Dear Neighbor,
It’s been another busy week in Houston – where I think we can finally celebrate the arrival of Fall. So much has happened in our community, and I am glad to be here for it. Of course, the amazing voter turnout across Harris County has remained national news. I hope that if you have not already voted you will make a plan to do so, and get the information you need on my website or at HarrisVotes.com. Whoever you are voting for, it’s important that you do it.
I joined a coalition of my colleagues in a letter to the IRS about missing Economic Impact Payments during the pandemic. These payments were a welcome relief for many in our community, but I have heard from people in our district who still have not received their checks. The IRS admitted system failures, and it is past time for them to be addressed. You can read our letter here.
I also joined several of my Texas colleagues in a letter to President Trump to raise awareness about Mexico’s efforts to undermine the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Last year, I worked in the House of Representatives to make sure this important agreement was improved and supported in the House. Our letter calls on the President to resolve outstanding barriers to market access for U.S. energy companies in Mexico after it was widely reported that the Mexican government is giving preferential treatment to PEMEX. You can read our full letter here.
I was glad to cosponsor bipartisan legislation to honor Vanessa Guillen by renaming the post office located at 5302 Galveston Road in her memory. This post office is located just a few blocks away from her high school, and will serve as a tribute to the positive impact she had in our community as we also continue to demand justice that our servicemembers and her family deserve.
Although Houston made significant progress in flattening the curve last month, the Texas Department of Human Services reported this week that hospitalizations in the state are quickly rising. Memorial Hermann’s Infectious Disease Specialist warned that there is a slow and steady increase of cases across the city. As of Friday, the positivity rate was 6.8 percent in Harris County.
The trends are going in the wrong direction, and while some may be experiencing COVID fatigue, it’s important to remember that the virus is highly infectious and affects people differently. Tragically, Harris County has seen more than 2,000 deaths from the virus. These deaths are our neighbors, friends, family members – and their loss will have an indelible impact on our community. As we wait for a safe vaccine, our most powerful tool in containing the spread of COVID-19 and protecting our loved ones is wearing a face mask and practicing social distancing. And if you think you have been exposed to the virus, you can find testing locations by visiting covidcheck.hctx.net, or calling 832-927-7575.
I hope you know by now that my team and I are here to help you! I am glad to share with you stories of neighbors we were able to help recently.
Whether you’re having issues with the TWC, the IRS, or any federal agency – our team is ready to listen and help how we can. I hope that during this challenging time, you will remember that we are here to help and are always glad to serve as a resource. Please let me know what my team and I can do for you by emailing here or calling (713) 353-8680 at any time.
I am honored and proud to represent you.
Best wishes,
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