Dear Neighbor,
It was a busy week in Washington and I’m glad to share this update with you. |
Since I last wrote you, a lot has happened. In Washington this week, people were focused on
Voting Rights and the Supreme Court: The week before last, as the House was concluding its work, the Supreme Court gutted Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) in the case of Louisiana v. Callais and, with it, decades of work to ensure all American citizens can have a say in our government. As I said the last time I wrote to you, the Voting Rights Act is one of the most important civil rights laws in the history of the United States: the result of a generations-long struggle to ensure the right to full participation in our democratic society for all American citizens and a triumph over a long and shameful history of racial discrimination in voting.
In response to the Supreme Court’s decision, Republican Governors and Legislatures across the South have announced in the last two weeks that they will redraw their congressional districts to eliminate districts that were drawn to give Black and minority voters an opportunity to elect candidates of their choosing. Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee, and South Carolina are all in the process of redrawing congressional maps, redrawing majority-minority districts (often represented by Black lawmakers) out of existence. These efforts will have a tremendous impact on representation and on the very promise of American democracy. As I said last week, if the Supreme Court will not protect the right of all Americans to participate in our democratic process, Congress and citizens must. Every one of us can—and must—do the work to protect the progress the Voting Rights Act represents and the promise of American democracy for all.
CPI Increases: On Tuesday morning, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that inflation rose to 3.8 percent in April, its highest level in nearly three years as the war in Iran causes a ripple effect across the economy. Prices are now rising faster than pay. Later in the day, President Trump said that Americans' financial situation was "not even a little bit" of a motivating factor for him reaching a deal to end the war in Iran, noting that he doesn’t “think about Americans' financial situation.”
Trump Weaponization Fund: Last night, ABC news reported that President Trump is expected to settle his $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for the release of his tax information during his first term in exchange for a settlement with the IRS that creates a $1.7 billion taxpayer-funded slush fund to compensate his allies who claim they were “targeted by the Biden administration.” This settlement would create a pathway for anyone alleging they were harmed by the Biden administration’s “weaponization” of the legal system, including those charged in connection with the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. According to news reports, the fund would operate with no oversight and entities associated with President Trump would not be expressly barred from receiving compensation. We are still learning about this development, but I will work with others here to try to stop this abuse of the legal process and waste of our resources. |
Since January, as a protest against Speaker Johnson’s failure to address the abuses Americans have witnessed at the hands of ICE agents, I have voted against bills brought to the floor by suspending the rules for consideration. I have done this, in part, because this fast-track process allows Congress to appear to be functioning normally—well, even—and it is not. At the end of our last week in session, the House finally passed a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) without additional funding for ICE through September of this year (the end of the fiscal year). Following that vote, that to some extent acknowledged ICE’s abuses and need for reform, I decided to end that particular form of protest against legislation brought to the floor in this way. That said, there is still plenty to protest, and things are not normal. I will continue to share my thoughts with you on how that happening and what we can do about it.
This National Police Week, I voted for a resolution remembering and honoring the memory of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty (H.Res. 1252). On Wednesday, however, the House considered another resolution purportedly expressing support for law enforcement officers (H.Con.Res. 96) full of divisive partisan rhetoric blaming “leftist activists” and “progressive politicians” being the problem. Of course I support our brave law enforcement officers, but I voted against this unhelpful resolution, which passed the House by a vote of 243-173-3. It is important to know that the Trump administration has withheld, delayed, and politicized federal public safety grants—making it harder for local departments and agencies to access resources. At the same time, local law enforcement officers have been forced to manage the fallout from federal immigration enforcement while still carrying out their core public safety responsibilities. They deserve better.
On Wednesday, the House considered the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025 (H.R. 1346). This bill allows the year-round sale of gasoline blended with up to 15% ethanol (known as E15) and offers refineries pathways to comply with new Renewable Fuel Standard requirements. People in our district feel pretty strongly about several things related to this bill. In the end, based on input from people in our district, I voted for the bill, which passed 218-203.
