Dear Neighbor,

It has been a challenging week.  We learned today that 20 of our neighbors in Houston and Harris County have now died from COVID-19 and that we have more than 1,150 confirmed cases.  And at the same time, we know that not everyone who is positive is able to be tested.  Our hospitals are seeing more and more cases, and our neighbors who work there are giving tirelessly of themselves to keep us safe.  As are so many – from police officers and firefighters to sanitation workers to grocery and drug store workers.  Like you, I am grateful to them for their selflessness.

There are many challenges ahead for all of us in responding to COVID-19—challenges in every aspect of our lives.  Those challenges are very much on my mind this evening and I think about the work of the week that has passed and the week ahead.  I have continued to work on behalf of our community and our country and want to share the following highlights with you.

I have heard from so many in our district about the challenges facing the small businesses and non-profit organizations that are pillars of our community.  The CARES Act that Congress passed just over a week ago provides, among other things, $377 billion in grants and loans for small businesses and non-profit organizations that are administered by a network of local banks. 

There are lots of questions about what resources are available to small businesses and how to access them.  My team and I have prepared a Small Business Resource Guide to provide a helpful framework for the different funding opportunities that are available and the application process. 

For the new programs under the CARES Act, the rollout this week was not seamless, and I know banks in our community are working to get the guidance they need from the SBA and the loans to our area businesses, and I am working to support that effort so our businesses can get the help they need.

I held a Small Business Webinar with the SBA on Friday to address questions about the COVID-19 loan-related programs.  We had room for 500 participants, but it filled up quickly.  So, we have scheduled a second webinar this Wednesday, April 8 at noon.  I thought it was very helpful, and hope you will, too.  You can RSVP here.

In addition to questions, several constituents have raised concerns about some of the limitations in the programs that would prevent many businesses from accessing loans provided through CARES Act.  As a result, I joined a bipartisan effort calling on the Small Business Administration and Treasury to provide a waiver to its "affiliation rule" so that more companies can apply for the 7(a) loan program that was expanded under the latest COVID-19 package.

My colleagues and I continue to meet by phone daily to ensure that the CARES Act is implemented as intended by Congress and to discuss the issues in our communities that need to be addressed in our next legislation.

Here in Houston, that means working to ensure testing resources for Houston and Harris County.  Our region relies on the federal government to conduct critical testing, which is why I led an effort alongside Houston Representatives Al Green and Sylvia Garcia this week urging FEMA and HHS to increase testing resources for our community. 

It also means making sure that our health care providers and first responders have the personal protective equipment they need.  There should be no delays in providing our health care workers and their patients with the tools needed to fight COVID-19, so I continue to work to get PPE here and joined in a Congressional effort calling for a suspension of tariffs on medical equipment.

Our Texas delegation has been working together on critical issues for the entire state: 

• I joined many of my Texas colleagues in sending a letter to Governor Abbott calling on him to adopt a stay-at-home order for the entire state of Texas.

• Hearing from many constituents who have been unable to reach the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), I am concerned about its capacity to accept and process new unemployment insurance claims, so I joined my Texas colleagues urging the Governor to increase staffing and resources at the TWC.

• I also joined my Texas colleagues urging Governor Abbott and Secretary of State Hughs for vote-by-mail options in Texas through the end of the year.

• And, I joined a bipartisan group of colleagues requesting inclusion of a provision to support DOE efforts to replenish the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) in any future stimulus package.

I joined with colleagues in several other efforts this week on matters of concern to our community and others across the country:

• Sending a letter urging support from the HHS Secretary and BARDA to encourage innovation in COVID-19 testing and response and urging them to deploy antibody tests as rapidly and widely as possible.

• Sending a letter asking HUD Secretary Carson, CDC Director Redfield, and HHS Secretary Azar what specific steps their agencies are taking to coordinate directly with state and local entities to ensure the proper care of America’s homeless population throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Cosponsoring new legislation that expands the “qualified child” definition for COVID-19 relief payments to families with older teenagers and college students.

• Cosponsoring new legislation to increase access to non-disaster SBA loans by waiving fees for borrowers, increasing SBA loan guarantees and sizes, and authorizing additional funding for SBA loans over the next two years.

And other legislative work continues on non-COVID-19 matters, as well.  I worked with my colleagues on a bipartisan effort to ensure improvements to the Army Corps of Engineers inland waterways projects.  The Transportation & Infrastructure Committee will be meeting this week to work on our infrastructure proposals.

The Texas Seven constituent services team is working around the clock to make sure our neighbors can get the help they need with federal agencies.

I heard from many in our community who were stuck abroad during the COVID-19 outbreak and needed help getting back home.  Among the Americans repatriated from Peru was Lara.  My team and I worked with the State Department and the Peruvian Embassy to get her home as soon as possible.

The weeks ahead will be trying for us all.  But I know that our community will work together to get through these difficult times, as we have before.  Stay home.  Work safe.  And please remember that my team and I are here to help.  If you need anything, you can submit a request for help through my website, you can send me an email here, or you can call my office at (713) 353-8680.

I am proud to represent you, and I am here for you.