WASHINGTON, March 12 -- The House Science, Space and Technology subcommittee on Research and Technology issued the following opening statement by Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, at a hearing entitled "Time Change: Reauthorization of the National Institute of Standards and Technology": I want to welcome and thank Dr. Copan for his testimony. We recognize that it can be challenging for the heads of our nation's great science agencies to come before Congress to defend indefensible budge  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, issued the following news release: Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R-OK) together with Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-CA), Rep. Pete Olson (R-TX), Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL), and Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX) introduced H.R. 6216, the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020. This legislation would accelerate and coordinate Federal   more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a decision denying a bid protest filed by CRAssociates of Newington, Virginia. According to the GAO, CRAssociates Inc., "protests the terms of request for proposals (RFP) No. 36C25718R0773, issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), to provide medical services at a community-based outpatient clinic (CBOC) in Wise County, Texas. The protester challenges the agency's decision to set aside the procurement for service-d  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on the 2020 census. The report (GAO-20-415) is entitled "Bureau Generally Followed Its Plan for In-Field Address Canvassing". The report was sent to Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin, chairman, Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-New York, chairwoman, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, ranking member of the House Committee, Rep.   more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on modernizing the Nuclear Security Enterprise. The report (GAO-20-293) is entitled "Uranium Processing Facility Is on Schedule and Budget, and NNSA Identified Additional Uranium Program Costs". 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. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, chairman, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on economic sanctions. The report (GAO-20-324) is entitled "Treasury and State Have Received Increased Resources for Sanctions Implementation but Face Hiring Challenges". The report was sent to Rep. Eliot Engel, D-New York, chairman, Rep. Michael T. McCaul, R-Texas, ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on March 11, 2020. Here are excerpts of summaries associated with the report. What GAO Found: "A  more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following news release on March 9: Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX), Lead Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee along with Representatives Ann Wagner, Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), and Lois Frankel (D-FL) introduced the Women's Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) Act, legislation to promote the empowerment, economic self- sufficiency, and prosperity of  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced the Border Health Security Act, which would strengthen multi-national cooperation to support vital public health initiatives in border communities. "In Texas, we know what happens at our border - both good and bad - affects the entire country," said Sen. Cornyn. "Improving public health initiatives along our border will benefit not just those that live and work in So  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Colin Allred (TX-32) introduced a bipartisan resolution honoring the life of Holocaust survivor and longtime Dallas resident Jack Repp. The resolution recounts his life and his survival after being forced to work in a labor camp in Radom, and how he endured being imprisoned in the Auschwitz and Dachau Concentration Camps. Repp spent many years sharing his life story with North Texans and people   more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Colin Allred (TX-32) announced his team members will begin to work remotely, and his physical office locations in Richardson and Washington, D.C. will be temporarily closed to the public. "It is incumbent on all of us to listen to the experts and use best practices to combat and contain the spread of coronavirus," said Allred. "Out of an abundance of caution, my team members will work remotely bu  more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Rep. Brian Babin, R-Texas, issued the following op-ed on the coronavirus, published on the Washington Examiner: U.S. Congressman Brian Babin (TX-36) wrote the following op-ed, featured in the Washington Examiner, to highlight the potential threat that the coronavirus (COVID-19) could have on America with an unsecured border: In June of last year, to encourage members of the press to cover real news relevant to the public, my staff distributed copies of an article entitl  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following statement after President Trump announced that Adm. Brett P. Giroir, assistant secretary for Health, will be appointed as the testing czar for the federal government: "Once again, the President is showing sound and proactive leadership as America works to fight this novel coronavirus. Adm. Giroir is an excellent choice to be our nation's new testing czar - he   more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following statement after President Trump addressed the nation about the coronavirus: "President Trump's swift action to get medical supplies and aid to those who need it has protected Americans' safety and well-being. "Tonight's message was a vital step towards reassuring the public that the government is making major strides, and more help is on the way. "I look f  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following statement after President Trump's declaration of a national emergency in the wake of the coronavirus: "President Trump's declaration of a national emergency is a call to action for all public officials to put aside politics and put forward policies that protect families and prevent economic harm. "The Administration's continued hard work is getting tests to t  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following statement on March 13 signaling support for the Families First Coronavirus Response Act: "After President Trump's declaration of a national emergency today and