WASHINGTON, July 8 -- Sen. Christopher Murphy, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: Ahead of Tuesday's oral arguments in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in Texas v. United States, a partisan lawsuit to overturn the Affordable Care Act (ACA), U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and U.S. Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) on   more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Colin Allred (TX-32) today joined colleagues in the House and Senate to tell the stories of people across America that would be harmed if the Trump Administration's lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act is successful. The event happened as the Fifth Circuit today began to hear oral arguments in the federal lawsuit seeking to invalidate the Affordable Care Act in its entirety. "On day one in this  more

WASHINGTON, July 10 -- Sen. Benjamin Cardin, D-Maryland, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) joined colleagues in introducing a new resolution in support of a health care bill of rights, in response to yesterday's oral arguments in the Texas v. United States lawsuit. The Trump administration is pushing the court to throw out the entire Affordable Care Act - a decision that would rip health care away from an estimated 20 million or more Americans. A decision undoi  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Sen. Michael F. Bennet, D-Colorado, issued the following news release: Today, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet released the statement below following oral arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals in Texas v. United States, the Republican lawsuit to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which includes protections for people with pre-existing conditions: "This case is nothing more than Republicans' latest attempt to sabotage the Affordable Care Act and strip away the covera  more

WASHINGTON, July 8 -- Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) hosted a roundtable discussion at the Centers for Families and Children in Cleveland as he continues to speak out against ongoing efforts to sabotage the Affordable Care Act and throw millions of Americans off their health insurance. This week, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments in the Texas v. United States case in which GOP leaders are seeking   more

WASHINGTON, July 10 -- Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, issued the following news release: * * * - Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Heard Oral Arguments in Healthcare Lawsuit Yesterday in which GOP Leaders Seek to Eliminate the Affordable Care Act More Than 200,000 Ohioans Covered by the ACA, 11.4 Million Americans Nationwide * * * Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) hosted a news conference call as he continues to speak out against ongoing efforts to sabotage the Affordable Care Act and throw  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. Tony Cardenas, D-California, issued the following news release: Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit will hear oral arguments on the Texas v. United States case in which President Trump and Republicans are attempting to completely unravel the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including the provisions that protect people with pre-existing conditions. That includes the 130 million Americans who have a history of a wide variety of conditions such as asthma, diab  more

WASHINGTON, July 10 -- Sen. Thomas Carper, D-Delaware, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both-Del.), joined Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and other Senate and House Democrats to highlight the Trump Administration's continued efforts to attack Americans' access to quality, affordable health care and eliminate the Affordable Care Act. Yesterday, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments i  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- The Congressional Budget Office issued the following cost estimate: The Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Alabama-Coushatta Indian tribes of Texas Restoration Act (Restoration Act) prohibits those two tribes from conducting gaming activities on their reservations--such as slot-machine gambling--if those activities are prohibited by the laws of Texas. That act could be in conflict with another federal law, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), which generally provides that India  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation statement on Aviation and Space issued the following testimony by Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, at a hearing entitled "NASA Exploration Plans: Where We've Been and Where We're Going": "Fifty years ago exactly one week from today, at approximately 9:30 a.m., three astronauts, sitting atop a rocket the size of a Navy destroyer packing 7.5 million pounds of thrust, took off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Roughly a million p  more

WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release: Today, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) will lead a Congressional delegation to McAllen, Texas to observe the crisis at the southern border. The delegation will join United States Vice President Mike Pence and officials from the Department of Homeland Security. PARTICIPANTS: * U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Car  more

WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, issued the following news release: Today, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) will lead a Congressional delegation to McAllen, Texas to observe the crisis at the southern border. The delegation will join United States Vice President Mike Pence and officials from the Department of Homeland Security. PARTICIPANTS: - U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) - U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas)  more

WASHINGTON, July 11 -- The House Science, Space and Technology Committee issued the following statement by Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, at a hearing entitled "Earth's Thermometers: Glacial and Ice Sheet Melt in a Changing Climate": "Good morning. I would like to welcome our witnesses to the Science, Space, and Technology Committee's hearing entitled "Earth's Thermometers: Glacial and Ice Sheet Melt in a Changing Climate." "It seems as though we're bombarded on an almost daily bas  more

WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, issued the following news release: Following President Trump's July 14, 2019, Executive Order on Evaluating and Improving the Utility of Federal Advisory Committees, Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) sent letters to the Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Transportation (DOT), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National  more

WASHINGTON, July 11 -- Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, issued the following news release: Yesterday, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) leadership reassigned Mr. William H. Gerstenmaier from his post as Associate Administrator of the Human Exploration and Operations (HEO) Mission Directorate. He will now serve as special assistant to NASA's Deputy Administrator Jim Morhard. Mr. William Hill, who served with Ge  more

WASHINGTON, July 11 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Today on the floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) previewed his trip to McAllen, Texas with Vice President Pence and some of his Senate Judiciary Committee colleagues. He also discussed the need to pass his bipartisan immigration bill, the HUMANE Act, and his Missing Migrants and Unidentified Remains Act. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn's floor remarks are below, and video can be found here (https://youtu.be/spCRdo  more

WASHINGTON, July 10 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Ted Cruz (R-TX), along with U.S. Congressmen Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15), and Filemon Vela (TX-34), urged President Trump to issue a federal disaster declaration in response to extreme rain and severe flooding recently in the Rio Grande Valley. "The Governor and local officials have informed us that the losses and property damage in these areas are of a   more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following news release: The Dallas Morning News' editorial board recently highlighted U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz's (R-Texas) letter to United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Secretary Kevin McAleenan urging him to establish a process to permit charitable organizations, faith-based organizations, and non-governmental organizations (NGO) to make charitable donations to individuals in CBP custody: "Upon seeing the living conditi  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement on the first day of oral arguments in Texas v. United States--a lawsuit brought by 18 Republican state attorney generals, and endorsed by President Trump's Administration, that seeks to eliminate the entire Affordable Care Act, including important protections for people with pre-existing conditions. Thanks to the Affor  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today joined Senator Jeff Merkley and 14 of their Senate Democratic colleagues to introduce a new resolution supporting a "health care bill of rights" for all Americans. Durbin and Duckworth introduced the health care bill of rights on the first day of oral arguments in Texas v. United States--a lawsuit brought by 18 Republican states Attorne  more

WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16), member of the House Armed Services Committee, voted for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020, securing big wins for El Paso, tackling key threats like climate change, and protecting our American values. The NDAA is responsible legislation that includes Fort Bliss and El Paso priorities and authorizes $733 billion for a strong, sm  more

WASHINGTON, July 13 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on agricultural credit services provided to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. The report (GAO-19-539) is titled "Agricultural Lending: Information on Credit and Outreach to Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Is Limited". The report was sent to Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, chairman, Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan, ranking member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, Rep. C  more

WASHINGTON, July 13 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on land border crossing infrastructure. The report (GAO-19-534) is titled "Border Infrastructure: Actions Needed to Improve Information on Facilities and Capital Planning at Land Border Crossings". The report was sent to Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Mississippi, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, Rep. Martha McSally, R-Arizona, and Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Texas, on July 11. Here are excerpts of summaries ass  more

WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Today, House Appropriations Top Republican Kay Granger announced she will join Vice President Mike Pence in Florida to commemorate the 50th anniversary of man's first walk on the Moon. The commemorative event, held at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, will bring together leaders in government and industry as well as family members of the Apollo astronauts that first walked on the Moon. "I am honored to joi  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today joined Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) to introduce the Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act, legislation that holds sanctuary jurisdictions accountable for failing to comply with lawful detainer and release notification requests made by federal authorities and jeopardizing public safety. Additional original cosponsors of Tillis's bill include senators Lindsey Gra  more

WASHINGTON, July 11 -- Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, D-Maryland, chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, issued the following news release: Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, the Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, convened a hearing entitled "The Trump Administration's Attack on the ACA: Reversal in Court Case Threatens Health Care for Millions of Americans" to examine the implications of the Trump Administration's sudden decision to reverse its own previous legal position in Tex  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, D-Maryland, chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, issued the following news release: On Wednesday, July 10, 2019, the Committee on Oversight and Reform will hold a hearing to examine the implications of the Trump Administration's sudden decision to reverse its own previous legal position in Texas v. United States and assert that the entire Affordable Care Act (ACA) should be overturned as unconstitutional. WHERE: 2154 Rayburn House  more

WASHINGTON, July 10 -- The House Oversight and Reform subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties issued the following testimony by ex-U.S. Border Patrol Chief Ronald D. Vitiello at a hearing entitled "Kids in Cages: Inhumane Treatment at the Border": "Thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony regarding the humanitarian and security crisis occurring on the nations southwest border. I started my career in the United States Border Patrol in 1985. My first duty station was Laredo, Te  more

WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Today, the House passed H.R. 2500, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020, with three amendments by Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson. H.R. 2500 authorizes the funding for a national defense strategy that promotes American values. The bill approves $733 billion for the Department of Defense and the defense-related activities of the Department of Energy, as well as Overseas Conti  more

WASHINGTON, July 10 -- Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Rep. John Ratcliffe's (R-Texas) bipartisan legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives today to criminalize the possession of certain deadly substances. The Effective Prosecution of Possession of Biological Toxins and Agents Act of 2019 closes a loophole in federal law that has allowed dangerous toxins and agents to be knowingly accumulated by individuals without proper registration. In the case, U  more

WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Rep. John Ratcliffe's (R-Texas) amendment passed the U.S. House of Representatives Thursday to bolster the cybersecurity partnership between the United States and Taiwan. The legislation initiates the establishment of a high-level, interagency U.S.-Taiwan working group tasked with coordinating responses to emerging cybersecurity issues. It was included as a part of the National Defense Authorization Act (ND  more

WASHINGTON, July 11 -- Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Representative Will Hurd (TX-23) continued his efforts to address the humanitarian crisis on our southern border by combatting drug trafficking, human trafficking and human smuggling. Rep. Hurd was joined by fellow former CIA officer Rep. Abigail Spanberger (VA-07) in introducing the bipartisan Trafficking and Smuggling Intelligence Act of 2019 to ensure the intelligence community prioritizes resource  more

WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Today U.S. Representative Will Hurd (TX-23) continued to fight for West Texas infrastructure improvements by penning a bipartisan letter of support with 21 members of the Texas delegation to U.S. Department of Transportation (DoT) Secretary Elaine Chao in support of the Permian Basin to receive funds through DoT's BUILD grant program. Last year, Hurd was instrumental in securing $25 million in BUILD grant fundin  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, issued the following statement on the day of oral arguments for the Republican-backed Texas vs. U.S. lawsuit to strike down the Affordable Care Act: "Today, a federal appeals court will hear oral arguments in a case that will have tremendous impact on millions of American families. "While the Trump Administration and Republican-led states seek to dismantle the Affordable Care Act in its entirety, House Democrats are defendin  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) today joined his colleagues on the Senate floor to urge the Senate to pass his resolution to allow the Senate Legal Counsel to defend West Virginians and Americans with pre-existing conditions in the Texas v. United States lawsuit. Last year a federal judge in Texas ruled that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is unconstitutional. Today the defending and prosecuting teams will  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Sen. Christopher Murphy, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: As the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments today in the Texas v. United States, a partisan lawsuit to gut the entire Affordable Care Act, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, on Tuesday led a group of Senators on the U.S. Senate floor calling out the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress fo  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Sen. Christopher Murphy, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: Ahead oral arguments in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in Texas v. United States, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, on Tuesday authored an op-ed in the Hartford Courant outlining what's at stake for the 522,000 residents in Connecticut and over 130 million Americans with pre-existing health conditions if the Affordab  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Sen. Tom Udall, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: * * * - Latest attempt by Trump admin. and Republicans to overturn ACA would jeopardize health care coverage, strip away protections for pre-existing conditions for thousands of NM families * * * Today, on the first day of oral arguments in the Texas v. United States litigation supported by the Trump administration and Republicans to eliminate the Affordable Care Act (ACA), U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Mart  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, delivered a floor speech on the importance of protecting the Affordable Care Act on the day of oral arguments in Texas v. United States, a case before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals that serves as Republicans' latest attempt to dismantle the Affordable Care Act. Below are key excerpts from the floor spee  more

WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) is joining a delegation of Senate Judiciary Committee members led by Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-SC) to visit the southern border. The delegation will tour the federal migrant processing center in McAllen, Texas, and attend a roundtable discussion with Border Patrol agents and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) leadership on the ground. He released the following  more

WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Colin Allred (TX-32), today voted for the National Defense Authorization Act of 2019 (NDAA) which included two Allred led amendments that will help bring research investment to Texas universities. The bill authorizes funding for the United States military's operations, programs and personnel. "This bill will help ensure our troops and military operations have the resources they need to protect ou  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. Andy Levin, D-Michigan, issued the following news release: Today, as the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals hears oral arguments in Republicans' Texas v. U.S. lawsuit, Congressman Andy Levin responded to Republicans' latest efforts to strike down protections for people with pre-existing conditions and highlighted the devastating effects the lawsuit could have on Michigan families. "I'm a two-time cancer survivor and father of two kids with Crohn's disease. The Trump Admi  more

WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, issued the following statement voting against the House Democrats' version of the National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 2500): "The first and most important job of the federal government is to protect our citizens and provide for a common defense. And now, after eight years of weakening our defense posture under the Obama administration, America is finally making the strategic investment we need to restore our readiness against ever-incre  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, issued the following news release: Today, as the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals hears oral arguments in the Republican-led, White House-backed lawsuit, Texas v. U.S., U.S. Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) blasted Republicans' latest efforts to strike down protections for people with pre-existing conditions as well as all the benefits and protections provided by the Affordable Care Act. "Republicans and the White House are recklessly determined  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, ranking Republican member of the House Natural Resources Committee, issued the following news release: * * * - Presses Committee Democrats to Review Politically Motivated Mineral Withdrawals * * * Today, Ranking Republican Rob Bishop (R-Utah), U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) and U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber (R-Minn.) sent two letters. One letter to the Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary David Bernhardt and t  more

WASHINGTON, July 10 -- Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following statement after President Trump signed an executive order focused on advancing kidney health: "I applaud the Administration's initiative on Advancing American Kidney Health and its goal to reduce the number of patients with end-stage renal disease by 2030. "As President Trump discussed today, there are over 100,000 Americans receiving dialysis each year, and M  more

WASHINGTON, July 10 -- Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following opening statement at the full committee markup of the multiemployer pension legislation: "Republicans agree - we are in a multiemployer pension crisis. "Roughly 130 union-managed pension funds covering over 1.3 million workers are severely underfunded; and are set to be completely drained over the next decade. "This crisis is not just limited to these failing  more

WASHINGTON, July 10 -- Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following statement after the U.S. Trade Representative announced that the Trump administration is launching an investigation under section 301 in response to France's steps toward implementing a digital sales tax: "I commend President Trump and Ambassador Lighthizer for taking this important step to hold France accountable for imposing a digital tax that directly and in  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following statement after introducing a resolution in response to House Democrats' partisan law suit to compel President Trump to turn over his tax returns: "We will not stand idly by as House Democrat Leadership seeks to undermine our democratic process by replacing the voice of the People with the voice of the few in Washington, D.C. "This resolution preserves the inte  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. Kevin P. Brady, R-Texas, issued the following statement after introducing a resolution in response to House Democrats' partisan law suit to compel President Trump to turn over his tax returns: "We will not stand idly by as House Democrat Leadership seeks to undermine our democratic process by replacing the voice of the People with the voice of the few in Washington, D.C. "This resolution preserves the integrity of the House by ensuring that each Member of Congress -  more

WASHINGTON, July 10 -- Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, issued the following statement after President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order focused on advancing kidney health: "I applaud the Administration's initiative on Advancing American Kidney Health and its goal to reduce the number of patients with end-stage renal disease by 2030. "As President Trump discussed today, there are over 100,000 Americans receiving dialysis each year, and Medicare spent over $113 billion on kidney care on pati  more

WASHINGTON, July 11 -- Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, Republican leader of the Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Health, issued the following remarks at the Subcommittee on Health markup on ten health care bills: "Thank you, Chairwoman Eshoo. It is critical that we are here today marking up numerous extender and reauthorization policies so that we maximize the chance of them becoming law prior to their expiration in September. As I have said before, reauthorizing these programs in a timely m  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, and Republican leader of the Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Health, issued the following statement on the life and legacy of business magnate Ross Perot: "Ross Perot was a remarkable North Texan whose footprint of entrepreneurial spirit, generosity, and leadership extends far beyond our local community. From humble roots in Texarkana, Perot wrote his own success story - embodying the American dream - that continues to make an impact thr  more

WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, issued the following statement on the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2020: "For nearly 60 years, the National Defense Authorization Act has been a product of bipartisan consensus, formed out of a common respect for American troops - until now. I am disappointed that House Democrats chose to use this critical legislation as a vehicle for their partisan priorities. As drafted, the NDAA fails to adequately equip our Armed Service  more

WASHINGTON, July 10 -- Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, Republican leader of the Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Health, issued the following statement on President Trump's actions to improve the future of kidney care for patients: "It was a privilege to join President Trump today as he announced his new initiative to improve the lives of Americans suffering from kidney disease. "With nearly 100,000 Americans waiting to receive a kidney transplant, these patients have too few options for c  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Illinois, issued the following statement: Today, as the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals hears oral arguments in Washington Republicans' Texas v. U.S. lawsuit, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) highlighted the devastating impact the case could have on hardworking families in Illinois and across the country. The administration's dangerous lawsuit would eliminate the Affordable Care Act (ACA) without a replacement - including the law's patient protections  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. Andre Carson, D-Indiana, issued the following news release: Today, as the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals hears oral arguments in Republicans' Texas v. U.S. lawsuit, Rep. Andre Carson responded to the GOP's latest efforts to strike down protections for people with pre-existing conditions, as well as every last benefit and protection provided by the Affordable Care Act. Rep. Carson highlighted the devastating impact that the GOP lawsuit could have on hard-working famili  more

WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, issued the following statement after House Democrats passed the National Defense Authorization Act: "For decades the NDAA has been widely bipartisan, but unfortunately, this year, the House Democrats decided to play political games with our military's funding authorization. By making arbitrary funding cuts and cutting the military personnel accounts that handle troop pay, housing and benefits by $1.2 billion, Democrats are signaling that politic  more

