Dear Neighbor,

It was another busy week!  A few highlights.

On Monday, before heading to Washington, I joined my Houston colleagues and community members in welcoming the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Marcia Fudge to Houston, where she announced a $2.9 billion HUD initiative to help individuals and families experiencing homelessness move into permanent housing with access to supportive services.  The Houston area will receive a $45 million award. 

To see these programs in action, I joined Secretary Fudge for a visit to U.S. Vets, where we visited with veterans and Coalition for the Homeless Board Chair Lance Gilliam (above), and at American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) Senior Housing where we met with seniors to discuss how the federal government can continue to support our communities. 

This week, the House passed the Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal (FAIR) Act of 2022, H.R. 963, to prohibit the enforcement of mandatory, pre-dispute arbitration provisions in contracts involving consumer, employment, antitrust, and civil rights disputes.  For millions of consumers and employees, obtaining a basic service or product like a bank account, a cell phone, or obtaining a job includes an agreement to resolve any and all disputes through arbitration often buried in lengthy, boilerplate contract language and paperwork without meaningful disclosure.  No one should have to give up their access to the courts before a dispute has arisen.  I was glad to cosponsor and vote for the FAIR Act.

Before the vote, I spoke on the floor and urged my colleagues to support it.  To view my floor speech on the bill, click here. 

On Friday, I voted for the CROWN Act, H.R. 2116, which stands for "Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair,” to prohibit discrimination based on a person's hair texture or hairstyle if that style or texture is commonly associated with a particular race or national origin.  It passed 235-189.

In addition to the FAIR Act and the CROWN Act, the House also voted on several bipartisan pieces of legislation this week: 

• The Japanese American Confinement Education Act, H.R. 1931, to create a grant program to educate individuals in the U.S. on the historical importance of American confinement during World War II, during which over 100,000 Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated and incarcerated at internment camps throughout the country; 
• The Japanese American WWII History Network Act, H.R. 6434, to raise transparency and awareness of the relocation and internment of Japanese Americans, most of whom were U.S. citizens, by directing the National Park Service to establish an educational network of historic sites related to Japanese internment during World War II; and 
• The Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act, H.R. 7108, to inflict further economic pressure on Russia, as well as Belarus, for their complicit involvement in Russia’s unprovoked attacks on the people of Ukraine, by giving the President the authority to suspend normal trade relations that allow these countries to import products into the U.S. at cheaper tariff levels. 

I also want to highlight that the week before this one, the House passed a resolution I cosponsored by a voice vote.  During a voice vote, the Speaker asks for members to vote by saying “aye” or “nay.”  Often, a member asks for votes to be recorded individually, but often resolutions pass with a voice vote.  That was the case for House Resolution 881, Condemning the heinous terrorist attack on Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas on January 15, 2022.  This resolution is an important affirmation of the American people’s resolve to support the victims of the attack, the Jewish community in Colleyville, and Jewish communities across the country.  Along with our community in Houston, I am deeply concerned about the rise in anti-Semitic threats to and attacks on Jewish families in Texas and across the country.  Hate, bigotry, and anti-Semitism are an affront to our values as Houstonians and as Americans.  The House Resolution passed affirms this fundamental principle and solidarity with Jewish Americans.

This week, I cosponsored four bills on issues important to our community:

• The ABLE Age Adjustment Act, H.R. 1219, to amend the Internal Revenue Code to increase the eligibility threshold to open an ABLE account from age 26 to age 46;
• The Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis Act of 2021, H.R. 5769, to prohibit private health insurance plans from imposing higher cost-sharing requirements on breast cancer diagnostic examinations than initial breast cancer screening examinations; 
• The Bolstering Infectious Outbreaks (BIO) Preparedness Workforce Act, H.R. 5602 to establish a student loan repayment program for health care professionals engaged in bio-preparedness and response activities or infection disease care in underserved ; and 
• A resolution commemorating the one-year anniversary of the March 16 Atlanta Spa Shootings and Denouncing Anti-Asian Hate, H.Res. 981. 

