It was a busy week on the House floor.  We voted to pass the Respect for Marriage Act, H.R. 8404, to protect families in Houston and across the country by guaranteeing the right to marry for same-sex and interracial couples.  This bill is an amended version of the version the one the House passed in July.

The effort to pass federal legislation comes after a concurring opinion by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization explicitly called on the Supreme Court to reconsider its decisions protecting other fundamental rights, including the right to same-sex marriage recognized in Obergefell v. Hodges. The Respect for Marriage Act:

• Enshrines marriage equality for federal law purposes, giving same-sex and interracial couples additional security that they will continue to enjoy equal treatment under federal law as all other married couples;
• Repeals DOMA, which, despite the Supreme Court’s previous decisions holding marriage equality as a constitutional right, still remains law; and
• Provides additional legal tools for individuals to protect their right to marriage equality, including providing the U.S. Attorney General with the authority to pursue enforcement actions and create a way for individuals to sue when their rights are violated. 

In Houston, we celebrate our diverse families and we also know that, in this moment, we must do all we can to protect them.  I’m proud to be a co-sponsor of this important legislation and to have voted again to enshrine and protect marriage equality—and to protect the people I represent.  It now heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.

On Thursday, I voted for H.R. 7776, which includes both the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) and the Water Resources Development Act of 2022.

I was glad to vote for a bill that protects our communities and our country by supporting our service members and their families, strengthening our national security, and authorizing critical infrastructure projects.  It authorizes a pay raise and vital benefits for service members, protects military supply chains, makes investments to improve military capability, and authorizes several of the water resources projects I advocated for that benefit our district and our region—including important modifications to the Houston Ship Channel Improvement Project, and the Coastal Texas Study, a transformative project to reduce storm surge at the coast, protecting our region and our country from catastrophic damage.

This week, I continued to advocate for my bill, the bipartisan Reinvesting in Shoreline Economies and Ecosystems (RISEE) Act.  This bipartisan bill, which has broad support in the Senate, would help protect coastal communities by creating a new stream of funding for coastal infrastructure and flood resiliency projects and help incentivize new clean energy projects.  If enacted, the RISEE Act could provide a new source of funds for the Coastal Texas Study and the Ike Dike. 

I also co-sponsored a bill (H.R. 9332) to conform federal tax law with the Texas Constitution to allow for the continued benefit to the fullest extent possible from the financial leverage of the Permanent University Fund to the State of Texas. 

Throughout the week, I joined my colleagues in signing several letters on issues important to our community:

• A letter to Senate Leadership urging the Senate to affirm the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) as the 28th Amendment to the Constitution;  
• A letter to House Appropriations Leadership supporting the highest possible funding level for the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives in the Fiscal Year 2023 end-of-year spending bill; and
• A letter to President Biden urging the Administration to coordinate agencies and leaders to execute a unified national strategy to monitor and combat antisemitism.

I was glad to join my Democratic colleagues in the Texas Delegation to honor our retiring friend and colleague Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30) to celebrate her 50 years of leadership and service to Texas, to the House Science, Space, & Technology Committee, and to the country. 

It’s always a highlight to see Houstonians who are in D.C.  This week, I visited with leaders of two major companies headquartered in TX-07—Philipps66 and Sysco.  It’s always great having visitors–especially Houstonians–stop by the office! 

Tomorrow evening, I will hold a virtual year-end town hall to share a report on my work this year and this Congress.  I hope that you will be able to join in from wherever you are to hear the report, ask questions, and share your thoughts.  To sign up, click here. 

The health insurance marketplace is now open!  You have until December 15 to browse plans at healthcare.gov and get quality, affordable health insurance for you and your family.  Be sure to get covered!

As we prepare for the holiday season, join me in spreading holiday cheer by sending Winter Wishes to Houston-area seniors!  I am inviting people of all ages to make cards for our senior neighbors.  In the coming weeks, I will deliver these handmade cards to seniors in our community.  To share cards you’ve made, please contact my Houston Office at (713) 353-8680.  The last day to submit cards is December 15. 

I will be back in Washington this week as we work to pass vital legislation before the end of the year.  I look forward to sharing information on that and much more in our town hall meeting! 

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

With best wishes,