WASHINGTON, July 11 -- Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Representative John Carter (TX-31) passed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act to give military recycling centers the authority to accept quality recyclable goods from local communities and allow the profits from the sale of these materials to go to the Soldier Morale, Welfare & Recreation account. Rep. Carter offered the amendment with Representatives Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Henry Cuellar (D-T  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Florida, issued the following news release: Today Republicans, with the unfortunate support of our own State of Florida, pressed in court to destroy affordable health care coverage for millions of Floridians and Americans. If the GOP and President Trump prevail in Texas v. U.S. in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, coverage for preexisting conditions and other consumer protections will end. Earlier this year, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) urged newly  more

WASHINGTON, July 11 -- Rep. K. Michael Conaway, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Agriculture Committee, issued the following remarks: Today the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) held an open meeting in which it proposed two rules related to crossborder clearinghouse regulation. "Today the commission proposed two amendments to their rules to better facilitate cross-border deference among clearinghouse regulators. I am supportive of the chairman's goals, and I applaud hi  more

WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Rep. K. Michael Conaway, R-Texas, issued the following statement after voting against the National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 2500): "Throughout my tenure in Congress, Republicans and Democrats always been able to come together and put forth a bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act each year. Under the leadership of both parties in the House, Senate, and White House, Members of Congress have worked together to ensure that our troops receive the training, equip  more

WASHINGTON, July 5 -- Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, issued the following statement regarding the report by the Homeland Security Inspector General on the overcrowding detention of children and adults in the Rio Grande Valley: "The vast increases in families and children coming across our southern border has presented unique challenges to DHS and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). At-risk populations at U.S. Border Patrol holding facilities have been subject to overcrowding and prolon  more

WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * - Congressman Votes for Permanent Reauthorization of September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act * * * Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) voted to pass H.R. 1327, the "Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alverez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act," which provides financial security and support to 9/11 first responders, survivors   more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. Antonio Delgado, D-New York, issued the following statement: Today, as the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals hears oral arguments in Republicans' Texas v. U.S. lawsuit, Representative Antonio Delgado (NY-19) responded to Republicans' latest efforts to strike down protections for 133 million Americans with pre-existing conditions and essential health benefits provided by the Affordable Care Act. If successful, this lawsuit would take away health care from millions of Amer  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, chairman of the House Ways and Means subcommittee on Health, issued the following statement in response to President Trump's planned pharmaceutical executive order and a report from Patients for Affordable Drugs: "Despite big talk and multiple tweets, Trump has failed to do anything to lower the costs of insulin or other direct consumer drug costs. Some interpret his latest vague executive order as likely limited to government purchases only or  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. Eliot Engel, D-New York, member of the Medicare for All Caucus and member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement as the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals hears oral arguments in Texas vs. U.S. lawsuit: "No matter how many times the American people shut down President Trump's attempts to repeal their health care coverage, he just keeps coming back. You almost wish the President were this persistent when it came to other things, like def  more

WASHINGTON, July 10 -- Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Co-Chairs of the Democratic Women's Caucus (DWC) Reps. Jackie Speier (CA-14), Lois Frankel (FL-21) and Brenda L. Lawrence (MI-14) and DWC Vice Chairs Reps. Veronica Escobar (TX-16) and Deb Haaland (NM-01) were joined by 16 colleagues in sending a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray today demanding answers regarding multiple accounts of sexual harassment and discrimination at the FBI Training Academy in  more

WASHINGTON, July 10 -- Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Texas, issued the following statement on oral arguments in the Texas vs. U.S. case before the Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit: "What we saw in the argument before the Fifth Circuit, and what we see in this case at every level, should concern every American who cares about access to health care--especially coverage for people with pre-existing conditions. "In my district, concerns about access to affordable health care are paramount, as are co  more

WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Texas, issued the following statement regarding President Trump's plan to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to conduct raids in cities across the U.S. including Houston: "Public safety is the first responsibility of government. We must ensure that keeping the public safe is effective and just. The administration's announcement that it is planning to conduct large-scale raids works against those fundamental goals, instead creating   more

WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Rep. Bill Flores, R-Texas, issued the following statements regarding the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act (H.R. 1044) and the National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 2500): Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act "In a rare occurrence this year, the House passed a significant bipartisan bill - the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act. I voted for this important bill because it allows highly-skilled immigrants to stay and work in the U.S. Our successful and   more

WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Immigrant communities are living in fear as result of policies that threaten their families. The best way to be prepared against these threats is to know your rights. "If you're at home, you don't have to open the door. If you encounter ICE agents or police away from home, you don't have to reveal your immigration status. Regardless of where you are, you have the right to remain silent," said Congresswoman   more

WASHINGTON, July 10 -- Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) urged President Trump to declare the Rio Grande Valley a federal disaster area in response to severe flooding and rain in recent weeks. South Texas Congressmen Henry Cuellar (TX-28) and Filemon Vela (TX-34) and U.S. Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz (R-TX) also asked the president to support the declaration. "I urge President Trump to declare the Rio Grande Vall  more

WASHINGTON, July 11 -- Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) introduced H.R. 3653, the Charity and Relief in Disarray and Distress (CARIDAD) Act, which would amend the U.S. Code to allow an officer or employee of the U.S. government to accept outside donations for detained children and families. Existing U.S. policy, the Antideficiency Act, prohibits governmental employees from accepting donations of goods outside of what   more

WASHINGTON, July 10 -- Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, issued the following statement in response to federal financial agencies excluding independent and community banks from the Volcker rule: "U.S. financial regulators took a very important step today in excluding banks with less than $10 billion in assets from the Volcker rule. "I applaud the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and  more

WASHINGTON, July 8 -- Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) announced his co-sponsorship of H.R. 3375, a bipartisan version of the Stopping Bad Robocalls Act which would crackdown on the scourge of illegal robocalls. The legislation will allow carriers to offer call blocking services at no extra charge to consumers while simultaneously giving the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) the authority to issue rules to prot  more

WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, issued the following statement after voting against the House Democrats partisan National Defense Authorization Act, which passed the House by a 220-197 vote: "From day one of their majority, House Democrats have put forth partisan legislation and refused to work with Republicans on some of the most important policies. "The NDAA has been a long-standing bi-partisan bill - unfortunately, that is not the case with this bill. The Democrats have ch  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nevada, issued the following statement on Texas vs. U.S., the next round of litigation challenging the Affordable Care Act: "The Trump Administration has spent more than two years trying to take health coverage away from 100 million Americans and 1.2 million people in my home state of Nevada. They tried and failed to pass legislation that would have repealed the ACA and ripped health coverage from millions of Americans while raising healthcare costs  more

