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Alim Garipov Released From Detention Following Community Advocacy

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Alim Garipov, a Bellaire High School student, was released from ICE detention following a community-wide advocacy effort. Immigration lawyer Olsa Alikaj-Cano of Cano Immigration PLLC, Congresswoman Fletcher (TX-07), and Alim’s family released the following joint statement:

“We are relieved and grateful that Alim has finally been released from detention and reunited with his family.

“This outcome came after a tireless, expeditious effort over the weekend, working in partnership to secure Alim’s release.

“So many people across our city—his friends, teachers, coaches, and so many others—rallied behind Alim in support, and those who know him know it’s easy to understand why. He is an extraordinary young man with a bright future ahead of him. He loves his family and this country, and he has done everything the right way, legally, throughout this process.

“Too many immigrant families in our community and across the country are facing similar uncertainty and separation, and we are actively working to help many others facing the same fear.

“We will continue working to help members of our community in these challenging times, and we will continue to advocate for an end to the unfair and unjust policies that led to this heartbreaking situation in the first place. We hope that everyone who expressed concern for Alim will continue to do so for him and for others—it matters.”

Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher and Congressman Morgan Luttrell Advance Effort To Expedite Buffalo Bayou and Tributaries Resiliency Study

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026. Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) and Congressman Morgan Luttrell (TX-08) led the effort to include a provision directing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to expedite a Chief’s Report evaluating a single large underground water conveyance tunnel to reduce flood risk around the Addicks and Barker reservoirs and along Buffalo Bayou.

WRDA 2024 required USACE to complete a Chief’s Report on the Buffalo Bayou and Tributaries Resiliency Study (BBTRS). Instead, USACE produced a report of findings that presented three options: take no action, construct one large tunnel, or construct a series of smaller, modular tunnels. USACE then requested additional funding to study the difference between the large-tunnel and modular-tunnel options, rather than completing the legally required Chief’s Report.

WRDA 2026 closes that gap. The bill's new language specifically directs USACE to expedite the Chief’s Report on the single large tunnel option—the solution regional stakeholders have identified and supported as the most effective way to protect Houston-area communities from flooding, whether from a single catastrophic storm or the cumulative impact of frequent, smaller flood events.

“Since my first term in Congress, meeting the need to protect our community from flooding has been central to my work, and completing the Buffalo Bayou and Tributaries Resiliency Study is essential to that effort,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. “This project reflects an effort to think big about how to protect our entire community from the cumulative toll of more rain and more storms. I’m grateful to Congressman Luttrell for his partnership in this effort, and to community leaders across Texas’ Seventh Congressional District for their years of collaboration and advocacy. I’m glad WRDA 2026 will finally require USACE to deliver the Chief’s Report on the solution our community has identified and supported.”

"Houston families have waited too long for real protection from flooding around the Addicks and Barker reservoirs and Buffalo Bayou,” said Congressman Morgan Luttrell. “Today's committee passage of WRDA 2026 is a step forward towards ending the delay and requiring USACE to finally deliver the Chief's Report on the large tunnel solution. I want to thank Congresswoman Fletcher for her years of advocacy and partnership on this fight.”

Since her first term in Congress, Congresswoman Fletcher has advocated for the completion of BBTRS. Following her advocacy, Congress included language requiring USACE to complete BBTRS in the Water Redevelopment Act (WRDA) of 2024. In January of 2024, she testified before the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure and urged the Committee to include language to complete the BBTRS. In 2021, she wrote a letter to USACE supporting an exemption to allow USACE to complete the BBTRS.

In 2020, she successfully called on the USACE to extend the public comment period for the BBTRS Interim Report. She then submitted a public comment on the interim report urging the USACE to incorporate public feedback from residents of Texas’ Seventh Congressional District.