market-boosting press conference, House Republicans are taking additional steps to provide support to working families. "The emergency bill before the House tonight contains serious flaws that could ha  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, issued the following news release: 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 joined Fox and Friends this morning to discuss Congress's response to the Coronavirus. Here are a few highlights: Congress Needs to Send the Right Message: In fact, Congress was supposed to adjourn yesterday, I am grateful that we didn't. Of course  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, issued the following news release: 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 joined Newsmax TV's Sean Spicer & Co. to talk about the government's response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Here are the highlights: Spicer: With member of Congress announcing self-quarantine, how does this affect the Congress' ability to do its busine  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, issued the following news release: 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 Governor Greg Abbott announced a State of Emergency for the State of Texas. "I appreciate the sincerity of Governor Abbott's address this afternoon," Burgess said. "His decisive actions show that Texas is takin  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, issued the following news release: 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 President Trump declared a National Emergency and the House passed H.R. 6201: The Families First Coronavirus Response Act. "In front of the nation in the White House Rose Garden, the President took action by de  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- 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 upon the arrival of additional evacuees from the Grand Princess cruise ship in San Ant  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) moderated a briefing hosted by the newly re-constituted Congressional Collegiate Sports Caucus to discuss issues of student athlete compensation, as well as the fairness and integrity of the games overseen by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Congressman Cohen founded the Collegiate Sports Caucus with former Texas Congressman Joe Barton in 2011. Congress  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Rep. K. Michael Conaway, R-Texas, issued the following statement: Wednesday, the House voted to pass H.R. 6172, the USA FREEDOM Reauthorization Act, which reauthorizes expiring provisions and institutes reforms to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Congressman Mike Conaway (TX-11) released the following statement after voting in favor of the bill: "FISA provides our intelligence professionals with the tools they need to combat terrorism across the globe a  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Dan Crenshaw (TX-02) applauded a decision by the Department of Energy (DOE) to suspend the sale of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) amid a global decline in oil prices. The announcement comes one day after Crenshaw, joined by Reps. Liz Cheney (R-WY) and Garret Graves (R-LA), sent a letter to Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette urging the Department to halt the scheduled sale. "This is   more

LAREDO, Texas, March 13 -- Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Starting, homes across the country will receive invitations, to complete the 2020 census either online or over the phone. It is expected that this year's census will be the largest official population count in the United States. "I urge everyone to take part in the 2020 Census regardless of your status." said Congressman Cuellar, "Anyone who is a resident in the United States needs to be counted, because  more

WASHINGTON, March 9 -- Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, issued the following statement: U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Chairman of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, released the following statement regarding the new evacuees coming to quarantine at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio: "Public safety of Bexar County residents is my top concern. While appropriate that Texans are helping Texans, San Antonio has been placed on the front lines of this pandemic without adequate  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Chairman of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee and member of the House Budget Committee, questioned the Deputy Secretary of Defense David L. Norquist about the Trump Administration's failures regarding the evacuation of cruise ship passengers into quarantine at Lackland Air Force Base--refusing to test the passengers before leaving California, taking all po  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, issued the following news release: As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads across the United States, over 100 lawmakers are urging Secretary Alex Azar to employ existing authority to establish a Special Enrollment Period for patients to seek ACA Marketplace coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is particularly important for the 38 states covered by the federal exchange, since the Trump Administration truncated the enrollment period and elimin  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) led members of the Texas delegation in opposition to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS) Healthy Texas Women (HTW) Section 1115 Demonstration waiver, which prohibits health care providers from receiving Medicaid funding if they offer abortion services. This waiver limits the ability of low-income Texas families to access essential family planning heal  more