WASHINGTON, July 10 -- The House Science, Space and Technology subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics issued the following testimony by full committee Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, at a hearing entitled "Review of NASA's Plans for the International Space Station and Future Low Earth Orbit": "Thank you for holding this hearing to consider NASA's plans for the International Space Station and future activities in low Earth orbit. "As I have noted in the past, the International Space S  more

WASHINGTON, July 11 -- The House Science, Space and Technology subcommittee on Research and Technology issued the following statement by full committee Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, at a hearing entitled "Bumper to Bumper: The Need for a National Surface Transportation Research Agenda": "Thank you for holding this hearing, and thank you to the witnesses for your participation. In addition to being chairwoman of this Committee, I am also a senior Member of the Transportation and Inf  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Today, as the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals hears oral arguments in Republicans' Texas v. United States lawsuit, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson voiced her firm opposition to the continued Republican assault on the Affordable Care Act. The lawsuit, coupled with their previously unsuccessful legislative efforts in Congress, is the latest effort to strike down protections for people with pre-existin  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. John Joyce, R-Pennsylvania, issued the following statement on the report regarding Department of Homeland Security requested that the Pentagon authorize an additional 1,000 Texas National Guard troops to provide supplemental support at the southern border: "The security and humanitarian crisis at the southern border and the impact it is having on the drug epidemic all across the country makes it a national issue that requires a national solution. "Texas should not   more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, issued the following statement after the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals began hearing oral arguments in the Texas vs. U.S. lawsuit: Rep. Kaptur highlighted the devastating impact the Republican lawsuit would have on hard-working families across Northern Ohio and throughout the United States. "Since the Affordable Care Act became law, it has provided coverage to more than 200,000 Ohioans and 16 million Americans. Sadly, President Trump and his Re  more

WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Rep. Ann Kuster, D-New Hampshire, issued the following news release: * * * - Last month, Kuster voted in favor of legislation to provide emergency funding to address the humanitarian crisis at the border and help relieve overcrowding * * * Representative Annie Kuster (NH-02) will join Representatives Jackie Speier (D-CA), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), Filemon Vela (D-TX) and 17 other Democratic Members of Congress tomorrow, July 13th, at the U.S.-Mexico border near McAllen   more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. Al Lawson, D-Florida, issued the following news release: Rep. Al Lawson (FL-05) responded to the latest efforts to strike down protections for people with pre-existing conditions as well as every last benefit and protection provided by the Affordable Care Act. Rep. Lawson highlighted the devastating impact that the Texas v. U.S. lawsuit could have on hard-working families throughout Florida and across the country. "In 2018, Floridians made it clear that they want a C  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. Susie Lee, D-Nevada, issued the following news release: Ahead of today's Texas v. United States lawsuit opening arguments, Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV) stood with Nevada lawmakers and health care advocates to warn against the disastrous consequences of dismantling the Affordable Care Act and jeopardizing of Americans' access to quality, affordable health care, including 1.2 million Nevadans with pre-existing conditions. In court today, the Trump Administration is asking not   more

WASHINGTON, July 11 -- Rep. Doris O. Matsui, D-California, issued the following news release: Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-06) announced that she and 19 Democratic colleagues will be traveling this weekend to the U.S.-Mexico border to provide critically needed Congressional oversight of human rights concerns. During this trip, Matsui will visit border patrol and central processing centers in McAllen and Brownsville, Texas, meet with humanitarian charities and organizations, and cross  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. Doris O. Matsui, D-California, issued the following news release: Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-06) launched a website calling for Sacramentans to share how Republican efforts to undermine our health care system have affected them. For millions of Californians, drug prices, premiums, and out-of-pocket costs are continuing to soar, while the threat of an Affordable Care Act (ACA) repeal looms large. Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments in t  more

WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: * * * - McCaul, Engel, Menendez, Yoho, Chabot attend events affirming strong US-Taiwan relations * * * A bipartisan delegation of Members from the House Foreign Affairs Committee, led by Ranking Member Congressman McCaul (R-TX) and Chairman Eliot Engel (D-NY), met with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen during her stopover in New York City this   more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Massachusetts, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following statement in the Texas vs. U.S. case oral arguments before the Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit: "Today, Republicans continue their relentless effort to dismantle our nation's healthcare system and strip coverage from millions of Americans. "The Trump Administration's position in the case is clear - they're siding with Republican leaders from across the country   more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement as the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals hears oral arguments in Texas vs. U.S., which could overturn the entirety of the Affordable Care Act: "The health and wellbeing of tens of millions of Americans is on the line today as Republicans continue their ongoing assault on our nation's health care. "If this disastrous lower court decision is upheld by the 5t  more

WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), testified before her colleagues on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform about the human rights abuses she witnessed firsthand at the southern border in El Paso, Texas during a hearing entitled The Trump Administration's Child Separation Policy: Substantiated Allegations of Mistreatment. Last week, the Congresswoman visited Customs and Border Patr  more

WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) visited with West Point cadet, Nathaniel Peek, from Rockwall this week in his Washington office. Peek was nominated by Ratcliffe to attend West Point in 2017. He is now a junior cadet and is completing an internship at the Department of Energy in the nation's capital this summer. "I was incredibly impressed with Nathaniel's accomplishments during our annual selection process f  more

WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Rep. Tom Rice, R-South Carolina, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman Tom Rice (R-SC) will join a Congressional delegation led by Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) to McAllen, Texas to see firsthand the crisis at the southern border. The delegation will be joined by United States Vice President Mike Pence and officials from the Department of Homeland Security. "Our broken immigration system has caused a crisis on our southern border. After spending months cl  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, issued the following statement regarding the 14th Annual Christians United for Israel Summit: "I am proud of the hard work our friends at CUFI - a San Antonio based organization - are doing for the sake of Israel, peace, security, and democracy in the Middle East. "The partnership of thousands and their attendance at the annual summit this week in Washington, DC, continues to spur us all on for the prosperity of Israel and America."  more

