WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, chairwoman of the House Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, issued the following opening statement as part of a video conference hearing entitled "What Do Scientists Hope to Learn with NASA's Mars Perseverance Rover?" on April 29, 2021: * * * Thank you for holding this hearing and giving us the opportunity to hear about the exciting science to be gained from NASA's newest rover on Mars. I would also lik  more

WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, chairwoman of the House Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee on Research and Technology, issued the following opening statement as part of a video conference hearing entitled "National Science Foundation: Advancing Research for the Future of U.S. Innovation" on April 28, 2021: * * * Last month, I was joined by my colleague Ranking Member Lucas, and Representatives Stevens and Waltz, in introducing the "National Science Foundati  more

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law issued the following testimony by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, at a hearing entitled "Treating the Problem: Addressing Anticompetitive Conduct and Consolidation in Health Care Markets" on April 29, 2021: * * * After more than a year battling the COVID-19 pandemic, the light at the end of the tunnel is growing rapidly because of the astonishing scientific achievements that led to multiple effect  more

WASHINGTON, April 29 -- The House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health issued the following testimony by Thomas J. Kim, chief behavioral health officer at Prism Health North Texas, as part of a virtual hearing entitled "Charting the Path Forward for Telehealth": * * * My name is Thomas Kim, an Internist and Psychiatrist from Austin, Texas. I am privileged to testify on behalf of myself; Prism Health North Texas where I am the Chief Behavioral Health Officer, and the Texas Medical Association.  more

DALLAS, Texas, April 30 -- Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, issued the following news release on April 29, 2021: Congressman Colin Allred (TX-32) today announced his support for 10 Community Project Funding submissions for the 32nd District of Texas that will be recommended to the House Appropriations Committee for fiscal year 2022. The recommendations come from a nonpartisan committee of North Texans that Allred formed to review projects in North Texas based on a set of criteria including job creat  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, issued the following news release on April 29, 2021: U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) introduced bipartisan legislation to help weatherize electrical grids across the nation. The POWER ON Act would assist electricity providers and suppliers with federal funding to protect their facilities and infrastructure against future extreme weather events, including heatwaves, droughts and wildfires in California, and   more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) and U.S. Representatives Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30), Kevin Brady (TX-08), and Michael Burgess (TX-26) today introduced bipartisan legislation to help weatherize electric grids across the nation. The POWER ON Act would assist electricity providers and suppliers with federal funding to protect their facilities and infrastructure against future extreme weather events, like the F  more

WASHINGTON, April 28 -- Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, issued the following news release on April 27, 2021: Congressman Colin Allred (TX-32) cosponsored the Student Athlete Level Playing Field Act, legislation that would grant student-athletes the right to financially benefit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL). The bipartisan legislation was led by Congressman Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH-16), and Congressman Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO-05). It would establish one federal NIL standard, protect the rec  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Rep. Brian Babin, R-Texas, issued the following statement on April 29, 2021: * * * U.S. Congressman Brian Babin (TX-36) released the following statement in response to President Biden's Joint Address to Congress: "My reaction to President Biden's first address to a joint session of Congress can be summed up in three words: weak and boring," said Babin. "This speech was nothing more than the usual Leftist banter of over promising and underdelivering. Unsurprisingly, ne  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following statement: * * * The top Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) issued the following statement after the Bureau of Economic Analysis released its report on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the first quarter of 2021: "Beating expectations with economic growth of 6.4 percent, President Biden inherited a booming economic recover  more

WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following statement on April 28, 2021: * * * After President Biden announced even more tax hikes on the American people during his first joint address to Congress, Top Republican Leader for the House Ways and Means Committee Kevin Brady (R-TX) issued the following statement: "President Biden inherited a strong economy and life-saving vaccines, yet he is sabotaging Ame  more

WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following statement: * * * Democrats' top-down socialist agenda for families would lead to lower paychecks, fewer jobs, and greater hardships for Americans. Ways and Means Committee Republican leader Kevin Brady (R-TX) issued the following statement about President Biden's "Crush American Families Plan": * "Good jobs and rising paychecks help working families far more  more

WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) released the following statement after President Biden delivered his first Joint Session of Congress Address. "For the first time in 18 years, I was not allowed to attend a Joint Session of Congress," said Burgess. "The Speaker of the House strictly limited attendance using the excuse of this Coronavirus. A majority of Members in both Chambers of Congress have b  more

WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Texas Congressional leaders led by Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra expressing their concern and disappointment by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS) action taken to rescind the 10-year extension of the Texas' Medicaid 1115 Waiver. In the letter the Members wrote: "This unprecedented action  more

