Fletcher, Lizzie RSS Articles

Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Statement on Ending the DHS Shutdown Without Funding ICE and CBP

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, the House of Representatives passed the Senate Amendment to H.R. 7147, Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026, a bill that funds the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through Fiscal Year 2026. This bill does not include funding for enforcement actions by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which collectively received an unprecedented $170 billion for immigration and border enforcement in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R.1).

“Passing this bill finally ends a record 75-day shutdown of DHS and provides hard-working federal employees—including those with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the U.S. Coast Guard—much-needed financial stability. House and Senate Democrats repeatedly proposed funding these agencies throughout this shutdown while negotiations on immigration enforcement activities continue, and I am glad House Republicans finally joined us in doing so,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher.

“While there is still work to do to curb this administration’s abuses, passing this legislation funds the agencies that Americans depend on while withholding additional funding from ICE and CBP,” Congresswoman Fletcher continued. “Now, Republicans must work to address Americans’ legitimate concerns and negotiate with Democrats on critical reforms to the Trump administration’s lawlessness in its immigration enforcement policies.”

Earlier this year, Congresswoman Fletcher introduced the Freeze ICE Act, H.R. 7392, to stop the rapid recruitment of unvetted individuals at ICE. And in March, Congresswoman Fletcher signed a discharge petition to force a vote on H.R. 7481, legislation to immediately fund all of DHS except for ICE and CBP.

The bill passed the House by voice vote and is now headed to President Trump’s desk, where he is expected to sign it into law.

Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Statement on Supreme Court Decision in Louisiana v. Callais

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) released the following statement after the Supreme Court issued its decision in Louisiana v. Callais, striking down Louisiana's congressional map and gutted Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act:

"The Voting Rights Act is one of the most important civil rights laws in the history of the United States: the result of a generations-long struggle to ensure the right to full participation in our democratic society for all American citizens and a triumph over a long and shameful history of racial discrimination in voting. Today, the United States Supreme Court gutted the Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which has served until now as the last legal barrier against overt and intentional racial discrimination in American politics, and betrayed generations of Americans past and present who fought for the right to vote and for full citizenship for all Americans.

“If the Supreme Court will not protect the right of all Americans to participate in our democratic process, Congress and citizens must. Every one of us can—and must—do the work to protect the progress the Voting Rights Act represents and the promise of American democracy for all.

“Today, I join the Congressional Black Caucus in demanding an immediate vote on the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and pledge to join them in the effort to organize, litigate, and mobilize until the promise of this democracy is not just defended, but fully realized for everyone.”

Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher and Congressman Troy Carter Introduce Legislation To Rein In Rogue EPA

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) and Congressman Troy Carter (LA-02) introduced the Zealously Eliminating Legal Decisions of Ineptitude and Negligence (ZELDIN) Act to establish guardrails on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin's authority to terminate federal grants and abandon enforcement actions that protect communities from carcinogens for the remainder of the Trump administration.

"Administrator Zeldin has abandoned federal lawsuits protecting communities from toxic chemicals, canceled grants that Houston families and local governments depend on, and dismantled the standards that ensure environmental rules are grounded in science and public health—often without legal authority and always without accountability," said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. "The ZELDIN Act strengthens oversight and the legal requirements necessary to rein in this out-of-control Administrator, and I am glad to work with Congressman Carter to introduce this important legislation."

“My bill is about restoring accountability and ensuring the EPA never turns its back on the communities it’s intended to protect,” said Congressman Troy Carter. “At its core, this bill reaffirms a simple principle: safeguarding the health and environment of Americans is not optional—it is the EPA’s fundamental duty.”

If enacted, the ZELDIN Act would:

Require a mandatory legal review before any grant termination. Last year, the Trump administration canceled $250 million in federal funding for solar and battery storage in Harris County—a grant issued during the Biden administration that would have helped families save an average of $468 per year in energy costs. The ZELDIN Act would prevent future grants like these from being canceled for political purposes;
Preserve funding during legal disputes. The EPA has been pulling back awarded funds even while grant recipients are still challenging terminations in court or through administrative appeals, effectively ending legal disputes before they can be fairly resolved. The ZELDIN Act, would halt this practice;
Restore public health and economic analyses by requiring EPA to assess the public health and economic effects of major rules before finalizing them, a standard practice the Trump administration has abandoned, weakening the factual foundation for health-protective regulations;
Require Congressional review of carcinogen lawsuit dismissals by establishing a joint Congressional review process before EPA could dismiss a lawsuit or withdraw a referral of claims involving the release of carcinogens, ensuring those decisions are made with proper oversight; and
Hold EPA accountable by creating penalties for an Administrator who violates the act and gives individuals aggrieved by a violation of the act the right to pursue damages in court.