ICYMI: Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Joins Groundbreaking for Poor Farm Ditch Infrastructure Improvement Project in West University Place, Southside Place

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Monday, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) joined Commissioner Rodney Ellis, State Representative Ann Johnson, Mayor Andy Chan, Mayor Susan Sample, and Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) Executive Director Marcus Y. Stuckett, P.E., CFM, to break ground on the Poor Farm Ditch project. The project will repair one of the county’s oldest stormwater drainage ditches, increasing the channel’s capacity from a 10-year storm event to a 50-year storm event, providing enhanced flood protection for West University Place, Southside Place, and the area.

"The Poor Farm Ditch project reminds us how government is supposed to work," said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. "This project has been years in the making, and it only happened because passionate advocates made sure it got done by building a coalition, engaging community members, addressing concerns, and working with people on both sides of the aisle at every level of government. I was glad to secure nearly $10 million through the Community Project Funding process in Congress to get this project moving. Thanks to the leadership of Mayor Andy Chan and Mayor Susan Sample, and the partnership of many, we are making real progress in protecting residents and making our community more resilient."

“As our region continues to grow and weather becomes more extreme, investing in flood mitigation is essential,” said State Representative Ann Johnson. “Protecting our neighborhoods requires long-term commitment, and I’m proud to help deliver projects that make our community safer and more resilient for generations to come."

"We stand here today as a testament to what can be achieved when all levels of government work together,” said Mayor Andy Chan. “I thank all our partners from local, county, state and federal government. As the Mayor of the City of Southside Place, I want to express my deep gratitude to current and former city council members, city staff, and the community. We did this together!”

"This project means Poor Farm Ditch will be able to carry about 60% more stormwater during heavy rain events, lowering flood risk for the homes, businesses, and streets in Southside Place and West University Place that depend on this channel," said Marcus Y. Stuckett, P.E., CFM, Executive Director of the Harris County Flood Control District. "It is a clear example of the power of federal, state, county, and local partners coming together to invest in this community's resilience."

In 2022, Congresswoman Fletcher requested and secured nearly $10 million in federal funding to reconstruct the Poor Farm Ditch through the Community Project Funding (CPF) process in Congress. The funding was included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, a bipartisan government funding bill that funds essential programs and projects, including the Poor Farm Ditch project. President Biden signed the bill into law on December 29, 2022.

The widening and deepening of approximately 3,100 linear feet of the existing concrete-lined channel, increasing the channel’s flow capacity by 60%, and replacing the concrete lining between Bellaire Boulevard and University Boulevard, will benefit areas that have experienced repeated flooding events and severe damage. Construction on the Poor Farm Ditch project is expected to begin in September 2026, lasting approximately four years.

To watch the full press conference, click here.

Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher says federal grant overhaul would upend scientific independence

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D‑TX‑7) is urging researchers, universities, and nonprofit organizations to speak out against a sweeping federal proposal she says would politicize the nation’s grant‑making system and destabilize long‑term scientific research. The Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) plan, released May 29, would overhaul how more than 41 federal agencies award and manage grants, shifting key decisions away from expert review panels and toward political appointees.

During a webinar this week with legal and nonprofit leaders, Fletcher said the proposed rule would replace longstanding peer‑review processes that guide scientific and research awards.

“The proposed rule would shift more of that authority to political folks and not scientists or experts,” she said.

Fletcher warned the changes could have far‑reaching consequences for Houston area institutions that rely heavily on federal research dollars, including medical centers, universities, clean‑energy researchers, and NASA related programs.

“A researcher three years into a five‑year study could have federal funding pulled before the work is completed,” she said, calling the proposal a threat to scientific stability and community innovation.

The 400‑plus‑page proposal would also make it easier for agencies to cancel grants already underway, reduce public input on agency‑specific grant policies, and limit how much flexibility agencies have to tailor programs to local needs.

Fletcher said the changes would create “total uncertainty” for organizations that depend on predictable multi‑year funding. “By putting political judgment ahead of scientific expertise and experience, OMB would make federal funding much less predictable and much more political,” she said.