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), Congressman Tim Walberg (R-MI), Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), and the House and Senate Congressional Motorcycle Caucuses introduced a bicameral resolution to designate May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month promotes rider safety, education, licensing, and awareness in order to decrease the number of cra  more

WASHINGTON, April 28 -- Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, issued the following news release on April 27, 2021: A group of Republican doctors and other health care providers in Congress launched a public service campaign to boost COVID-19 vaccine participation saying in part, "Operation Warp Speed brought us safe and effective vaccines in record time. The FDA did not skip any steps. Instead, they cut bureaucratic red tape - not corners - and they got the job done in record time. So it's obvious to   more

WASHINGTON, April 28 -- Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) put out the below statement following President Biden's latest executive order raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour for federal contractors. "Executive orders are meant to be used rarely and only when absolutely necessary," said Burgess. "This latest order does more virtue signaling than putting forward an actual solution." "Our economy is in the process of  more

ROUND ROCK, Texas, April 30 -- Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Representative John Carter (TX-31) announced over $100,000 in Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) grants to TX-31 airports. These grants can be used towards operations, personnel, and resources to maintain the safety & functioning of these airports. The CRRSAA grant amounts are as follows: * $13,000 for Skylark Field (Killeen) * $57,162 for Georgetown Municipal (G  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, issued the following news release on April 29, 2021: Yesterday, Representative John Carter (R-TX-31) introduced H.R. 2871, the Resist Executive Amnesty on Defense Installations (READI) Act, in the House. If enacted, the READI Act will completely prohibit the housing of illegal immigrants on any military installation within the United States. In fiscal year 2017, Representative Carter included language in the National Defense Authorization Act t  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, issued the following statement on April 29, 2021: * * * Representative John Carter (TX-31) released the following statement after President Biden's joint address to Congress. "In President Biden's first 100 days, we've seen wasteful spending that will saddle future generations with massive debt, job losses among oil and gas workers, and rising prices. Unfortunately, what we heard tonight was not solutions to these problems, but more of the sa  more

WASHINGTON, April 27 -- Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs, Intelligence, and Education and Labor Committees, and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, reintroduced legislation to reunite the thousands of immigrant children and families who were separated by the Trump Administration's cruel 2018 family separation policy. As of April 7th, 2021, 445  more

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, April 29 -- Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro (TX-20) is uplifting a San Antonio essential worker, Eliza Sanchez, as his virtual guest to President Biden's Joint Address to Congress. Eliza, 44, is an immigrant domestic worker and has worked as a homecare worker for the past 3 years providing care for the elderly. The Joint Address is President Biden's first speech to a Joint Session of Congress, marking 100 da  more

WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, issued the following statement: * * * This afternoon, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) responded to Governor Abbott's announcement that he would finally release $11.2 billion of the federal funds passed in relief packages and which have been available since March: "Belated but very substantial progress in responding to our congressional calls and those of public school advocates across Texas. Governor Abbott has finally yielded to t  more

WASHINGTON, April 27 -- Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, issued the following news release: This morning, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Chair, led 50 bicameral Members of Congress in a request to HHS Secretary Becerra and Defense Secretary Austin for the unredacted COVID-19 vaccine and therapeutic contracts. Representative Doggett was joined in this request by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Representative Jan Schakowsky  more

WASHINGTON, April 28 -- Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, issued the following statement: * * * Good news that President Biden is appointing my former legislative assistant who later became a national trade expert, Celeste Drake, to be our Nation's first Made in America Director for the Office of Management and Budget. Her hard work, whip-smart brain, and compassionate heart will serve all Americans well. I look forward to working with her once again in this important new role.  more

WASHINGTON, April 28 -- Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, issued the following news release: This afternoon, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) led all fellow Texas Democratic Members in urging the Biden Administration to utilize renegotiation of its Medicaid Section 1115 waiver as an opportunity to achieve significant reductions in the unacceptably high number of uninsured Texans. This follows the Biden Administration rightfully rescinding an illegal Trump Administration premature approval fo  more

EL PASO, Texas, April 29 -- Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, issued the following news release on April 28, 2021: Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) announced that Christina Munoz, El Paso small business owner, has been invited to be her virtual guest for President Joe Biden's Address to a Joint Session of Congress. The Joint Address is President Biden's first speech to a Joint Session of Congress, marking the first 100 days of his administration. In the past, Congresswoman Escobar has invi  more

