WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- The House Science, Space and Technology subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight and Energy issued the following opening statement on Feb. 5 by Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, at a joint hearing entitled "Management and Spending Challenges within the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy": Thank you, Chairman Foster and Chairwoman Fletcher, for holding this joint hearing on oversight of the Department of Energy's Office of E  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- The House Science, Space and Technology subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight and Energy issued the following opening statement on Feb. 5 by Chairwoman Lizzie Fletcher, D-Texas at a joint hearing entitled "Management and Spending Challenges within the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy": Thank you to our witnesses for being here today. Throughout this Congress, this Committee has demonstrated strong, bipartisan support for innov  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- The House Science, Space and Technology subcommittee on Research and Technology issued the following opening statement on Feb. 5 by Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, at a hearing entitled "America's Seed Fund: A Review of SBIR and STTR": The SBIR program is known as "America's Seed Fund." A strength of the Federal scientific enterprise is its ability to harness research and ideas from a wide range of innovators including small businesses. Just a modest amount of e  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX-07) and Congressman David Schweikert (R-AZ-06) announced their call for the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to issue critical guidance on the 45Q tax credit as quickly as possible. In 2018, Congress passed the Furthering Carbon Capture, Utilization, Technology, Underground Storage, and Reduced Emissions Act (FUTURE Act) as part of the Bip  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a decision denying a bid protest filed by Business Enabled Acquisition and Technology of San Antonio, Texas. According to the GAO, Business Enabled Acquisition & Technology LLC (BEAT), "protests the award of a task order contract to Sentar, LLC, of Baltimore, Maryland, under request for proposals (RFP) No. N6523619R3507, issued by the Department of the Navy, Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic (NIWC), for cybersecurity   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a decision denying a bid protest filed by Quality Control International of Federal Heights, Colorado. According to the GAO, Quality Control International LLC (QCI), a small business "protests the General Service Administration (GSA), Public Buildings Service's award of a contract to Phoenix Management Inc., of Austin, Texas, under request for proposals (RFP) No. 47PJ0018R0027, for facilities maintenance services. QCI challeng  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on cost accounting standards. The report (GAO-20-266) is entitled "Board Has Taken Initial Steps to Meet Recent Legislative Requirements". The report was sent to Sen. James M. Inhofe, R-Oklahoma, chairman, Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen. Richard C. Shelby, R-Alabama, chairman, Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, ranking member of the Senate Appropriations su  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on defense health care. The report (GAO-20-197) is entitled "Plans Needed to Ensure Implementation of Required Elements for TRICARE's Managed Care Support Contracts". The report was sent to Sen. James M. Inhofe, R-Oklahoma, chairman, Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Rep. Adam Smith, D-Washington, chairman, and Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, ranking member of the Ho  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- The House Science, Space and Technology Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 116-312) on the Sustainable Chemistry Research and Development Act (H.R. 2051), which provides for federal coordination of activities supporting sustainable chemistry. The report was advanced by Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, on Nov. 26. Excerpts of the report follow: I. Amendment...2 II. Purpose of the Bill...5 III. Background and Need for the Legislation...5 IV. Committee Hearings...6 V.  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following news release: During his State of the Union Address, President Trump highlighted U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz's (R-Texas) Education Freedom Scholarships and Opportunity Act, legislation to help workers and families access the education and skills they need to thrive in a 21st century economy. Specifically, the legislation provides a federal tax credits for donations to state-run educational scholarships, and expand elementary and secondar  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Colin Allred (TX-32) announced he earned a 100 from the Humane Society of the United States for his voting record on animal rights, according to the organization's 2019 legislative scorecard. "How we treat animals is a reflection of who we are and as a dog owner for most of my life, I'm proud of how far this country has come in our work to protect animals from exploitation or cruelty," Allred said.  