WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- The U.S. Senate received the nomination of 25 individuals for positions in the Trump administration on Oct. 15: Bruce Poliquin, of Maine, to be a Director of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation for a term expiring December 31, 2021. Peter J. Coniglio, of Virginia, to be Inspector General, Export-Import Bank. John Bobbitt, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Brian D. Montgomery, of Texas, to be Deputy Secretary of Housing   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 -- Sen. Christopher Coons, D-Delaware, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), along with U.S. Representatives Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) and Frank Lucas (R- Okla.), applauded the congressional passage of a bipartisan bill they introduced, along with hundreds of their colleagues, to award Congressional Gold Medals to Katherine Johnson and Dr. Christine Darden and to posthumously awar  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 -- Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, issued the following news release: Over the last week, the Nobel Prizes in Physics, Chemistry, and Medicine as well as the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences, established in 1968 in memory of Alfred Nobel, were announced. Each year, thousands of nominators submit candidates for the Nobel Prize and winners are announced in October. The list of Honored Laureates co  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) and U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18) have partnered on the Emancipation National Historic Trail Study Act, a bill to provide for the study of the Emancipation National Historic Trail, a 51-mile route from the Osterman Building and Reedy Chapel in Galveston to Freedmen's Town and Emancipation Park in Houston. Sen. Cornyn introduced the bill today in the U.S. Senate, a  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 -- Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nevada, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today cosponsored a bill to create a National Criminal Justice Commission. Introduced by Senators Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas), the National Criminal Justice Commission Act would establish a commission that conducts a comprehensive review and proposes recommendations to address the most pressing issues facing ou  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Representative Dan Crenshaw joined Representatives Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla.) and Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) in urging the U.S. Department of Defense to consider awarding the Medal of Honor to Army Sergeant First Class Alwyn Cashe, a war hero who died from injuries sustained in combat. In a bipartisan letter sent to Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy, the three Members cited SFC Ca  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 -- The U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination of five individuals for positions in the Trump administration on Oct. 16: Barbara McConnell Barrett, of Arizona, to be Secretary of the Air Force. Frank William Volk, of West Virginia, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of West Virginia. Charles R. Eskridge III, of Texas, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Texas. David John Novak, of Virginia, to be United States District Ju  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a decision denying a bid protest filed by DynCorp International of McLean, Virginia. According to the GAO, DynCorp International "protests the award of contracts (and the issuance of task orders) in connection with the logistics civil augmentation program (LOGCAP) to Kellogg, Brown & Root Services, Inc. (KBR) of Houston, Texas; Vectrus Systems Corporation, of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Fluor Intercontinental, Inc., of Green  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on the health and environmental effects of activities at natural gas storage sites. The report (GAO-20-167) is titled "Natural Gas Storage: Actions Needed to Assess Inspection Workload and Progress toward Safety Outcomes". The report was sent to Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, chairwoman of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, and Rep. Don Beyer, D-Virginia, on Oc  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) introduces the Polling Access Safety Act (PASA), a bill to prevent immigration enforcement from being used as a voter intimidation tactic. To protect eligible voters' sense of security at the polls and encourage free and fair elections, PASA would: * Bar immigration enforcement actions at or within one mile of a polling location on a voting day, except under exigent circu  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 -- Rep. K. Michael Conaway, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 2334, a bill to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Odessa, Texas, as the "Wilson and Young Medal of Honor VA Clinic." This bill, authored by Congressman Mike Conaway (TX-11), honors the lives of two Medal of Honor recipients from Odessa, Texas, United States Marine Corps Private First Class   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 -- Rep. David McKinley, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release: Last week, McKinley visited the southern border at McAllen, Texas to better understand the crisis at our border. Click here for more information and photos (https://mckinley.