To view the full text of the ZELDIN Act, click here.

Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher’s Bill To Expand Texans’ Access to Emergency Alerts Passes House

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) secured passage of her bill, the Mystic Alerts Act, H.R. 7022. The Mystic Alerts Act improves Americans’ access to wireless emergency alerts by requiring the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to encourage mobile service providers to adopt satellite alerting capabilities—technology that allows more people to receive life-saving alerts even if they lack cellular service. The bipartisan effort follows the devastating floods in Central Texas last summer and seeks to address communication gaps to prepare communities.

“In Houston and across the state of Texas, we are still heartbroken and grieving the loss of 135 people and the destruction of communities along the Guadalupe River last summer, a disaster made worse by communication gaps and failures,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. “This bill is a small but important way to provide a meaningful response to the devastating floods and learn from the tragedy so that communities across the country do not have to experience the same pain and loss that Texans did last year. Nothing can bring back those that we lost in the flood, but we owe it to their survivors and to everyone we represent to do everything we can to try to prevent another tragedy like the one that we saw last summer. I am glad to partner with Congressman Pfluger, Congressman Veasey, and Congressman Carter in this effort and the work to get this legislation signed into law.”

"Disaster doesn't wait, and neither can we. The devastating July 4th floods that tore through Central and West Texas, including Camp Mystic where two of my daughters were staying, were a powerful reminder of the stakes, said Congressman August Pfluger. The Mystic Alert Act steps up where our systems often fall short, ensuring Wireless Emergency Alerts can still be delivered via satellite when traditional networks fail. This means life-saving information can reach families and first responders when it matters most. Today's passage is a major, commonsense win to strengthen emergency communications preparedness and protect our communities from facing a tragedy like this again."

“I am proud of the passage of the Mystic Alerts Act through the House today—this bill will ensure that emergency alerts are disseminated through satellites even if commercial cell providers are unable to provide service,” said Congressman Marc Veasey.

“My granddaughters were staying at Camp Mystic when the devastating floods claimed the lives of many young girls, including their cousin, Janie Hunt,” said Congressman Buddy Carter. “No child or family should have to endure a tragedy like this again. This bill will strengthen communication infrastructure during emergencies by implementing satellite-enabled alerts that can mean the difference between life and death. I am proud to see the Mystic Alerts Act pass the House, look forward to the Senate taking it up, and to its eventual signing into law.”

Congresswoman Fletcher joined Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11), Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33), and Congressman Buddy Carter (GA-01) in introducing this legislation. The bill now moves to the United States Senate, where it is one step closer to becoming law.

Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Votes To Require President To Follow Constitution

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) voted for H.Con.Res.40, a resolution to direct President Trump to terminate the use of the United States Armed Forces from hostilities against Iran unless Congress explicitly makes a declaration of war or authorizes use of military force against Iran.

"The United States Constitution provides that Congress has the sole authority and solemn responsibility to declare war. President Trump, however, has consistently disregarded the Constitution, as has this Republican Congress.

“Today, the House considered a resolution to require the President to come to the Congress—to the representatives of the people—and to the people of the United States to make the case for war, as the Constitution requires. I voted for it. It failed. House Republicans—for the second time since the beginning of this conflict—have ceded their Constitutional authority to the President, rather than doing the job they were sent to Washington to do.

“For more than a month, the President has acted unilaterally and unchecked, starting a war without any evidence of an imminent threat to the United States, while releasing statements that are unhinged and untethered to reality and spreading inflammatory rhetoric that threatens to escalate this war of choice.

“At this point, this Republican Congress is not merely a do-nothing Congress; it is a do-harm Congress: harm to the Constitution, to the separation of powers, and to the principle that the government is one of, by, and for the people rather than a king.”

H.Con.Res. 40 failed by a vote of 213-214-1.

Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Votes To Protect 350,000 Haitians Under Temporary Protected Status from Arbitrary Deportation

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) voted in favor of legislation, H.R. 1689, which extends Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians across the United States until April 20, 2029.