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) announced the introduction of H.R. 5719, the Closing Loopholes on SafetyNet Exploitation (CLOSE) Act. This legislation will eliminate the gaming and abuse of the federal food stamp program by closing a major loophole that has resulted in more than five million ineligible enrollments and $7 billion dollars annually in unnecessary and wasteful spending. Arrington's bill ens  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, issued the following statement on Feb. 5 on President Trump's State of the Union Address: "Tonight's address outlined President Trump's vision for a nation that works for all Americans, one that is illuminated by the light of freedom shining as bright as it's ever shown. The Great American Comeback we are witnessing is empowering communities, unleashing unprecedented economic growth and unlocking the greatest potential of the American people,  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 -- Rep. Brian Babin, R-Texas, issued the following floor remarks on Feb. 7: U.S. Congressman Brian Babin (TX-36) spoke on the House floor on Thursday to honor the life of Liberty County Sheriff's Deputy Richard Whitten, who succumbed to complications of a gunshot wound on Monday evening. His remarks are as follows: Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Liberty County Sheriff's Deputy Richard Whitten, who succumbed to compli  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Rep. Brian Babin, R-Texas, issued the following statement on Feb. 5 after the Senate voted to acquit President Trump of both articles of impeachment: "The Senate has reviewed the two impeachment articles and evidence sent from the House of Representatives, and after a year of wasted time and taxpayer dollars they have confirmed what we've known all along: President Trump is innocent. "Today, the majority of my Senate colleagues voted to uphold the Constitution and finall  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following statement on Feb. 5: A bipartisan group of Members of the House Ways and Means Committee, including Republican Committee Leader Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX), met with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta. The lawmakers discussed with President Kenyatta the U.S.-Kenyan economic relationship and expressed optimism toward building a stronger trade relationship. Upon complet  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following statement after the Senate voted to acquit President Trump: "The Constitution and the rejection of politically-motivated impeachment has been preserved with the Senate's exoneration of President Trump. "Every American should be troubled by the secret hearings, manufactured evidence, shamefully partisan impeachment process, and the shredding of due process right  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 -- Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, issued the following statement, which was published in the Congressional Record on Feb. 7, entitled "Clarification of Changes to the Alternative Fuel Mixture Credit Contained in Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020 (H.R. 1865)": In December Congress addressed a number of expired or expiring tax provisions, commonly known as "tax extenders," by passing H.R. 1865 as part of year-end, fiscal year'20 spending measure. For the most part, these tax  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 -- Rep. Kevin P. Brady, R-Texas, issued the following statement on Feb. 7 regarding to the Labor Department's January jobs report: "Speaker Pelosi may have ripped up the President's State of the Union, but the 'Blue Collar Boom' in today's jobs report shows our pro-growth policies are leaving her socialist agenda in tatters. "Our economy added a healthy 225,000 jobs last month, with unemployment remaining at historic lows. Under this President's leadership, Americans' optimi  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 -- Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following statement in response to the Labor Department's January 2019 jobs report: "Speaker Pelosi may have ripped up the President's State of the Union, but the 'Blue Collar Boom' in today's jobs report shows our pro-growth policies are leaving her socialist agenda in tatters. "Our economy added a healthy 225,000 jobs last month, with unemployment remaining at historic  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Rep. Kevin P. Brady, R-Texas, issued the following statement after the Senate voted to acquit President Trump: "The Constitution and the rejection of politically-motivated impeachment has been preserved with the Senate's exoneration of President Trump. "Every American should be troubled by the secret hearings, manufactured evidence, shamefully partisan impeachment process, and the shredding of due process rights embraced by House Democrats. Had they prevailed, every futur  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 -- Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, issued the following statement on Feb. 4: Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), member of the House Rules Committee and Republican Leader of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health released the following statement after the President gave his third State of the Union Address. "Despite the distraction of impeachment, President Trump delivered a message of hope to the American people," Burgess said. "In line with the theme  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, issued the following statement on Feb. 5: Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), member of the House Rules Committee and Republican Leader of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health released the following statement after the Senate voted to acquit President Trump on both Articles of Impeachment. "Today, the national trauma that has divided our country ended," Burgess said. "We have known the outcome of this trial since Spe  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, issued the following statement: Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), member of the House Rules Committee and Republican Leader of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health released the following statement after he voted for the Privileged Resolution to Admonish Speaker Pelosi. "Tuesday evening America witnessed unprecedented and poorly timed actions of Speaker Nancy Pelosi," Burgess said. "Her disrespectful actions were n  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 -- Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, issued the following statement on Feb. 4 after President Trump gave his State of the Union Address: "President Trump is right, the state of our union is strong, and the best is yet to come. At this moment in time, there's a lot to celebrate; wages are up, unemployment is down, and overall, families are doing better than they have in decades. Tonight should serve as a wake-up call to the Democratic Party. While they focus all of their efforts on o  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, issued the following statement after the Senate's vote to acquit President Trump on impeachment: "With the vote to acquit President Trump, the U.S. Senate has written the last scene of the Democratic Party's political theater. "Impeachment is one of the most serious acts that Congress will consider, and it is shameful that it's been weaponized for political gain. "After incessantly telling the American people that there was 'overwhelming evid  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 -- Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and member of the House Intelligence and Education and Labor Committees, announced his guest to this year's State of the Union Address, Maria Rocha. Rocha, a dual language teacher from San An  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, issued the following statement on Feb. 6: Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and member of the House Intelligence and Education and Labor Committees, released the following statement on the coronavirus outbreak and San Antonio's role in combatting the virus: "  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, issued the following statement: Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and member of the House Intelligence and Education and Labor Committees, released the following statement after the President's State of the Union Address: "The President walked into the chambe  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Rep. K. Michael Conaway, R-Texas, issued the following statement on Feb. 5 after the Senate voted to dismiss both articles of impeachment against President Trump: "Democrats have been working to overturn the 2016 election and oust President Trump from office since the day he was elected, and they have subjected Americans to their ridiculous tirade each step of the way. "When their claims that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to interfere in the 2016 election were   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 -- Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Dan Crenshaw (R-TX-02) and Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX-07) announced their bipartisan amendment to provide $45 million in additional relief for households impacted by Hurricane Harvey passed the House of Representatives. The amendment was included as a part of the disaster supplemental legislation that advanced through the House. "This will provide needed relief to Texans continuing to reco  more

LAREDO, Texas, Feb. 5 -- Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * - Project will focus on flood risk management, ecosystem restoration and recreational amenities * * * Congressman Cuellar (TX-28) announced over $51.9 million in future funding for the Chacon Creek Restoration Project. The project will focus on flood management, ecosystem restoration and recreational amenities for Chacon Creek. Congressman Cuellar was able to deliver $3.3 million directly to the Ch  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) hosted Rio Grande City High School student, Alex Rodriguez, to the State of the Union Address. Rodriguez is a senior, who plans on pursuing a career with the United States Border Patrol. The Congressman has selected Rodriguez to be his guest, to honor him for all his hard work, commitment and dedication in wanting to serve our country. "It was an honor to have Alex as my gues  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 -- Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Henry Cuellar voted in favor of H. Res. 826, a resolution expressing disapproval of the Administration's harmful actions toward Medicaid. Last week, the Administration unveiled its illegal Medicaid block grant plan, inviting states to cap and cut Medicaid. The plan would essentially allow states to receive a waiver to block grant their Medicaid programs for certain low-income Medicaid recipients.   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, issued the following statement: U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), member of the House Budget Committee and Chair of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, released the following statement about the conclusion of the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump: "With neither witnesses nor documents, this was a cover-up, a mockery of a trial. With one exception, blinding fear of Trump left Republican Senators shutting their eyes,   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 -- Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, issued the following statement: U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Chair of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, released the following statement reaction to President Trump's wrongheaded health care claims in his State of the Union address: "Trump's claim that the cost of prescription drugs went down is false. President Trump promised to lower drug prices; he didn't campaign on a pledge to slow price increases. Patients drowni  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 -- Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, issued the following remarks on President Trump's State of the Union Address: I'm Congresswoman Veronica Escobar and I'm proud to represent El Paso, Texas. It is an honor to address you tonight from El Paso's Segundo Barrio, one of our oldest neighborhoods. Here, at El Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe. Community clinics like this one help millions access the health care that they need. But since President Trump was sworn into office, clinics  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher announced that bipartisan legislation she introduced with Congressman Malinowski (NJ-07) and Congressman Garret Graves (R-LA-06), the Protect and Restore America's Estuaries Act, passed the House 355-62. This bill reauthorizes and increases funding for the National Estuary Program (NEP), which works to protect the water quality and ecological integrity of estuaries across the co  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Rep. Bill Flores, R-Texas, issued the following statement: U.S. Representative Bill Flores (R-Texas) issued the following statements regarding the House's continued assault on President Trump's ability to defend America; the release of a proposed Middle East peace deal that protects Israel's right to exist; President Trump signing the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA); the United States' unsustainable debt and deficit; and an update on the sham impeachme  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 -- Rep. Bill Flores, R-Texas, issued the following statement on Feb. 4: "Tonight, we heard President Trump outline what an overwhelming number Americans already know, that the economy is working for those previously left behind by the failed policies of the Obama Administration. "Thanks to historic policies enacted by President Trump and the 2017-2018 Congress, such as the Phase One trade deal with China, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, regulatory reform, and the  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 -- Rep. Bill Flores, R-Texas, issued the following statement: U.S. Representative Bill Flores (R-Texas) issued the following statements regarding President Trump's State of the Union address; the Senate acquitting President Trump; the House Democrat's attack on jobs and job creators; and recognizing 17th District constituents and institutions. President Trump's State of the Union - The Great American Comeback "On Tuesday, President Trump outlined what an overwhelming number  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 -- Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) announced that Houston resident Anna Alvarez will join her as her guest at the State of the Union in Washington, DC, tomorrow, February 4th, 2020. Anna Alvarez is a wheelchair attendant at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. For nearly 20 years, she has worked hard helping people with disabilities and elderly travelers get to their destination safely. For all o  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 -- Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Rep. Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) voted in favor of House Resolution 826. This resolution expresses Democrats' disapproval of President Trump's harmful actions towards Medicaid. Last week, the Trump Administration unveiled its illegal Medicaid block grant plan, inviting states to cap and slash Medicaid, which would make it harder for certain low-income Medicaid recipients to get the care they need. The Administratio  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 -- Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas, issued the following news release: This evening, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) was proud to vote in favor of H.R. 2474, the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act of 2019, a landmark piece of legislation that would protect the rights of working Americans to join a union and stand up for their rights in the workplace. The PRO Act protects America's workers by: * Introducing meaningful, enforceable penalties for companies and executive  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 -- Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) is encouraging local law enforcement agencies to apply for four grant applications released by the United States Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) aimed to enhance police safety, tackle mental health issues, assist tribal communities, and prepare for potential mass shootings. These grants are now available and offer up to $19.3 million in   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, issued the following statement on Feb. 5 after the Senate vote to end the impeachment trial of President Trump on charges of obstruction of Congress and abuse of power: "Today, it is clear that the Founding Fathers' brilliantly designed system of checks and balances depends on the integrity of those in office. I fear the Senate has set a dangerous new precedent that risks the integrity of our electoral process and national security. The fa  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 -- Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, issued the following statement: Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) released a statement following his vote in favor of H.Res. 826, Expressing disapproval of the Trump administration's harmful actions towards Medicaid. "The law is clear - Medicaid block grants are illegal. "This proposal is this administration's most recent attack on our poor and working class Americans. By allowing states the ability to block grant Medicaid, the administ  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) signed a bipartisan letter to U.S. Census Bureau Director, Dr. Steven Dillingham, requesting updates on the steps that the Census Bureau has taken to ensure people in hard-to-count communities have adequate access to up-to-date computers in public spaces in order to complete the Census forms online. The 2020 Census is the first Census in U.S. history to be conducted pri  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, issued the following news release: On Wednesday, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) voted in favor of the bipartisan H.R. 2382, the United States Postal Service (USPS) Fairness Act. This bill seeks to repeal the requirement that the USPS prepay future retirement benefits which accounted for 100% of the USPS's net losses in the last six years. The USPS is the only federal agency that is mandated to pre-fund its employees future health care  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) voted to pass H.R. 