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Congressman Pat Fallon (TX-04) today called on Lamar County Democratic Party Chair Gary O'Connor to resign after O'Connor posted a defamatory and racist remark against Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) on Facebook. "Gary O'Connor's comment against Senator Tim Scott is abhorrent, insulting, and unforgivable. Both he and the entire Lamar County Democratic Party should be ashamed of this racist behavior. O'Connor must a  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Congressman Pat Fallon (TX-04) sent a letter yesterday to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas demanding the Biden administration end its disastrous "catch and release" immigration policy. The letter comes after the Department of Homeland Security instructed the Franklin County Sheriff's Department in Franklin County, Texas to release illegal immigrants suspected of numerous crimes onto the st  more

WASHINGTON, April 28 -- Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas, issued the following statement on April 27, 2021: * * * Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29) issued the following statement in response after submitting funding requests for three transportation and infrastructure projects to benefit the 29th Congressional District of Texas. "Today I sent a letter to Chairman DeFazio requesting surface transportation reauthorization funds for projects in the City of South Houston, and Greater Northside an  more

WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) urged U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Secretary Lloyd Austin to take action to enhance domestic capabilities by developing products composed of rare earth elements. In a letter led by Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Congressman David McKinley (WV-01), Congressman Gonzales asked Secretary Austin to establish a domestic rare earth metallurgical co-op to help end our reliance o  more

MONAHANS, Texas, April 24 -- Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) on Friday announced a $1,500,000 investment award from the Economic Development Administration to the Monahans Economic Development Corporation in Ward County. This award will help fund the COVID-19 Broadband Infrastructure Project, providing a fiber-based communications network to replace existing infrastructure in Monahans. "I am excited to announce this EDA funding   more

EAGLE PASS, Texas, April 27 -- Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) on Monday announced $10,000 in grant funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for Head Start programs in Eagle Pass. The grant money will be awarded to the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas in Eagle Pass for $10,233. Congressman Gonzales previously served as the Community Representative for the City of San Antonio Head Start Policy Council f  more

WASHINGTON, April 28 -- Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Tony Gonzales (R-TX-23) last week joined Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) and Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28) for a virtual press conference to announce the introduction of bipartisan, bicameral legislation to respond to the surge in migrants coming across our southern border. The bill will improve both the capacity to manage migration surges and adjudicate asylum claims in a timely manner, protect  more

WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) sent a letter to President Biden requesting a meeting to discuss the seizure of property along the Southern Border and flooding risks due to the broken levee in Hidalgo County Precinct 3. Congressman Gonzalez highlighted the urgent nature of these matters and the dangers they pose to the communities he represents. "When President Biden took office, he promised the end  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following news release on April 29, 2021: Appropriations Committee Republicans sent a letter to Vice President Kamala Harris, the White House's lead in stemming the flow of migrants at our southwest border, requesting an update on the results of the 60-day pause and review of border wall construction contracts. The letter, led by the Republican Leader of the Committee,   more

WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, issued the following news release on April 28, 2021: Congressman Al Green released the following statement ahead of President Joe Biden's first address to a joint session of Congress: "Tonight, a protest I committed myself to in 2017 will officially end as I will attend my first presidential address in four years. February 28, 2017 started my four-year act of civil resistance to the harmful behavior and rhetoric of our 45th President. On that da  more

WASHINGTON, April 28 -- Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, issued the following news release on April 27, 2021: Congressman Ronny Jackson (TX-13) sent a letter to Secretary Tom Vilsack yesterday regarding the Department of Agriculture's COVID-19 restrictions on Farm Service Agency (FSA) facilities. These facilities are currently operating at a DC-mandated limited capacity which prevents farmers and ranchers from accessing critical resources. The letter urged Secretary Vilsack to re-open these facilit  more

WASHINGTON, April 28 -- Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, issued the following news release on April 27, 2021: Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30) announced today that FEMA has begun accepting applications for funeral assistance for Texans who've lost loved ones to COVID-19. Johnson helped pass the funeral assistance program as part of the American Rescue Plan. Texans who paid for funeral expenses after January 20, 2020, for an individual whose death may have been caused by or was l  more

