On Monday, I headed back to Washington for the first votes of the 118th Congress. 

After voting on the rules governing all proceedings in the House, we took votes on legislation brought to the floor directly by the new Republican majority.  I was disappointed that it chose to start this Congress with legislation that will increase the burden on American taxpayers and will increase our deficit.  The bill, called the  Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act really does the opposite—eliminating much-needed resources for the IRS to assist families and small business owners in need of assistance with tax matters. 

The bill proposed rescinding funding we allocated in the last Congress, in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 to help improve the experience from taxpayers (that is, for all of us) by hiring more IRS agents to answer questions and provide assistance over the computer and telephone to improve taxpayer services and technology. 

Nearly 1,000 of our neighbors have come to me for assistance with these matters in the last few years.  This bill does not help them, it does not meaningfully address important needs at the IRS.  Moreover, a cost estimate from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found that the Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act would have a net increase of $114 billion on the national deficit.  For these reasons, I voted no. 

The new majority also brought two bills to the floor that undermine access to reproductive health care, H.R. 26 and H.Con.Res. 3.  Again, these bills are disingenuous in their names and dangerous in their content, containing misinformation and failing to condemn violence against health care providers by omission.  As I told my colleagues on the House floor, they are an assault on the health, rights, equality, and dignity of American women and the people who provide their reproductive health care, and for these reasons, I voted no on both.

To see my remarks opposing H.R. 26, click here or the video below.  

Also on the floor this week were two bills relating to energy and foreign policy, Establishing the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, H.Res. 11, and the Protecting America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act, H.R. 22.  H.Res. 11 establishes a temporary committee in the U.S. House of Representatives to investigate and submit policy recommendations concerning actions of the government of the People’s Republic of China.  H.R. 22 bans exports from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to China.  As a country, the U.S. must uphold international rule of law when necessary, safeguard our strategic petroleum reserve, and prioritize national security, and that is why I voted for H. Res. 11 and H.R. 22. 

At the same time, I have concerns about the potential for xenophobic rhetoric to result in anti-Asian sentiment and hate, as we have seen in recent years across the country.  It is of the utmost importance that we focus this committee and legislation on its intended strategic economic and national security purpose.  I will remain vigilant on behalf of our diverse and dynamic community in Texas’ Seventh Congressional District and work with my colleagues in the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus in ensuring the committee and legislation are grounded in sound policy and do not result in increased anti-Asian sentiment.  I also took to the floor to speak on H.R. 22 and the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.  To see my remarks, click here or on the video below. 

This was the first week to introduce legislation this Congress, and I co-sponsored several pieces of legislation on issues important to our community:

• The Cover Outstanding Vulnerable Expansion-eligible Residents Now Act, H.R. 31, to establish a demonstration program to allow local governments to provide health benefits to the Medicaid expansion population in states that have not expanded Medicaid; 
• The Health Care Providers Safety Act of 2023, H.R. 286, to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize grants to health care providers to enhance the physical and cyber security of their facilities, personnel, and patients; and
• A resolution condemning attacks on health care facilities, health care personnel, and patients, to condemn all acts of political violence and attacks on health care facilities, personnel, and patients and affirm the right to access reproductive health care services and medical advice without fear of violence, intimidation, or harassment, H.Res. 27.

My legislative team and I are actively working on our own legislation and reviewing legislation that has been or will be filed this Congress.  I look forward to hearing from you about legislation that is important to you – call, write, or email me here. 

On Wednesday, I participated in the American Petroleum Institute’s State of American Energy event, participating in a panel discussion with my colleagues Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) and Congresswoman Mary Peltola (AK-AL).  I was glad to see so many Houstonians in the room!

Speaking of Houstonians in D.C., it was great to start the new year and the new Congress by opening our new office up for a meeting with students from Episcopal High School who were in DC for the Close Up Foundation program.  I always love welcoming Close Up groups and remembering my own Close Up trip when I was in high school!

And I loved having the chance to show some other very special Houstonians the office!

As always, our team was out and about in TX-07 this week!  Bricen attended Alief ISD's Center for Advanced Careers meet and greet with new Alief ISD Superintendent, Dr. Anthony Mays.  

I am excited to announce that Ifedolapo Shiloh Olotu, a student at James Taylor High School and a resident of Texas’ Seventh Congressional District, is the winner of the 2022 TX-07 Congressional App Challenge.  Ifedolapo’s app, ZoomRead, is designed to help improve reading speed and comprehension.  ZoomRead is a creative and important contribution to improving the reading skills of our community members.  His enthusiasm and resourcefulness are so inspiring.  I got to congratulate him on this accomplishment over Zoom recently, and I look forward to seeing what he does next!

I am so impressed with the creative talents of our young neighbors, and I thank all who entered this year’s contest.  For more information on the Congressional App Challenge, click here.

This week, Dr. David Persse, Chief Medical Officer for the City of Houston announced that the XBB.1.5 COVID-19 subvariant currently makes up about 12 to 15 percent of local cases.  Protect yourselves and your loved ones with one of the most effective forms of protection: get your COVID-19 bivalent booster.  Go to vaccines.gov/search to find location near you and appointment time!

The House will not be in session this week.  I look forward to spending this week at home in Houston visiting with neighbors across TX-07.

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,