WASHINGTON, March 4 -- Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas, issued the following news release: The Supreme Court heard arguments on the June Medical Services v. Russo abortion access case. The case challenges a Louisiana law that requires doctors performing abortions to have hospital admitting privileges, almost identical to the Texas law that was struck down in 2016. "Under this Administration we have seen constant attacks on our healthcare and reproductive rights. I stood with advocates outside the   more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, issued the following statement regarding reports that he was exposed to coronavirus: "Saturday night, I got a call from the House physician advising that I had possibly been exposed to the COVID-19 virus at CPAC on February 27th, and that a top CDC physician in Atlanta would call me to discuss what should be done going forward. "After CDC physician called me Sunday evening, and we discussed all the specific circumstances of which he was awar  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, issued the following statement on his and Congress' status regarding the coronavirus: "As reported earlier this week, I attended the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington, D.C. on February 27th. A person who is confirmed to have attended the opening festivities of the conference the night before which I did not, and who may or may not have been present when I was there to give a speech, later tested positive for the Co  more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) announced $10,406,542 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development for Border to Border Communications. The federal funding comes as a joint ReConnect loan and grant combination. The Rural Development investment will provide Border to Border Communications with the opportunity to deploy a fiber-to-the-premise (FTTP) network in rural Texas. "Provid  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Vicente Gonzalez announced the availability of Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance from the Small Business Administration (SBA). SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loans offer up to $2 million in assistance and can provide vital economic relief to small businesses impacted by the temporary loss of revenue due to the coronavirus (COVID-19). "Small businesses, the backbone of our country's eco  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) pushed back its deadline for the ReConnect Pilot Program to March 31. The ReConnect Pilot Program seeks to give grants and loans to provide funds for the cost of infrastructure associated with rural broadband. "With the extension from the USDA for the ReConnect Pilot Program, I encourage those in the 15th District of  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, issued the following statement: Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) issued a statement following Texas Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Department of Insurance calling on health insurers and health maintenance organizations operating in Texas to waive costs associated with the testing and telemedicine visits for the diagnosis of coronavirus (COVID-19): "The coronavirus pandemic is a time for Americans and businesses to come together to  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) signed onto H.R. 6070, the Border Health Security Act of 2020, as an original cosponsor. This legislation, introduced by Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small (NM-02), will ensure that there is continued coordination of resources, effective communication, and information sharing between the United States, Mexico, and Canada to address emerging public health crises. "Dise  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, issued the following statement urging constituents of the 15th District of Texas to reconsider travel and offer guidance on testing: "As your Member of Congress, one of my top priorities is to keep you informed on critical issues such as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Everyone, especially individuals who are at higher risk of contracting the virus, should reconsider non-essential travel. People who are higher risk of catching the virus  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement after President Trump's address on the coronavirus: "President Trump has been the global leader from the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak that began in China last year. "The bold measures the President announced tonight, including additional travel restrictions, are critical for an immediate and effective response to what has now been declared  more

JAMAICA, New York, March 6 -- Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, issued the following statement on March 11: On Friday, March 6, 2020, Congressman Al Green attended the field hearing hosted by the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions titled, Modern-Day Redlining: The Burden on Underbanked and Excluded Communities in New York. After the hearing, Congressman Green released the following statement: "Redlining is among the unfinished busin  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, issued the following statement: Congressman Al Green along with state, county, municipal, and school board elected officials held a press call to announce updates regarding COVID-19. "With the World Health Organization's official recognition of COVID-19 as a pandemic coupled with the confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Greater Houston area, all levels of government must work together to test for the virus, properly treat affected persons, as well as  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, issued the following statement regarding the closure of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo due to coronavirus concerns: "The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR) is a crown jewel of the Ninth Congressional District of Texas. Each year, we welcome many local and national musicians, vendors, exhibitions, concertgoers, foodies, and proud Texans - who represents the congressional district where the Rodeo is held annually - stated. "As much as we  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, ranking Republican member of the House Natural Resources Committee, issued the following news release: During Full Committee Markup, U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) committed to holding a hearing on the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act. Introduced by U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas), the legislation prioritized construction of water storage, the authorization of projects and operations that aimed to maximize water  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Representative Will Hurd (TX-23) joined his colleagues in passing a bipartisan measure to ensure increased educational opportunity and job placement for veterans through apprenticeship programs and initiatives. "Through workplace and classroom education, apprentices gain valuable knowledge and credentials, drastically improving their future career trajectory. Studies show apprentices who complete their pro  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Representative Will Hurd (TX-23) supported reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) after