Dear Neighbor,  

I am glad to have spent this week in Houston after a busy legislative period in Washington!  Being at home gives me the chance to hear directly from you, and it informs my work in Congress.  Here are a few of this week’s highlights:

I also had a great visit with four of our six summer interns, who have been working virtually this summer.  It was great to hear more about what they learned through the program, to hear where they are headed next, and to express our gratitude for their work on behalf of our district this summer!  We have internships each semester and over the summer – if you know (or are) a student who might be interested in interning, there is information on how to apply on my website.

As usual, I was glad to connect with people from across our district about important issues for our community, including flooding and transportation infrastructure, real estate issues, energy industry concerns, and much more.  My team and I are still doing a lot of meetings virtually, and look forward to many more meetings in the coming weeks.  If you want to meet with us, you can request a meeting on my website!

I’m proud to announce the Veterans History Project for Texas’ Seventh Congressional District! 

This project, sponsored by the Library of Congress, works to preserve the stories and experiences of veterans through video interviews in order to ensure that future generations do not forget the realities of war.  If you are a veteran who wants to share your story, or if you know someone who does, you can learn more here.

As you likely know, the last week or so there has been much discussion of the end of the eviction moratorium and its impact on people across the country – including both renters and landlords who are facing renewed challenges during the pandemic and the increased concerns with the Delta variant.  This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a new moratorium on evictions until October 3 to areas with high transmission of COVID-19.

Understanding the complexity of these housing challenges for renters and landlords alike, Congress passed (and I voted for) COVID-19 relief bills that provided $46 billion in emergency rental assistance.  Unfortunately, only a fraction of this federal funding has been distributed by the states.  This extended moratorium will provide relief for families across the country and provide more time for the money allocated by Congress to reach those in need.

Here in Houston, we are lucky to have one of the most successful rental assistance programs in the country.  I was on a call with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen this week when she told members of Congress that Houston and Harris County have one of the best programs in the country, highlighting it as a model.

Still, we know that many people are still struggling, so I encourage both renters and landlords who need assistance to take advantage of the programs we have here.

• Houston-Harris County Emergency Rental Assistance Program: If you are seeking emergency rental assistance, the Houston-Harris County Emergency Rental Assistance Program provides assistance to both renters and landlords. You can find more information online at HoustonHarrisHelp.org or call their hotline at 832-402-7568.
• Legal Services: If you are facing eviction, you can locate legal aid organizations in our community that can help using this tool. 
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: The CFPB provides information on eviction prevention, as well as information to help homeowners, renters, and landlords.

As you also likely know, Judge Hidalgo announced Thursday that our county has returned to the highest COVID-19 threat level, signifying an uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 in Harris County and recommending that unvaccinated residents minimize contact with others wherever possible and stay home as much as possible.

The county’s data report released on Wednesday showed a positivity rate of 16 percent, and that hospitalizations in the Houston area have increased for 20 straight days.  Across Texas, the number of hospitalized Texans has increased to levels not seen since February, and the state’s positivity rate has increased to levels not seen since January.

Experts point to the low rate of fully vaccinated eligible residents and the highly transmissible delta variant the cause.  Full vaccination continues to be the best way to  combat the virus.   As a reminder: Everyone 12 and older is eligible for the vaccine in Texas, regardless of occupation or health status. The vaccine is safe, and it’s free.   You can go to vaccines.gov to search or text GETVAX (438829) to locate one near you.  Protect yourself and protect our neighbors—get vaccinated.

• Sunday, August 15: Special enrollment to sign up for health care ends.  As the pandemic has shown, access to health care is critical.  You can explore options for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace at HealthCare.gov.
• Monday, November 1: Texas’ Seventh Congressional App Challenge registration deadline.  This is a competition for middle and high school aged coders to highlight their innovation and creativity!  You can learn more here. 

As a reminder, if you are interested in scheduling a meeting with me or our TX-07 Team, you can use this online form.  You are always welcome to share your thoughts and concerns by emailing here or calling (713) 353-8680 any time.

Best wishes,