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, chairwoman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, issued the following statement: * * * On Wednesday, President Joe Biden made his first address to a Joint Session of Congress. Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) released the following statement. "On Wednesday evening, President Biden spoke directly to Americans across the nation on the progress made in his first 100 days and the ambitious goals the Biden-Harris Adm  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-California, issued the following news release: Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) joined Representatives Jared Huffman (CA-02), Doris Matsui (CA-06), Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30), Kevin Brady (TX-08), and Michael Burgess (TX-26) to introduce bipartisan legislation to help weatherize electrical grids across the nation. The Preventing Outages With Enhanced Resilience and Operations Nationwide (POWER ON) Act would assist electricity providers and su  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Texas, issued the following statement: * * * Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) released the following statement in response to President Biden's Address to a Joint Session of Congress: "President Biden spoke tonight about the progress we have made toward getting our country back on track. In his first 100 days, he has worked to deliver on his promise to confront the multiple, unprecedented challenges our country faces. In no space is this mo  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- 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 joined a bipartisan panel at the Sedona Forum 2021 with the McCain Institute to discuss Iran. The panel was moderated by Brian Hook, former U.S. Special Representative for Iran, and included General John Allen USMC (Ret.), former Commander of United States Central Command, and U.S  more

WASHINGTON, April 27 -- Rep. Michael T. McCaul, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Michael McCaul (TX-10) introduced the Election Protection Act of 2021. The legislation provides election security assistance, examines current federal election practices for shortfalls and encourages states to improve the election systems through incentives. Through this bill, states who certify secure election practices are provided a one-time grant. The Election Protection Act of 2021 is su  more

WASHINGTON, April 28 -- Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-California, issued the following news release: Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) and Congressman Jodey Arrington (R-TX-19) introduced the Family Attribution Modernization Act. The bipartisan legislation would modernize current tax law that penalizes small businesses in community property states, and disproportionately impacts women business owners. There currently exist nine community property states, including California and Texas. Under  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, issued the following statement on April 28, 2021: * * * Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) released a statement following President Joe Biden's Wednesday address to a Joint Session of Congress: "Tonight, President Biden outlined his plans to radically change America and push us farther down the path of socialism. The enormous federal programs he proposed will raise taxes, increase our Nation's dependence on the welfare state, and further c  more

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, issued the following statement: * * * On Friday, Rep. Chip Roy (TX-21) issued the following statement in response to media reports that unaccompanied migrant children housed at the at the San Antonio Freeman Coliseum are being mistreated and released to human traffickers: The deeply troubling news reports of children going missing, being mistreated, and under inadequate staffing at the Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio are the direct consequence of J  more

WASHINGTON, April 28 -- Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, issued the following statement: * * * Rep. Chip Roy issued the following statement Tuesday in response to media reports that former Secretary of State and current Climate Envoy John Kerry informed an Iranian official about covert Israeli operations: John Kerry should resign -- not because of the reported troubling statements, per se, but because he is a fool and endangers our nation and Israel. He is more interested in preening on the internatio  more

WASHINGTON, April 27 -- Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, issued the following news release on April 26, 2021: Introduced two weeks ago, Rep. Chip Roy (TX-21) announced today that more than 50 of his colleagues are now cosponsors of the No Taxpayer Funding for the United Nations Population Fund Act, H.R. 2488. This legislation would prevent American tax dollars from propping up an international program that is openly complicit in China's inhumane two-child policy and publicly praises China's abusive pop  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Rep. Van Taylor, R-Texas, issued the following news release: This week, Congressman Van Taylor (R-TX-03), and lead Democrat Congressman Dean Phillips (D-MN-03), introduced ethics reform legislation to increase transparency and curtail potential conflicts of interest in Congress. H.R. 2902, the Elected Official Lobbying Prohibition Act of 2021 prohibits local and state elected officials from leveraging their role as an elected official to lobby for private clients. Whil  more

PLANO, Texas, April 30 -- Rep. Van Taylor, R-Texas, issued the following statement on April 28, 2021: * * * Tonight, following President Biden's first Address to Congress, United States Congressman Van Taylor (TX-03) released the statement below: "Tonight, the world watched President Biden deliver a Joint Address to a mostly empty House chamber as the majority of Congress was not even allowed to attend. Instead of using this historic event to highlight the unity and strength of our nation's g  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Rep. Van Taylor, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Van Taylor (TX-03) and other Texas Congressional leaders urged the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Xavier Becerra, to reconsider the recent Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS) decision to rescind the ten-year extension of the Texas' Medicaid 1115 waiver, putting millions of Texans at risk of losing access to quality healthcare. In a letter, Congressman Taylor  more

