I was back in Washington this week for a busy week of votes and committee hearings.

The House took several votes this week.  I am glad to report that we started the week voting unanimously (419-0) to pass the Financial Exploitation Prevention Act of 2023 (H.R. 500), a bill addressing the potential financial exploitation of senior citizens and vulnerable Americans.  I am sorry to say that the remainder of this week’s bills brought to the floor were not ones I could support, and I voted against them, including:

• A bill to eliminate the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for health care workers (H.R. 497).  This effort is not supported by the health care providers in our district, and is a reckless effort that endangers some of the most vulnerable members of our community.  COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and have been essential to saving lives, rebuilding our economy, and protecting the health of our community.  More than 668 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered here in the U.S., which has resulted in 120 million fewer COVID-19 infections, 18.5 million fewer hospitalizations, and 3.2 million lives saved.  I will continue to ensure that we follow the science to fight COVID-19, that Americans have access to affordable and quality health care, and that we support our health care workers.
• A bill to end the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency immediately (H.R. 382).  President Biden had already announced that he would end the Public Health Emergency in May at the time the House considered this bill.  The President’s approach is the right one.  Responsibly transitioning to the post-emergency future requires careful planning and coordination with public health officials and policymakers.  Immediately ending the public health emergency without providing patients, hospitals, providers, and states sufficient notice to safely unwind the numerous authorities, programs, and flexibilities that have been essential to protecting Americans throughout the pandemic would have disastrous consequences, including disrupting insurance coverage for millions of vulnerable Americans.

On Thursday, I reintroduced the Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act, with Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08), and more than 150 original co-sponsors.  This legislation, which passed the House in the last Congress, protects the constitutional right to travel across state lines, including for reproductive health care.

I have heard from doctors and other health care professionals in our district that we are in a health care crisis here, as are people across Texas and across the country in states where access to abortion has been effectively eliminated in almost all circumstances—including in cases of rape or incest.  People in Texas who are able to do so have been traveling out of state to obtain abortion.  And now that fifteen other states have banned abortion, more people are traveling even further to get the reproductive health care they need.  In response to this exercise of the constitutional right to travel, lawmakers and others in Texas—and in states across the country—are threatening to take away that right, too.  We cannot let that happen in any state in the United States of America, and that is why this bill is so important.

On Thursday, I held a press conference in front of the U.S. Capitol to highlight this legislation and the urgent need for it.  You can read more about the bill here.

Over the last few weeks, I have also co-sponsored several pieces of legislation on issues important to our community, which members have been filing in the new Congress, including: 

• The Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Healthcare (EACH Act), H.R. 561, to ensure affordable abortion coverage and care for every person;
• A resolution to remove the deadline for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, H.J. Res. 25; 
• The Assault Weapons Ban, H.R. 698, to regulate assault weapons and to ensure that the right to keep and bear arms is not unlimited; 
• Ethan’s Law, H.R. 660, to amend chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, and to require the safe storage of firearms;
• The Bipartisan Background Checks Act, H.R. 715, to require a background check for every firearm sale; and
• The Holocaust Education and Antisemitism Lessons (HEAL) Act of 2023, H.R. 603, to require a study on Holocaust education efforts of states, local educational agencies, and public elementary and secondary schools. 

Also, this Black History Month, I co-sponsored the African American History Act, H.R. 765, to authorize the Director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture to support African American history education programs.  As a history major, I think it is particularly important that we take this time to listen to the voices and stories of Black Americans, and that we encourage these education programs.

Every week I write to you about letters I’ve signed on to or letters I myself have sent to leaders on issues important to our community.  Last week, I sent a letter with my colleagues to President Biden and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra urging HHS to open a special enrollment period for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) beneficiaries as certain Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries were set to lose health insurance coverage as soon as February 1, 2023.  

I am thrilled to report that following our recommendation, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to protect families from losing health insurance.  Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program beneficiaries who are set to lose health insurance because of the Medicaid continuous enrollment condition will qualify for the SEP, which will open on March 31, 2023 and close on July 31, 2024.  Texas has the highest uninsured rate in the country, so it is critical that we do everything we can to expand access to health care.  I am glad that President Biden and Secretary Becerra listened to our request and took action to protect Texas families, and families across the country, from losing health insurance.  I will continue working to ensure that families in our community and our country have access to quality, affordable health care.

