This week, the principal work of the House was the reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) in the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act (H.R. 7888).  Authorization for Section 702—which is critical in protecting our national security and advancing U.S. foreign policy interests—expires next week.   Members of Congress spent considerable time this week, debating the bill and its provisions.  I attended several meetings on the topic and a briefing from national security officials on the program and its proposed reforms. 

It is clear to me that Section 702 is a vital intelligence tool to identify and counter threats against the United States and the American people and that the proposed reforms to protect the privacy and civil liberties of Americans are needed—many of which have now been implemented in practice but not in law—are needed.

The Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act reauthorizes Section 702 for two years and makes significant reforms to enhance privacy protections for Americans, strengthen accountability, and increase transparency.  Among its reforms, the bill requires that an FBI supervisor or attorney review and approve all queries of U.S. persons; requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to audit every FBI U.S. person query and to report noncompliance to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) and to Congress; reduces the number of FBI employees that are authorized to approve queries into United States persons by 90%; and prohibits conducting Section 702 queries for the purpose of finding evidence of a crime. 

Early in the week, the resolution to bring this bill and others to the floor for debate failed.  (As I have explained in other reports, this is unusual.)  Friday, the House finally took up the bill and several amendments after an effort to bring the bill to the floor for a vote failed earlier this week.  We debated the bill and several amendments.  I voted for some of the amendments, against others, and for the final passage of the bill, which passed the House by a vote of 273-147. 

The FISA reauthorization—and the failure to pass the rule beginning its consideration—meant that the House did not take up much other legislation.  But, we did vote for four bills under suspension of the rules, including the A Stronger Workforce for America Act (H.R. 6655), which reauthorizes and makes critical updates to the federal workforce development program, and the Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act of 2023 (H.R. 2560), which directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to award grants to rescue and rehabilitate stranded marine turtles with bipartisan support.

As a reminder, you can always find a list of all of the votes I have taken for the district on my website.

When I arrived in Washinton on Tuesday, I headed to the White House to join my colleagues on the Regional Leadership Council (RLC) for a meeting with White House leaders to talk about the Investing in America agenda.  I was glad to share some of the great projects happening in our region (Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona), including the grants I mentioned in last week’s update for projects in Gulfton and Alief.  From helping taxpayers save money on tax filing through the IRS's new Direct File tool to helping Americans connect to clean energy tax credits, our meeting reaffirmed that the partnership of the RLC and Biden-Harris Administration is making great strides in ensuring that the Investing in America agenda reaches every American. 

Here we are sharing highlights of our meeting with the press outside the White House at “the sticks”:

On Wednesday, I introduced the Pink Tariffs Study Act (HR 7927) to require the U.S. Department of the Treasury to conduct a study on potential gender bias and regressivity within the U.S. tariff system and report the findings to Congress.  As Chair of the New Democrat Coalition Trade Task Force, I worked on this legislation and introduced it with my colleague Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), after seeing reports that the U.S. tariff schedule places higher import taxes on women than men for the same or similar products, including razors and clothes. 

While often hidden from public view, tariffs have a significant impact on the prices Americans pay in stores every day.  Research has shown that tariffs disproportionately impact products women commonly use.  But despite making up $100 billion of the U.S. tax system, tariffs are rarely examined as a form of taxation, and rates on mass-market items haven’t changed in decades.  Every American deserves a fairer tax system, and this legislation will help us get to the bottom of the issue.

I also co-sponsored several other pieces of legislation on issues important to our community, including: 

• the Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act of 2023, H.R. 4184, to repeal the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which provides firearm manufacturers, distributors, and dealers immunity from civil liability and allow civil cases against gun companies and sellers to move forward
• a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of International Transgender Day of Visibility, H.Con.Res. 12; and
• the Everett Alvarez, Jr. Congressional Medal Act of 2023, H.R. 1097, to award a Congressional Gold Medal to Everett Alvarez, Jr, the second-longest held Prisoner of War in U.S. History.

On Wednesday, the Energy subcommittee reconvened in Washington for a hearing on our national programs to handle spent nuclear waste.  There is a lot of interest in nuclear power, which is clean, efficient power generated without carbon emissions, but there are also concerns about how to safely store and dispose of spent fuel properly.  Nuclear spent fuel policy has been a longstanding issue that Congress has failed to address after progress on a permanent nuclear waste repository in Yucca Mountain stalled more than a decade ago, leaving a patchwork of locations where spent fuel is stored.  In this hearing we discussed how to best update the Nuclear Waste Policy Act to address the challenges of disposing of nuclear waste safely.  

And on Thursday, the Communications & Technology Subcommittee met for a hearing titled: “Where Are We Now: Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996.”  Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act was important to the growth of the internet in its early stages, but it has remained unchanged since Congress enacted it in 1996 while the internet and internet use has evolved.  The provision—which some have called “the 26 words that created the internet”—was enacted to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to enable users and providers of “interactive computer services” to make content moderation decisions without facing legal liability in certain situations.  Congress intended Section 230 to provide technology companies with immunity from liability for third party content and the removal or restriction of obscene, violent, or other dangerous content. It has become an absolute shield for liability for content on the internet—even content that creates real and demonstrable harm.  Many have argued this liability shield is the opposite of what Congress intended, and last year the U.S. Supreme Court case, Gonzalez v. Google, the Court declined to evaluate the merits of Section 230 and made it clear Congress is responsible for addressing Section 230 concerns.  Our hearing showed that there is bipartisan agreement that Congress needs to address this provision and update the provision.  You can watch the full hearing on this important topic below.