Legal experts from Lawyers for Good Government, who joined Fletcher on the call, said the proposal would reshape nearly every part of the federal financial assistance system. Jillian Blanchard, senior vice president for climate change and environmental justice, said her organization has already worked with more than 800 entities whose grants were “canceled, frozen, or terminated” under earlier administrative actions.

“We have seen firsthand what happens when they attempt to implement the rules they are now proposing to codify,” she said.

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Blanchard added the rule would touch programs across health, science, clean energy, education, agriculture and low‑income assistance. She warned the proposal attempts to “direct the way people spend all funds in such a way that turns civil rights on its head,” including provisions that would restrict diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

Katherine Christopher, a supervising attorney at the organization, said the proposal would “reshape and weaponize how the federal government awards and administers all grants and financial assistance.” She noted the rule would eliminate internal dispute rights for grantees, increase compliance burdens on agencies already facing staffing shortages, and reduce scientific integrity by shifting oversight away from peer review.

The public comment period on the proposal remains open until July 13, and Fletcher urged organizations to submit concerns before the deadline.

“Democracy isn’t just voting in elections in November,” she said. “It’s participating in the process in all kinds of ways, and this is a really important time and opportunity to participate.”

Fletcher said she has already sent a letter to OMB Director Russell Vought opposing the rule and warning of “irreparable damage” to the nation’s leading research institutions. She told attendees her office will continue working with partners in Houston and Washington to push back against the proposal.

View this article in Courier Texas.

Reproductive Freedom Champions in Congress Mark Dobbs Anniversary With Legislative Action and Accountability Measures

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Four years after the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, reproductive freedom champions in Congress are fighting back and advancing legislation to protect access to reproductive health care. Across Capitol Hill, lawmakers and advocates are drawing attention to how abortion bans have expanded threats to patients, providers, and the broader reproductive health care system—including attacks on interstate travel, threats against health care providers, and efforts to undermine medical training. In response, Democrats are demanding accountability and advancing a series of bills aimed at preserving access to legal reproductive health care.

On Capitol Hill last Wednesday, Senate Leader Chuck Schumer and House Leader Hakeem Jeffries each held press conferences, joined by Senate Democrats, Democratic House leadership, the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, the Democratic Women’s Caucus, and Reproductive Freedom for All, highlighting the deadly consequences of the Dobbs decision and Republican lawmakers’ ongoing assault on reproductive freedom. At the Senate press conference, Mini Timmaraju condemned “this Congress of Republican extremists” for being complicit in efforts to ban abortion, asserting they had “aligned themselves with one of the most extreme administrations in the nation’s history.” She warned that Senate Republicans planned to mark the anniversary by pushing anti-reproductive freedom measures, but that Senate Democrats would fight back—and voters would hold Republicans accountable. Senator Patty Murray also hosted a spotlight forum where Senate Democrats heard directly from panelists who have firsthand experience of the consequences of Dobbs and subsequent abortion bans.

Senator Elizabeth Warren and other Senate leaders sent a letter to Trump and Secretary Kennedy demanding answers about the recently-launched Moms.gov. The letter raises concerns about the site’s promotion of anti-abortion centers—so-called “crisis pregnancy centers”—and the documented mishandling of patients’ sensitive health information. It criticizes the use of public resources to direct pregnant people—under the guise of offering resources—to facilities run by anti-abortion organizations that have a well-documented history of misleading, shaming, and deceiving patients seeking abortion care.

Earlier this month, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto reintroduced the Freedom to Travel for Health Care Act, which would block states with abortion bans from restricting interstate travel for abortion services. Since Dobbs, anti-abortion politicians have pushed efforts to investigate, prosecute, and sue people who travel out of state for abortion care, as well as their health care providers and anyone who assists them. The bill reaffirms the constitutional right to interstate travel and prohibits any state or locality from restricting travel for reproductive health care. It also empowers the U.S. attorney general and impacted individuals to bring legal action against those who violate these protections.

