Act. "Technologies are moving fast and with that we must be willing to modernize how we enforce these advancements without hindering new developments," said Burgess. "This legislation will remove red tape that no longer serves a p  more

WASHINGTON, April 24 -- Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, issued the following floor statement: * * * Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), went to the House floor to discuss the crisis we are facing at our southern border. Highlights from remarks: "All Americans can agree that our immigration system is broken. Before we can fix it, we must address the crisis at our southern border. Let me be clear, what is happening at our border is a crisis. It is a humanitarian crisis. The policies be  more

WASHINGTON, April 22 -- Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro (TX-20), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact, welcomed approval by the House Foreign Affairs of the Global Electoral Exchange Act. Castro re-introduced this bicameral and bipartisan legislation with Representative Ann Wagner (R-MO), a member of the House Foreign Aff  more

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, issued the following statement: * * * U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro (TX-20) issued the following statement on the conviction of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd: "Dereck Chauvin murdered George Floyd while hiding behind the badge. Today he got the verdict he deserved. "The guilty verdict on all counts delivers necessary accountability, but true justice depends on all of us fixing a broken policing system and preventing th  more

WASHINGTON, April 23 -- Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Norma Torres (CA-35), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Nydia Velazquez (NY-07), and 16 Members of Congress asked President Biden in a letter to work with world leaders at the 2021 Climate Summit to address the growing needs of people displaced by the climate crisis. "Currently, the world does not have an agreed upon definition of 'climate refugees.' As a result, climate displ  more

WASHINGTON, April 22 -- Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Chairman of the House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee, praised the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) for withdrawing a Trump Administration rule that would have stripped consumer protections from the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). The VICP was established in 1986 to provide fair compensation to the very few, an estimated 1 in 1 million vaccine  more

WASHINGTON, April 23 -- Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, issued the following statement on April 22, 2021: * * * U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Chair of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, reacted to today's reintroduction of the prescription drug pricing bill, HR 3, and on the need for strong, comprehensive protection from pharmaceutical price gouging: "Since HR 3 was first approved in the House nearly 18 months ago, thousands of drugs have seen price spikes, more patients have cu  more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, issued the following news release: All Democratic members of the Texas congressional delegation have joined a request, led by U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) and sent to the U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, seeking to overcome Governor Abbott's obstruction of federal education funds from reaching Texas schools. They urge the Department of Education to ensure history does not repeat itself by strictly enforcing   more

EL PASO, Texas, April 24 -- Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16), a member of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis and the House Armed Services Committee, and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, announced the reintroduction of the Targeting Environmental and Climate Recklessness Act (TECRA), legislation to r  more

WASHINGTON, April 23 -- Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, issued the following news release: In commemoration of Earth Day, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) introduced H.R. 2752, the Castner Range National Monument Act. This legislation will designate Castner Range as a National Monument to conserve and protect the ecological cultural, historical, natural integrity of the land for present and future generations of El Pasoans and Americans to enjoy. "Castner Range is the crown jewel of West  more

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congresswomen Jackie Speier (CA-14), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), and 102 Members introduced the Access to Contraception for Servicemembers and Dependents Act to ensure military families receive the quality reproductive health care they deserve. The bill would bring health care provided by the military in line with current law for civilian populations by ensuring that those who re  more

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) joined Senator Ed Markey and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in reintroducing the Green New Deal Resolution (GND). The Green New Deal resolution envisions a 10-year national mobilization, akin to FDR's New Deal, that would put millions to work in good-paying, union jobs repairing the nation's infrastructure, reducing air and water pollution, and fighting the   more

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Texas, issued the following statement: * * * Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) issued the following statement on Derek Chauvin's conviction for the murder of George Floyd: "Today's verdict convicting Derek Chauvin of murder is an important step for justice, after a year in which we have seen so many failures of justice. While the jury's verdict will not bring George Floyd back to life, I hope today's conviction will ease some of the pain for  more

WASHINGTON, April 22 -- Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) voted for H.R. 1333, the National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants (NO BAN) Act. The legislation amends the Immigration and Nationality Act's nondiscrimination provision to prohibit immigration bans based on religion and to apply all nondiscrimination protections to immigrant and nonimmigrant visas alike. Congresswoman Fletcher is a co-sponsor of the N  more

