Dear Neighbor,

I hope you had a joyous and peaceful Thanksgiving this week. 

I started Thanksgiving Day at the City of Houston’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.  I was as disappointed as everyone that the parade was cancelled because of weather, but as I walked around to the floats and visited with Mayor Turner, Parade Grand Marshal Dr. Peter Hotez, city council members and other representatives from government and organizations alike, I kept thinking how grateful I am to be a part of this community!

I was so glad to be home in Houston this week for the start of the holiday season – from feeling the energy of the parade to seeing the lights go up on Post Oak Boulevard on Thursday evening—and seeing lights going up all over town.  And, of course, tonight starts the eight-day festival of lights for many members of our community.  I wish all of those celebrating a very Happy Hanukkah tonight and in the nights ahead, which I hope are filled with warmth, light, friends, and family. 

Being home this last week gave me an important opportunity to catch up with neighbors and my district team in Houston, and I’m excited to share with you two highlights below.

As I have mentioned before, my office provides a number of services for constituents, including help with federal agencies.  If you are working with a federal agency and are not receiving an answer in a timely fashion, or you feel you've been treated unfairly, our team may be able to assist you resolve the problem or get more information.  We are getting close to closing 7,000 constituent cases.  I’m glad to share this story from Mindy, who we recently helped:

“My husband and I applied for our passport renewal in February 2021 so that we could attend a family wedding in November 2021. Our passports were placed on hold until some issues were resolved. After the issues were resolved, we were told the passports would be released and sent to us. 

“My family went through months of anxiety and disappointment trying to resolve the issue. We spoke with several agencies and were given different answers repeatedly. Someone suggested we contact Congresswoman Fletcher’s Office because they would help us.  From the moment the phone was answered and assigned to a caseworker, I felt a sense of hope in resolving the problem.  Our caseworker was kind and patient.  She persevered through the bureaucratic system to solve our problem. 

“It is because of Congresswoman Fletcher’s Office that I will be able to attend my nephew’s wedding.  I am so grateful for this assistance and will never forget the kindness shown to me.”  -- Mindy

Building on the success of our Valentines for Vets program, we are starting a new Winter Wishes program.  I hope TX-07 teachers and students (and others!) will join us in spreading holiday cheer by making cards for our senior neighbors this holiday season.  Once cards are submitted, our team will deliver the cards to senior citizens throughout TX-07. 

Projects like this one, and the case work our Houston team does each day, are important ways to make sure we are all connected and working together.  That is what we are here to do.  As always, I am proud to represent you and I am here to help you.  Please call my office at (713) 353-8680 or (202) 225-2571 or email here at any time to ask for assistance or share your thoughts.  I look forward to hearing from you.

I’ll head back to Washington for the next few weeks to work on important year-end matters, and will update you on our progress.  Until then, I wish you a wonderfully happy start to this holiday season.

Best wishes,