On Thursday, the House considered the Cashless Bail Reporting Act (H.R. 5625), which requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to publish a list of state and local governments that do not require individuals who are charged with certain criminal offenses to pay bail. Nearly every jurisdiction in the country has some form of cashless bail for at least some offenses, including in all 94 federal district courts. This bill is duplicative because it directs the DOJ to compile information that is already publicly available and President Trump already signed an Executive Order that requires the Attorney General of the United States to develop this list. For these reasons, I voted no, but it passed the House 308-116.
On Thursday, the House considered the disingenuously named Keeping Violent Offenders Off Our Streets Act (H.R. 6260) to better regulate nonprofit bail funds—charitable organizations that collect public donations to post cash bail for individuals who can’t afford to post bail. The bill amends the federal insurance fraud statute to define “the business of insurance” to include posting any form of monetary bail. These nonprofit bail funds aim to address clear inequities when people without financial means are held pending trial, simply because they are unable to afford to pay bail amounts set by the court. This bill does nothing to address violent crime and instead of leaving this clearly state-regulated issue to states, House Republicans are once again proposing a deeply partisan solution that lacks real solutions. For these reasons, I voted against the bill, which passed the House by a vote of 243-179.
On Thursday, the House considered the Monitor Accountability Act (H.R. 8365), regulating the use of federal monitors in court systems, specifically addressing concerns by Arizona Republicans over the ongoing monitorship of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. This bill would significantly undermine one of the federal judiciary’s most important tools for enforcing Constitutional rights: independent court-appointed monitors to oversee police reform. For this reason, I voted against the bill, which passed the House by a vote of 219-204.
On Thursday, the House also voted on a bipartisan resolution (H.Con.Res.75) to direct President Trump to remove the United States from the war against Iran. This is the third war powers resolution the House has considered to require the President to come before the Congress and the people of the United States to make the case for war, as the Constitution requires. The United States Constitution also provides that Congress has the sole authority and solemn responsibility to declare war. Since late February, however, the President has acted unilaterally, starting a war without presenting evidence of an imminent threat to the United States, all the while spreading inflammatory rhetoric that threatens to escalate this war of choice.
I voted in favor of this war powers resolution, but it failed to pass the House because it ended in a tie vote of 212-212. This is the third time this year that House Republicans have ceded their Constitutional authority to declare war to the President.
On Friday, the House voted on the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2027 (H.R. 8469), the first of twelve annual House appropriations spending bills for Fiscal Year 2027 brought before the full House. Although in recent years, this annual funding bill for our military and veterans has strayed from its longstanding history of bipartisan support, this year, the bill was reported out of the House Appropriations committee with unanimous bipartisan appeal. The bill provides $481 billion, including $137 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs and $19.2 billion for military construction. Additionally, Democrats were able to secure more than $50 billion for the Toxic Exposure Fund, to uphold our country’s commitments to veterans promised by the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022. The bill also includes an agreement to withhold a quarter of the Office of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs’ budget until the Secretary comes to testify before the House and Senate Appropriations Committee. Although several Republicans posed amendments to add partisan poison pills into the bill, these partisan amendments were ultimately not made part of the bill. Among the bipartisan amendments that made it into the bill, a concerning amendment to redirect $481,832,00 in funding from the NATO Security Investment Program was also rejected by an overwhelmingly bipartisan margin. For these reasons, I voted for this bill, which passed the House by an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 400-15.
The House also considered the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 (H.R. 2853), which addresses the legitimate concern of organized retail theft, but, if enacted, would expand the DHS’ role in domestic law enforcement, which I oppose. For this reason, I voted against this bill, which passed the House 348-60.
The House also passed several pieces of legislation under suspension of the rules, and this week I voted for two of them: a bill to protect Gulf Coast shrimpers (H.R. 2071), and an important resolution calling on elected officials and civil society leaders to counter antisemitism and educate the public on the contributions of the Jewish-American community (H.Res. 1251).