a bipartisan agreement was reached to maintain the use of critical national security tools while also adding measures designed to prevent abuses of the system. "Our nation faces daily threats that have the potential to disrupt, damage and destroy our way of life here in America. From my time  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas, issued the following statement after the release of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission's report on a strategy to defend the U.S. against emerging cyber threats: "The cybersecurity threats to the United States continue to grow each and every day, and our government, economy and society must work together to deter and mitigate the consequences of successful cyber-attacks. This report lays out a comprehensive strategy for confronting head on the cha  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Johnson announced that the City of Dallas has been awarded a Continuum of Care Grant in the amount of $287,443 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. "I am pleased to announce that the City of Dallas will be receiving $287,443 in funding to support our Texans experiencing homelessness," said Congresswoman Johnson. "This funding will assist for our local government   more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, issued the following statement: I am closely monitoring the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation in Dallas as it evolves and following all guidance measures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) out of an abundance of caution for you and your families. I wanted to share a few important updates and provide you with a reminder of important resources. Although my offices remain open to help TX-30 constituents in   more

WASHINGTON, March 6 -- Rep. David Joyce, R-Ohio, issued the following news release: Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14) announced that his bill, the Continuing Coverage for Preexisting Conditions Act, has been introduced in the Senate by Senator John Kennedy (R-LA). In December of 2018, a U.S. District Court in Texas ruled that the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) individual mandate stands in conflict with the Constitution, invalidating the entire law, including the sections which protect coverage for i  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: Congressman Michael McCaul (TX-10), Lead Republican of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has brought on veteran staffer Leslie Shedd as the new communications director for the House Foreign Affairs Committee Republicans. Shedd has more than a decade of media experience, including serving in senior roles on statewide and national campaigns   more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Pete Olson, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Rep. Pete Olson (TX-22) led a Texas delegation effort with Reps. Burgess (R-TX), Fletcher (D-TX) and Veasey (D-TX) to protect Medicaid funds for Texas hospitals. Olson was joined by the entire Texas delegation in sending a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) highlighting several concerns over proposed rules aimed at Texas hospital Medicaid funding. New rules proposed by CMS would alte  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-Texas, issued the following statement: "In balancing my obligations as the Representative of Texas' 4th Congressional District with my nomination by the President to become the Director of National Intelligence, I will not be voting on legislative matters which likely pertain to or impact the responsibilities of the position to which I may be confirmed. Authorities involving the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA)/USA FREEDOM Reauthoriza  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Ron Wright, R-Texas, issued the following statement: Congressman Ron Wright (TX-06) voted NO on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Reauthorization (H.R. 6172). He made the following statement: "I just voted NO on the FISA Reauthorization (H.R. 6172). As a Member of Congress, it is my job to ensure that every American's Constitutional rights are protected. National security and personal liberty are not mutually exclusive. We should be able to provide   more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, issued the following news release: As COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the world, it is important the United States has the ability to work with other nations to ensure we have quick access to necessary medicines and medical devices. This is why I am introducing the RESULT for Coronavirus Patients Act, along with the RESULT act that also includes non-coronavirus medicines and devices. Under these bills, the U.S. Food and Drug Administratio  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, issued the following statement: The House passed an incredibly disappointing FISA reauthorization that is the definition of the swamp in action. How is that? The bill provides more scrutiny for politicians and candidates for office than it does for everyday Americans. The fact is civil liberties of all American citizens should be protected. Having an election certificate shouldn't make you special. There are other problems, too. The bill continu  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Rep. Van Taylor, R-Texas, issued the following news release: This afternoon, United States Congressman Van Taylor (TX-03) sent a letter to Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner Dr. John Hellerstedt, MD regarding funding provided to states by Congress. On March 6, 2020, President Donald J. Trump signed into law H.R. 6074, the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act which Congressman Taylor proudly supported. This legislation  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Armed Services Committee, issued the following opening statement at a fiscal 2021 posture hearing for U.S. Central and Africa commands: "General McKenzie, let me begin by expressing condolences at the loss of two Marines in Iraq within the past couple of days. My understanding is they were working with the Iraqi forces to clear out ISIS from some tunnels in a complex there and have given the ultimate sa  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Rep. Xochitl Torres Small, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: Last week, Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small (NM-02) introduced the bicameral Border Health Security Act of 2020, a new bill to strengthen multi-country cooperation to screen