WASHINGTON, April 22 -- Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) and all democratic members of the Texas delegation are calling on U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona to ensure schools receive the federal support Congress provided through COVID-19 relief legislation. In a letter to Secretary Cardona, the members note that Governor Abbott is one of only two governors that has refused to send Elementary and Secondary School Em  more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- Rep. Scott Franklin, R-Florida, issued the following news release: This week, Representative Scott Franklin (R-Fla.) joined House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.) and Rep. Yvette Herrell (R-N.M.) in El Paso, Texas and along the southern border in New Mexico to examine President Biden's border crisis. Biden's border crisis continues to escalate, encouraging human smugglers to profit from the administration's open borders policies and pl  more

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, April 24 -- Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) on Friday announced over $350,000 in grant funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for Head Start programs in Texas's 23rd district. Congressman Gonzales previously served as the Community Representative for the City of San Antonio Head Start Policy Council from 2018 - 2019. Grants will be awarded to the following organizations within the d  more

WASHINGTON, April 22 -- Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) joined his fellow Democratic members of the Texas congressional delegation in a request sent to the U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, seeking to overcome Governor Abbott's obstruction of federal education funds from reaching Texas schools. They urge the Department of Education to ensure history does not repeat itself by strictly enforcing the main  more

WASHINGTON, April 22 -- Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) and 163 bipartisan and bicameral signatories sent a letter to Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Isabella Guzman, calling on the administration to fix the Shuttered Venue Operator Grant portal. When the website through which venues could apply for relief finally opened on April 8, it immediately crashed. Congressman Gonzalez supported the Save Our Stage  more

WASHINGTON, April 22 -- Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) voted to protect senior citizens from financial fraud and scammers by supporting H.R. 1565, the Senior Security Act. The Senior Security Act builds upon the Senior Safe Act and creates an interdivisional task force at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to examine and identify challenges facing senior investors. Congressman Gonzalez is an original cosponsor of  more

WASHINGTON, April 23 -- Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Texas, issued the following statement: * * * Congressman Lance Gooden (R-TX) voted against Speaker Pelosi's latest attempt to secure total Democrat control of government. The bill passed the House on a party-line vote of 216-208. "This is about Democrats securing two more Senate seats so they can jam through their radical, socialist agenda."  more

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, issued the following news release on April 20, 2021: Lead House Appropriations Committee Republican Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX) released the following statement after the Trillion Trees Act was introduced by Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR), Lead Republican on the House Committee on Natural Resources, with Rep. Granger as an original cosponsor of the legislation. "We owe it to generations to come to be responsible stewards of our environment--as well a  more

WASHINGTON, April 23 -- Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, issued the following news release on April 22, 2021: Congressman Al Green released the following statement supporting H.R. 51, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act. Congressman Green is a proud supporter of D.C. statehood and serves as an original cosponsor for this legislation: "I stand with my colleague Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton - who sits at the helm of this movement - as well as an overwhelming majority of D.C. residents in support of stat  more

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, issued the following news release: On Tuesday, April 20, 2021, Congressman Al Green, Chair of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, introduced the Minority Business Resiliency Act of 2021 in the House of Representatives. Companion legislation was simultaneously introduced by Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland, Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee Chair. "Since the start of the unprecedented COVID-1  more

WASHINGTON, April 22 -- Rep. Yvette Herrell, R-New Mexico, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Yvette Herrell (R-N.M.) cosponsored two bills introduced by Congressman Fred Keller (R-Pa.) following their recent trip to the border with House Oversight Committee Republicans. The first bill commends the men and women of Customs and Border Protection for their service. Morale is low among Border Patrol agents as heard in a video recorded by Keller (https://twitter.com/RepFredKeller/sta  more

WASHINGTON, April 22 -- Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Ronny Jackson (TX-13) sent a letter to House Armed Services Committee (HASC) leaders yesterday urging for the inclusion of his new legislation in the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The Protecting Military Installations and Ranges Act of 2021 would require a review of any purchase or lease of real estate near a military installation or military airspace in the United States if the  more

WASHINGTON, April 24 -- Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, chairwoman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, issued the following news release: On Wednesday, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg announced that Dr. Robert Hampshire will serve as the Chief Science Officer for the Department of Transportation. "I am pleased that Secretary Buttigieg has designated Dr. Robert Hampshire, the Acting Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, to be the first Chief Science   more