As a reminder, you can always find a list of all of the votes I have taken for the district on my website. |
On Monday, Congressman Pat Ryan (NY-18) and I introduced the Protecting Reproductive Freedom Act, H.R. 8734, to reaffirm that mifepristone (an abortion pill) was appropriately approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and that this approval preempts any state law seeking to prohibit or restrict access to the abortion pill. More than 25 years ago, the FDA approved mifepristone as safe and effective. That science has not changed. What has changed, however, is the relentless effort by anti-abortion activists to use the courts to do what they could not do legislatively: ban abortion across the country, one medication at a time. The Protecting Reproductive Freedom Act makes clear that the FDA’s authority is real and that no state can override it to deny women access to reproductive healthcare. |
I also joined my colleagues in filing an amicus brief in the case of Louisiana v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in which the state of Louisiana is seeking a nationwide judgment that would force the FDA to reinstate medically unnecessary in-person dispensing requirements for mifepristone. On Thursday, the Supreme Court overturned the lower court judgement and ruled that mifepristone could continue to be prescribed by telehealth and sent to patients by mail. I was glad to see the lower court decision overturned, but attacks on reproductive rights across the country continue.
This week, I joined Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (MD-08) and 100 of my Democratic colleagues as an original cosponsor of the Protecting our Democracy Act, H.R. 8831. If enacted, this landmark legislative package would strengthen the legal infrastructure of our democracy against presidents or other officials who abuse their power for personal gain and reassert the fundamental principle that no president or official is above the law. Since January 2025, President Trump has exploited the powers of the presidency to intimidate his critics, place himself above the law, and line his own pockets.
I also cosponsored several other pieces of legislation on issues important to the community, including: - the January 6th Law Enforcement Heroes Compensation Act, H.R. 8802, to provide compensation to law enforcement officers who defended the United States Capitol during the events that occurred at or near the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021;
- the PrEP Access and Coverage Act, H.R. 7853, to increase access to pre-exposure prophylaxis to reduce the transmission of HIV;
- a resolution recognizing the 75th anniversary of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and its critical role in advancing the practice of obstetrics and gynecology and the health and well-being of patients through excellence in clinical practice, education, advocacy, and research, H.Res. 1282; and
- a resolution recognizing the significance of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month as an important time to celebrate the significant contributions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders to the history of the United States, H.Res. 1243.
In addition to these bills, I joined my colleagues in sending two letters this week: A letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth demanding answers about the Department of Defense’s slowdown of its review process for wind energy projects, which has led to an effective halt on all wind development. And a letter to President Trump expressing outrage about the firing of the National Science Board and demanding the Board’s reappointment. |
On Wednesday morning, the Energy & Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing on the barriers to building out more electrical transmission. This is a hearing that I’ve been asking the committee to hold for a long time. It’s a critical piece in the discussion about our energy future and the reforms we need to build out our energy capacity. I was thrilled that our neighbor Michael Skelly, President of Grid United, came to Washington to testify on the panel of witnesses. It’s clear that improving our ability to build transmission efficiently will mean a more affordable and abundant energy supply that we can rely on at home. But there is still debate about how to allocate some of the costs of new transmission lines. I focused my questions on this issue. You can watch my remarks and questions below. |
Also on Wednesday, the Energy & Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health held a markup of 10 bills focused on authorizing and reauthorizing critical research and healthcare programs. I support these important bills that support essential work. I was glad that these bills passed the subcommittee unanimously and I will continue to work to ensure that the programs in these bills are fully funded and staffed. |
Oh Canada! On Tuesday, I visited the Embassy of Canada to celebrate the arrival of the Ambassador of Canada to the United States Mark Wiseman. I am proud to serve as Co-Chair of the American Canadian Economic and Security (ACES) Caucus, a bipartisan coalition dedicated to strengthening the economic and security relationship between the United States and Canada. Later in the week, I met with several Members of the Canadian Parliament who serve on the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development of Canada, on the importance of continued U.S.-Canada collaboration on arctic security and bilateral trade. |
On Tuesday, I was glad to join Mayor Pappas and Bellaire City Councilmembers, Texas Representative Ann Johnson, incoming Harris County Attorney Abbie Kamin, and leaders from across TX-07 to break ground on the Cypress Ditch Regional Flood Mitigation Project, which will reduce flooding and flood impacts in Bellaire, the Gulfton area, and along the 610 Loop. Construction is expected to be completed in 2029.
