Dear Neighbor,

It was great to be back home in Houston for this committee work week.  These are work weeks where we have virtual committee hearings and meetings but we don’t have votes in the House, so members can be home in our districts.  That meant I could start the week by delivering handmade valentines to area veterans at VA Medical Center on Valentine’s Day! 

This was our third year of our Valentines for Veterans program, and thanks to TX-07 students, teachers, and residents our district team and I delivered nearly 1,000 cards to be distributed to our veterans.  It was a great way to start the week!

This committee work week, I joined the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Oversight and Investigations Committee for a virtual, bipartisan briefing on the status of COVID-19 in the United States and the Administration’s action to control the pandemic and protect the health and well-being of all Americans with Director of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health Dr. Anthony Fauci, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Dawn O’Connell.  We had a useful discussion with these key leaders in this less formal setting.  I took the opportunity to follow up on a letter I sent with members of the Texas delegation requesting the Administration’s support for and assistance with distribution of the CORBEVAX vaccine developed at Texas Children’s Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine as part of our global vaccine strategy.

On Wednesday, our Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology held a hearing on oversight of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).  Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce Alan Davidson discussed agency activities and broadband investments in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act., and I used the opportunity to ask him about my bill, the Broadband Incentives for Communities Act to help with broadband rollout applying lessons we’ve learned here in Houston.

Although we did not have votes, I joined my colleagues in addressing important issues by sending several letters to the Biden administration on things that matter to our community, including:

• a letter to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas requesting the possibility of a caseload transfer between USCIS Service Centers to relieve the burden on the Nebraska Service Center.  This is a challenge we have seen in our District Office as we work to help constituents, and we hope this will help address the related issues; and
• a  letter to FDA Commissioner Califf urging the FDA to end the blanket three-month blood donation deferral period for men who have sex with men (MSM) and transition to an individual risk assessment to determine donor eligibility.

On Tuesday, I held a virtual reception with those outstanding students from our district who I have nominated to the United States Service Academies.  Each year, I have the privilege and joy of nominating exceptional student for an appointment, and it is inspiring to see the leadership, academic distinction, and community engagement of so many bright students who wish to use those skills to serve our country.  I am grateful for the support and insight of our selection committee.  Final acceptance is determined solely by the service academies.

Congratulations to our service academy nominees from TX-07 and their families!

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act makes important investments in key priorities in our community, and I was glad for the chance to talk about the funds our local agencies are receiving and the projects they are doing.  I am grateful for the work and collaboration of our special guests and their time this week updating and answering questions from our neighbors.

On behalf of our district and a grateful country, I had the privilege of presenting a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol on January 15 in honor of the late Henry Lee to his family this week.   A U.S. Army veteran, Mr. Lee was a recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal awarded to Chinese Americans for military service during World War II.  I am grateful for the work of the Paracletas Warriors, who helped make the connection and joined us for the presentation. 

Lots of meetings this week – in person and virtual.  It was great to connect with the team from the Energy Corridor District, as well as neighbors on topics ranging from retirement savings to environmental issues to Harvey recovery to taxes.  I was glad to meet with the Houston Taxpayer Advocate to discuss IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service’s latest report to Congress and the concerns and recommendations that are most relevant to TX-07 residents. 

I also had the chance to get out in the district and visit with groups here, including giving a Washington update at the API-AOPL meeting and touring the An-Nisa Hope Center and visiting with the Minaret Foundation about district issues and collaboration.

On Saturday, I was glad to join the Society of Justice & Equality for the People of Sugar Land, elected leaders, and community members for a Day of Remembrance recognizing Black History Month and the Sugar Land 95.

I have been hearing from neighbors across TX-07 about the need to lower prescription drug prices and make them more affordable.  I share these concerns, and am working to help.  As a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Health Subcommittee, I am focused on developing and advancing policies to improve our health care system, reduce costs, increase choices for consumers, and expand coverage.

I agree that we need to lower prescription drug costs, which is why I cosponsored H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act to lower the price of prescription drugs for all Americans by permitting and requiring Medicare to negotiate the price of prescription drugs.  In November, I voted for an alternative to allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug costs for seniors, to halt price hikes above inflation, and expand the ACA to make coverage more affordable for those who buy insurance on their own by voting for H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act.  The Build Back Better Act passed the House on November 19, 2021 and is now before the Senate where negotiations continue. 

Please be assured that I will continue to work to find policy solutions that bring down the cost of health care, including the cost of prescription drugs, without limiting innovation or access to medical care. 

We begin this week celebrating President’s Day and we end the week with Go Texan Day on Friday!  It is a district work week, so I look forward to visiting with neighbors across TX-07 and kicking off Rodeo season and showing our Houston pride!

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 are here to help.

With best wishes,