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2671). Here is a wrap up on media coverage: The Wheeling Intelligencer: McKinley Right on Border Patrol - U.S. Rep. David McKinley, R-W.Va., represents residents of our region in m  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 -- Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release: Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.), Representative Eliot L. Engel (D-N.Y.), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Representative Michael T. McCaul (R-Texas), the Committee's Ranking Member, today introduced a bicameral, bipartisan measure opp  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 -- Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement after a bipartisan resolution passed the House that opposes the Trump administration's decision to pull troops from northern Syria and the Turkish military incursion that followed: "The Kurds have been critical partners in the fight against ISIS. "This Administration's shameful, reckless decision to withdraw troops in northern Syria has led to deadly violence and wil  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 -- Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Colin Allred (TX-32) today with his House colleagues and members of House leadership, pushed for passage of the Lower Drug Costs Now Act, HR 3. Allred cosponsored the package last month. "Too often I hear heartbreaking stories from North Texans about the high cost of prescription drugs," said Allred. "Because of the high cost, ordinary people are rationing their medicine. North Texans should not p  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 -- Rep. Jim Banks, R-Indiana, issued the following news release: House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-Wash.) and Ranking Member Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) announced the official activation of the Future of Defense Task Force, naming Reps. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) co-chairs. "Since he entered Congress, Rep. Jim Banks has been focused on the national security issues that will define the next generation," said Ranking Member Thornberry. "He'  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following opening statement at the full committee hearing on investing in the U.S. health system by lowering drug prices, reducing out-of-pocket costs and improving medicare benefits: "In 2003, as a member of the Ways and Means Committee, I was proud to help enact into law the Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act, creating for the first time an affordabl  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 -- Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Health, issued the following opening remarks at a hearing to address the national youth tobacco epidemic: "Thank you, Madame Chair and to our witnesses for being here today. There have been over 1,000 confirmed and probable cases of lung injury reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reaching almost every state and even a U.S. territory. Approximat  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Health, issued the following opening remarks at the markup of the Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R. 3): "I have to say that I feel an overwhelming sense of disappointment and lost opportunity in this room. A lost opportunity to bring meaningful policy through this committee. A lost opportunity to work in a bipartisan manner. Most importantly, a lost opportunity to write   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 -- Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, issued the following statement on the House Judiciary Committee voting to pass the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act out of committee: "The passage of this bill out of committee is a step forward to further promote human rights, democracy, and the rule of law around the world. "There should not be an opportunity for states to engage in misconduct during international athletic competitions. Athletes who compete honestly must not have victory seized  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 -- Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, vice chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and a member of the House Intelligence and Education and Labor committees, issued the following floor remarks in support of the bipartisan joint measure (H.J.Res 77) condemning President Trump's foreign policy in Syria: "We are in the midst of a foreign policy disaster that will be a stain on the conscience of our nation. The situation in Syria  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, vice chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and a member of the House Intelligence and Education and Labor committees, issued the following statement on the death of Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Maryland: "This morning, the nation woke up to a stunning loss. Chairman Cummings was an American hero, a beacon of hope, a profound storyteller; decent and fierce in his convictions and always fighti  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 -- Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Dan Crenshaw cosponsored H.J. Res. 77, a bipartisan joint resolution opposing the decision to end American efforts in Northern Syria. The resolution calls on Turkish President Erdogan to end military action in Syria, urges the U.S. to continue its support of Syrian Kurdish communities, and encourages Turkish military restraint. The resolution also calls on the White House to present a clear and spe  more

LAREDO, Texas, Oct. 15 -- Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * - Rep. Cuellar Secures More Than $117 Million for the Completion of the International Bridges I and II Expansion and Modernization Project * * * Engineering News-Record (ENR) recently recognized the Laredo Bridges I and II as the best government/public buildings in the Texas/Louisiana region. This was possible through the hard-work and collaboration between the General Services Administration, U.S  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 -- Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * - Rep. Cuellar releases updated FBI crime statistics for Texas border * * * Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) released updated FBI crime statistics that show border communities are safer than non-border major cities in the United States. In 2018, Washington DC's murder rate at 22.7 murders for every 100,000 residents, according to the FBI's annual Uniform Crime Report. Border communities like Laredo,  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 -- Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), joined by 59 original cosponsors, introduced the Equitable Student Aid Access Act. The legislation substantively simplifies the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, used by more than 13 million students per year. The bill would also increase direct access to financial aid and empower students and their families to make financially-informed dec  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Texas, issued the following news statement on the death of Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Maryland, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee: "My heart is heavy with the news of the passing of Chairman Elijah Cummings. "Each day, he demonstrated a belief in and a commitment to our people, our democracy, and our Constitution that guided his actions and the Congress. "His leadership and clarity of purpose, especially at this moment  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 -- Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Texas, issued the following statement on the violence in northern Syria and the passage of the resolution (H.J.Res. 77) opposing the Trump administration's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from the northern Syrian border: "As a result of the President's decision last week, our Kurdish allies and innocent civilians are being systematically targeted, tortured, and murdered - and at the same time, ISIS fighters are making a resurgence in the area and   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 -- Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) spoke on the House floor today to honor the life and service of Lt. Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal. Congresswoman Fletcher also introduced a resolution to honor his life, co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of Houston members. To watch the full video of her remarks, click here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2qcJUyRym0). Find her remarks as prepared for delivery below: I ris  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 -- Rep. Bill Flores, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Representative Bill Flores (R-Texas) issued the following statements regarding the Energy and Commerce Committee's consideration of H.R. 3, the Lower Drug Costs Now Act; and the House Democrat's impeachment process: H.R. 3 "There is no question that Americans are paying too much for prescription drugs. There are steps Congress can take to help our seniors and hardworking families, yet, Speaker Pelosi con  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, issued the following statement on the death of Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Maryland: "My heartfelt prayers go out to Congressman Elijah Cummings' family and loved ones during this difficult time of deep loss. "Not only was Elijah a passionate and vocal advocate of civil rights, he was a devoted public servant." "Despite our political differences, Elijah and I worked together on gaining freedom for a soldier who was wrongfully convicted of murder  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 -- Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) announced that the McAllen International Airport was awarded two Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) totaling $16,680,726. The Airport Improvement Program provides grants to public agencies for the planning and development of public-use airports. These federal funds will be used to cover 90 percent of costs for t  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, issued the following statement regarding the decision of President Trump to withdraw U.S. military troops and personnel in Syria: "President Trump's decision to withdraw troops from northern Syria is a win for our adversaries and a major loss for our partners and the Syrian people. "It's one thing to reassess the need for American troops abroad, it's another to listen to a foreign leader over your own experts, leave our partners in the lur  more

OZONA, Texas, Oct. 13 -- Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Yesterday, U.S. Representative Will Hurd (TX-23) attended the grand opening of the Escondido Draw Recreational Area in Crockett County. This is the largest off-highway vehicle (OHV) project ever by the U.S. Federal Highways Administration and the State of Texas Parks and Wildlife, including over 3480 acres for riding trails and 76 acres for events and camping, and is the product of over 13 years in the making.   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 -- Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Representative Will Hurd (TX-23) proudly joined his colleagues in support of a bipartisan measure (H.J. Res. 77) opposing the decision to pull U.S. troops aiding the Syrian Kurdish forces in Northeast Syria. Before the Floor vote Rep. Hurd urged his colleagues to support this effort. His full remarks: "I am proud to rise today in support of this bipartisan resolution that opposes the disastrous d  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas, issued the following news release: This week, U.S. Representative Will Hurd (TX-23) proudly joined his colleagues to pass three bipartisan measures that support freedom and autonomy for the people of Hong Kong and condemn the interference of the Chinese Communist Party in Hong Kong's affairs. "The U.S. must remain committed to democracy and human dignity," said Hurd. "I'm glad my House colleagues could show a united stance in support of the peo  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, issued the following news release: Today, the Senate considered and passed the Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act. This bill awards the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress's highest civilian honor, to Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, Dorothy Vaughan, Christine Darden, and all the women computers, mathematicians, and engineers at NASA, and its precursor organization   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9 -- Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Lance Gooden (R-TX) expressed strong support for the letter White House Counsel Pat Cipollone sent to Democratic leaders on Tuesday. In the letter, Cipollone explains The White House does not intend to cooperate with the illegitimate