for infectious diseases and support vital public health initiatives in border communities that face unique cross-border challenges. U.S. Representatives from Texas, Arizona, and California joined Congresswoman Xochitl Torr  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Filemon Vela (D-TX) announced that the Vietnam Veteran Pinning ceremony scheduled for next week in Raymondville, TX is postponed to a to-be-determined date. On March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus, COVID-19, a pandemic. To lessen the spread of the virus, it has been recommended to limit social contact and attendance at large social gatherings. For this reason, the  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Randy Weber, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX), joined by Sens. Cruz and Cornyn and the entire Texas Congressional Delegation, spearheaded a joint letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), expressing concern for Texas communities that suffered public infrastructure damage during Tropical Storm Imelda by sending a letter. The letter highlights the troublesome discrepancy between FEMA and local jurisdictions' prel  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Representative Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) along with Reps. Marc Veasey (D-TX), Pete Olson (R-TX), and Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX) led the entire Texas House Congressional Delegation to protect Medicaid funds for Texas hospitals by sending a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) highlighting several concerns over a proposed rule aimed at altering Medicaid financing, that would detri  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Rep. K. Michael Conaway, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Agriculture Committee and Rep. David Rouzer, R-North Carolina, ranking member of the Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture, issued the following statements after a hearing to examine U.S. agricultural trade from the perspective of stakeholders: "There is no question that trade is vitally important to American farmers and ranchers looking to expand market access for their products. For de  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) and Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small (NM-02) announced their letter to call on the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis to include a higher credit level under the new 45Q tax credit for direct air capture (DAC) in its recommendations, and maintain the current inclusion of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) among the qualified uses of carbon dioxide for purposes of c  more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Rep. Michael T. McCaul, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman Michael McCaul (TX-10), Lead Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee along with Representatives Ann Wagner, Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), and Lois Frankel (D-FL) introduced the Women's Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) Act, legislation to promote the empowerment, economic self- sufficiency, and prosperity of women globally. "When women are empowered to be active participants in   more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Texas, issued the following news release: Representative Marc Veasey (D-TX) along with Reps. Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX), and Pete Olson (R-TX), led the entire Texas House Congressional Delegation to protect Medicaid funds for Texas hospitals by sending a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) highlighting several concerns over a proposed rule aimed at altering Medicaid financing, that would detrimen  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) announced that Texas will receive $35 million in funding in support of their response to the coronavirus disease from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It comes from the Emergency Funding legislation passed by Congress last week, which included money Sen. Cornyn advocated for to reimburse local communities in Texas that have responded to the virus. The fun  more

AUSTIN, Texas, March 14 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved the Texas Department of Agriculture's request for a waiver that would allow them to continue to serve no-cost meals to low-income students during school closures. The waiver negates the National School Lunch Act requirement that schools serve foods in a group setting, which will help curb the spread of coronavi  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after introducing two bills to rename U.S. Post Offices in Fate, Texas and Greenville, Texas after former U.S. Congressman Ralph Hall and veteran and actor Audie Murphy. Companion bills have been introduced in the House of Representatives by the entire Texas delegation, led by U.S. Congressman John Ratcliffe (TX-04). "Both Rep. Hall and Mr. Murp  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) yesterday met with and spoke to a delegation in support of a National Museum of the American Latino, which included Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino, the National Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). Sen. Cornyn discussed his legislation to authorize the Smithsonian Institution to create a museum that cele  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following statement: "My self-quarantine ended yesterday afternoon. I still have no symptoms and feel fine, and I was looking forward to taking my family out to dinner. "Unfortunately, last night I was informed I had a second interaction with an individual who yesterday tested positive for COVID-19. "On March 3, I met in my D.C. office with Santiago Abascal, the leader of the Vox Party in Spain. We met for about 20 minutes, sitting to  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) called on federal officials to take four immediate, concrete steps to detect, treat, and prevent the spread of coronavirus or COVID-19. Upon sending letters from self-quarantine to Vice President Pence, Federal Bureau of Prisons Director Carvajal, Health and Human Services Secretary Azar and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Verma, and Food and Drug Administrat  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who is currently at his home in Texas after a brief interaction 13 days ago with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19, called into KTRH's 'The Michael Berry Show' on Tuesday to discuss the latest news about the coronavirus outbreak. On the show, Sen. Cruz reassured listeners that he feels healthy and is not experiencing any symptoms. When asked about his decision to se  more

