Dear Neighbor,

Today and this evening, I am thinking of all those we lost, and how we were forever changed, because of the attack on our country on this day in 2001—grateful to those who answered the call to serve our country in response. 

I was glad to spend this week at home in Houston, and to see so many people at events across town!

It was great to start the week by visiting with #TX07 neighbors “Across the Aisles” at Kroger on Buffalo Speedway and Westpark. Thanks to all who came out to share their thoughts and ask questions about the work we are doing in Congress and the things we need here at home. And thank you to the Kroger team for hosting us! 

On Wednesday, I was glad to join Mayor Sylvester Turner, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner, My Brother's Keeper Houston, and my colleagues and community leaders at the Friends in Solidarity Against Gun Violence event to discuss how we are working to prevent gun violence and make our community safer with One Safe Houston and $53 million from the American Rescue Plan Act, which Congress passed and President Buden signed in March 2021.

On Friday, I gave a Washington update at Houston Stronger's general membership meeting, talking about the work ahead to make our region more resilient and prepared for flooding and storms—including the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 authorizing the Ike Dike!

Capitol tours are back!  Jack on our team coordinates tours when TX-07 residents visit Washington.  This week, he gave a tour to two TX-07 residents: Taylor and Madeline.  If you have an upcoming trip to Washington and would like to set up some tours, click here.

I also appreciated the chance to visit with the people who keep our community informed this week.  It was great to visit and tour the CW39 studio in TX-07.  Thanks to General Manager Chris Pruitt for the tour and to anchor Sharron Melton for a great conversation!

And it was great to be back in the studio at Fox 26 Houston (also in TX-07!) for an interview with Greg Groogan for his Sunday morning show, “What’s Your Point?” 

So, I wasn’t actually at this one this week, but I love this photo of Bricen and Spencer from our district office team at the Collins Aerospace ribbon cutting at Houston Spaceport where the next generation xEVAS spacesuit was unveiled.  

We love to show up for our constituents in all kinds of ways, and appreciate the invitation to participate in important community events.

I’ve written to you a lot about many of the programs created and funded under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which Congress passed and President Biden signed into law last November.  With funding from the IIJA, we are investing in programs to build resilient infrastructure to help communities withstand extreme heat, drought, and other heat-related hazards. 

One of them is heat.gov -- the latest measure to address extreme heat.  It is a new website to provide timely, science-based information to understand and reduce the health risks of extreme heat.  Extreme heat has been the greatest weather-related cause of death in the U.S. for the past 30 years.  It is important that families stay safe from extreme weather conditions, something we know all too well here in Houston.  When you have a chance, I hope you will check it out.

Our summer district work period has come to an end, and I will head back to Washington this week to vote on several pieces of legislation, including the Whistleblower Protection Improvement Act of 2021, H.R. 2988, and the Preventing a Patronage System Act of 2021, H.R. 302 as well as to mark up other bills in the Energy and Commerce Committee.

As always, 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 look forward to hearing from you.

With best wishes,