On the anniversary of Dobbs, Democrats advanced legislation to protect access to reproductive health care nationwide.

Also on Wednesday, Senators Tammy Baldwin and Patty Murray reintroduced the Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act, which would allow the Treasury Secretary to award grants to abortion funds to help cover travel and related expenses for patients forced to seek abortion care out of state. Since the Dobbs decision, people seeking abortion care have faced longer travel distances and higher costs, increasing both the financial strain on abortion funds and the number of people who rely on them. This bill would provide critical support for travel and logistical costs.

Senator Patty Murray and Representative Kim Schrier reintroduced the Let Doctors Provide Reproductive Health Care Act, which would ensure providers can continue offering legal abortion care, including to patients traveling from other states. It responds to a growing effort by anti-abortion politicians to extend abortion bans beyond state lines. Republican attorneys general have urged Congress to invalidate shield laws that protect out-of-state providers, and providers have faced increasing harassment through threats of lawsuits, criminal penalties, and loss of licensure for delivering care that remains legal in their states. This legislation would help protect providers from out-of-state interference and preserve access to legal reproductive health care for everyone.

Lawmakers also advanced legislation to address the impact abortion bans are having on medical education and the broader reproductive health care workforce. Representatives Lizzie Fletcher, Kelly Morrison, and Kim Schrier introduced the SAFE Training for OB-GYNs Act, which creates a grant program for OB-GYN residency programs in states where abortion remains legal and expands training opportunities for residents from states with abortion bans.

Taken together, these actions reflect a coordinated effort by champions of reproductive freedom to respond to the post-Dobbs landscape—supporting access to care, protecting providers from political interference, and expanding training for future clinicians. As Republican lawmakers continue to advance measures that ban abortion, restrict access to care, and criminalize people across state lines, Democrats in Congress are fighting to reinforce legal protections and put medical decisions back into the hands of pregnant people and their doctors, not politicians.

View this article in Reproductive Freedom For All.

On Dobbs Anniversary, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher, Congressman Ami Bera, Congresswoman Kim Schrier, and Congressman Mark Pocan Reintroduce Bill To Close Reproductive Health Training Gap for Medical and Nursing Students in Abortion Ban States

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06), Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08), and Congressman Mark Pocan (WI-02) reintroduced the Reproductive Healthcare Training Act. The Reproductive Healthcare Training Act creates a grant program for health professional schools, academic health centers, or other nonprofit health care safety net providers to establish medical training programs in states where abortion is legal, so that students, residents, and advanced practice clinicians in states where abortion is limited or banned can receive proper education in reproductive health care. The bill also prepares and encourages these individuals to serve as abortion providers after completing their training. The reintroduction comes on the fourth anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade and enabled states across the country to ban or restrict abortion and interfere with women’s ability to travel out of state for reproductive healthcare. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) also reintroduced this legislation in the U.S. Senate today.

“Restrictions on access to abortion care in Texas and states like it place burdens on medical students, residents, and advanced practice clinicians, who cannot receive proper training to provide the full range of reproductive healthcare, as well as on their patients,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. “It is critical that as we work to restore and protect abortion access, we also work to educate the next generation of healthcare providers on the full range of reproductive healthcare, including abortion care. For both students and educational institutions, success depends on proper and full education. I am glad to join Congressman Bera, Congresswoman Schrier, and Congressman Pocan to ensure healthcare professionals have access to training in reproductive health care.”

"The consequences of the Dobbs decision continue to be felt across the country four years later," said Representative Ami Bera, M.D., who previously served as Chief Medical Officer for Sacramento County. "As a doctor, I strongly believe that medical decisions should be made between a patient and their doctor, not politicians. Since Dobbs, abortion bans and restrictions have created significant barriers to reproductive health care and disrupted medical education for students and providers in many states. The Reproductive Health Care Training Act is an important step toward addressing those gaps and ensuring future health care professionals can receive comprehensive, evidence-based training."