HOUSTON, Texas, March 9 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following statement: "Last night, I was informed that 10 days ago at CPAC I briefly interacted with an individual who is currently symptomatic and has tested positive for COVID-19. That interaction consisted of a brief conversation and a handshake. "I have consulted with medical authorities from the Houston Health Department, the Harris County Public Health Department, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Departme  more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following statement: "Sen. Cruz feels great, has not exhibited any symptoms of the coronavirus in the last 11 days, and is not currently experiencing any symptoms. Sen. Cruz's own decision to stay at home in Texas this week - until a full 14 days have passed since the interaction on February 27 - was made out of an abundance of caution and to give everyone peace of mind, not because it was medically recommended. "Importantly, medical a  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following statement: U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, submitted to the record the following statement on Trey Trainor to be a member of the Federal Election Commission (FEC): "Although I cannot be physically present to introduce my friend Trey Trainor at this hearing on his nomination to be a member of the Federal Election Commission, the nearly 1,500 miles that separate us at the moment cannot st  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following statement: "In response to reports that an aide from another Senate office has tested positive for COVID-19, Sen. Cruz has temporarily closed the D.C. office out of an abundance of caution to protect the health and welfare of staff, constituents, and colleagues in Congress. "Sen. Cruz's office had previously established a working group to prepare for a scenario just like this and is fully equipped for staff to work remotely a  more

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) called into CBS This Morning from his home in Texas, where he announced his decision to extend his self-quarantine until March 17 out of an abundance of caution. Sen. Cruz reassured viewers that he is feeling healthy and experiencing no symptoms, saying: "I remain strong and healthy and have no symptoms. And based on the medical advice I've received, there's very little reason to be  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rep. Randy Weber (R-Texas), this week led a bipartisan letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urging FEMA to grant the State of Texas appeal for Public Assistance funding in order to support the Texas communities that suffered public infrastructure damage during Tropical Storm Imelda. The letter highlights the troublesome discrepancy between FEMA and local jurisd  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Mississippi, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith advocated for confirmation of a nominee to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) in order to give the agency the working quorum it has lacked since August 2019. Hyde-Smith addressed the need for a working quorum at the FEC during a Senate Committee on Rules and Administration hearing on the nomination of James (Trey) Trainor of Texas to serve as a FEC commissioner. The  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr (R-NC), and Vice Chairman Mark Warner (D-VA) issued the following statements after their Secure 5G and Beyond Act, which would require the President to develop a strategy and implementation plan to ensure the security of next-gen mobile telecommunications systems and infrastructure in the United States, passed the Ho  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), and Richard Burr (R-N.C.), on Wednesday sent a letter to President Trump urging him to withdraw the United States from the Open Skies Treaty (OST). In the letter, they wrote: "The costs of the OST go far beyond wasteful spending, and directly erode our national security by enabling Russian espionage over the Un  more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * - Announce plan to introduce legislation that would fast-track approval for certain drugs and devices to combat COVID-19 pandemic * * * As the threat of the coronavirus pandemic or COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the United States and around the world, U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) announced their intention to introduce the RESULTs for Coronavirus Patients Act, legislation s  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) in introducing the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. This bipartisan and bicameral bill will hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable for the use of force labor in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) and ensure that goods produced through forced labor do not enter the United States. Sen  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Sen. Todd Young, R-Indiana, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) were joined by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Dick Durbin (D- Ill.), and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in introducing the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. This bipartisan and bicameral bill will ensure that goods made in the Xinjiang Uyghu  more

WASHINGTON, March 13 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following news release: U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), chairman and ranking member of the Subcommittee on Aviation and Space, on Wednesday sent a letter to Vice President Pence and members of the coronavirus task force urging them to implement a single online webform that would allow the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to directly collect complete, accurate, and timely data to trace infected   more

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, issued the following statement: U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Chairman of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, provided the below statement on the latest estimation from Metro Health Medical Director Junda Woo that coronavirus tests can cost up to $2400 for patients without insurance, or $480 for those with a 20% copay: "We absolutely cannot afford for our neighbors to be priced out of coronavirus testing. With this pand  more