A Month in Review: June 2023 Congressional Update

Dear john,

As the Congresswoman for El Paso, it is my honor and privilege to represent Fort Bliss in the U.S. House of Representatives. As the only member in our community that's part of the House Armed Services Committee, I have important jurisdiction over the military services and national defense policy. I wanted to share with you that we completed the markup of the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This simply means that we reviewed and debated the bill that authorizes the programs that support our armed services personnel and operations, and Members like me on Committee were able to push for our priorities.

I'm glad to tell you I was able to include several wins for our community, including over $100 million in authorized funding for critical infrastructure and defense programs in Fort Bliss, a federal funding increase for Minority Serving Institutions - such as UTEP - that partner with the Department of Defense, and the authorization for President Biden to posthumously award Marcelino Serna, El Paso native and the most decorated WWI soldier from Texas, the Medal of Honor. You can read my full press release here for a comprehensive list of wins I secured for El Paso.

I also hope everyone has been staying cool. According to the Washington Post, our state is experiencing record-breaking heat waves "that in recent weeks have caused at least nine deaths." Cities across Texas are urging residents to stay indoors and conserve energy. For resources, please visit the city's website here.

As always, please remember to subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to ensure you never miss any of my updates and stay in the loop on what I’ve been doing for El Paso.

Did you see the wins I secured for El Paso in this year's NDAA committee markup?

Yes

No

Mental Health Month may have been in May, but we need to prioritize this year-round.

I recently had the opportunity to meet with EPISD officers and mental health advocates at El Paso High and talk about how the Crisis Intervention Team services benefit our students.

During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, SSgt. Julio Garcia Jr., USAF, a courageous Vietnam Veteran from El Paso, sadly passed away.

I had the tremendous honor to meet his family and present his wife with an American flag flown over the U.S. Capitol in honor of his service.

It was a pleasure to join Project Vida for their Economic Impact and Resources Summit this week.

Small businesses are the backbone of El Paso, which is why their continued success is important to our community.

Keeping El Pasoans informed of my work in Congress is a top priority.

It was a pleasure to join City Councilwoman Salcido and District 5 to share some legislative updates and connect with El Pasoans at their community meeting on Saturday.

The United States' strategic competition with China will continue to shape our world for decades to come.

It was thrilling to join Foreign Policy For America and my House Democrat colleagues for a panel on U.S.-China relations.

For over 60 years, federal perimeter rules have made traveling to our nation’s capital expensive for El Pasoans and our servicemembers stationed at Fort Bliss.

I'm proud to be an original co-sponsor of the DCA Act that would make visiting Washington more accessible.

It’s unthinkable that many of our neighbors live without running water or sewage.

As I toured the Lower Valley Water District, I remain committed to prioritizing its funding, resources, and representation. Congress should pass my bill to introduce the Office of Colonia Affairs.

With the upcoming Farm Bill just around the corner, this legislation will have major impacts on organizations like El Paso True Food.

In addition to discussing their legislative priorities, I had a wonderful morning touring the newly opened Spoon Flower Grocery store today.

Thank you to everyone who joined my tele town hall on the Dignity Act this month!

Congratulations to Socorro ISD for their Power of Hope Award!

I had the honor of joining their ceremony in DC commemorating their work to empower school counselors to lead effective college and career strategies for students.

Meeting with representatives from the NTEU, local firefighters, and our local AFL-CIO this month was a joy.

We discussed the importance of providing safety, security, and citizenship pathways to those who contribute as valuable members of the community through the Dignity Act.

Strong economic development of our city and county opens doors and opportunities for El Pasoans.

It was a pleasure speaking with Roberto Ransom, El Paso County’s new Director for Economic Development, and discussing his community plans.

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