WASHINGTON, July 3 -- Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, issued the following statement regarding the official launch of the Tx-21 Veterans Advisory Council: "I'm proud to announce the official launch of the Tx-21 Veterans Advisory Council. The men and women who make up this group are patriots with the track record of service and sacrifice to prove it. They have dedicated their lives to serving the United States and are continuing that service representing all veterans in Tx-21 on this council. "The coun  more

WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, issued the following statement regarding his vote on the fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act: "Today the House voted on passage of the FY20 National Defense Authorization Act, a bill which authorizes approximately $735 billion in spending for the Department of Defense and related agencies for the next year. Regrettably, the Democrats hijacked what has traditionally been a bipartisan piece of legislation to push their own agenda, putting   more

WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, issued the following statement regarding his vote on the repeal of the 2002 Authorization for the Use of Military Force: "Today I voted along with 250 of my colleagues on an amendment that prohibits unauthorized offensive military force in or against Iran without Congress first acting. "To be clear, I firmly believe the Constitution gives the President all authority to act in defense of our nation at any time and in any place around the world. Thi  more

WASHINGTON, July 1 -- Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, issued the following op-ed on healthcare freedom, which was provided to The Federalist: The "market" for healthcare has been largely destroyed, and in its wake remains a complicated, confusing system in dire need of fixing. Prices are too high and choices are too few, and the federal government's response has long been more government control and more money. The United States spent a total of $2.6 trillion on healthcare in 2010. In the post-Obamaca  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. Robert C. Scott, D-Virginia, chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement on oral arguments in the Texas vs. U.S. case before the Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit: "Today, Republican attorneys general and the Trump administration are once again asking a court to strip access to affordable health care for millions of Americans. "Legal scholars from across the ideological spectrum agree that this latest challenge to Affordable  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Alabama, issued the following news release: Today, as the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals hears oral arguments in Republicans' Texas v. United Sates lawsuit, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) slammed the Trump Administration's latest efforts to strike down protections for people with pre-existing conditions as well as every benefit and protection provided by the Affordable Care Act. "Let me be clear: Republicans are going after Alabamians' health care wit  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. Donna Shalala, D-Florida, issued the following statement on the day of oral arguments to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in Texas vs. U.S. to strike down the Affordable Care Act: "Today the Fifth Circuit Court is hearing oral arguments to strike down the Affordable Care Act. Stripping away the ACA's protections would have a devasting effect on millions of American families. In Miami-Dade County, hundreds of thousands of people -100,000 in my district alone - would  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) condemned the administration's attack on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as oral arguments started today in a lawsuit before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Texas v. U.S. is meant to destroy the ACA and roll back health care coverage for more than 20 million Americans, including 27,000 residents in New Jersey's 11th Congressional District. Representative Sherrill   more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. Albio Sires, D-New Jersey, issued the following statement in response to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals beginning oral arguments in the case Texas vs. U.S., which is a lawsuit to strike down the Affordable Care Act: "These persistent attempts to dismantle health care coverage and protections for millions of Americans is an attack on our constituents and our communities. "According to a 2017 analysis done by the Center for American Progress, in the 8th District o  more

HENRICO, Virginia, July 9 -- Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Virginia, issued the following statement as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit begins hearing oral arguments in the Justice Department's Texas vs. U.S., a lawsuit to strike down the Affordable Care Act: If successful, this lawsuit would dismantle the entire existing healthcare law. "For thousands of Central Virginia families, the existing healthcare law is their lifeline for reliable and affordable healthcare access. But the   more

WASHINGTON, July 11 -- Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger continued to speak out against the Department of Justice's Texas v. U.S. lawsuit pending before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, which--if successful--would dismantle the entire existing healthcare law. According to the Urban Institute, 642,000 Virginians would lose health insurance coverage by repealing the existing healthcare law through the la  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Michigan, issued the following news release: Today, as the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals hears oral arguments in the Texas v. U.S. lawsuit, Rep. Stevens responded to the Trump Administration's latest efforts to strike down protections for people with pre-existing conditions as well as all of the benefits and protections provided by the Affordable Care Act. Rep. Stevens highlighted the devastating impact that the lawsuit could have on hard-working fam  more

PLANO, Texas, July 8 -- Rep. Van Taylor, R-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * - Initiative Aims to Encourage Student Engagement in Computer Science * * * Today, U.S. Congressman Van Taylor (TX-03) announced his office is now accepting entries for the 2019 Congressional App Challenge (CAC). Each year, the Congressional App Challenge presents an opportunity for innovative middle school and high school students to put their skills to work on any platform and in any programming lan  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Armed Services Committee, issued the following remarks on the National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 2500) for fiscal 2020: "Normally the NDAA is a product of bipartisan consensus that allows Congress to execute our most important Constitutional duty. Unfortunately, partisan provisions in this bill have robbed it of bipartisan support. Through this bill, House Democrats are forcing our troops to pay the  more

WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Armed Services Committee, issued the closing remarks on the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2020: "Madam Chair, let me start in a similar way that I started two days ago and that is to express my appreciation to the staff who has done a terrific job of wading through a ton of issues, a lot of paper in bringing this bill to the floor. "I also want to express my particular appreciation to s  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Illinois, issued the following statement: Today, as the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals hears oral arguments in Republicans' Texas v. U.S. lawsuit, Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14) responded to the latest efforts to strike down the entire Affordable Care Act and throw our health system into chaos, including protections for people with pre-existing conditions, the ability for people to stay on their parents insurance until the age of 26, and first dolla  more

WASHINGTON, July 10 -- Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Texas, issued the following statement on the death of businessman, philanthropist and Texan Ross Perot: "Ross Perot will be missed across our community. "Throughout his life, as a veteran, businessman, and philanthropist, he always gave back to the Dallas-Fort Worth area and our nation. "His example will inspire and his memory will endure."  more

WASHINGTON, July 10 -- Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Texas, issued the following statement: The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday heard oral arguments in the Texas v. United States lawsuit--the latest effort by Republicans to strike down protections for people with pre-existing conditions as well as every last benefit and protection provided by the Affordable Care Act. Rep. Veasey (TX-33) released the following statement in firm opposition to the latest assault on affordable, accessible health car  more