“Our Haitian neighbors in Texas’ Seventh Congressional District and across our country have sought refuge and contributed to our communities,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. “Sending them back to Haiti—into an ongoing humanitarian, economic, and political crisis—would be cruel and unjust. I am glad to see Congress act to protect more than 350,000 Haitians across the country from losing their ability to live and work in the United States. They deserve stability, not deportation. This is a big victory for the safety and dignity of our Haitian neighbors and is a rebuke of President Trump’s cavalier decision to end TPS designations for Haiti.”

In February, Congresswoman Fletcher signed a discharge petition to force a vote on H.R. 1689. A discharge petition is a legislative tool in the House of Representatives that allows a majority of members to force a bill to the floor for a vote by the full chamber, even if the Speaker of the House opposes it.

This week, Congresswoman Fletcher joined her Democratic colleagues in filing an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court in Miot v. Trump and Mullin v. Doe, a consolidated case challenging the Trump administration's unlawful termination of TPS for Haiti and Syria.

H.R. 1689 passed the House by a vote of 224-204 and now heads to the Senate for consideration.

Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher on President Trump’s Post Stating That “A Whole Civilization Will Die Tonight”

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) released the following statement as the United States conducts military strikes on Iran and President Trump issues grave new threats:.

"Over the past several days, the President of the United States has posted statements that are unhinged and untethered to reality. Over the past few years, we have gotten used to seeing rambling, incoherent posts on his personal, for-profit social media platform, and have worried about their content and about the conduct of United States policy—domestic and foreign—through this medium.

“Today one thing is clear: We cannot ignore them. The President’s statements are not only unhinged, they are dangerous: an escalation not only in rhetoric but in the real-world consequences. The President appears to be threatening to take actions that would not only violate international law and long-standing rules of war, he is threatening to take actions that would make the United States unrecognizable to its own citizens.

“I call on Speaker Mike Johnson to call the House of Representatives back to Washington to conduct oversight of this war and address the Constitutional issues that the President’s unhinged statements make clear. I call on all members of the Congress to remember and uphold their sworn oath to the Constitution of the United States of America. And I call on the President’s Cabinet to do the same.”

Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Announces More Than $18 Million in Congressional Funding For Projects Benefiting Texas’ Seventh Congressional District

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) announced that she helped secure more than $18,000,000 in congressional funding for Texas’ Seventh Congressional District through the Community Funded Project process.

“I am glad to have positive news to report from Washington: I requested and secured more than $18 million in congressional funding for projects in Texas’ Seventh Congressional District,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. “Once again, I am grateful to the many partners from our community who helped me and our TX-07 team identify projects for consideration and submit compelling proposals to the House Appropriations Committee. These funds will help facilitate important projects that benefit our district and our entire community.”

Congresswoman Fletcher helped secure funds for the following 15 Community Funded Projects:

