Dear Neighbor,

It has been another eventful week.  Here are some highlights from my week:

I have been in Washington this week where Congress has worked to pass vital year-end legislation and also worked to organize for the 117^th Congress that begins in January.  I also had the privilege of presiding over the House of Representatives on Wednesday evening as Speaker Pro Tempore.

This week, the House of Representatives passed more than two dozen bills and resolutions.  Among them was House Resolution 17, expressing concern over the detention of Houstonian Austin Tice and requesting that the Department of State and the intelligence community continue to work with and inform Congress about efforts to secure his safe release and return from detention in Syria.  I was glad to co-sponsor this resolution led by my colleague Rep. Al Green, who has led the effort for many years to bring him home.  A veteran Marine Corps Captain who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, Tice was detained at a checkpoint near Damascus, Syria, on August 14, 2012 while working in the country as a freelance journalist.

The House also passed the Big Cat Public Safety Act, outlawing private ownership of big cats and working to end to the abuse of the cubs, which many members of our community have ask me to support, and which I was glad to co-sponsor.

On Friday, the House passed the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, which will decriminalize cannabis possession and created a process to expunge the records of those convicted of non-violent marijuana possession in the past.

In other news this week, I was glad to announce on Monday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved the City of Jersey Village’s grant for $4.23 million for flood mitigation projects.  Following initial approval for federal funding for the Wall St. Drainage Improvements & Berm project, FEMA required a second review of the project, which would have caused delays and increased costs to the project.  I urged FEMA to approve the grant on the basis that any delays could risk lives and property of our neighbors in Jersey Village and was pleased to hear that the award had been granted.

I was so glad to hear at the end of the week that the Senate passed my bill to rename the post office at 315 Addicks Howell Road, the Deputy Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal Post Office Act, by unanimous consent.  Deputy Dhaliwal’s life of service to others, working for equality, connection, understanding, and community exemplifies the very best of our community.  I look forward to seeing the President sign this bill into law and to visiting the Deputy Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal Post Office.

Hurricane Season finally ended this week—on November 30—after a historic and active season with 31 named storms, more than a third of which made landfall.  This week also marked the 50^th anniversary of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), established to protect our health and protect the environment around us.

Small businesses, and in particular, restaurants, have faced enormous challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Many restaurants in our community have weathered the storm by finding new ways to connect with customers, but it has not been without challenges.  Dining out is a way of life in Houston.  That's why I joined a bipartisan, bicameral letter with 163 of my colleagues this week urging leadership to pass the RESTAURANTS Act in order to revitalize the second largest private employer nationwide: the restaurant industry.

I also want to remind small businesses leaders of all kinds that my office is here to help if you need assistance working with the Small Business Administration.  Earlier this year, we assembled a Small Business Resource Guide to help navigate the EIDL and PPP systems, and have kept it up to date with new developments.

• Medicare: The deadline for Medicare Open Enrollment is tomorrow: Monday, December 7. Learn more about Medicare and consider your coverage needs for 2021 here.

• ACA Marketplace: Those who need to sign up or change their ACA coverage have until next Tuesday, December 15, to do so. Start the process here.

• Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL): The final day to apply for a COVID-19 EIDL is December 31, 2020. Start the application process before the holidays.

We remain at Harris County’s Threat Level 1: Stay At Home.  As the country and our community await a COVID-19 vaccine, it is still important to remain vigilant about mask use and staying home when possible.  Since I last wrote to you, positive cases in Texas have risen from 12.83% to 14.68% of those people who have been tested.  It’s a good idea to get tested, and testing is available for free.  Please use this page to find a Harris County or City of Houston testing site.

Click to see detail.

I am grateful to all those in our community who are doing their part to stop the spread and keep our community healthy, from medical health professionals on the frontlines in hospitals and clinics, to the family members caring for loved ones as they fight and recuperate from COVID-19, to those who make sure to #MaskUp when they leave home.  It has been tough, but I know Houstonians are used to taking on big challenges—and we do that best when we face them together.

I’ll be in Washington again this week to vote on additional legislation, including National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 and, hopefully, appropriations to fund the government and several other bills of importance to our district. 

I will report back on progress next week.  If you have any questions or concerns before them, please contact me at (713) 353-8680 or email me here.  I look forward to hearing from you!

Best wishes,