WASHINGTON, April 24 -- Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, chairwoman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, issued the following news release: Yesterday, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate former Chief Scientist of NOAA, Dr. Rick Spinrad, to serve as Undersecretary for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator. "I am excited to see the Biden-Harris Administration name Dr. Rick Spinrad to lead the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration." said Chai  more

WASHINGTON, April 22 -- Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, chairwoman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, issued the following news release: The American Lung Association (ALA) released their annual "State of the Air" report. For the past 22 years, the ALA has analyzed data from official air quality monitors to compile this report. Top-line findings: * More than four in ten Americans (41.1% - more than 135 million Americans) live in counties that had unhealthy ozone or par  more

WASHINGTON, April 23 -- Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, chairwoman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, issued the following news release on April 22, 2021: The Biden Administration announced that United States would submit a new nationally determined contribution (NDC) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) of 50-52 percent reduction from 2005 in net greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The White House also convened a two-day virtual Leaders S  more

WASHINGTON, April 24 -- Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, chairwoman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, issued the following news release: Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) with Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), Rep. Fred Upton (D-MI), Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), and Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH) sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Acting Director Shalanda Young and the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Acting Director Kei Koizumi asking for t  more

WASHINGTON, April 23 -- Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following news release on April 22, 2021: House Foreign Affairs Committee Lead Republican Michael McCaul sent a letter to Secretary of State Blinken expressing concern over the decision to fully withdraw all U.S. forces from Afghanistan by September 11, 2021. The letter asks for assessments on how the withdrawal will affect U.S. counterterrorism capabilities and the  more

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Tuesday, Representatives August Pfluger (TX-11) and Henry Cuellar (TX-28) introduced the Natural Gas Export Expansion Act, a bipartisan bill to expand expedited approval of all liquified natural gas (LNG) export permit applications to any country except those subject to sanctions or trade restrictions imposed by the United States, or those excluded by the President for Congress for reasons of national secur  more

WASHINGTON, April 23 -- Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, issued the following statement: * * * Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) is proud to announce the American Border Rescue Plan Act, a bill to allow state and local governments to use stimulus funds from the American Rescue Plan to cover the costs of border security. Congressman Pfluger released a statement following introduction of the bill: "Border states like Texas spend hundreds of millions of dollars each year on border security, and hu  more

WASHINGTON, April 23 -- Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, issued the following remarks: * * * On Wednesday, Rep. Chip Roy (TX-21) slammed Democrats for their politically driven, unconstitutional effort to grant Washington D.C. official statehood. A transcript of the Congressman's remarks are below, and footage can be found below and at the link here (https://twitter.com/RepChipRoy/status/1385231121688969225). My friend from Maryland makes an excellent closing case in court because he knows that this i  more

WASHINGTON, April 23 -- Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, issued the following news release: This week, Rep. Chip Roy (TX-21), joined by eight of his colleagues, sent a letter to Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and Ranking Member Kay Granger (TX-12) of the Committee on Appropriations in support of full U.S. security assistance to one of our closest friends and greatest allies, the State of Israel. "This assistance is overwhelmingly supported by Congress and became law as part of the National Defense Aut  more

WASHINGTON, April 22 -- Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, issued the following floor statement on April 21, 2021: * * * On Wednesday, Rep. Chip Roy (TX-21) delivered remarks on the House floor marking the 185th anniversary Texas winning its independence in the Battle of San Jacinto and pointing out how the Lone Star State is currently under siege as a result of President Biden's border crisis. A transcript of his speech is below, and footage can be found here: 185 years ago today, in San Jacinto, Tex  more

WASHINGTON, April 23 -- Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: This week, Rep. Greg Stanton and 17 members of the U.S. House of Representatives from both parties announced the formation of the 'Congressional Caucus of Former Local Elected Officials,' focused on ensuring local priorities are heard in Washington. Stanton will co-chair the Caucus with Rep. Gerald Connolly (D-Va.), Rep. David Joyce (R-Ohio), and Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas). The bipartisan group was formed  more

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Texas, issued the following statement on April 20, 2021: * * * Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33) released the following statement after Former Minneapolis Police Officer, Derek Chauvin, was found guilty on all three counts in George Floyd's death: "Today's guilty conviction means the officer who brutally killed George Floyd will finally face justice and be held accountable for his actions, but it will never give George Floyd his life back or return Ge  more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Texas, issued the following statement: * * * Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33), member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, released the following statement reacting to the Biden Administration rescinding a ten-year Medicaid 1115 waiver extension that the Trump Administration had rushed through earlier in January: "The fact that the state of Texas, and the North Texas district that I represent, has some of the highest numbers of uninsured people in t  more