inquiry led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Congressman Gooden has spent the past weeks emphasizing the lack of any legal basis for impeachment. He has called for a comp  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 -- Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Texas, issued the following news release: A reauthorization bill of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) was introduced with Congressman Lance Gooden (R-TX) as an original sponsor. For years, TRIA has effectively managed the risk of catastrophic damage that cannot be addressed by the private insurance market, while imposing minimal cost of coverage to taxpayers. This bipartisan reauthorization brings continuity to the critical protection our marke  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 -- Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX), Lead Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, made the following statement after the House passed four pieces of legislation that support the fight for democracy in Hong Kong and push back on China's aggression, including his resolution to condemn the Chinese Communist Party's unacceptable be  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement applauding the Trump administration's decision to resume assistance to Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras to support their efforts to address security and economic challenges: "I applaud the Administration for their decision to provide important foreign assistance to the Northern Triangle countries of Central America. As a native Texan, I know al  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 -- Rep. Pete Olson, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Rep. Pete Olson (TX-22) today acted to speed up communication recovery after a natural disaster. He re-introduced the Connecting Communities Post Disasters Act (H.R. 4741), legislation that requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to exempt projects that replace or make improvements to damaged communications facilities or equipment following a major disaster or presidentially declared emergency. Ols  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Rep. Pete Olson, R-Texas, issued the following statement on the death of Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Maryland: "From his humble birth as the son of sharecroppers to a historic career that spanned decades of dedicated civil service, Rep. Elijah Cummings personified the promise of America. "His commitment to realizing that promise for all Americans was evident in his passion for civil rights and his dedication to the downtrodden. "He left an indelible mark on America and the   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, ranking Republican member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following statement after the House passed four veterans' bills: "Tonight, the House continued our efforts to support and serve our nation's veterans by passing bipartisan legislation to help homeless veterans with children find transitional housing, help veterans with disabilities access important information from VA's website, and help preserve the legacies of thos  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 -- Rep. Adam Smith, D-Washington, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, issued the following news release: House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-Wash.) and Ranking Member Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) announced the official activation of the Future of Defense Task Force. The bipartisan Future of Defense Task Force is chartered to review U.S. defense assets and capabilities and assess the state of the national security innovation base to meet emerging th  more

PLANO, Texas, Oct. 15 -- Rep. Van Taylor, R-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * - Local Veterans Will be Honored at Ceremony This Month * * * United States Congressman Van Taylor (TX-03) today announced the twelve recipients of the 2019 Congressional Veteran Commendation. The veterans, being recognized for their wartime sacrifices and peacetime community involvement, will be honored at a special award ceremony on Saturday, October 26, 2019 at Collin College, Spring Creek Campus.  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 -- Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Armed Services Committee, issued the following news release: House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-Wash.) and Ranking Member Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) announced the official activation of the Future of Defense Task Force. The bipartisan Future of Defense Task Force is chartered to review U.S. defense assets and capabilities and assess the state of the national security innovation base to   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 -- Rep. Van Taylor, R-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * - Legislation Aims to Expand Access to Dual Credit Programs * * * Last night, U.S. Congressman Van Taylor (TX-03) introduced legislation aimed at expanding access to dual credit programs for high school students. Joined by representatives from The University of Texas at Dallas, Collin College, Allen ISD, Lovejoy ISD, Plano ISD, and Wylie ISD, Congressman Taylor announced the proposal last week while vi  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 -- Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Texas, member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement after endorsing legislation that will improve health care coverage by lowering prescription drug costs and strengthening Medicare: "The fact that Americans pay more for their life-saving prescription drugs than any other developed country in the world is completely unacceptable. "The Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R. 3) that we advanced today will make sure skyrocket  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Texas, issued the following statement on the death of Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Maryland: "We lost a fighter in the good fight. "It was an honor to have the opportunity to serve alongside Rep. Elijah Cummings. "My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Maya, and the rest of his family during this difficult time."  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 -- Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Texas, issued the following statement after a Fort Worth police officer was charged with murder in the fatal shooting of Atatiana Jefferson: "No amount of justice will bring Atatiana back. Her death is a wrongful and untimely loss, and I mourn with her family and friends during this horrible time. "While this arrest is a tiny step towards progress, justice will never be fully served until our law enforcement reforms their culture of rogue policing tha  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Today, Deputy Whip of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, Rep. Veasey (TX-33), joined Chairman of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, Rep. Thompson (CA-05) along with Rep. Spanberger (VA-07), Rep. Titus (NV-01), Rep. Sherill (NJ-11), Rep. McBath (GA-06) and advocates to demand the Senate take action to end gun violence to take up H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019, and H.R.  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, ranking Republican member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement on Energy Secretary Rick Perry's departure from the Trump administration: "Rick Perry's dedication to public service is hard to fully capture with brevity. A son of Texas and tenant farmers from Paint Creek, Rick Perry has worn the uniform of our nation as a C-130 pilot in the Air Force. He served the people of the Lone Star State as governor fo  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 -- Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, issued the following statement regarding the resignation of Energy Secretary Rick Perry: "Rick Perry has devoted his life to public service. "As Secretary of Energy, he served our nation with integrity for the last two-and-a-half years, and paved the way for greater economic growth and U.S. energy independence. "He governed the great state of Texas with the same principled leadership and I am proud to call him a dear friend. "I wish Rick a  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Rep. Brian Babin, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Congressmen Brian Babin (TX-36) and Harley Rouda (CA-48) issued the following release after introducing H.R. 4687, the Sustainable Municipal Access to Resilient Technology in Infrastructure (SMART Infrastructure) Act, along with Reps. Grace Napolitano (CA-32) and Ralph Norman (SC-05). The SMART Infrastructure Act supports innovation and open competition in procurement, allowing the United States to rebuil  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Reps. K. Michael Conaway, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Agriculture Committee, and Neal Dunn, R-Florida, ranking Republican member of the Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture and Research, issued the following remarks at a hearing to review the Agriculture Department's implementation of the Farm Bill research programs: "Today's hearing provided a much-needed update on farm bill implementation. Deputy Under Secretary Hutchins is a great asset to Am  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: * * * - Bipartisan Bill Sanctions Turkey, Imposes Swift Consequences for Syrian Assault * * * House Foreign Affairs Committee Lead Republican Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Chairman Eliot Engel (D-NY) today introduced the Protect Against Conflict with Turkey (PACT) Act, legislation to impose sanctions and other consequences against Turkey for it  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: Last week, Lead Republican Michael McCaul and Chairman Eliot Engel introduced the Partnering and Leveraging Assistance to Stop Trash for Cleaner Seas Act (PLASTICS Act), which aims to reduce marine debris and plastic waste in the ocean. Over eight million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean every year, damaging the health of marine life, im  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 -- Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyoming, chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), delivered the following remarks at a hearing titled "Examining the Impacts of Disease on Wildlife Conservation and Management." The hearing featured testimony from Stephen Guertin, deputy director for Program Management and Policy a  more

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 11 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * - First Round of Reimbursement Allotted Total of $7.8M Nationally * * * U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) announced that the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) awarded more than $2.9 million to local communities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Texas in its first round of reimbursement for migrant care, which included a total of $7.8 million nationally. Sen. Cornyn fought for $30 mi  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following statement in response to reports that Energy Secretary Rick Perry will soon leave his post: "I'm sad to learn that Secretary Rick Perry is leaving his post at the Department of Energy. For two-and-a-half years, he has advocated for American energy and innovation, prioritizing both national security and a strong economy. "As the longest-serving governor of Texas, Rick demonstrated how lower taxes and sensible regulations can  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Today on the floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) discussed House Democrats' secretive handling of impeachment proceedings. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn's floor remarks are below, and video can be found here (https://youtu.be/gFw8t78AwE8). "We got secret hearings, secret witnesses, secret interviews, and secret meetings." "That's not fair to the... 65 million people who voted for President Trump to try to negate  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today participated in a committee hearing focused on assessing the United States' foreign policy and posture towards Iran. There, he questioned State Department Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook, regarding U.S. authority to reverse the catastrophic Obama-Iran nuclear deal, which will lift the arms embargo and ballistic missil  more

