Congressional Redistricting in Texas.  This week, the topic I heard the most about from people in Washington was what is happening in Texas.  And much of it was focused on Governor Abbott’s announcement that he will ask the Texas Legislature to reconvene in a special session starting next Monday to, among other things, redraw the Texas Congressional at the urging of President Trump.

I raise this issue here because it is important for our neighbors in our district and all Texans to know that this redistricting effort is underway. 

Once a decade, redistricting takes place following the reapportionment of Congressional seats following the Census, as populations change and states gain and lose seats in the 435-member body.  Following the 2020 Census, Texas gained two seats, for a total of 38, and adopted its current map in 2021.  Currently, Republicans hold 25 seats and Democrats hold 13. 

President Trump said this Wednesday that he has asked Texas to redraw its Congressional map to add five more districts that will elect Republicans to Congress in 2026.  If Governor Abbott and the Texas Legislature do what President Trump has asked, Texas would have a delegation of 30 Republicans and 8 Democrats.  Such an effort is likely to require redrawing all of the districts in the state, including ours.

In Texas, Republican partisan gerrymandering is racial gerrymandering.  All but one of the 13 Democratic congressional districts in Texas has a majority minority population.  And in all 13 Democratic seats, minority voters elect their candidate of choice.  To gain five Republican congressional seats from Texas, Texas Republicans will have to further undermine the voting strength of minority Texans, disenfranchising minorities already harmed by racially discriminating district lines.

This redistricting effort undermines the right and the ability of all Texans to choose the people who represent us in Washington.

The Epstein Files.  When people were not talking about redistricting this week, they were talking about the Epstein files.  This week, House Democrats demanded the release of the Epstein Files, which explain the crimes of convicted child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and identify his accomplices.  The American people deserve to know the truth about Jeffrey Epstein and his inner circle.  But, House Republicans voted effectively to block a debate on whether the Department of Justice should release the Epstein files.   No one in the government should be trying to keep the facts on these child predators hidden.

This week, the House considered and voted on two major, partisan funding bills: the Department of Defense Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2026 and the Senate Amendment to the Recissions Package.  It was also “Crypto Week” in the House, and we considered three bills concerning cryptocurrency.

It was a week of procedural games, and debate on this legislation was delayed.  Historians notes that this week saw the longest vote in House history—a record-breaking seven hours and 24 minutes—just on a procedural motion allowing for the debate on this week’s legislation to proceed.

On Thursday, the House voted on three bills relating to two bills related to the regulation of digital assets.  Digital assets, including cryptocurrency, are becoming an increasingly common investment in the United States.  I agree with supporters of these bills that government regulation of this new industry is necessary, but the bills we considered this week do not provide strong enough protections against corruption or adequate consumer protection:

• The Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act of 2025 (H.R. 3633) creates a regulatory framework for digital commodities, but crucially leaves out the President and Vice-President from its conflicts-of-interest provisions.  By some estimates, President Trump has already made billions of dollars from his digital currency.  Officials at the highest levels of our government should not be allowed to enrich themselves because of their position, and any digital asset regulations must adequately address this issue. 
• The GENIUS Act (S. 1582) also creates a regulatory framework for a specific type of digital assets known as stablecoins, which attach their value to a stable asset to limit investment risk.  Similar to the CLARITY Act, the GENIUS Act would allow the Trump family to enrich themselves by pushing stablecoin made popular by his position.  I voted against these bills, which passed 294-134 and 308-122, respectively.

On Thursday, the House also voted on the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act (H.R. 1919).  This bill prohibits Federal Reserve banks from issuing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), or studying the potential merits of a CBDC.  This shortsighted bill would arbitrarily block the federal government from even studying the impacts and benefits of the CBDC.  I voted against this bill, but it passed 219-210.

The House next considered the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (H.R. 4016), along with several proposed amendments to the bill.  This bill would provide $832 billion in discretionary funding to the Department of Defense, while simultaneously empowering the Trump administration to make $7.75 billion in unilateral cuts to every program aside from intelligence activities—putting troop pay, military readiness, health programs, and more on the chopping block.  The bill also contains several poison pill provisions that would allow extremism and disinformation to flourish, roll back vaccine requirements, embolden policies that attack the LGBTQ+ community, obstruct diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, and prevent servicemembers from traveling across state lines to seek reproductive health care.  Instead of investing in our national security and supporting our servicemembers, this partisan bill contains divisive provisions that harm military readiness and undermine democracy at home and abroad.  For these reasons, I voted against the bill, which passed the House by a vote of 221-209.