On Tuesday, the full Energy & Commerce Committee held its organizing meeting and first full committee legislative hearing of this Congress titled American Energy Expansion: Strengthening Economic, Environmental, and National Security.  During the hearing, I heard a lot from my colleagues on both sides of the aisle that I agreed with, but also a few things I disagreed with.  You can watch my full comments and questions in the hearing here.  One highlight was the response to my questions on hydrogen technology deployment, where the witness said that Houston is a great example of where industry, academia, and local government have come together to build on our successes and plan for the future.

On Thursday, our Communications and Technology Subcommittee held its first hearing, Launching Into the State of the Satellite Marketplace, where I had the opportunity to ask witnesses about how satellites are uniquely suited to provide emergency communications during disasters and how our communities can benefit from satellite technology post-disaster, including through imaging and damage assessments. 

Some exciting news!  On Monday, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appointed me to the new House Regional Leadership Council, where I will work with President Biden and his administration to implement the historic laws we made in the last Congress, including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, and to ensure they touch every corner of the country.  My region will include Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.  Over the past two years, Congress has passed transformative legislation to invest in our country’s infrastructure, lower the cost of prescription drugs, protect our communities, and so much more.  I look forward to working with my colleagues to champion our accomplishments and ensure our work benefits people across our communities and our country every day.

On Tuesday, I joined my colleagues in the New Democrat Coalition for a meeting with Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young, to discuss—among other things—the President’s forthcoming budget and the debt ceiling.  As I mentioned last week, I support raising the debt ceiling, which Congress has done routinely and consistently over the years, and I will work to respond to the irresponsible threats from some House members to let the United States default on its debts.  

I always love the opportunity to visit with Houstonians who are visiting Washington, D.C. on issues that matter to them and to our community.  On Tuesday I met with members of the Life Science Coalition, a coalition of people from Houston and Texas Medical Center institutions.  How fun that one of the members is a friend from high school!

I also met with representatives from Exxon Mobil Low Carbon Solutions to discuss their efforts in carbon capture and storage, hydrogen, and related innovations essential to reducing carbon emissions and addressing climate change.

And it was great to meet with the volunteer and professional team launching Friends of the Children Houston to hear about their plans to help kids in the foster care system through mentoring. 

The January Jobs Report was released today, which showed that the U.S. unemployment rate is at 3.4 percent – the lowest level since 1969!  Democrats have been hard at work to deliver results and make life better for Americans, and today’s record-breaking jobs report shows that the legislation we’ve passed in the last two years to help our economy is working.  Economic growth is up, inflation is down, wages are up, gas prices are down, and more than 12 million good-paying jobs have been created during President Biden's first two years – a record in modern American history. 

With no votes scheduled in the House on Friday, I returned to Houston Thursday evening.  Friday morning, I worked from my new district office, where Stephanie from our team joined me for one of the best kinds of phone calls I get to make: notifying a student I have nominated for an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point that she has received her appointment!

Later, I was delighted to attend the National Council of Jewish Women Houston’s Women of Influence Luncheon honoring Houston Council Member Abbie Kamin, who represents many TX-07 residents in District C, and Beth Merfish, who chairs the Houston Women’s Commission.  It was great to see so many TX-07 residents there, and to hear an informative and inspiring discussion of the challenges facing women in Houston and the work NCJW is doing.

As always, members of Team TX-07 were also busy this week!  In Washington, Kevin met with Animal Wellness Action.  In Houston, Spencer and Bricen attended the Asian Chamber of Commerce's Lunar New Year Celebration.  Bricen also attended the National Alliance on Mental Illnesses’ Heroes of Hope in Law Enforcement Awards Luncheon. 

We would love to see you!  If you want to meet with me or the team in Washington, or if you are having a meeting or event in Houston you would like us to attend, please let us know!  You can do so by calling or filling out a form on the website.

I will head back to Washington on Monday.  We will have another full legislative week of votes and hearings.  On Tuesday, the President will deliver his State of the Union Address.  I’ll be there, and I hope you’ll be watching at 8pm central.  

It’s less than two weeks until our annual Valentines for Veterans delivery.  I hope you will join me and our neighbors in sending notes of gratitude and love to Houston area veterans. To join us, fill out the form here.  

As always, I am proud to represent you and I am here to help you. Please call my office at (713) 353-8680 or (202) 225-2571 or email here at any time to ask for assistance or share your thoughts.  I look forward to hearing from you.  

Best wishes,