The House reconvened on Tuesday, and we voted to pass the Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act of 2023, H.R. 1606, on a bipartisan basis.  Later in the week, the House also passed on a bipartisan basis the United States-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade First Agreement Implementation Act, H.R. 4004, which provides for Congressional approval of the first trade agreement negotiated from the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade and imposes new Congressional consultation and transparency requirements for subsequent agreements. 

On Wednesday, the House took up the Custom Health Option and Individual Care Expense (CHOICE) Arrangement Act, H.R. 3799, four proposals that would undermine the Affordable Care Act and hurt consumers and small businesses by removing critical health care protections that have been in place for years.  This bill would also increase health care costs for patients at a time when we should be finding policy solutions to make health care more affordable for Americans.  For these reasons, I voted no on this bill. 

Again this week, freshman Representative Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13) brought a privileged resolution to censure Representative Adam Schiff (CA-30) based on her unsupported and deeply problematic claims relating to Congress’ investigation and impeachment of former President Trump.  And just like last week, Democrats brought a motion to table the resolution.  This week, however, the motion to table failed, and the House debated the resolution.  In the end, the resolution passed on party lines.  I am sorry to report that this specious resolution reflected a deeply disappointing partisan effort that gives me great concern for the remainder of this session and the future of the Congress.

Also this week, Representative Lauren Boebert offered a privileged resolution to impeach President Biden.  The House did not vote on the resolution but voted to refer the resolution to two House committees, which I voted against.  As I have said before, few questions can be more important to our democracy than the question of whether the President of the United States has broken the solemn vow—made to all of us—to execute faithfully the Office of President of the United States and to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.  It is the responsibility of Congress to raise the question and investigate the answer with seriousness and fairness.  I do not believe in this instance that Representative Boebert or the House of Representatives has done so. 

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

On Wednesday, Representative Mark Takano (CA-39) reintroduced the Equality Act, H.R. 15, a bill to prevent discrimination against LGBTQI+ Americans in employment, housing, credit, federally funded programs, and public access and services.  I am proud to be an original co-sponsor of this legislation, and was glad to join Democratic leaders in the House and Senate for the announcement of the reintroduction of the bill, which every Democratic member in the House of Representatives has co-sponsored. 

On Thursday, I joined Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) and Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01) in reintroducing the Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act to establish a grant program to help ease the financial burden of women and families forced to travel to access abortion care.  Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) also introduced this legislation in the U.S. Senate.  Women and families in Texas and in states across our country where abortion has been banned are in crisis.  One way to help people and organizations respond to this crisis is to authorize grants to eligible entities to pay for travel-related expenses and logistical support for women seeking abortion care in states where it is legal.  I am glad to partner with these members of Congress in this effort to ensure that Americans can get the reproductive care they need no matter where they live. You can read more here.

This morning, I joined some of my colleagues in the Pro-Choice Caucus and representatives from health care and advocacy organizations to mark the first anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturning Roe v. Wade.  This week, we brought a petition to bring to the floor the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA), H.R. 12, which establishes a statutory federal right to abortion under a framework similar to the one that has existed for the last 50 years under Roe.  We need 218 members to sign the petition to bring this bill to the floor.  We have 210 now.  We only need 8 of our Republican colleagues to sign the petition to bring the bill to the floor for a vote. 

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

• The Aviation Workforce Development Act, H.R. 1818, to make education-related expenses at Federal Aviation Administration-certified private commercial pilot and aviation maintenance technician schools a qualified expense for 529 Plans, reducing financial barriers to entry for aspiring aviators and aircraft mechanics;
• The American Dream and Promise Act, H.R. 16, to secure protections and establish a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers as well as Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Enforced Departure recipients; and
• The Sanction Russian Nuclear Safety Violators Act of 2023, H.R. 3246, to impose sanctions on any person or entity endangering the integrity or safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine. 

I also joined my colleagues in sending a letter to the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, commending the Biden administration’s National Strategy to Counter Anti-Semitism and encouraging the United Nations to implement a similar strategy.