“As the fight for reproductive care continues, it is more important than ever that medical students receive a comprehensive education to help all future patients, which includes abortion training," said Congresswoman Kim Schrier. “This legislation would expand reproductive care education regardless of where healthcare professionals train. As the only pediatrician in Congress, and as a woman and mom, I will continue to do everything I can to protect women’s access to safe abortion, and physicians' ability to provide a full spectrum of care across the country.”

“Because of the Dobbs decision, patients across the country are facing challenges where patients cannot get abortion care, but medical students are prevented from learning the skills they need,” said Congressman Mark Pocan. “The Reproductive Health Care Training Act is crucial legislation that ensures medical students gain all necessary clinical skills, no matter where they train. Abortion is healthcare. Student doctors in every state should be able to learn to provide patients the care that is their right.”

If enacted, the Reproductive Healthcare Training Act would establish a program, funded at $25 million each year for the next five years, to award grants or contracts to health professional schools, academic health centers, or other nonprofit health care safety net providers in states where abortion is legal to:

Ensure education for students, residents, or advanced practice clinicians studying or working in states where abortion is limited or banned; and
Prepare and encourage students, residents, and advanced practice clinicians training to serve as abortion providers after completing such training.

Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher is Vice Chair and Whip of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus and has led several efforts to protect access to abortion. After a Texas Judge banned abortion medication across the country, she introduced the Protecting Reproductive Freedom Act, H.R. 2573, with Congressman Pat Ryan (NY-18) to reaffirm that the abortion pill was appropriately approved by the FDA.

She is the lead House sponsor of a bill to protect the right to travel between states to obtain an abortion, the Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act, H.R. 782, which passed the House, and which she reintroduced last year. Congresswoman Fletcher was an original cosponsor of the Women’s Health Protection Act, H.R. 12, which establishes a statutory federal right to abortion free from medically unnecessary restrictions.

To view the full text of the Reproductive Healthcare Training Act, click here.

On Fourth Dobbs Anniversary, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher, Congresswoman Kelly Morrison, Congresswoman Kim Schrier, and Congressman Ami Bera Introduce Bill To Close Abortion Training Gap for OB/GYN Residents in Abortion Ban States

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Congresswoman Kelly Morrison (MN-03), Congresswoman Kim Schrier (WA-08), and Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06) introduced the Safeguarding Access to Full-spectrum Education and (SAFE) Training for OBGYNs Act. The SAFE Training for OBGYNs Act establishes a grant program to provide funding for OB/GYN residency programs that train residents residing in states with abortion bans to ensure full competency in reproductive healthcare during their training. The introduction comes on the fourth anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade and enabled states across the country to ban or restrict abortion and interfere with women’s ability to travel out of state for reproductive healthcare.

“In states like Texas where abortion is banned, OB/GYN residents cannot get the full training they need to care for their patients—and women across the country are paying the price,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. “Restricted access to training is already driving a shortage of providers, making reproductive care harder to access even in states without bans. The SAFE Training for OB/GYNs Act gives residency programs the resources to train future OB/GYNs in the full range of reproductive healthcare their patients need and deserve. I am glad to join Congresswoman Morrison and Congressman Bera in this effort.”

“Every OB-GYN in the country should be trained in every aspect of obstetric and gynecological care,” said Congresswoman Kelly Morrison. “As the only pro-choice OB-GYN in Congress, I know how important it is for OB-GYNs to receive hands-on experience in providing abortion care. An abortion ban in even one state affects access to safe health care across the country. If doctors can’t receive proper training, lives will inevitably be put at risk. This bill will make it safer and easier for women to get the care they need, and will ensure that future generations of doctors are able to care for all of their patients.”