WASHINGTON, April 23 -- Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Filemon Vela (D-TX) announced that the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC) $2 million for small businesses and entrepreneurs through the CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to capitalize and administer a Revolving Loan Fund (RLF). These federal funds will allow BCIC to provide critical gap financing to small businesse  more

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Texas, issued the following statement: * * * Congressman Filemon Vela (TX-34) issued the following statement in response to the Minnesota jury's decision to convict former police officer, Derek Chauvin, for the May 2020 murder of George Floyd: "American trial jurors are the guardians of public trust and the voice of a community's values. Today, the Minnesota jury found former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty of the murder of George F  more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Arkansas, issued the following news release on April 19, 2021: House Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) joined Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), House Committee on Agriculture Ranking Member Glenn 'GT' Thompson (R-Penn.), House Committee on Appropriations Ranking Member Kay Granger (R-Texas), House Committee on Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Cathy McMorris-Rodgers (R-Wash.) and 67 other members in i  more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Arkansas, ranking Republican member of the House Natural Resources Committee, issued the following news release on April 19, 2021: House Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) was joined by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), House Committee on Agriculture Ranking Member Glenn 'GT' Thompson (R-Penn.), House Committee on Appropriations Ranking Member Kay Granger (R-Texas), House Committee on Energy and C  more

WASHINGTON, April 22 -- Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, issued the following news release on April 21, 2021: Congressman Roger Williams (TX-25) and Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-22) introduced H.R. 2717, Safer Schools Act of 2021, to establish two new grant programs that fund vulnerability assessments and physical security improvements to improve the safety of students and teachers in the classroom. "While I pray for the day that no child or teacher ever feels unsafe in the classroom, we must take   more

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, issued the following excerpts of remarks: * * * Congressman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) and Congressman Brian Babin (TX-36) led a press conference with members of the Texas Delegation who made a recent trip to the southern border to assess Biden's Border Crisis. Click here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edCRlCANopc&t=24s) to watch Rep. Arrington's full remarks. Excerpts of Remarks as Delivered: "I want to thank my colleagues from Texas fo  more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Representatives Jodey Arrington (TX-19) and Brian Babin (TX-36) led a dozen Texas colleagues who recently visited the southern border in sending a letter to the Biden Administration. The letter asked Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas to provide answers to six questions about the conditions at the southern border. Between March 29-31, Reps. Arrington and Babin led over a dozen members of the Texas deleg  more

WASHINGTON, April 23 -- Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, issued the following news release on April 22, 2021: Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22) today introduced a resolution urging the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to immediately impose an arms embargo against the military of Burma in an effort to end the ongoing coup by the Burmese military and deliver control of the nation back to its elected officials. Since February 1, 2021, Burmese military   more

WASHINGTON, April 23 -- Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, issued the following news release on April 22, 2021: U.S. Congressmen Tony Gonzales (R-TX-23) and Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28) with U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) today introduced The Bipartisan Border Solutions Act, their bipartisan, bicameral legislation to respond to the surge in migrants coming across our southern border. The bill would improve both the Department of Homeland Security's and the Department of Justice  more

WASHINGTON, April 22 -- Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, issued the following news release on April 21, 2021: Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) today with Senators Cruz (R-TX) and Rubio (R-FL), and Congressmen Ronny Jackson (TX-13) and Pat Fallon (TX-04) introduced the Protecting Military Installations and Ranges Act, a bill to stop foreign adversaries from acquiring land near military bases. This legislation restricts any efforts by Russia, China, Iran, or North Korea to buy U.S. land within 100 m  more

WASHINGTON, April 23 -- Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Tony Gonzales (R-TX-23) on Thursday introduced bipartisan legislation with Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28) and Congresswoman Yvette Herrell (R-NM-02) to improve the overtime pay system for border patrol agents. The Border Patrol Agent Pay Reform Amendment Act of 2021 gives border patrol agents more flexibility in choosing their work schedules and how they receive overtime pay. This legislati  more

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressmen Lance Gooden (R-TX) and Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX) have introduced the RARE Act to reduce America's dependence on China for rare earth elements critical to our way of life. The Reclaiming American Rare Earths Act establishes tax incentives for the domestic production of critical minerals used to manufacture military weapons and the technologies that drive our modern economy. To read the full text of  more