DALLAS, Texas, April 29 -- Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Texas, issued the following news release on April 28, 2021: Rep. Veasey held a virtual press conference ahead of President Joe Biden's first Presidential Address to a joint session of Congress this evening, marking 100 days into the President's term. Rep. Veasey was joined at the press conference by Mr. Kenneth Day from Dallas. Mr. Day currently serves as the president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1338 in Dallas. Before holding various le  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Filemon Vela (D-TX) announced that the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (RESTORE Council) has awarded over $29 million in funding for restoration activities to restore and protect the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, coastal wetlands, and economy of the Texas Gulf Coast. The RESTORE Council has approved Funded Priorities List (FBL) 3b which i  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Filemon Vela (TX-34) announced that the Small Business Administration (SBA) will begin accepting applications for its $28.6 billion restaurant relief program, which was signed into law as part of President Biden's $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan. Registration for the SBA application portal will begin tomorrow, Friday, April 30 at 9:00 am CT. In preparation for the grant program's opening, the S  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Rep. Randy Weber, R-Texas, issued the following statement on April 28, 2021: * * * U.S. Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX-14) issued the following statement in response to President Joe Biden's Joint Address to Congress: "The American people were led to believe that electing President Biden would mark a return to "normalcy," and he would take bipartisan action to unify the country. However, Biden's first 100 days and his Joint Session address demonstrate that this administration   more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, issued the following news release on April 29, 2021: Representative Roger Williams (TX-25) issued the following statement following President Biden's speech before a joint session of Congress: "Since President Biden took office 100 days ago, he has led the most partisan, liberal White House in our Nation's history," said Congressman Williams. "Far from his promises of unity and bipartisanship on inauguration day, his address tonight validat  more

WASHINGTON, April 23 -- Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) and Congressman Michael McCaul (TX-10), chairmen of the U.S.-Mexico Interparliamentary Group, introduced the United States-Mexico Tourism Improvement Act. This legislation will increase governmental cooperation between the United States and Mexico to reinvigorate tourism in both the United States and Mexico. "Before the pandemic, tourism with Mexico was a critical economic   more

EL PASO, Texas, May 1 -- Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) and Congressman David Valadao (CA-21) introduced the American Families United Act. This bipartisan legislation is designed to preserve and promote family unity by amending the Immigration and Nationality Act to help millions of U.S. citizens reunite with their loved ones. The American Families United Act was introduced during the 116th Congress by Congresswoman Esc  more

WASHINGTON, April 28 -- Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Congressmen Drew Ferguson (R-Ga.), Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-Texas), Scott Peters (D-Calif), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif), and U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Angus King (I-ME) plan to introduce the Behavioral Intervention Guidelines (BIG) Act to support students' mental and behavioral health. This legislation would enable the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in consultation wi  more

WASHINGTON, April 28 -- Rep. A. Drew Ferguson, R-Georgia, issued the following news release: U.S. Congressmen Drew Ferguson (R-Ga.), Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-Texas), Scott Peters (D-Calif), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif), and U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Angus King (I-ME) plan to introduce the Behavioral Intervention Guidelines (BIG) Act to support students' mental and behavioral health. This legislation would enable the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in consultation  more

WASHINGTON, April 23 -- Rep. Yvette Herrell, R-New Mexico, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Yvette Herrell (R-N.M.) this week joined with Congressman Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) and Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) to introduce bipartisan legislation 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. Th  more

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Indiana, issued the following news release on April 30, 2021: Congresswoman Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) and Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas) introduced the bipartisan Elder Abuse Protection Act today to shield American seniors from criminals and fraudsters. The bill directs the Attorney General to establish an Elder Justice Initiative within the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice. The initiative will focus on criminal enforcement and p  more

WASHINGTON, April 28 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following floor statement on April 27, 2021: * * * Today on the floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) urged President Biden to outline for the American people during tomorrow's State of the Union address how his Administration plans to handle the migrant crisis. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn's remarks are below, and video can be found here. "Tomorrow evening across the Capitol, President Biden will deliver his first State of the Union a  more

WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following news release on April 28, 2021: U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), along with Sens. Roger Wicker (R-MS), Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), today reintroduced the Rural STEM Education Act to improve science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and training access in rural communities. "Texas has a booming science and technology sector. Unfortunately, students who lack access to high-quality ST  more