“As a doctor, I know that a strong healthcare workforce starts with strong medical training,” said Congressman Ami Bera. “Since the Dobbs decision, abortion bans have made it harder for OB-GYN residents to receive the full reproductive health training required as part of their education. In many cases, these future physicians are being forced to travel to another state to gain the experience they need to provide comprehensive care to their patients. The SAFE Training for OB-GYNs Act helps ensure residents can complete that training by supporting graduate medical residency programs and covering the travel costs associated with it.”

If enacted, the SAFE Training for OB/GYNs Act would establish a program to create grants for out-of-state OB/GYN residency programs in states where abortion is legal to:

Ensure comprehensive education for residents studying or working in states where abortion is limited or banned; and
Prepare and encourage OB/GYN residents training to serve as abortion providers after completing such training.

The SAFE Training for OB/GYNs Act is drafted in cooperation by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and Planned Parenthood. The ACLU, Center for Reproductive Rights, National Women's Law Center, and Physicians for Reproductive Health have endorsed the bill.

Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher is Vice Chair and Whip of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus and has led several efforts to protect access to abortion. After a Texas Judge banned abortion medication across the country, she introduced the Protecting Reproductive Freedom Act, H.R. 2573, with Congressman Pat Ryan (NY-18) to reaffirm that the abortion pill was appropriately approved by the FDA and reintroduced the bill this year.

She is the lead House sponsor of a bill to protect the right to travel between states to obtain an abortion, the Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act, H.R. 782, which passed the House , and which she reintroduced last year. Congresswoman Fletcher was an original cosponsor of the Women’s Health Protection Act, H.R. 12, which establishes a statutory federal right to abortion free from medically unnecessary restrictions.

To view the full text of the SAFE Training for OB/GYNs Act, click here.

Lizzie Fletcher Forces Vote to Secure the Right to Contraception Protections

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

The House of Representatives will reconvene this week for a sprint to advance pending legislation before the next recess. Among the bills awaiting action is one that would legally guarantee the right to contraception.

The Right to Contraception Act would establish federal protections for access to contraceptive services and products. The bill has not received a vote in the House because Speaker and Representative Mike Johnson (R-LA) opposes it, but earlier this month, Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX) moved to force action on the measure.

Rep. Fletcher filed a discharge petition, a tool 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. The petition needs 218 signatures, and as of last week, it has over 126.

“The Right to Contraception Act reflects the position of the vast majority of Americans who rely on contraception of all kinds to plan their families and their lives,” Rep. Fletcher said. “Contraception is essential healthcare.”

A Constitutional Right Under Debate

Although Republicans and the Trump administration have historically opposed the federal funding of contraceptives, the landmark 1965 Supreme Court case Griswold v. Connecticut established a constitutional right to privacy that protected married couples’ access to contraception. The decision became the foundation for later cases protecting personal autonomy and reproductive choices.

However, Rep. Fletcher said these rights are threatened by efforts to restrict access to contraception and family planning services, including the Trump administration's freeze on federal family planning funding a few months ago.

“If Republicans are serious about reflecting the will of the people and protecting contraception, they will join us in signing this discharge petition,” Rep. Fletcher said.

Dr. Dara Kass, an emergency medicine physician and board member of Americans for Contraception, said this rollback of funding, along with the lack of federal protections, has made it increasingly more difficult for women to access contraceptive care.

“For 61 years, Americans have relied on the constitutional right to contraception recognized in Griswold v. Connecticut and the broader right to privacy that decision helped establish,” Dr. Kass said. “Those protections can no longer be taken for granted.”

Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO of the National Women’s Law Center, said she fears the Trump administration will continue to “chip away” at women’s reproductive rights until it has “total control over our bodies, our lives and our futures.”

“To protect our bodily autonomy and freedom, Congress must act quickly to stand with the vast majority of Americans who believe contraception is vital health care, not with the extremists who seek to take it away,” Goss Graves said.

Beyond the Bill: Where Does Bipartisan Support End?

While the House remains divided along party lines over the bill, some Republicans have recently backed over-the-counter contraceptive options.