WASHINGTON, July 10 -- Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * - The Fossil Energy Research and Development Act of 2019 would set course of next generation of climate change mitigation * * * Last week, Representative Marc Veasey (TX-33), spearheaded the introduction of the Fossil Energy Research and Development Act of 2019 (H.R. 3607) with Representatives David Schweikert (AZ-06), Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) and Conor Lamb (PA-17). The b  more

WASHINGTON, July 11 -- Rep. Maxine Waters, D-California, issued the following statement after the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in the Republican-led case of Texas vs. U.S.: "The Trump-Republican Party is at it again. After failing to 'repeal and replace' Obamacare and suffering embarrassing losses in the 2018 midterms, Donald Trump and his Republican allies are once again moving to strip away health coverage and protections for people with preexisting conditions - trying to  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. Jennifer Wexton, D-Virginia, issued the following statement: Today, as the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals hears oral arguments in Texas v. U.S., Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) responded to the Trump administration's latest efforts to sabotage the Affordable Care Act by trying to overturn the law in its entirety. If the administration is successful, millions of Americans will lose coverage, protections for the 130 million Americans with pre-existing conditions wi  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. Susan Wild, D-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release: Today, as the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals hears oral arguments in the Texas v. U.S. lawsuit to repeal the Affordable Care Act, U.S. Representative Susan Wild (PA-07) responded to Republicans' latest efforts to strike down the protections for people with pre-existing conditions as well as every last benefit and protection provided by the Affordable Care Act. Wild highlighted the devastating impact that t  more

WASHINGTON, July 10 -- Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Congressman Kenny Marchant (R-TX), and Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA) released the following statement on the reintroduction of H.R. 3644, the Independence at Home Demonstration Act of 2019, which would extend the Independence at Home Medical Practice Demonstration Program (IAH) for three years. By providing in-home primary   more

WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Reps. Eliot Engel, D-New York, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Michael McCaul, R-Texas, Committee's ranking member, issued the following statement on Turkey's acquisition of the Russian S-400 air and missile defense system: "We have warned Turkey and President Erdogan time and time again that taking delivery of the Russian S-400 air and missile defense system would have serious consequences for the U.S.-Turkey relationship, including Turkey's particip  more

WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Rep. Eliot L. Engel, D-New York, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Ranking Member Michael T. McCaul, R-Texas, issued the following joint statement on Turkey's acquisition of the Russian S-400 air and missile defense system: "We have warned Turkey and President Erdogan time and time again that taking delivery of the Russian S-400 air and missile defense system would have serious consequences for the U.S.-Turkey relationship, including Turkey's participa  more

WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Chairman Eliot L. Engel, D-New York, issued the following joint statement on Turkey's acquisition of the Russian S-400 air and missile defense system: "We have warned Turkey and President Erdogan time and time again that taking delivery of the Russian S-400 air and missile defense system would have serious consequences for the U.S.-Turkey relationship, including Turkey's p  more

WASHINGTON, July 11 -- Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Today, Representative Roger Williams (TX-25) introduced H.R. 3665, the School Violence Prevention and Mitigation Act of 2019, with Representative Ted Deutch (FL-22) as the lead co-sponsor. The newly introduced bill establishes federal grant programs for public schools to first identify then mitigate vulnerabilities in their security related infrastructure. "In the greatest country on earth, no parent should  more

WASHINGTON, July 11 -- Rep. Max Rose, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * - Legislation establishes a new task force to stop the inflow of fentanyl and other opioids across the border * * * Congressman Max Rose introduced bipartisan legislation today with Representatives Jim Langevin of Rhode Island, Peter King of New York, and Mike McCaul of Texas, to establish a Joint Task Force at the Department of Homeland Security to stop the inflow of foreign fentanyl and other opioids  more

STATEN ISLAND, New York, July 9 -- Rep. Max Rose, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * - Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to hear oral arguments today in lawsuit that would repeal healthcare protections and devastate New Yorkers * * * As the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals hears oral arguments in Republicans' Texas v. U.S. lawsuit today, Congressman Max Rose responded to the latest efforts to strike down protections for people with pre-existing conditions as well as every last b  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nevada, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), joined her Democratic colleagues in demanding that Congress defend the Affordable Care Act and all of its health care patient protections. During the press conference, Senator Rosen held up a picture of Elsie Hamer, an 8-year-old from Nevada diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, who would be at r  more

WASHINGTON, July 1 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) has introduced the Veteran STEM Scholarship Improvement Act, a bill to help veterans take full advantage of the scholarship provided to veterans studying science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM fields). "Unfortunately, these scholarships benefit no one if the requirements to use them exclude many of the very programs we aim to promote," said Sen. Cornyn. "By broadening t  more

WASHINGTON, July 10 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Today on the floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) criticized House Democrats' intransigence in passing critical victims' rights bills, including the Violence Against Women Act and the reauthorization of his Debbie Smith Act. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn's floor remarks are below, and video can be found here (https://youtu.be/eMAa8-Qs4tY). "Congress has an opportunity to pass two separate pieces of legislation to   more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Today on the floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) discussed the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal's consideration of Texas v. Azar and reiterated Republicans' commitment to covering Americans with preexisting conditions and lowering prescription drug prices. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn's floor remarks are below, and video can be found here (https://youtu.be/zGWw6QUnQ-A). "Blaming Republicans in Congress for a yet-t  more

MCALLEN, Texas, July 2 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following op-ed explaining his bipartisan legislation to address the border crisis while preserving a strong relationship with Mexico, which was provided to the McAllen Monito: "We now have an actual humanitarian crisis on the border that only underscores the need to drop the politics and fix our immigration system once and for all." Five years ago -- almost to the day -- former President Barack Obama said these words in a televis  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * - Honors 50th anniversary of NASA's Apollo 11 mission, outlines next era of America's leadership in space * * * U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), chairman of the Subcommittee on Aviation and Space, today convened a hearing entitled, "NASA Exploration Plans: Where We've Been and Where We're Going." In honor of the upcoming 50th anniversary of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Apollo 11   more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following remarks at the Christians United for Israel 2019 Summit: There, he called on the Trump administration to revoke the civil-nuclear waivers issued by the State Department that allow Iran to build up its nuclear program, including at its Fordow centrifuge bunker, which was dug out of the side of a mountain to build nuclear weapons. He also discussed several victories that have enh  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following statement on the death of business magnate Ross Perot: "Our hearts are heavy as we bid farewell to Ross Perot. "In his 89 years on earth, he lived the American dream to the fullest. Ross is a Texas legend. He will be remembered as an outstanding entrepreneur, philanthropist, and dedicated husband and father. "A fierce patriot, Ross fought for what he believed in, and his national grassroots movement changed politics forever.  more