I was glad to secure $1,145,144 in congressional appropriations for this project through the Community Funded Project process, and to partner with this incredible team to move this project forward. This collaborative process should make us all proud and is a testament to community-driven, meaningful work to solve problems and protect our community. |
I am excited to announce that Selina Yuan, a student at St. Thomas’ Episcopal School, who beautifully depicted a hard-working athlete in her oil painting, is the winner of our eighth annual Congressional Art Competition. Selina’s artwork, Dedication, serves as a reminder of the determination and dedication that define our community and I look forward to seeing her art hanging in the Capitol over the next year. I am proud of all of the students who submitted their artwork and demonstrated such creativity and talent in our competition this year, and I am grateful to our competition judges and the teachers and mentors who encourage and inspire young artists. |
Last week, while the House was not in session, everyone on Team TX-07 gathered in Houston for all-staff meetings over several days. I sent the team out on a photo scavenger hunt to find all sorts of fun things and landmarks across the district. Here are a few of the fabulous photos from the day! |
With our DC team back in Washington this week, Team TX-07 held three dozen meetings with constituents and groups advocating on their behalf, including Blood Cancer United, American Waterways Operators, and the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) Houston Chapter, pictured below. Back home in the district, our team was out and about across the district, helping constituents and attending community events, including a Constituent Services Pop-up at the Chinese Community Center, The Young Women's Leadership School Luncheon, a ribbon-cutting for the Ronald McDonald Amschwand House, and a meeting in our district office with Disabled American Veterans Fort Bend Chapter 233, pictured below. |
Another important development for Texans. Texans spoke up and spoke out and it mattered! In late February 2026, DHS announced plans to construct more than 100 miles of border wall and deploy detection technology through Big Bend National Park and on adjacent land. The initial proposal violates more than two dozen environmental regulations and threatens Big Bend’s natural scenic beauty and unique wildlife. Such an invasive proposal is deeply harmful and unnecessary, and throughout the process DHS has failed to coordinate with local communities and officials and failed to provide critical information and updates on the proposal.
Last week, Trump administration officials confirmed that they no longer plan to build portions of the border wall in Big Bend National Park, following widespread backlash across the political spectrum over the proposed construction. I was glad to work with people from across our great state and our entire Texas Democratic Delegation to bring voices from Texas to D.C. to protect the beauty and wildlife of Big Bend National Park. We will—and must—remain vigilant in our resistance to this disruptive effort. |
For months, President Trump has claimed that the 90,000-square-foot ballroom he has proposed (and is already in the process of building) on White House grounds would be funded entirely by private donors. But last week, Senate Republicans proposed funding this project with $1 billion in taxpayer dollars. So I want to hear from you: |
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Should your tax dollars pay for President Trump's White House ballroom?
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Save the Date! On Saturday, May 30, 2026, we are hosting another passport fair for (1) first-time passport or passport card applicants and (2) renewal and replacement passports or passport cards at Burnett Bayland. Representatives from the Houston Passport Agency will be present to answer questions and accept applications. Please RSVP here or by clicking the image below. |
The House will be back in session next week to consider Congressional Republicans’ legislation to fund ICE and the White House ballroom. I’ll let you know what happens next week!
Until then, 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. I am proud to represent you and I am here to help you.
Best wishes, |
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