For the City of Houston Department of Parks and Recreation, $3,150,000 for the renovation of the Metropolitan Multiservice Center on West Gray to increase access to amenities and further support the continued accessibility of organized sports, recreation activities, and wellness opportunities for people of all ages with disabilities.
For the Southwest Houston Redevelopment Authority, $2,000,000 to create a community resilience hub by updating the Southwest Civic Core Campus to aid in emergency preparedness and response during all-hazard events, addressing the urban heat island effect and promoting economic development and community livability.
For Fort Bend County Precinct 4, $2,000,000 to construct the Mission Bend Senior Center, a facility that will provide seniors with a safe and vibrant community space, serve as a warming and cooling center, and offer programming, as well as fitness and recreation spaces.
For the City of Bellaire, $1,145,144 to increase the conveyance capacity of Cypress Ditch Channel as part of the city’s Cypress Ditch Flood Mitigation Project, which will reduce flooding and flood impacts in Bellaire, the Gulfton area, and along the 610 Loop.
For the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, $1,031,000 to purchase three Mobile Command Posts to serve Harris County and 13 surrounding counties in responding to critical daily operations and during incidents that demand coordinated public safety efforts, like natural disasters.
For the Alief Independent School District, in collaboration with Rice University, $1,031,000 to develop a space and planetary science engagement-focused program to strengthen the community’s pipeline of students exploring planetary sciences and related careers at Alief ISD schools.
For the Houston Forensic Science Center, $1,031,000 to address wrongful convictions from faulty field drug test kits—prioritizing and stratifying old cases, with 5,000 slated for retesting to reduce the risk of wrongful results and, in turn, wrongful convictions.
For the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office, $1,031,000 to expand transparency and support fair, equitable justice by implementing a cloud-based evidence-sharing platform to streamline access to case materials across investigators, victim advocates, prosecutors, and defense counsel.
For the City of Houston Police Department, $1,031,000 to expand its Mobile Crisis Outreach Team and Crisis Intervention Response Team, filling critical gaps in the city’s mental health response infrastructure.
For the City Park Redevelopment Authority, $1,000,000 for the 12th Street Drainage Project to enhance flood resilience and stormwater management while reconstructing the roadway to improve mobility, safety, and access to parks, schools, and trails in Timbergrove.
For the City of Southside Place, $909,909 to replace 4,700 linear feet of failing, 43-year-old sanitary sewer truss pipes as part of the Edloe/Auden Sanitary Sewer Replacement Project to improve the public health, safety, and welfare of Southside Place residents.
For the City of Sugar Land, $850,000 to repair and reconstruct the Sugar Land Regional Airport runway, restoring the runway’s structural integrity, expanding its lifespan, and reducing long-term maintenance costs ensuring the airport can remain operational.
For the City of West University Place, $850,000 to reconstruct 100,000 square feet of roadway across six blocks—including Marquette, Villanova, Oberlin, and Byron Streets and two blocks on Case Street—improving mobility, stormwater drainage, and flood resilience.
For the Montrose Redevelopment Authority, $850,000 to enhance multimodal safety, accessibility, and connectivity by closing critical gaps in the sidewalk network across the northeast quadrant of the Montrose.
For the Harris County Public Library, $850,000 to install self-service library kiosks across the community as part of the Tiny Branches Project, removing barriers to library resources and expanding access to educational and public services.

To view community project requests from all years, click here.

Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher On President Trump’s Executive Order To Restrict Mail-In Voting

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) released the following statement after President Trump signed an executive order to restrict access to mail-in voting, asserting control over elections.

“President Trump’s executive order attempting to seize control of elections and restrict Americans’ ability to vote is the latest in a long series of brazen abuses of power that have come to define his presidency. The illegality of this action is matched only by its hypocrisy: the President himself voted safely and securely by mail just weeks ago.”

“The Constitution is clear: states—not the President—regulate and administer elections. I will continue to reject the lawless and un-American agenda of this administration every day, and will do everything I can to place a check on this administration.”

Congresswoman Fletcher is an original co-sponsor of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, H.R. 14, which restores the full protections of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and restores federal oversight for states with a recent history of voter discrimination.

Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Votes Against Republican DHS Funding Bill That Fails To Address Lawlessness of ICE, CBP

Sat, 28 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) voted against H.Res.1142 – Rule deeming the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 7147. This legislation funds the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) until May 22, 2026 without making reforms to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) after federal agents have arrested and killed U.S. citizens, entered homes without judicial warrants, and used excessive force against people across the country.

“The Homeland Security funding bill presented to the House falls far short of addressing Americans’ legitimate concerns about the Trump administration’s increasing lawlessness and brutality,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. “Democrats have demanded that the Trump administration follow the Constitution, have proposed a number of common-sense reforms, and have offered legislation to fund other DHS agencies including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the U.S. Coast Guard while negotiations on immigration enforcement activities continue. Republicans have rejected all of these measures, including complying with the Constitution. This year, Americans have witnessed immigration enforcement agents kill American citizens with impunity, and they are demanding better. House Republicans have so far refused to do better, and continue to bring the same bills to the floor that they know have no viable path forward.

“Republicans control the House, the Senate, and the White House,” Congresswoman Fletcher continued. “To earn my vote, they must present a funding bill that meets the moment, curbs this administration’s abuses, and demonstrates that no agent or agency of the United States government is above the law.”

Earlier this month, Congresswoman Fletcher signed a discharge petition to force a vote on H.R. 7481, legislation to immediately fund all of DHS except for ICE and CBP.

In February, Congresswoman Fletcher introduced the Freeze ICE Act, H.R. 7392, to stop the rapid recruitment of unvetted individuals at ICE. And earlier this month, Congresswoman Fletcher introduced an amendment to a previous DHS funding proposal to institute a hiring freeze at ICE.

The bill passed the House by a vote of 213-203 and now heads to the Senate for consideration.