“I’ve heard from many Iowa women who have to drive long distances to see their doctor, making it difficult to get the care and prescriptions they need,” Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) said in April when she introduced her bill to expand access to over-the-counter birth control.

But Rep. Hinson and other Republican members remain opposed to the Right to Contraception Act, arguing it is too broad and could raise concerns about its impact on religious freedoms and state authority.

Dr. Jamila Perritt, president and CEO of Physicians for Reproductive Health, said the bill’s broad scope is precisely why she supports it.

“The Right to Contraception Act aims to protect the basic rights of patients looking to access the contraceptive method that is best for them,” Dr. Perritt said. “Where you live, your income or your insurance coverage should never dictate whether or not someone can access the care they need, including contraceptive care.”

View this article in Texas Politics.

Jewish voters express growing isolation from both major political parties

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

The 2026 Texas Democratic Convention was held in Corpus Christi last Thursday through Saturday. Delegates considered nearly 20 resolutions targeting Israel amid its ongoing war against Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that in 2007 took control of the almost entirely Muslim Gaza Strip.

This was the second Texas Democratic convention in a row in which resolutions against Israel, which is predominantly Jewish, were filed.

Arthur Pronin — president of the Meyerland-area Democrats, and an activist from Houston's largest Jewish neighborhood — credited past party chair Gilberto Hinojosa with blocking what he characterized as the more inflammatory such resolutions from passing during the 2024 convention in El Paso.

"I think it’s incumbent upon the party chair to exercise leadership and make sure, just like our prior chair did ... that we have balanced sensible statements coming out on the Palestinian and the Israeli peoples, and that we’re not getting into conspiracy theories about dual loyalties amongst our own Jewish delegates coming to the convention," Pronin said before the convention, noting that he has been openly accused of disloyalty to the United States because of his support for Israel.

Kendall Scudder, the current chair of the Texas Democratic Party, did not respond to multiple requests for interviews by Houston Public Media.

The development comes amid rising anti-Israel sentiment, and in some cases anti-Jewish sentiment, among activists and candidates in both the Democratic and Republican parties. That's leaving some Jewish voters feeling politically homeless. Pronin noted that, even with Hinojosa's intervention, the El Paso convention was an uncomfortable one for many Jewish attendees.

He feared the Corpus Christi one would be even more so.

"Many of my Jewish friends who’ve gone to every convention have told me this time they’re just not going to go because it was so unpleasant last time," Pronin said.

...

Antizionism on the left

Zionists believe Jewish people have a right to a national homeland.

Most Jewish Americans, whether they identify as Zionist or not, believe Israel has a right to exist — that's according to a survey by the Jewish Federations of North America –- though younger Jewish Americans report feeling less of a connection with Israel than older ones.

There's ample evidence, however, that Jewish Americans as a whole are paying a price, whether they support Israel or not. Since Oct. 7, 2023, both the FBI and Anti-Defamation League have reported anti-Jewish hate crimes spiking to record or near-record levels. Such crimes have ranged from graffiti and harassment to physical assaults and attempted arson against synagogues.

The issue came into sharp focus during the recent Democratic primary in Texas' 35th Congressional District, centered on San Antonio. Maureen Galindo, a sex therapist and progressive activist, emerged as the leading candidate during the first round of voting in March. Shortly before the May primary runoff, however, Galindo posted on Instagram that she wanted to turn a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility into a prison for "American Zionists," claiming most Zionists are pedophiles who should be castrated.

The backlash was swift, and Galindo tried to walk back her statement.

"I want billionaire Zionists in prison," Galindo said in a video reel posted to Instagram. "That does not mean I want Jews in internment camps."

U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Houston, was one of many Democratic officials who condemned Galindo's statements as "abhorrent."