WASHINGTON, April 27 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following op-ed published in the San Antonio Express-News: * * * In response to the ongoing influx of migrants across Texas's southern border, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) and U.S. Representatives Henry Cuellar (TX-28) and Tony Gonzales (TX-23) authored the following op-ed in the San Antonio Express-News announcing their bipartisan, bicameral legislation to respond to the crisis: * * * A Bipartisan Solution for Nation's Out-of-  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following floor statement on April 29, 2021: * * * Today on the floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) discussed President Biden's joint address and the lack of attention given to the border crisis in his speech. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn's remarks are below, and video can be found here: https://youtu.be/UfzGdw_Sia0 "The American people heard him speak about many of the same themes that he touched on in his inauguration - unifying t  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, issued the following news release on April 29, 2021: A group of Senate Republicans today reintroduced legislation aimed at curbing China's access to the World Bank's low-rate debt financing intended for developing nations. The World Bank Integrity Preservation Act of 2021 was authored by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and cosponsored by Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.). "China has  more

WASHINGTON, April 28 -- Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-New Hampshire, issued the following news release: U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Sens. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., today reintroduced the Rural STEM Education Act to improve science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and training access in rural communities. "As employment opportunities in STEM fie  more

WASHINGTON, April 27 -- Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Mississippi, issued the following news release on April 26, 2021: U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) and colleagues, who travelled to South Texas recently, today reported their findings in a letter to President Biden and strongly encouraged a "dramatic change of course to humanely secure the border." Hyde-Smith, who serves on the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, in late March was part of a Senate delegation that travele  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, issued the following news release on April 29, 2021: U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.)  more

WASHINGTON, April 28 -- Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Mississippi, issued the following news release on April 27, 2021: U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Sens. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., today reintroduced the Rural STEM Education Act to improve science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and training access in rural communities. "As employment opportunit  more

WASHINGTON, April 28 -- Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Mississippi, ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, issued the following news release on April 27, 2021: U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Sens. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., today reintroduced the Rural STEM Education Act to improve science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) e  more

WASHINGTON, April 28 -- The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Government Operations and Border Management issued the following testimony by Joshua P. Jones, senior fellow in border security at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, as part of a video conference hearing entitled "The Non-Governmental Organization Perspective on the Southwest Border": * * * I am a Senior Fellow in Border Security at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. My comments and recommendations   more

WASHINGTON, April 27 -- Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, issued the following floor statement: * * * U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor honoring the NCAA Women's Volleyball National Champions, the University of Kentucky: "Over the weekend, the University of Kentucky's women's volleyball team made history. "The Wildcats hoisted the program's first NCAA volleyball national championship trophy after d  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, issued the following news release: U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced a Senate Resolution congratulating the University of Kentucky Women's Volleyball Team for winning the NCAA Championship. The Senate unanimously passed the resolution, which is below. On Saturday, the Wildcats defeated Texas to claim the program's first-ever national championship. "Title:   more

DENVER, Colorado, May 1 -- Sen. Michael F. Bennet, D-Colorado, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) introduced the Increasing Access to Biosimilars Act, which would direct the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a shared savings demonstration project to increase access to biosimilar biological products under the Medicare program. "The skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs was a problem in this country befor  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) yesterday introduced the Increasing Access to Biosimilars Act, which would direct the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a shared savings demonstration project to increase access to biosimilar biological products under the Medicare program. "Texans who need lifesaving medication shouldn't have to pay through the nose when there  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following news release on April 29, 2021: U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Jim Inhofe (R-OK), along with several of their Senate GOP colleagues, today introduced the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act. This legislation will allow individuals with concealed carry privileges in their home state to exercise those rights in any other state with concealed carry laws, while still  more

WASHINGTON, April 28 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following news release on April 27, 2021: Today U.S. Senators and Co-Chairs of the Senate India Caucus John Cornyn (R-TX) and Mark Warner (D-VA) sent a letter to President Biden urging him to ramp up efforts to support hard-hit countries like India by providing them with medical supplies and surplus vaccinations as they manage the recent surge in coronavirus infections. They wrote, "We write to urge you to accelerate U.S. efforts to  more

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Sen. James M. Inhofe, R-Oklahoma, issued the following news release: U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) joined Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), along with several of their Senate GOP colleagues, this week to introduce the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act. This legislation will allow individuals with concealed carry privileges in their home state to exercise those rights in any other state with concealed carry laws, w  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on April 29, 2021: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas), senior members of the Senate Finance Committee, today led their colleagues in introducing the bipartisan USTR Inspector General Act of 2021. This bill would establish an Inspector General (IG) for the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to provide independent oversight and increase transparency and acc  more

WASHINGTON, April 28 -- Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, issued the following news release on April 27, 2021: U.S. Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Thune (R-S.D.), John Barasso (R-Wyo.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) yesterday sent a letter to President Joe Biden detailing their eye-opening congressional delegation (CODEL) trip in March to see firsthand the humanita  more