The House also considered the Senate Amendment to the Recissions Act of 2025 (H.R.4), which, at the request of President Trump, rescinds, or claws back, $9 billion in funding that Congress has already appropriated and that has been enacted into law.  This is the second time the House has considered this bill; this version amended by the Senate.  This recissions package would make permanent several spending cuts implemented by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, including $7.9 billion in international development and humanitarian programs—almost all of which has been unlawfully frozen for the first five months of the Trump administration.  The bill eliminates all civilian funding for Ukraine and our allies facing aggression from Russia, remove access to basic family planning and reproductive health programs for 24 million women, and rescind more than $2.5 billion in developmental programs like UNICEF.  The recissions package also cuts $1.1 billion in funding for the Corporation of Public Broadcasting—harming education programs for millions of preschool children and more than 1,500 locally owned NPR and PBS public television and radio stations.  For us, those are cuts to Houston Public Media, which I grew up calling KUHF and Channel 8.  I oppose these cuts, and have worked to restore funding in the future.  I voted against this bill again this week, but it passed the House by a vote of 216-213.

The House also voted to pass the following bills under suspension of the rules: the Understanding Cybersecurity of Mobile Networks Act (H.R. 1709), to require the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to report Congress on the security of mobile service networks and vulnerabilities to cyberattacks and foreign surveillance; the Consumer Safety Technology Act (H.R. 1770), to require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to launch a pilot program to explore the use of artificial intelligence; the Communications Security Act (H.R.1717), to enhance telecommunication network resilience against natural disasters and cyber attacks; and the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge Act (S. 1596), to rename the National Wildlife Refuge near Anahuac, Texas, after Jocelyn Nungaray.  I missed this week’s votes Monday evening, as did many of my colleagues because of weather-related travel delays traveling to Washington.

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

I also co-sponsored the Anti-Rigging Act, H.R. 4358, that Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33) introduced.  If enacted, this bill would ban the practice of mid-decade redistricting unless courts require it pursuant to the Voting Rights Act.  As I discussed above, mid-decade redistricting is disrespectful to citizens, no matter their political affiliation.  Once a decade, redistricting takes place following the reapportionment of Congressional seats following the Census, as populations change and states gain and lose seats in the 435-member body.  This process is not for politicians—it is for citizens.  Politicians should not trade their constituents to maximize partisan political advantage.  Citizens deserve—and should expect—better from those elected to serve them.  This bill is one way to counter efforts—like the effort underway in Texas—that undermine the fundamental principle that the people of the United States have the right and the ability to have a say in our agreement, which is what this bill does.

I also introduced the Right to FDA-Approved Medicines Act, H.R. 4525, with Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02), Congresswoman Kathy Castor (FL-14), Congresswoman Kim Schrier (WA-08), and Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-02).  This legislation protects Americans’ access to safe and effective medications that have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.  It responds to efforts in Texas and states across the country that have restricted access to FDA-approved abortion care drugs such as Mifepristone.

Over the last two weeks, I have also co-sponsored several pieces of legislation on issues important to our community, including:

• a resolution, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, directing the President to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran, other than those elements of the Armed Forces that may be necessary to defend the United States or an ally or partner of the United States from imminent attack provided that the President complies fully with the requirements of section 5(b) the War Powers Resolution with respect to any such use of the Armed Forces, unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or a specific congressional authorization for use of military force against Iran, H.Con.Res.40;
• a resolution commending Petty Officer 3d Class Scott Ruskan for his heroic efforts to rescue victims during the Hill Country floods, H.Res. 570;
• the No Secret Police Act, H.R. 4176, to prohibit Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from using non-tactical masks and to require the agents to display identification clearly when detaining or arresting individuals;
• the Original LGBTQIA+ Pride Month Resolution of 2025, H.Res. 550;
• a resolution expressing support for the designation of June 26 as “LGBTQI+ Equality Day,” H. Res. 549;
• the PRIDE Act of 2025, H.R. 4163, to combine the Refund Equality Act to provide tax refunds to same-sex married couples who were married before same-sex marriage was legalized nationwide and the Equal Dignity for Married Taxpayers Act to remove gendered language in the Internal Revenue Code;
• the Equal Dignity for Married Taxpayers Act of 2025, H.R. 4157, to modify gender-specific language in several tax code provisions; and
• the LIHEAP Staffing Support Act, H.R. 3876, to protect the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) by establishing a minimum staffing standard for administering the program;

This week and last I joined my colleagues in sending the following letters:

