This week, the House passed the Presidential Election Reform Act, H.R. 8873, a bipartisan bill introduced by Representatives Zoe Lofgren and Liz Cheney to

strengthen the integrity of future presidential elections.  This legislation takes four important and necessary steps; it:

• Reaffirms that the vice president has no authority or discretion to reject official slates of electoral or delay the count in any material way.
• Limits the type of objections that can be raised during certification, adhering to only those outlined in our Constitution.  All objections would require one-third of each chamber to be entertained – and a majority to be sustained.
• Requires governors to transmit lawful election results to Congress in a timely fashion – or be compelled to by a federal court.  Under this proposal, no rogue Governor can unlawfully subvert the will of the people.
• Makes clear that states cannot change the rules governing an election after it has occurred, preventing radical state legislators from attempting to alter the outcome.

I was glad to vote for this important legislation to preserve our constitutional processes, strengthen election integrity, and ensure the American people’s freedom to have their say in the destiny of our democracy.

On Thursday, the House voted for four public safety bills steps to build stronger, healthier relationships between law enforcement and those they serve:

• The Break the Cycle of Violence Act, H.R. 4118, which invests in effective, evidence-based community violence intervention initiatives, building on the life-saving progress we forged with similar investments in the American Rescue Plan;
• The Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods (VICTIM) Act of 2022, H.R. 5768, which will bolster the ability of police forces to solve homicides, sexual assaults, shootings and other violent crimes, necessary steps to ensure justice is served and improve trust in law enforcement; 
• The Invest to Protect Act, H.R. 6448, which funds the police, with grants to help small, local law enforcement agencies retain and recruit officers.  At the same time, this bill invests in strong guardrails and accountability measures, including training for de-escalation, responding to substance use disorders, supporting survivors of domestic violence, and promoting a duty of care; and
• The Mental Health Justice Act of 2022, H.R. 8542, which will help send unarmed mental health professionals to respond to mental health crises in our neighborhoods: crucial action to save lives from potentially fatal encounters with armed police officers.

I was glad to vote for these bills to that, together, will help prevent crime, save lives, and advance justice.

The House passed two other bills this week with strong bipartisan support:

• The Stop Human Trafficking in School Zones Act, H.R. 7566, to increase the penalty for individuals convicted of child sex trafficking in school zones or near school-sponsored events.  Preventing and penalizing child trafficking, especially at our nation’s schools, is crucial to creating safe environments for our children to grow and learn.
• The National Service Animals Memorial Act, H.R. 6353 to leverage private funds and donations to create a memorial on federal land in Washington, D.C. to commemorate the heroic deeds of service animals and their handlers.  Service animals have a long history of improving the lives of people with disabilities, helping law enforcement protect our communities, and serving alongside our troops.

After the first votes of the week on Monday, I joined a bipartisan group of my colleagues on the House steps to recognize Mental Health Awareness Month.

It was another busy week on the Hill, with hearings, markups, and meetings.  On Tuesday, I participated in a member briefing on the developments in Ukraine with administration officials.  Later that morning, I joined the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee for a full committee hearing titled “Amplifying the Arctic: Strengthening Science to Respond to a Rapidly Changing Arctic."

On Wednesday, the Energy and Commerce Committee held a day-long full committee markup of 24 bills and resolutions, including the Maximizing Outcomes Through Better Investments in Lifesaving Equipment for (MOBILE) Health Care Act, H.R. 5141, the Improving Trauma Systems and Emergency Care Act, H.R. 8163, and the Prevent All Soring Tactics Act of 2021 (PAST Act of 2021), H.R. 5441, an animal welfare bill I have heard about from many of you, and which I cosponsored.

Also on Wednesday, my Care Access Resources (CARS) for Vets Act, H.R. 3304, passed out of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, bringing it one step closer to becoming law.  This legislation expands the eligibility for disabled veterans to obtain vehicles modified to meet their needs.

In addition to committee and legislative work, I also weighed in on some issues important to Houstonians by:

• Sending a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to support the City of Houston’s grant application for the Reconnecting Communities grant;
• Joining a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan to urge the EPA to adopt a flexible, technology neutral, and cost-effective approach to deploying methane emission detection and measurement technologies; and
• Joining letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan in support of reaching a final agreement during collective bargaining with the American Federation of Government Employees.

It is always fun to see Houstonians on the Hill.  It was great to catch up with Corey, who interned in our district office in the fall of 2019 and now has two internships in Washington, D.C. this fall!

On Tuesday, I also had a brief visit with Houstonians representing the American Academy of Dermatology Association to discuss several bills important to their members.

Later in the week, I met with representatives from Enterprise Products about  several projects and issues of importance in the energy space.

This week, I had the privilege of announcing that the Alliance for Multicultural Community Services and LiftFund, Inc., two TX-07 nonprofits, have been awarded $350,000 in combined grants through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA’s) Program for Investment in Micro-Entrepreneurs (PRIME).  PRIME awards support nonprofit organizations that help underserved entrepreneurs access capital to establish and expand small businesses. Small businesses are drivers of our country’s economy and essential pillars of our community, and I am glad to announce this funding for TX-07 organizations.

I will be back in Washington this week for votes.  The House will consider several important matters, including a continuing resolution to keep the government funded and bills supporting veterans, including the CARS for Vets Act, H.R. 3304.

Save the Date!  For students interested in attending one of our nation’s military service academies: Save October 15 on your calendar for our resource fair, where we’ll have representatives from my office and the service academies to answer your questions. Details to follow—until then, view the application for nomination on my website.  It is due November 1!

Sending warm wishes to everyone celebrating Rosh Hashanah.  Shana Tovah!

As always, I am honored to represent you and I am here to help you.  Please call my office at (713) 353-8680 or (202) 225-2571 or email me at fletcher.house.gov/contact at any time to ask for assistance or share your thoughts.  My team and I look forward to hearing from you.

With best wishes,