Dear Neighbor,

I was glad to be back in Washington for a busy week!  And I was excited to start the week with two big announcements:

You might remember that last year, my REGROW Act was included in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that President Biden signed into law in November.  The REGROW Act directs the Department of the Interior to establish a program to provide funds for the plugging, remediating, and reclaiming of more than 56,000 orphaned oil and gas wells throughout the U.S.  I was glad to announce that our state will receive $343,695,029 in federal funding and to join White House Infrastructure Coordinator Mayor Mitch Landrieu and Department of the Interior Infrastructure Coordinator Winnie Stachelberg to highlight the funding.  As the lead sponsor of the bill to create this program in the House, I could not be more pleased or proud to see it not only signed into law, but turned into action so quickly.  It is a win for our environment and our economy.

I also had the pleasure of announcing that I have nominated Dr. Peter Hotez and Dr. Maria Elena Bottazzi, Deans of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and Co-Directors of the Center for Vaccine Development at Texas Children’s Hospital, for the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize for their work to develop and distribute a low-cost COVID-19 vaccine to people of the world without patent limitation.

As people around the world confront the many challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the effort to develop and distribute a low-cost vaccine to all people in all nations without patent limitation represents the work for fraternity between nations and people that the Nobel Peace Prize embodies and celebrates.  Dr. Hotez and Dr. Bottazzi’s effort to develop the CORBEVAX vaccine is truly one of international cooperation and partnership to bring health, security, and peace around the world by creating a COVID-19 vaccine and making it available and accessible to all.  It is a contribution that is of the greatest benefit to humankind.

This week, the House focused principally on debating, amending, and on Friday passing H.R. 4521, the America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing, Preeminence in Technology and Economic Strength (COMPETES) Act of 2022.  Passed on a bipartisan basis and composed of many different bipartisan bills, the America COMPETES Act will boost our national investment in research and innovation right here at home and ensure our continued leadership in the world.  It makes important investments to increase domestic production of semiconductor chips, strengthen American manufacturing, increase grid resiliency, and strengthen our supply chains. 

I was glad to work on many of its provisions as a member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.  You can learn more about how it will be put to work for TX-07 here.

This week, I introduced the Carbon Limiting Emissions At Refineries (CLEAR) Act, to establish a $200 million authorization program at the DOE for demonstration projects in promising energy technologies to help reduce emissions at refineries.  As leaders and partners in the effort to curb global warming and greenhouse gas emissions, energy companies are developing technologies that will help reduce harmful emissions, but we need serious federal investment to get these technologies off the ground.  My legislation creates a new program at the Department of Energy to help identify technologies to reduce emissions at refineries and invest in demonstration projects to get these technologies off the ground in order to make a real impact.

I also co-sponsored three bills this week: 

• The Flood Resiliency and Taxpayer Savings Act, H.R. 481, to safeguard taxpayer resources and strengthen our country’s resilience against severe storms and flooding;
• The Active Shooter Alert Act, H.R. 6538, to establish an Active Shooter Alert Communications Network that will notify people in the vicinity of an active shooter emergency; and 
• H.R. 6583, a bill to eliminate the disability insurance benefits waiting period for individuals with disabilities.

In addition, I joined my colleagues in sending several letters on issues of importance to our community: 

• A letter urging President Biden to strengthen and streamline Afghan evacuation and resettlement efforts; and
• A letter to Congressional leadership requesting that the budget reconciliation package include provisions to close the Medicaid coverage gap, 

A final note: I am glad to report back that, after sending a letter with my colleagues on the issue, Medicare will now cover the cost of up to 8 at-home COVID-19 test kits.  People on private insurance were already able to get up to 8 new test kits covered by their insurance companies—now those on Medicare will have the same opportunity.  Remember, every household can order up to four free at-home COVID-19 test kits from COVIDTests.gov.

On Wednesday, the Energy & Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce held a hearing on preventing price gouging during times of uncertainty.

And on Thursday, the Energy & Commerce’s Subcommittee on Health heard testimony from FDA researchers on the reauthorization of FDA user fees, which fund research into life-saving drugs.

This week, I also joined members of Congress in a bipartisan briefing from the administration on developments relating to Ukraine and Russia.  Please note that the State Department has issued guidance not to travel to Ukraine.  You can read the travel advisory here.

A great way to kick off #BlackHistoryMonth—and preview Women’s History month in March—I joined my colleagues on Tuesday in celebrating Maya Angelou and the launch of the American Women Quarters Program.

Tuesday also marked the Lunar New Year.  While I was in Washington, representatives from Team TX-07 attended the Chinese Lunar New Year Lion Dance in Asiatown in Houston – and wish a happy Lunar New Year to all in TX-07 and around the world celebrating.

I’ve been hearing from many of our neighbors asking me to support the Humane Cosmetics Act to phase out animal-based testing in the United States for cosmetic products.  I am glad to tell you I have co-sponsored this bill.  I am committed to working on a bipartisan basis to raise awareness of animal welfare issues, prevent animal cruelty and abuse, and strengthen efforts to promote animal welfare and conservation. 

I will be back in Washington this week as the House considers several bills of importance to our community, including H.R. 3076, the Postal Service Reform Act. This bipartisan bill would strengthen the financial position of the United States Postal Service and ensure it can successfully carry out its mandate to deliver mail to every household and business in the United States.  Additionally, the House will consider H.R. 3485, the Global Respect Act, which furthers our nation’s commitment to LGBTQ rights around the world by sanctioning foreign individuals found to be complicit in violating the human rights of LGBTQ people.  The House will also consider H.R. 4445, the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act, which would end forced arbitration in cases relating to sexual assault and harassment.

We’ve had a great response to our Lizzie’s Little Learners Challenge!  As a reminder, completed forms are due Monday, February 7.  Download the log sheet at  fletcher.house.gov/little-learners!

Next, join our TX-07 team in spreading the love to our veterans this Valentine’s Day!  I’ve launched my third annual “Valentines for Vets” program and am inviting people in our district to submit Valentine’s Day cards and letters thanking local veterans for their service.  We will collect cards and deliver them to Michael DeBakey VA Medical Center for Valentine’s Day. 

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 are here to help.

With best wishes,