WASHINGTON, April 22 -- Rep. Yvette Herrell, R-New Mexico, issued the following news release: This week Congresswoman Yvette Herrell (R-N.M.) joined Congressman Chip Roy (R-Texas) in filing a rule to force a vote on the congresswoman's legislation to protect President Donald Trump's Title 42 COVID protocols at the southern border. The rule, H. Res. 216, and accompanying discharge petition would force a House vote on the Protecting Americans from Unnecessary Spread upon Entry (PAUSE) from COVID  more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, chairwoman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, issued the following news release on April 19, 2021: Early this morning, NASA's Ingenuity Mars Helicopter succeeded in the first powered, controlled flight on another planet and demonstrated that rotorcraft flight is possible in the thin Martian atmosphere. During Ingenuity's 39.1 seconds of flight, the Perseverance Rover assisted in communicating data from Ingenuity bet  more

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, chairwoman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, issued the following news release: Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) along with Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R-OK) introduced the "Combating Sexual Harassment in Science Act." This bill would expand research efforts to better understand the causes and consequences of sexual harassment impacting individuals in the STEM workforce. The bill will also provide support to  more

WASHINGTON, April 23 -- Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: House Foreign Affairs Committee Lead Republican Michael McCaul, Rep. Ted Deutch, Chair of the Subcommittee on Middle East, North Africa, and Global Counterterrorism, and over 325 House Republicans and Democrats, sent a letter to the House Appropriations Committee urging the full funding of security assistance to Israel without added condition  more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following joint statement with Chairman Gregory W. Meeks, D-New York: * * * House Foreign Affairs Committee Lead Republican Michael McCaul and Chairman Gregory W. Meeks released the following statement after reports of Alexey Navalny's deteriorating health while he remains wrongfully imprisoned in Russia. "Alexey Navalny is languishing in a Russian prison for noth  more

WASHINGTON, April 24 -- Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following joint statement with Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, D-New York: * * * House Foreign Affairs Committee Lead Republican Michael McCaul and Chairman Gregory W. Meeks issued the following statement ahead of the upcoming Albanian national elections. "As Albania prepares for national elections on April 25, we urge the Albanian authorities to ensure that voters are abl  more

WASHINGTON, April 23 -- Rep. Michael T. McCaul, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressmen Michael McCaul (TX-10) and Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (MP-AL) reintroduced the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act which would ban the buying and selling of shark fins in the United States. The same bill, introduced by McCaul and Sablan, had strong bipartisan support and passed in the last Congress, but the Senate took no action. The act of shark finning - cutting off the fin of a shark and   more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-New York, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following joint statement with Rep. Michael T. McCaul, R-Texas, chairman and ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee: * * * Representative Gregory W. Meeks and Michael McCaul, Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement after reports of Alexey Navalny's deteriorating health while he remains wrongfully imprison  more

WASHINGTON, April 24 -- Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-New York, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following joint statement with Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas: * * * Representatives Gregory W. Meeks and Michael McCaul, Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement ahead of the upcoming Albanian national elections: "As Albania prepares for national elections on April 25, we urge the Albanian authorities to ensure that voters  more

WASHINGTON, April 22 -- Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, issued the following news release: On Wednesday, Reps. Chip Roy (TX-21) and Lauren Boebert (CO-3) announced a discharge petition (H. Res. 292) to force a House floor vote on legislation to reverse President Biden's job-killing executive actions on American energy. Since taking office, President Biden has issued multiple sweeping executive orders aimed at crippling American oil and gas production. These include his order to shut down construction   more

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, issued the following news release: On Monday evening, Rep. Chip Roy (TX-21) filed a rule to force a vote on legislation to reinstate enforcement of President Donald Trump's Title 42 COVID protocols at the southern border. The rule, H. Res. 216, would force a House vote on Rep. Yvette Herrell's "Protecting Americans from Unnecessary Spread upon Entry from COVID-19 Act of 2021" or the "PAUSE Act of 2021" would stop the massive influx of illegal imm  more

WASHINGTON, April 22 -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) along with Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) introduced legislation to curb President Biden's ability to renegotiate the failed Iran Nuclear Deal. The legislation was led by Representative Andy Barr (R-Ky.) in the   more