On Wednesday evening, I was glad so many of you joined me for my telephone town hall reviewing the first quarter of 2024. I was glad to share and highlight congressional funding we passed in March, a few bills the House has passed, funding coming to our district, and the great work of our district team this year as well as to talk about work still to be done this year, which I know is on the minds of many of our neighbors.  Thanks to all those who took time to send questions to me before the call so I could highlight things you want to hear about!

As I mentioned during the town hall, I am focused on helping ensure efficient and effective implementation of the laws we passed in the last Congress, including the many IRS improvements authorized in the Inflation Reduction Act, which I voted for and President Biden signed into law in August 2022. 

I want to make sure you know about a new service the IRS is piloting called Direct File, which allows people to file their taxes online directly with the IRS.  (So much so that I am sending this information twice!) 

The new Direct File tool provides eligible Texans with a simple and secure option to file their taxes.  It’s available in English and Spanish, and provides real-time online support from IRS customer service specialists.  To find out if you’re eligible, visit directfile.irs.gov. 

Also, if you would like to receive in-person assistance with Direct File or with a tax-related issue, the IRS is hosting special Saturday hours at specific Taxpayer Assistance Centers.  The special Saturday openings will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow, April 13, and again on May 18.  No appointment is necessary, and you can find more information and a list of locations here.  There is a center in our area at The Alliance, at 8701 S. Gessner.

I also mentioned during the town hall that the Biden administration announced it is extending the Special Enrollment Period for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) renewal.   If you are enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP, or if you know someone who is and may benefit from this information.  Americans on Medicaid must sign up for the program again to renew their coverage. 

To renew Medicaid or CHIP coverage:

• If you need to renew your coverage, you should receive a letter in a yellow envelope in the mail from Texas Health and Human Services (HHSC), or you will get an email or text message informing you there is a letter posted to your account if you signed up for electronic notices through the YourTexasBenefits.com website.
  • Return renewal packets or requests for information as soon as possible.  You must respond within 30 days.
  • If you respond to renewal or information requests on time, your coverage will continue while HHSC reviews your eligibility.
• The best way to see if you need to renew your coverage or to complete your renewal application is to create an account at YourTexasBenefits.com, if you don’t already have one, or on the Your Texas Benefits mobile app.
• You can also call 2-1-1 and choose Option 2 after picking a language, but the wait times may be long depending on call volume and staff availability.
• You can also visit a local office or community partner to check your coverage status or renew in person.  To find an HHSC office or a community partner, visit YourTexasBenefits.com/Screener/FindAnOffice.

No longer eligible for Medicaid?

• If you are no longer eligible for Medicaid, you may be eligible for an ACA marketplace plan.  
• Recently, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services announced that the temporary Marketplace Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for qualified individuals and their families losing Medicaid or CHIP coverage due to the end of the Medicaid continuous enrollment condition would be extended until November 30, 2024.
• You can go to HealthCare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 to learn more or find someone to help you with your application.

I was glad to have a little time between hearings and other work to visit with the neighbors in town advocating for groups and organizations including the Legal Services Corporation, American Clean Power, USA Maritime, Environment Texas, the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce, and the Human Rights Campaign. 

Of course, Team TX-07 was meeting with neighbors on all kinds of issues this week, too.  In Washington, our team had nearly two dozen meetings, including those pictured below with representatives from the American Dental Association, MIT Science Policy Initiative, the Alzheimer’s Association, the Semiconductor Industry Association, the University of St. Thomas Houston’s Rising Stars Program, the Economic Alliance; the Association for Independent Insurance Agents; and the Department of State’s Critical Language Scholarship Program. 

In Houston, Team TX-07 was present for the exciting announcement from Harris County Commissioner that the new Brays Bayou Pedestrian Bridge will be named the Rabbi Samuel Karff Memorial Bridge as well as for the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston’s Passover Seder for multifaith community leaders, the Houston Inaugural Community Seder, Houston Community College’s Gulf Coast AI Conference and a meeting with leaders of Houston Community College, and the West End Civic Club meeting. 

In a week filled with highlights, there was none greater for me than meeting the newest member of #TeamTX07, the new son of our long-time digital director, Andrea, whose talents are reflected in everything we do, from the beautiful annual reports and photos of our district to the district logo! 

A reminder that the annual Congressional Art Competition is happening now and submissions are due before next Friday!  High school artists in TX-07 can submit their art for the competition and a chance to have it displayed in the U.S. Capitol or our district office for the next year.  To learn more, please click here. 

The House will be back in session, and I will be back in Washington next week.  To the disappointment of many, including me, the House has announced plans to vote on a number of bills related to household appliance energy standards but has not announced plans to vote on other critical legislation, including the national security funding many of us feel strongly must come to the floor as soon as possible.  I hope that will change before I report back to you next week.

Until then, 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.

Best wishes,