WASHINGTON, July 10 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement in response to a report published by the Institute for Science and International Security: The report revealed Iran's Fordow nuclear facility was never repurposed, as Iran committed to doing under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and that Iran retains a surge capability to produce weapon-grade uranium at the facility: "Today's report once again demons  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * - Highlights humanitarian crisis, calls on congressional Democrats to secure the border on America's Newsroom * * * U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today appeared on Fox News' America's Newsroom to highlight his recent visit to the Texas-Mexico border and the ongoing humanitarian crisis there. He also discussed his letter to Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Kevin McAleenan, urging him   more

WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Thursday delivered remarks on the Senate floor describing his recent trip to the southern border, where he witnessed the existing security and humanitarian crisis firsthand. Then he called on congressional Democrats to acknowledge the ongoing situation at the border as a crisis, and solve the problem. Specifically, he called on Congress to increase the number of federal judges and t  more

WASHINGTON, July 10 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Issues Statement on * * * - Highlights threat of Iran, questions State Department's decision to circumvent Congress in arms sales * * * U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today participated in a hearing titled 'Defense Cooperation: Use of Emergency Authorities Under the Arms Export Control Act,' with testimony from R. Clarke Cooper, Assistant Secretary of State for   more

WASHINGTON, July 10 -- Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-New York, issued the following statement, which was published in the Congressional Record on July 8, on health care: Now on healthcare, tomorrow the Fifth Circuit will hear oral arguments in the case of Texas v. United States. The fate of our entire healthcare system hangs in the balance. This challenge to the Affordable Care Act, brought by Republican State attorneys general and regrettably supported by President Trump and his administration, r  more

WASHINGTON, July 13 -- Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, issued the following news release: Today Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), along with Vice President Mike Pence, members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and officials from the Department of Homeland Security, toured the southern border. The group later addressed the crisis at the border during a press conference in McAllen, Texas. Senator Hawley said, "The state of Missouri does not share a border with Mexico, but in this present crisis we are  more

WASHINGTON, July 12 -- Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and members of the Senate Judiciary Committee will travel to McAllen, Texas to get a firsthand look at the crisis at the southern border. The group will meet with Vice President Mike Pence and participate in a tour of the border led by the Department of Homeland Security. "What happens at the border has a tremendous impact on communities in Missouri," Senator Hawley s  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), the top Democrat on the Senate health committee, denounced Republicans for bringing a partisan lawsuit--Texas v. United States--which threatens to strike down health care and protections for millions of families in Washington state and across the country. In a speech on the Senate floor, Senator Murray warned that the case could strike down protections for patients   more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-New Hampshire, issued the following news release: To highlight what's at stake ahead of today's oral arguments in the Texas v. United States lawsuit to overturn the Affordable Care Act, Senators Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen joined Senate and House Democrats on the steps of the Capitol, where they held up photos of constituents who would be hurt if the Trump Administration succeeds in repealing the health care law through the courts. Senator Hassan  more

WASHINGTON, July 11 -- Sens. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, and John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following statements after their Honoring American Veterans in Extreme Need Act passed the House Judiciary Committee: "Forcing our veterans and their families to dip into their disability-related benefits to pay off bankruptcy creditors dishonors their service and sacrifice. I'm glad to see this important bipartisan legislation move forward in the House today," said Senator Baldwin. "These benefits are  more

WASHINGTON, July 11 -- Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, issued the following statements after their Honoring American Veterans in Extreme Need Act passed the House Judiciary Committee: "Veterans with disabilities deserve the hard-earned benefits they receive after serving our country," Sen. Cornyn said. "By protecting their disability compensation during bankruptcy, we can help them and their families regain financial stability." "Forcing our veterans and their famil  more

WASHINGTON, July 10 -- Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following statements on Senate passage of a resolution (S. Res. 188) to encourage a swift transfer of power by the military to a civilian-led political authority in Sudan: "I am grateful to my colleagues in the Senate for passing this bipartisan measure in support of the Sudanese people," Sen. Cruz said. "Sudan is facing an inflection point. After 30 years, President al-Bashir's brutal reign came to an end,   more

WASHINGTON, July 11 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * - Senators raise new concerns about torture and human rights abuses in Nicaragua * * * U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo regarding Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega's ongoing efforts to silence his critics and promote impunity f  more

WASHINGTON, July 10 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) today applauded the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation's unanimous vote in support of their bipartisan bill that would protect the Apollo landing sites on the moon. The One Small Step to Protect Human Heritage in Space Act would provide legal recognition and protection for the Apollo sites and artifacts from intentional and unintentional  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) today introduced the Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act, a bill that would hold sanctuary jurisdictions accountable for refusing to comply with lawful detainer and release notification requests made by federal authorities and putting law-abiding citizens  more

WASHINGTON, July 10 -- Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) announced that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appointed him to serve on the U.S.-Mexico Interparliamentary Group (IPG) for the 116th Congress. The U.S.-Mexico IPG is comprised of members of the U.S. and Mexican Congresses tasked with fostering dialogue and maintaining positive bilateral relations. "I want to thank Speaker Pelosi for appointing me to the U.S.-Mexico  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, issued the following remarks: Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Leader Chuck Schumer and House and Senate Democrats held a press conference showing the faces of Americans who would be hurt if the Trump Administration and Republicans succeed in their effort to strike down protections for people with pre-existing conditions and the entire Affordable Care Act in Texas v. U.S. Below are the Speaker's remarks. "Thank you to Leader Schumer for br  more

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: TODAY, Tuesday, July 9, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. MT / 12:30 p.m. ET on the Senate steps of the U.S. Capitol, on the day of oral arguments in the Trump-administration-backed Texas lawsuit -- Republicans' latest assault on protections for people with pre-existing conditions and the entirety of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) -- U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich will join Senate and House Democrats to sh  more