HONG KONG, Oct. 15 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Sunday concluded his weeklong Indo-Pacific tour with a visit to Hong Kong, where he met with pro-democracy activists, dissidents, and protest leaders and expressed his support for those fighting to protect Hong Kong's autonomy, free speech, and basic human rights. As one of the first U.S. senators to visit Hong Kong since the protes  more

HONG KONG, Oct. 13 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * - Appears on CBS's 'Face the Nation' with Margaret Brennan at the conclusion of weeklong Indo-Pacific 'Friends & Allies' tour * * * U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today appeared on CBS's 'Face the Nation' with Margaret Brennan from Hong Kong, where he discussed his weeklong 'Friends & Allies' tour through the Indo-Pacific to meet with government officials a  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Oct. 18 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released a video highlighting his 'Friends & Allies Tour,' which included visits to Pearl Harbor, Tokyo, Taiwan, New Delhi, and Hong Kong. Watch the video here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTr7ts4VpA0&feature=youtu.be). While in Taiwan, Sen. Cruz called into CNBC's 'Squawk Box' and discussed his tour and the Chinese Comm  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following statement on the death of Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Maryland: "Heidi and I are deeply saddened by the passing of Elijah Cummings, a man whose dignity and patriotism made Congress and our Nation a better place. "I was lucky enough to spend considerable time with Elijah outside of Washington; in the first year I was in the Senate, we both traveled together, along with much of the CBC, to Johannesburg for the funeral ceremony of Ne  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following statement on the resignation of Energy Secretary Rick Perry: "Rick is a good man and a good friend who has devoted his life to serving his country, especially the great state of Texas. "He went from being Texas' longest-serving governor to heading the Department of Energy, where he was a leading advocate for U.S. energy, including liquefied natural gas. "Under his leadership, U.S. oil and gas production has soared-with much o  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 -- Sen. Joe Manchin III, D-West Virginia, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, issued the following statement on the resignation of Energy Secretary Rick Perry: "Secretary Perry has been a true partner during his time at the Department of Energy and since I became Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. "I appreciate his service to our nation both as Secretary of Energy and the Governor of Texas. "Sinc  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 -- The Senate Environment and Public Works issued the following testimony by Walter Cook, clinical associate professor for veterinary pathobiology at Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, at a hearing entitled "Examining the Impacts of Diseases on Wildlife Conservation and Management": "Thank you for the opportunity to provide a subject matter expert's perspective on disease challenges to wildlife conservation and management. My name is  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 -- The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee issued the following hearing information: Examining the Impacts of Diseases on Wildlife Conservation and Management at 406 Dirksen Senate Office Building at 10 a.m. on Oct. 16: Panel 1 * Stephen D. Guertin, Deputy Director for Program Management and Policy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service * Walter E. Cook, Clinical Associate Professor, Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University * Holly Niederriter, Wildlife Biologist,  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 -- The Senate Judiciary subcommittee on Intellectual Property issued the following hearing information: Promoting the Useful Arts: How can Congress prevent the issuance of poor quality patents? at 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building at 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 30: Witnesses Panel I * Drew Hirshfeld, Commissioner of Patents, United States Patent and Trademark Office, Alexandria, VA Panel II * R. Polk Wagner, Michael A. Fitts Professor of Law, University of Pennsylvania Law School  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) released the following statements after the Senate confirmed Charles Eskridge to fill a judicial vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas in Houston. Upon his confirmation, just one federal judicial vacancy remains in Texas. "Throughout his impressive career, Charles has proven himself a seasoned litigator, capable of handling co  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 -- Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following statements after the Senate confirmed Charles Eskridge to fill a judicial vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas in Houston: Cruz said: "I am grateful my colleagues have confirmed Charles Eskridge to serve on federal bench for the Southern District. "Charles is the 20th Article III judge the Senate has confirmed to the bench in Texas. I have no doubt his remarkable in  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Florida, issued the following news release: On Thursday, U.S. Reps. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.), Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) and Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla.) wrote a letter urging the U.S. Department of Defense to consider awarding the Medal of Honor to U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Alwyn Cashe, a war hero who grew up in Oviedo, Florida. The bipartisan letter sent to Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy cited SFC Cashe's extraord  more