Dear Neighbor,

As we approach Memorial Day, we are reminded of the incredible sacrifice of our fellow Americans who gave their lives for our safety and our freedom.  Tomorrow is a day to remember and to honor our veterans who gave their lives for our country.  And one of the most important ways we can do that is to remember what they sacrificed their lives for – for us, for our country, and for our future – and to do our part to carry on their commitment to and their belief in our country.

And as we honor and remember these brave Americans, our hearts are heavy with the loss of nearly 100,000 Americans over just the past few months to COVID-19.  We grieve, we remember, and we honor their memories.

Over the past week, I have continued to work with my colleagues and our community to respond to this pandemic and its devastating impacts.  My weekly update to you follows.

This week, I joined my colleagues on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee’s Environment Subcommittee for a briefing with researchers studying on connections between air pollution and COVID-19, and the additional research needed to understand and mitigate health impacts that the studies conclude are exacerbated by air pollution.

With so much need across communities, I joined my colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar requesting that more funding be directed to community health centers, which provide comprehensive and low-cost health care services to patients regardless of insurance status or income.  These clinics have been critical providers on the frontlines in our district, the greater Houston area, and across the country during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is vital that we support their work during this time.

This week, I also joined a bipartisan group of more than one hundred colleagues in sending a letter to the President, the Secretary of Defense, and FEMA Administrator concerning reports that National Guard service would be stopped at 89 days – one day short of the 90-day period after which many servicemembers would become eligible for retirement and education benefits.  You can read our letter here.

This week, I was glad to participate in several phone meetings about COVID-19 with leading scientists and public health experts.  In was glad to meet with Dr. Anthony Fauci and the New Democrat Coalition.  I also joined our Houston Congressional delegation for an update on COVID-19 with Baylor College of Medicine’s Dr. Paul Klotman, Dr. Jim McDeavitt, and Dr. Peter Hotez.  They provided helpful information and collaboration on many COVID-19 challenges in our community.  We discussed Baylor’s guidelines for opening and their workplace recommendations, which address concerns many members of our community have raised with me, and which you can find here.

When I am in Washington, I love the chance to see Houstonians on the Hill – for the first time or for annual trips.  As we adjust to COVID-19, we have been able to have those visits virtually.  I was glad to speak with the Houston Association of Realtors to provide an update on my work, COVID-19, and other issues of importance across our district.  I also had a great meeting with the Petroleum Equipment and Services Association (PESA) to provide an update on my work to mitigate COVID-19 and its impact on the energy industry and to hear about the experiences of PESA members.

My team and I are committed to ensuring you have the resources and information you need.  With hurricane season beginning next week, we have put together a 2020 Hurricane Season Quick Reference Guide.

You can find a downloadable version of our 2020 Hurricane Season Reference Guide here.  My team and I will continue to closely monitor any developments as we enter hurricane season, and I urge you to do the same.  I am working to ensure that FEMA and the National Weather Service are prepared for hurricane season, especially in light of the impacts of COVID-19 on their work and their resources.  We have seen from this week’s terrible flooding in Michigan that the risks for natural and other disasters remain, and we must be preparing and adjusting as needed.

With everything going on in our community and around the world, please remember that my team and I are here for you.  Share your thoughts and concerns – and let us know how we can help.  You can email here, or call my office at (713) 353-8680 any time.

I am proud to represent you, and I am here to help you.

Best wishes,