On Wednesday, the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Communications and Technology Subcommittee held a hearing on the work of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with testimony from FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and the FCC Commissioners.  I took the opportunity to ask the Chairwoman about the FCC’s efforts to enable emergency alerts in more languages – something important to keeping more people safe in our community and in communities across the country.

Tuesday evening, I hosted a roundtable discussion on trade with Canadian Ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman, the American Leadership Initiative, members of the New Democrat Coalition, and stakeholders with a wide range of perspectives on trade issues.

And on Thursday evening, I was glad to host a telephone town hall to provide a mid-year update on issues affecting our community and what Congress has done to address them.  From making our communities safer, to protecting our rights and freedoms, to investing in our infrastructure, I am working to elevate our district’s priorities.  I was glad to have the opportunity to hear from neighbors and address concerns and ensure our voices are heard.

Soon, I will share a mid-year report that covers many of these issues and more!

On Thursday, I met with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough and the Regional Leadership Council to talk about the work the VA is doing to ensure veterans and their survivors know about the expansion of benefits Congress passed in the Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act last year.

The Honoring Our PACT Act expands presumptive health care benefits to more than 3.5 million veterans exposed to toxic substances during their military service.  It is the most comprehensive legislation to date to address American servicemembers’ exposure to Agent Orange, burn pits, and other toxic substances.  It provides for toxic exposure screening for veterans enrolled in U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care at VA health facilities across the country, and the VA is actively working to reach out to veterans who are not enrolled.

Eligible veterans and survivors who file their claims (or submit an intent to file) by August 9, 2023 may receive benefits backdated to August 10, 2022.  For more information or to file a claim online, click here or on the graphic above.  For questions, the VA can be reached directly at 800-698-2411 and our TX-07 constituent advocates are available to help you with the VA, as well.  I hope you will share this information.

This week, President Biden welcomed Prime Minister of the Republic of India Narendra Modi to Washington for a state visit.  During his visit, Prime Minister Modi addressed a joint session of Congress, which I attended on Thursday.  I was glad to welcome our TX-07 neighbor Jagdip Ahluwalia, Founding Secretary and Executive Director of the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston, to the Capitol for the address, and to visit with him in my office prior to the joint session to talk about the chamber’s important work in our community and the important relationship between India and the United States.

There were lots of Houstonians on the Hill this week, and I was thrilled to welcome them to Washington!  It was great to visit with Fort Bend County Sheriff Eric Fagan and his wife, Jackie, who were in town for a meeting on gun violence prevention with police chiefs from around the country, as well as representatives from the Association for Materials Protection and Performance; Sugar Land City Council Member William Ferguson; a TX-07 student returning from the American Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange program, and others! 

I also had the opportunity to present the Congressional Award’s Gold Medal to Katherine from Bellaire High School.  This is a high achievement for young people across the country who demonstrate a strong commitment to volunteerism and community service.  The Congressional Award is a non-partisan youth development program open to students between the ages of 14 and 23.  For more information on the program, click here. 

In between session days last week and this week, I was glad to have the chance to visit with neighbors across the district this celebratory weekend.  I was glad to visit with leaders in our Jewish community for a roundtable discussion originally scheduled to mark Jewish American Heritage Month (which had to be rescheduled when we were called back to Washington to vote on the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023). 

I was honored and proud to celebrate Juneteenth in Fort Bend County with Judge KP George, community leaders, and TX-07 neighbors. 

And I loved the chance to stop in a few TX-07 businesses, including Engel & Volkers' Houston office and Montrose Eye Care, for my annual Pride Month visits with the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce.

In Washington, our team met with lots of folks, including representatives from the Texas Restaurant Association, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Minority Fellowship Program, United Spinal Association, and No Kid Hungry.

And back home in Houston, our field representatives attended the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce’s Show Your Pride event and the opening of a new TX-07 business.

I am glad to be headed back to Houston while the House is not in session over the next two weeks.  I am looking forward to seeing people across the district, and sharing some exciting news while I am home.   

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.  

Best wishes,