Recently, I sent two letters on issues important to TX-07:

• A letter to U.S. Department of the Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen requesting further guidance on how local governments can use Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLRF) grants to expand broadband infrastructure and deployment in their communities.  The letter asks for clarification in SLRF guidance to assure communities they can use this funding to expand and strengthen their zoning and permitting offices to contribute to the efficient deployment of broadband networks; and 
• A letter to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure to express support for ongoing discussions between CMS and the Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) community regarding reimbursement for services provided.  MSUs are ambulances with staff that have the expertise to diagnose and the resources to treat patients having strokes before arriving at a hospital.  Currently, there are 21 cities in the United States, including Houston, with active MSUs providing life-saving care in their communities.

I also joined my colleagues in sending other letters on issues I know our neighbors care about:

• A letter to Governor Abbott urging the immediate rescission of his directive to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) regarding transgender children; 
• A letter to President Biden and Secretary Blinken expressing concern for the safety of Ukrainian religious minorities and LGBTQ+ people who face violence and persecution under Russian occupation;
• A letter to National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Assistant Secretary Alan Davidson sharing key priorities for NTIA's implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act; and
• A letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Becerra urging the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) be established as an independent agency within HHS.

From time to time, members of Congress can testify before Congressional committees.  On Wednesday, I testified before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to request that the Committee authorize the projects identified in the Coastal Texas Study in the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 (or as many here would say, Build the Ike Dike!) as well as additional authorizations that support expansion projects at the Port of Houston, including the Houston Ship Channel Improvement Project. 

To view my full testimony, click here. 

On Monday, I held a virtual ceremony for elementary-age neighbors who completed the Lizzie’s Little Learners: Read to Lead program.  Students who attended the recognition ceremony read 10 or more grade-level books as part of the program.

Reading at grade level is a critical metric for a lifetime of success and allows students to build the tools for lifelong learning I was glad to provide an opportunity to encourage students across Texas’ Seventh Congressional District to read and expand their knowledge, and to recognize and celebrate their achievement.

On Tuesday, I went to the White House to celebrate Women’s History Month with women leaders from the Congress—the most women in U.S. history!—and women leaders in the administration, organizations, and sports, including several members of the U.S. Women’s soccer team.  It was an opportunity to celebrate and affirm our commitment to the next generation of women leaders and women around the world. 

On Wednesday, I joined fellow members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Atlanta spa shootings targeting the AAPI community.  Joined by AAPI Hill staff, we gathered on the East Capitol steps to remember the eight Americans who were murdered in an act of bigotry one year ago – six of whom were Asian American women – as well as others who have been victims of anti-Asian attacks recently and to affirm our commitment to supporting AAPI communities across the country. 

Also on Wednesday, I joined members of Congress for an address from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.  Please be assured that I am committed to working with my colleagues in Congress as we continue to address this brutal and unprovoked aggression and resulting humanitarian crisis. 

It was great to see many Houstonians on the Hill this week.  While the Capitol is still not open to visitors, plans are underway for it to reopen soon, and I will keep you posted. 

It was wonderful meeting with the Smith Family who were visiting D.C. for spring break, outside on the steps of the Capitol and to talk about books and the reading challenge! 

I also enjoyed meeting with Rice University Provost Reggie DesRoches to talk about developments at Rice, the University’s research initiatives, and opportunities for collaboration with Congress.  

And I enjoyed meeting with representatives from Phillips 66 to discuss the company’s Emerging Energy organization, which is focused on commercializing and implementing emerging technologies to accelerate decarbonization efforts, an important topic on Congress and an area where we in TX-07 are leading the way.

This week, I heard from many of our TX-07 neighbors about the Sunshine Protection Act, a bill the Senate passed last week to make Daylight Savings Time permanent.  Although that bill has not come before the House, I participated in an Energy & Commerce Subcommittee hearing on Daylight Savings Time just last week.  And this bill certainly has people talking – let me know what you think! 

Next Monday, March 28 at 7:05PM, I will host a Telephone Town Hall on the work I have done in Congress this first quarter of 2022.  Join me for a congressional update and an opportunity to ask questions and make suggestions. To RSVP, click here. 

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,