Dear Neighbor,

Happy Labor Day!  On Monday, we recognize and celebrate America’s working men and women and those who advocate for them—and for the opportunity to make the American dream reality for all.  I hope you will have the time to reflect and enjoy this Labor Day.  I am looking forward to a very full short week in Houston this week.  But first, some highlights from last week.

August is National Black Business Month, an annual celebration to highlight the work of Black-owned businesses.  On Tuesday, I wrapped up the month by convening a roundtable with Black business owners and touring a Black-owned business in our district.  I appreciated the time, insights, and partnership of these community leaders—from our roundtable discussion of the state of business today to the tour of Houston City Dance where I could see challenges and successes first-hand.

For our tour, representatives from the Small Business Administration (SBA) Houston office joined us as we learned more about Sherese’s business as she has worked to keep her business going through the pandemic.

I also visited this week with Combined Arms, an organization that provides comprehensive support to military members and their families as they transition to civilian life, for a discussion with military veterans, Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) recipients, and local refugee aid organizations about the current situation in Afghanistan and efforts to support our military and Afghan partners at home and abroad.  I appreciate their thoughtful advocacy and commitment, and look forward to continuing our work together.

Our office has been working to help constituents with evacuations from Afghanistan, working with the State Department and Administration.  You can find more information or direct people to assistance at fletcher.house.gov/afghanistan.

It was a week of roundtables!  In addition to meeting with people across Houston, I was delighted to have the opportunity to convene a virtual roundtable with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and Houston area leaders to discuss understanding, planning for, and responding to cyber threats.  These leaders’ broad experience working here and around the globe brings important insights to our national cybersecurity conversation, and I was so proud to highlight our district’s leadership on this issue.

Although I have been at home, I have continued to work on legislative matters from home.  I have had many calls and meetings about ideas for the Build Back Better Act now making its way through the House—with people at home and with my colleagues in Washington.  These bills are moving quickly, and I appreciate how many people have been responsive to me and my team as we work through the ideas proposed and work to ensure our community’s priorities are included.

This week, I also co-sponsored legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal posthumously to the 13 servicemembers killed at Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport in August.  This bipartisan bill affirms the gratitude of all Americans for their service and sacrifice.

COVID continues to be a challenge across our community.  It is good news that hospitalizations are slowing, but it is too soon to tell the extent.  As of Wednesday, Texas had 13,790 people in hospitals for COVID-19 treatment, a modest decrease from 13,932 the previous week.  As the chart below illustrates, this is a very high number.  The challenges facing our health care providers and neighbors are numerous—and these conditions make it difficult for people with other urgent and life-threatening illnesses to get care.

We must remain vigilant in our efforts to stop the spread—so please get vaccinated.  And wear a mask as recommended by the CDC in consideration of our neighbors and young ones who may not be able to get vaccinated yet.

Congressional Committees are back to work this week.  The Science, Space, & Technology Committee will mark up bills for inclusion in the Build Back Better plan, and I will continue working with my colleagues on this budget reconciliation legislation.

Our Fall Interns are here!  Last week, I met with our district office’s Fall 2021 interns as they began work in our office this week.  Over the years, we have had wonderful interns.  If you know anyone who might be interested in interning this Spring, we will share more information on my website soon.

Later this month, I will hold my quarterly town hall – this one a telephone town hall to provide a general update and to hear from you on issues that matter to you. 

Whether I am in Washington or Houston, I am here for 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.  My team and I are here to help.

With best wishes,