"You had members of Congress saying, ‘If she is the nominee and if she is elected, we’re going to move to expel her, because she doesn’t represent our values,'" Fletcher said. "And we need to be clear in saying, ‘Those statements don’t represent our values. They’re not who we are, and we need to do the work we can to make sure that they’re not the folks who are elected.'"

Galindo, who did not respond to a request for comment, went on to lose her runoff election by a significant margin. But Pronin said there's little to celebrate for the Jewish community.

"She lost, but she got [nearly] 40% of the vote, with it on every broadcast in America. And still some people said, ‘I’m still not worried about this,'" Pronin said. "So, it's chilling."

Other Democratic candidates critical of Israel have fared better. Possibly the best-known example nationwide is New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Muslim who has accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. He vetoed a bill that would have permitted security perimeters around schools, including Jewish schools, citing concerns about the free speech rights of protesters, including pro-Palestinian demonstrators. Mamdani allowed a similar bill to take effect that allows for security perimeters around places of worship.

Other candidates who have made names for themselves more recently include Maine's Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, Graham Platner, a vocal critic of Israel who had a tattoo on his chest derived from a Nazi symbol. Platner had the tattoo covered up last year with another image.

Then there's Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate from Michigan, who stated openly that he likes Jews and Judaism but that both are being ruined by the state of Israel.

"I sat there and said, ‘Wait a second. On what planet do minority groups have their identity narrated to them by others?'" Kurtzer said in response to El-Sayed’s remarks. "For many American Jews who care about Israel, Israel is not a political commitment. It’s actually a feature of our identity."

Norri Leder, the founder of Houston Jewish Women Vote, said what makes this especially concerning is not the candidates themselves but the fact that so many Democrats openly support them.

"I find it shocking to watch so many Democrats tolerate anti-Jewish sentiment — and particularly Democratic leadership — whether it's blatant antisemitism by some candidates or activists, use of coded language or messaging, or disproportionate bashing of Israel or even delegitimizing Israel's existence, when they know that spills over into hatred or even violence against Jewish people," Leder said.

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View this article in Houston Public Media.

Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Leads Texas Democratic Delegation in Demanding Answers from USDA about Resurgence of New World Screwworm

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) led the Texas Democratic Delegation in demanding answers from United States Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) Brooke Rollins and requesting a briefing on how the USDA plans to address the resurgence of New World screwworm in Texas and across the United States.

“For the past several decades, our country has remained relatively pest-free thanks to the dedicated work of federal staff and experts at the USDA and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) tasked with addressing infectious pests and diseases,” the members wrote. “We understand, however, that last year, the department terminated the employment of more than 15,000 USDA employees —roughly 15 percent of the department’s workforce, including more than 1,300 staff at APHIS —and, at the same time, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) eliminated more than 5,300 foreign assistance grants and programs, including a program dedicated to monitoring and containing New World screwworm migration in Central America.

“Despite the historic success of the United States’ program to eradicate the screwworm, our ranchers and livestock experts feared it would return,” the members continued. “We must make every effort to contain the current outbreak and once again eradicate this pest from the United States. Given the urgency of this matter, we request a briefing for members of Congress on these issues, including the following:

What impacts these USDA staff reductions at USDA are having on USDA’s screwworm detection and response efforts;
What plans the USDA has to hire additional staff to address this crisis;
What impacts these USDA program eliminations are having on USDA’s screwworm detection and response efforts; and
What actions did the USDA take to change strategy, if any, once the New World screwworm reached 100 miles from our Southern border?”

Since the initial case of New World screwworm was discovered in a three-week-old calf in Zavala County, Texas, additional cases have emerged in Texas and New Mexico. An outbreak of screwworm today could cost Texas livestock producers $732 million per year, with an annual economic loss of $1.8 billion for Texas alone.

Congressmembers Greg Casar (TX-35), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34), Al Green (TX-09), Julie Johnson (TX-32), Christian Menefee (TX-18), and Marc Veasey (TX-33) joined Congresswoman Fletcher in the letter request.

To view the full text of the letter, click here.