4305, the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers (PAWS) for Veterans Therapy Act. This bipartisan bill will give greater access for veterans to connect with service dogs in their communities. Congressman Gonzalez is a cosponsor of this important legislation. The PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act will create a pilot program within the Department of Vete  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 -- Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Top Appropriations Committee Republican Kay Granger (R-TX) introduced a privileged resolution strongly disapproving of Speaker Nancy Pelosi for ripping up President Donald Trump's remarks following his State of the Union address. "Speaker Pelosi's actions last night were appalling and shameful. Regardless of her personal feelings, she had a responsibility to conduct herself with civility as the presiding office  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following news release: Top Appropriations Committee Republican Kay Granger (R-TX) introduced a privileged resolution, H.Res. 832, strongly disapproving of Speaker Nancy Pelosi for ripping up President Donald Trump's remarks following his State of the Union address. Click here (https://youtu.be/KOQjewHtTn8) to watch Granger's remarks on H. Res. 832. "Speaker Pelosi's ac  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 -- Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, issued the following statement: Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-TX), the Republican Leader of the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement following President Donald Trump's State of the Union address. "President Trump's optimistic vision for our country puts hardworking Americans first, and I was pleased to hear him outline his continued commitment to policies that promote a strong economy, secure our nation's border, and m  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, issued the following statementon Feb. 5: Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-TX), the Republican Leader of the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement after the Senate voted to acquit President Trump on Wednesday. "Today, the Senate finally put an end to the deeply partisan and politically-driven impeachment inquiry. "Since the day President Trump was elected, Democrats have been unwilling and unable to accept the will of the  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 -- Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, issued the following news release on Feb. 7: This week, I joined Mark Davis on 660 KSKY, Charles Payne on Fox News, and the Fox and Friends First team to talk about President Donald Trump's strong and optimistic message at the State of the Union address and Speaker Pelosi's embarrassing actions following his remarks. On Speaker Pelosi's actions: "Speaker Ryan and Speaker Boehner - they may have disagreed with the President on a multitude of issu  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, issued the following op-ed: The North American Free Trade Agreement, better known as NAFTA, was signed into law over 25 years ago. The then-innovative trade deal revolutionized the way we conduct business with Mexico and Canada, Texas' first and second largest export partners respectively. I was the Mayor of Fort Worth when that deal was signed, and I saw firsthand how this deal gave our city - and other Texas cities along the I-35 corridor - a s  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 -- Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, issued the following e-newsletter: Dear Friends, As some of you may know, Fort Worth's enduring nickname--Cowtown--emerged in the days of the Old West, when trail-weary stockmen herded longhorn cattle through the dusty streets. Now, for three weeks each year, Fort Worth transforms back into the city of cowboys as thundering bulls and bucking broncs thrill spectators at the annual Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. KG 20 2 7 rodeo black white FWSS  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 -- Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, issued the following statement regarding the House passage of Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief and Puerto Rico Disaster Tax Relief Act (H.R. 5687): "In November of 2019, the Reforming Disaster Recovery Act of 2019 (H.R. 3702) - that I and Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO) authored - passed the House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support. H.R. 3702 helps to ensure the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Jared Huffman, D-California, issued the following news release on Feb. 6: On Thursday, January 30, Representative Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), Chair of the Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Subcommittee, traveled to the Gulf Coast region as part of his nationwide listening tour on federal fisheries policy. This was the first listening session of 2020 and the fifth session overall. The Gulf of Mexico fishery management region includes the federal waters off of Louisiana, Mi  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Representative Will Hurd (TX-23) joined his colleagues in passing a bipartisan bill to begin a pilot program for service dogs to assist veterans affected by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act (H.R. 4305) establishes a five-year pilot program under the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs giving eligible veterans with PTSD or post-deployment mental health the opportunity to  more

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Feb. 3 -- Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas, issued the following statement after learning of the decision to return a number of Americans traveling in China to Lackland Air Force Base and the potential risk of coronavirus: "My focus is on the public health and safety of all Americans, which is why I have been in contact with the department and agency officials dealing with the American response to what the World Health Organization has deemed a 'Public Health Emergency of Internation  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Texas, issued the following statement on Feb. 6 regarding Senate's vote to acquit President Trump for the impeachment charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress: "Today's decision to acquit President Trump leaves a stain on the fabric of our nation. Last year, I joined my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to formally impeach President Trump when it became clear he threatened our national security and abused the power of the high  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, issued the following news release on Feb. 6: Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson announced that the Department of Health and Human Services has awarded a grant totaling $794,718 to Children's Hospitals Graduate Payment Program. "Today, I am proud to announce that the Children's Medical Center in Dallas has received significant funding for their Children's Hospital Graduate Medical Education program. Their work to train the next generat  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 -- Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson proudly announces Dr. Frederick P. Cerise, President and CEO of Parkland Health & Hospital System as her guest for the upcoming State of the Union address. Parkland Health & Hospital System is the main provider of medical aid and hospital care to indigent and needy persons in North Texas. This public hospital system serving Dallas County, Texas, is one of the larges  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, issued the following news release on Feb. 6: Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson voted in favor of H. Res. 826, a resolution expressing disapproval of the Trump Administration's harmful actions toward Medicaid. Last week, the Trump Administration unveiled its illegal Medicaid block grant plan, inviting states to cap and slash Medicaid. The plan would essentially allow states to receive a waiver to block grant their Medicaid programs for  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 -- Rep. Michael T. McCaul, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Michael McCaul (TX-10), the Lead Republican of the Foreign Affairs Committee and former Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, participated on a panel along with Representatives Ann Wagner (MO-02) and Chis Smith (NJ-04) at the White House Human Trafficking Summit on Friday, January 31. Together, they discussed what federal and state officials have accomplished in the fight against h  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 -- Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following joint statement with House Republican Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney, Reps. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., Mike Turner, R-Ohio, and Mike Gallagher, R-Wisconsin, on the introduction of a resolution denouncing the U.K's decision that would allow Huawei to build part of 5G networks: "We are extremely disappointed that the United Kingdom seems poised to allow CCP controlle  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Rep. Pete Olson, R-Texas, issued the following statement, which was published in the Congressional Record on Feb. 5, entitled "Congratulating Deltacon Global for Earning the Hire Vets Medallion Demonstration Award": I rise today to congratulate Deltacon Global for earning an Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans (HIRE Vets) Medallion Program Demonstration Award. As a Navy veteran, I know all too well the incredible sacrifices our vete  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 -- Rep. Pete Olson, R-Texas, issued the following statement in response to President Trump's State of the Union Address: As I embark on my final year in Congress, the state of our union is stronger than ever. Thanks to President Trump and conservative wins, we have a thriving economy, record low unemployment and decisive leadership from our military's commander in chief. Democrats may continue to beat the impeachment drum, but America tuned out their partisan witch hunt mont  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Rep. Pete Olson, R-Texas, issued the following statement in response to the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump resulting in a full acquittal: "For months, the work of the American people has been sidelined by a partisan agenda to reverse the results of the 2016 presidential election. Instead of working to secure the border, rebuild our infrastructure and expand energy independence, we've seen a divisive and calculated attempt to remove a duly elected president fro  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-Texas, issued the following statement on Feb. 5: Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas), a member of President Trump's impeachment defense team, released the following statement on the Senate's acquittal of President Trump on both articles of impeachment: "Today's vote to acquit President Trump is an ironic indictment of House Democrats' own abuse of power and political obstruction. History will reflect this as a resounding rebuke of House Democrats' partis  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 -- Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, issued the following joint statement: Representatives Phil Roe (R-Tenn.), Joseph Morelle (D-N.Y.), Van Taylor (R-Texas) and Donna Shalala (D-Fla.) released the following statement in response to legislation introduced by Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal (D-Mass.) and Ranking Member Kevin Brady (R-Texas) on surprise medical billing: "We have long maintained that it is vital to end the practice of surprise medical billing, which too  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Rep. Van Taylor, R-Texas, issued the following statement on Feb. 4 after President Trump delivered his 3rd State of the Union Address to Congress: "President Trump delivered an optimistic vision for the future touching on