Dear Neighbor,

I write to you at the end of another historic week.  I was honored to be present to witness the inauguration of President Biden and Vice President Harris on Wednesday and to hear the message of unity, optimism, and hope of President Biden’s address.  Recent events have challenged us all in different ways, and President Biden acknowledged this difficult moment while reminding us how we work through challenges: we do it together.  In his address, we saw leadership, compassion, and competence at a time when we need them most.

I look forward to working in the 117th Congress to address them.  In the first few days of this new administration, we have seen important efforts to address the coronavirus pandemic and to respond to the health and economic challenges before us.  While we are certain to have differences in opinion and policy, including some of the administration’s early actions relating to energy, I am optimistic about the possibilities ahead to work together to address our most pressing challenges.

On Friday, I had the privilege of thanking our Texas Army National Guard troops protecting the U.S. Capitol, including the 72nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team based in our district, for their service and dedication to our country and our Constitution.

On Thursday, I voted in favor of a waiver making possible the confirmation of General Lloyd Austin III to serve as Secretary of Defense.  The Senate confirmed his appointment on Friday.  Secretary Austin has the experience, leadership, and vision to protect our country, and I was glad to vote to support his historic confirmation.

I also remain focused on addressing the root causes and security failures contributing to the attack on the Capitol on January 6.  This week, after my colleagues and I called for an independent investigation, the Government Accountability Office announced it will investigate  the security failures of the U.S. Capitol attack.  Previously, the Department of Defense announced that it would launch an investigation and the Speaker of the House announced that Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré will lead a review of the U.S. Capitol’s security.

This week, our newly formed committees will get to work.  I am glad to have been appointed to serve on the Energy & Commerce Committee this Congress, and will send you an update on our work next week.

Across the country, new COVID cases and deaths are down in week-to-week comparisons.  The number of new cases confirmed January 15-21 decreased by approximately 20 percent.  While this is welcome news, the total number of cases in the country has reached a new high.  Yesterday afternoon, our country recorded 25 million coronavirus cases, about one in every 13 people in the country, or about 7.6 percent of the population.  Hospitalizations for the virus continue place added strain to our health care providers.  Harris County COVID-19 Datahub shows that more than 34 percent of ICU beds are occupied by COVID patients.  That’s the highest level since August.  The positivity rate in our region remains high at just under 20 percent.

As you have likely seen in the news, the Biden administration has announced plans to address the pandemic by increasing testing, accelerating vaccine distribution, and more.  I found this a useful overview.

It is critical that each of us continues to do our part to stop the spread of the virus to help protect the health of our community.  I know many are eager for information about vaccine availability and timing, and this will be a top priority for me and the Energy & Commerce Committee.  I know that Harris County officials are working around the clock to ensure efficient vaccinations for people across our district, but we will do all we can to aid the efforts, including supporting use of the Defense Production Act to ensure continued access to sufficient medical supplies and personal protective equipment necessary for testing and vaccination.

If you are a small business owner looking to apply for the new round of PPP, don't forget to sign up for this Friday's SBA Webinar!  We will answer your questions about small business assistance, including the latest improvements to the Paycheck Protection Program. I hope you will join us!  RSVP here or below.

My office is hosting Valentines for Vets again this year.  If you would like to help honor local veterans, let me and my team know here.  We'll pick up cards made by people across our district and deliver them to veterans on Valentine’s Day!

As always, my team and I are here to serve you, and I hope you will let us know how we can help, especially during these challenging times.  We are just a phone call or an email away—you can reach us at (713) 353-8680 or through email here.  I look forward to hearing from you!

Best wishes,