Dear Neighbor,

Happy New Year!  Tomorrow, I will return to Washington to establish a quorum in the House of Representatives for the Second Session of the 117th Congress and begin our work for 2022.  I look forward to a productive session, as was the first session of this Congress, which I highlighted in my 2021 Annual Report.  If you missed it, you can click here to read about legislative accomplishments and constituent help in 2021.

Ahead of the official start of the session, I returned to Washington last week to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the events of January 6, 2021.  It was especially meaningful to me to have the opportunity to serve lunch to the Capitol Police officers and Capitol staff whose tremendous efforts that day made it possible for us to return to the House Chamber to fulfill our constitutional duty to certify the results of the presidential election. 

I shared my thoughts with you that day, and will continue to share my observations about the effects of the events on the Congress and the country.

Over the last several weeks, the COVID-19 Omicron variant has spread in the Capitol and the country.  Here at home, we are working to respond to the new and renewed challenges the variant brings.  I have heard from many of you about concerns related to its impacts in recent weeks, especially concerns about testing. 

I am glad to report that the Houston Health Department has opened new testing sites across our community, including one in our district at the site of the former Dave & Busters at 6010 Richmond Avenue. The site will operate Mondays through Saturdays in January from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Appointments are not required. 

President Biden also announced a plan to send at-home tests directly to families across the country, to make test kits more affordable, and to mobilize increased production of tests.  (You can read more on the President’s plan here.)  I am continuing to work to expedite these efforts and to bring all the resources possible to our community.

With COVID-19 positivity rates at an all-time high in our community, it is critical that we work to protect our loved ones by getting tested, vaccinated, and boosted.

As we begin a new year, I want to remind you that our office provides a number of services for our constituents, including help with federal agencies.  While we cannot ask an agency to decide a matter in your favor, we can usually help you get information and a prompt response from agencies including the IRS, SBA, FEMA, HUD, and many others.  Examples of assistance include help with Social Security and Medicare, help with immigration matters like visas, green cards, or naturalization, and help with veterans’ benefits. For assistance with a federal agency, click here. 

As we return to Washington this week, Congress will take up several pieces of legislation to support our veterans and service members, including the Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act of 2021 (H.R. 1836), which would expand eligibility for post-9/11 G.I. Bill educational benefits to members of the National Guard and the Reserves.  The House will also consider a Senate Amendment to H.R. 5746, the NASA Enhanced Use Leasing Extension Act, which includes a ten-year extension of the agency’s authority to lease unused properties. 

The House and Senate will continue working to complete full-year appropriations before the extended deadline in February, and working closely with colleagues in the Senate to advance legislation protecting Americans’ right to vote (which the House passed last year) and other legislation to ensure our country can Build Back Better following the COVID-19 pandemic.

As always, I am proud to represent you, I enjoy hearing from 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,