many of the important issues I hear from my constituents throughout Collin County. Tonight, the President talked about reducing healthcare costs, securing our nation's borders while repairing our broken immigration system, taking care of our veterans, and  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 -- Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement on the Defense Department's fielding of the W76-2 low-yield submarine-launched ballistic missile warhead: "The greatest national security imperative is to deter any adversary from using a nuclear weapon in any circumstance. "This deployment enhances U.S. deterrence and tells Russia that any attempt to use nuclear weapons as part of an 'escalate to  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, issued the following statement: Congressman Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) released this statement after the Senate voted 48-52 on article I and 47-53 on article IIto acquit the Presidenton both counts of impeachment: "In voting against the articles of impeachment in December, I said that the result of the partisan process was'two counts that do not begin to meet the constitutional standard for impeachment, even if all of the facts alleged are  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 -- Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33) announced that he will lead his colleagues on a resolution to disapprove of the Trump Administration's proposed Medicaid block grant plan. This week's resolution comes on the heels of President Trump's announcement that would allow states to receive a waiver to block grant their Medicaid programs for adults in the expansion population--a move that would drastically roll back acces  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 -- Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Texas, issued the following news release: The U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution (H.Res 826) led by Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33) that expresses disapproval of the Trump Administration's illegal Medicaid block grant plan, a plan inviting states to cap and slash the Medicaid program. This harmful plan would essentially allow states to receive a waiver to block grant their Medicaid programs for certain low-income Medicaid recipients, and   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 -- Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Texas, issued the following statement: Mr. Speaker: I rise to support HR 4044. I want to thank Mr. Malinowski and Chairwoman Napolitano for their leadership in crafting this legislation and bringing it to the floor for consideration by the full House of Representatives. It is vital that we, as a nation, focus on preserving and restoring our estuaries. I am especially pleased that the bill almost doubles the amount of funding available to support natio  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 -- Rep. Randy Weber, R-Texas, issued the following statement on Feb. 4 after President Trump addressed the nation in his 3rd State of the Union: "Congress is the opposite of progress - more clearly demonstrated now than ever. Despite the state of Congress, the state of our great Union is thriving. As the President spoke of the blue-collar boom, I delighted in knowing my constituent's in Texas 14 are reaping the benefits of this Administration's policies. Texas gained more t  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 -- Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, issued the following statement on Feb. 4 regarding President Trump's 3rd State of the Union Address: "Tonight I took great pleasure in celebrating the Great American Comeback - under President Trump's leadership, our economy is stronger than ever and our military remains the finest fighting force the world has ever known. "In Texas, the unemployment rate is at a record-low, with nearly 900,000 jobs created over the last three years and wages  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, issued the following statement on Feb. 5 after the Senate acquitted President Trump: "This impeachment sham has been a great disservice to the American people, with Democrats dedicating precious time to a disingenuous cause. "Today, the Senate rightly acquitted President Trump and I hope that we will put this charade behind us so we can get back to work for the American people. "We have real challenges that require our undivided attention;  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Representatives Eliot L. Engel, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Joaquin Castro, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, demanded information from the State Department on recently announced rule changes impacting non-immigrant visa applicants seeking to visit the United States. In a letter to Assistant Secretary of State Carl Risc  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 -- Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX-07) and Congressman Dan Crenshaw (R-TX-02) announced their bipartisan amendment to provide $45 million in additional relief for households impacted by Hurricane Harvey passed the House of Representatives. The amendment was included as a part of the disaster supplemental legislation that will be voted on. "In my district and throughout our community, many are still working  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX), Lead Republican of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY), the Committee's Chairman, sounded a bipartisan warning that Taiwan's exclusion from the U.N. agency overseeing aviation standards and practices could worsen the spread of the coronavirus. In a letter to the Internationa  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 -- Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Massachusetts, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, and Ranking Member Kevin Brady, R-Texas, issued the following joint statement: Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA) and Ranking Member Kevin Brady (R-TX) released legislative text of the Consumer Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills Act of 2020, the Committee's proposal to better shield patients from bankrupting surprise medical bills. The members' plan puts pat  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following statement on Feb. 4 regarding a call with Texas reporters previewing the President Trump's State of the Union Address: "Tonight, obviously, is the State of the Union message, and I'm looking forward to hearing the President's message. My hope is he uses the occasion to talk about the future." "Frankly, the President's got a good record to run on: historic low unemployment, the economy's booming, people have more in their ret  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following news release: This morning on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) discussed the Senate's vote to acquit President Trump. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn's floor remarks are below, and downloadable audio and video can be found here (https://lfts.senate.gov/seos/1000/mpd/ui11022020f5d98493b1e9c40aeb5736855c735484). "The impeachment of a president of the United States is simply the gravest undertaking we can pursue in thi  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, this week sent a letter to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey calling on the company to end its services to members of the Iranian regime, including the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and the Iranian Foreign Minister, Javad Zarif - both sanctioned by the Trump administration. He was joined by Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ar  more

HOUSTON, Texas, Feb. 7 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following news release: As the novel coronavirus continues to spread throughout China and around the world, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Aviation and Space, this week sent a letter calling on the Secretary General of the United Nations' International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to fully include Taiwan - a country ICAO has systematically exclud  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 -- In the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, sent a question to the Chief Justice for review by the Senate: The CHIEF JUSTICE. The question from the Senators to the House managers: An August 26, 2019, letter from the Intelligence Community Inspector General to the Director of National Intelligence discussing the so-called whistleblower stated that the Inspector General "identified some indicia of an arguable political bias on the part of the  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 -- In the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, sent a question to the Chief Justice for review by the Senate: The CHIEF JUSTICE. Thank you. The question from Senator Cruz, along with Senators Hawley and Graham, is for both sides--counsel for the President and the House managers: Yesterday, Manager Demings refused to answer whether Joe Biden sought any legal advice concerning his conflict of interest on Burisma, the corrupt Ukrainian company t  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following statement after President Trump delivered his 3rd State of the Union Address: "Thanks to the leadership of President Trump, his administration, and Republicans in Congress, Americans from every walk of life are experiencing the lowest unemployment in 50 years, higher wages, and more opportunities than ever before. We have the lowest African American unemployment that has ever been recorded, the lowest Hispanic unemployment ever   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following statement on Feb. 5 after voting to reject Democrats' articles of impeachment and acquit President Trump: "This impeachment circus is over. Just minutes ago, I voted to acquit President Trump. The majority of the Senate voted to acquit President Trump. "This nonsense is over. This was abuse of the Constitution from day one, and today the Senate defended the rule of law. "Today, the Senate defended the Constitution." On Tuesda  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following news release: After the State of the Union address, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) appeared on Fox News' 'Hannity' to discuss the victories Republicans in Congress and President Trump have achieved for the American people, as well as his Education Freedom Scholarships and Opportunity Act. Highlights are below. The Economy Is Benefiting Hardworking Men and Women Across the Country: "I thought it was a terrific speech. I thought t  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 -- In the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, sent a question to the Chief Justice for review by the Senate: The CHIEF JUSTICE. Thank you. The question for the House managers from Senator Murray: If there are no consequences to openly defying a valid congressional subpoena, how will Congress be able to perform its constitutional oversight responsibility to make sure any administration is following the law and acting in the best inte  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- The U.S. Senate conducted five committee hearings on Feb. 5, 2020: ATHLETE SAFETY Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded a hearing to examine athlete safety and the integrity of U.S. Sport, after receiving testimony from Ju'Riese Colon, U.S. Center for SafeSport, Denver, Colorado; Tory Lindley, Northwestern University, Carrollton, Texas, on behalf of the National Athletic Trainers' Association; and Travis T. Tygart, United States Anti-Dopi  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Greg Walden (R-OR) and Health Subcommittee Republican Leader Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) sent a letter to Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) calling for a hearing on Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) new proposal to modernize Medicaid, the Healthy Adult Opportunity, before having the House vote on a rushed resolution of di  more