WASHINGTON, April 19 -- Sen. Christopher Coons, D-Delaware, issued the following joint transcript with Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, of an interview on April 18, 2021, on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace: * * * U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) joined Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday for a joint interview on bipartisanship and future legislative priorities, including infrastructure and U.S. competitiveness wi  more

WASHINGTON, April 19 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following excerpt of an interview on April 18, 2021, on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace: * * * Today on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) joined Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) to discuss upcoming opportunities for bipartisan cooperation on key legislative priorities. Excerpts of the interview are below, and video can be found here (https://youtu.be/j3XH7m7RJjc). On the Biden Presidency and Bipartis  more

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following excerpts of floor statement on April 20, 2021: * * * Today on the floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) offered his support for bipartisan talks on infrastructure pending assurance that Democrats would drop their plan to use the reconciliation process to pass their partisan priorities. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn's remarks are below, and video can be found here (https://youtu.be/YKT48gPpNUk). "If our Democratic friends wan  more

WASHINGTON, April 24 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following Excerpts of remarks on April 23, 2021: * * * Yesterday U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) shared his frustration that the Biden Administration has rescinded Texas's 1115 Medicaid Waiver Extension in the Senate Finance Committee. He currently has a hold on the nomination of Chiquita Brooks-LaSure to be administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services until he can get more clarity from the Biden Administration on   more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) sent a letter to Dept. of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas urging him to allow the reconstruction of levees along the Rio Grande to protect South Texas from flood damage ahead of hurricane season. The letter follows a video call Sen. Cornyn held with local leaders in Hidalgo County on Friday about this issue. He wrote: "Leaving these levees in their current state   more

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following excerpts of floor statement on April 20, 2021: * * * Today in the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) discussed voting rights and the misleading rhetoric surrounding state voting laws like the one passed in Georgia. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn's remarks are below, and video can be found here (https://youtu.be/pWOnG6-M6P0). "Unfortunately, rather than the usual oversight, and fact-finding, and legislat  more

WASHINGTON, April 22 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following excerpts of floor statement on April 21, 2021: * * * Today on the floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) discussed his opposition to the nomination of Vanita Gupta to be Associate Attorney General prior to the confirmation vote on the Senate floor. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn's remarks are below, and video can be found here: https://youtu.be/xwcWhmognPA "High-ranking public officials at the Department of Justice cannot be mo  more

WASHINGTON, April 24 -- Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, issued the following news release on April 23, 2021: Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) today announced that a new safeguard regarding the shipping and delivery of e-cigarette products is scheduled to take effect April 26. The new rule is required by the senators' legislation, the Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act, which was signed into law in December 2020. It will require e-c  more

WASHINGTON, April 23 -- Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) today held a press conference outside the Supreme Court to discuss their opposition to expanding the number of Supreme Court justices. GRAHAM: "We're not going to allow the most radical liberal movement in modern American history to destroy the Rule of Law for partisan purposes. Why do they want  more

WASHINGTON, April 23 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following news release on April 22, 2021: U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and U.S. Representatives Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28) and Tony Gonzales (R-TX-23) today introduced The Bipartisan Border Solutions Act, their bipartisan, bicameral legislation to respond to the surge in migrants coming across our southern border. The bill would improve both the Department of Homeland Security's and the Department of Justic  more

WASHINGTON, April 23 -- Sen. John Kennedy, R-Louisiana, issued the following joint statement on April 22, 2021, with Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas: * * * Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today issued the following statement after Senate Democrats blocked their amendment to prohibit federal funding for any institution of higher education that discriminates against Asian Americans in recruitment, applicant review or admissions: "In an unbelievably cynical move, Senate Democrats blocke  more

WASHINGTON, April 23 -- Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn) introduced legislation to curb President Biden's ability to renegotiate the failed Iran Nuclear Deal. Sens. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) are original cosponsors. The legislation was led by Representative Andy Barr (R-  more

WASHINGTON, April 23 -- Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema and Republican Senator John Cornyn (Texas) introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Bipartisan Border Solutions Act in response to the crisis at the southern border. The Senators' legislation improves the federal government's response to the border crisis, reduces the impact on local border communities, ensures migrants are treated fairly and humanely, and improves manage  more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Finance, John Cornyn (R-Texas), also a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, today introduced the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Eligibility Clarification Act. This legislation would require the Department of Labor (DOL) to rescind its recently issued g  more