• a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr and Acting Chief for the Bureau of Public Safety and Homeland Security Zenji Nakazawa urging the FCC to prioritize language accessibility in disaster response as hurricane season approaches and the FCC to ensure emergency communications -- including Wireless Emergency Alerts, EAS messages, 9-1-1 services, and TV/radio alerts – are available in multiple languages;
• a letter to Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought requesting information regarding the status and disbursement timeline of the delayed Fiscal Year 2025 funds appropriated for AmeriCorps;
• a letter to President Trump, State Secretary Marco Rubio, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and Attorney General Pam Bondi expressing opposition to President Trump’s sweeping travel ban, which will deny entry to thousands of individuals from 19 different countries;
• a letter to Defense Undersecretary Elbridge Colby expressing concern over the Department of Defense's decision to halt munitions shipments to Ukraine and urging the reversal of the decision immediately;
• a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson and Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole opposing the proposed $396.5 million cut to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in the FY26 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill and calling for Members of both parties to preserve full funding of GAO going forward;
• a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought demanding the Trump administration immediately release nearly $7 billion in funding for K-12 schools and adult education from states and school districts across the country;
• a letter to Commerce Department Secretary Lutnick and Acting National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator Laura Grimm urging them to reject the NOAA budget cuts and facility closures included in the FY26 President's Budget Request;
• a letter to Appropriations Commerce Justice and Science Subcommittee Chairman Hal Rogers and Ranking Member Grace Meng urging them to reject the NOAA budget cuts and facility closures included in the FY26 President's Budget Request; and
• a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio requesting information about the State Department’s role in the recently announced proclamation by President Trump banning Afghan nationals from entering the United States and its inconsistency with the justification for termination of TPS for Afghanistan.

Amicus Alerts. I also joined my colleagues in filing several amicus briefs, including:

• an amicus brief to the U.S. District Court of Appeals in the matter of Oregon, et al. v. Trump, et al arguing that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) is not a tariff statute and that the Constitution gives Congress, not the President, exclusive legislative power to impose tariffs and regulate commerce;
• an amicus brief to the U.S. District Court of Maryland in support of NAACP v. U.S., challenging the Trump administration's unlawful dismantling of the Department of Education; and
• an amicus brief to the U.S. District Court of Appeals on the appeal for Centro de Trabajadores Unidos v. Bessent, regarding the importance of safeguarding taxpayer privacy and the longstanding tax confidentiality and integrity of the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) program. 

This week the Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee held a hearing to discuss multiple bills related to reauthorizing programs for over-the-counter drugs and critical health care workforce programs.  At the hearing, I raised my concerns that, even if we reauthorize these programs, President Trump and Congressional Republicans budget cuts, as well as the firing of so many employees at the Department of Health and Human Services, mean that we will not have the funding or the staff to carry fort these programs.  Many of the critical workforce programs we discussed were slashed in President Trump’s budget proposal.  You can see my remarks below.

One important issue has come up over the past few weeks since the Republicans passed their “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act (H.R. 1) a few weeks ago.  President Trump and senior members of his administration have recently claimed that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act gives a tax break for recipients of Social Security or even eliminates taxes on Social Security benefits.  This is not true.  To make matters worse, the leadership of President Trump’s Social Security Administration sent out an official notice to Social Security recipients spreading this lie.  Even I got one.  This incorrect information could lead to seniors making inaccurate benefit claims or unintentionally not paying taxes they owe.  Section 70103 of the bill does include a temporary deduction for seniors, but claiming that this provision eliminates taxes on Social Security is incorrect and irresponsible to the members of our community who rely on these benefits and need accurate information.

On Wednesday, Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), my partner on the Right to Contraception Act, and I held a bicameral hearing to highlight restrictions to accessing birth control.  We heard testimony from and questioned reproductive rights experts and advocates from across the country.  As Congress and the Trump Administration wage unprecedented and unconstitutional attacks on Americans’ health care, it is important for us to hear from those on the frontlines of the fight for reproductive freedom.  Millions of Americans rely on contraception of all kinds to plan their families and their lives.  Ninety percent of Americans support access to all forms of birth control.  I am grateful to Senator Markey for joining me in hosting this hearing to bring this important issue to light.  I will continue to do everything I can to protect the health, privacy, dignity, and autonomy of women and families across our country.

It’s always a highlight to meet with Houstonians on the Hill, and this week I was especially glad to sit down with Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis to talk about issues important to Harris County.

In Washington, Team TX-07 held more than two dozen meetings with constituents and groups advocating on their behalf, including Harris County Flood Control District, Autism Speaks, and the High School Democrats of America, pictured below.  Back home in the district, our team has been out and about, helping constituents and attending community events across the district, including the Heights Chamber of Commerce Luncheon with METRO Police Department Chief, Ban Tien, a Constituent Services Pop-Up at PlazAmericas, a celebration of the Cypress Ditch Improvement Project for which I secured $10 million on behalf of the City of Bellaire, and the Gulf Coast Community Services Association Meeting, pictured below.

I am hosting another passport fair for (1) first-time passport or passport card applicants and (2) renewal and replacement passports or passport cards at the Mission Bend Boys & Girls Club of Greater Houston.  Representatives from the Houston Passport Agency will be present to answer questions and accept applications.  Please RSVP here or by clicking the image below.

As I mentioned above, this week, I joined every single House Democrat in demanding the release of the Epstein Files.  House Republicans voted to effectively block a debate on whether the Department of Justice should release the Epstein files to the public.

The House will be back in session next week, and I will be back in Washington.  I will send you another update at the end of the week, but if you have questions or need any help, 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 am proud to represent you, I am here to help you, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes,