Weekly Wrap Up

Dear Neighbor,

The House was in session again this week for more legislative work and more organizing for the 119th Congress, which will begin on January 3, 2025. Here are a few highlights from the week.

The House considered and passed several bipartisan bills this week under suspension of the rules, including the Vote by Mail Tracking Act, H.R. 5658, which requires mail-in ballots to contain a barcode to allow tracking as well as include the official election mail logo; the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, H.R. 8371, a bill package of veteran legislation to expand the VA’s community care program, in-home services, caregiver supports, education benefits, support for homeless veterans, and employment protections for service members; the North Korean Human Rights Reauthorization Act of 2023, H.R. 3012, to reauthorize funding for nonprofits promoting human rights, economic development, and humanitarian aid in North Korea; the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts Authorization Act of 2024, H.R. 8368, to appoint a coordinator for Afghan relocation efforts at the State Department; a resolution condemning the global rise of antisemitism, H.Res.1449; and a resolution urging Ukraine to resume adoptions of Ukrainian children by U.S. citizens, which were suspended in 2021 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, H.Res. 915.

The House focused most of its debate on two bills this week. On Tuesday, the House considered the Committing Leases for Energy Access Now (CLEAN) Act, H.R. 1449, a bill to require the Department of the Interior (DOI) to increase the frequency of competitive geothermal lease sales every year and to shorten the timeline for consideration of applications for permits to 30 days of a completed application. There is a lot of enthusiasm for geothermal energy in our district, and I share it. While I support the sections of this bill that would increase lease sales and support the idea of improving timelines and increased transparency for geothermal permitting, DOI staff testified before the House Natural Resources Committee that the time requirements in this bill are a practical impossibility and do not give DOI sufficient time to complete analyses required by law. When the bill came to the floor, I voted for an amendment that extended the timeline for determining permit completeness to 90 days, but this vote failed. For these reasons I voted against the bill, which passed by a vote of 244-171.

On Thursday, the House again considered the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act, H.R. 9495, a bill that failed to pass the House under suspension of the rules last week. In enacted, the bill would empower the Department of Treasury to revoke the tax-exempt status of nonprofit organizations the Department designates as a “terrorist-supporting” organization. The bill would also postpone tax deadlines for U.S. citizens who are held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad. It should go without saying that any organization that materially supports terrorism—which is already prohibited under existing law—should not have tax-exempt status. While I support the provisions to support those who are held hostage or detained, this bill also grants the Secretary of the Treasury broad, unchecked authority to suspend 501(c)3 nonprofit status for nonprofit, religious, and advocacy organizations on subjective determinations without cause, charges, or due process. I heard from a lot of constituents this week that they were concerned that this legislation would empower the administration to target and silence groups that the President may not agree with or may consider critical of the President’s agenda. I share those concerns. For these reasons I voted against the bill again this week, but it passed the House with a majority vote of 219-184.

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

This week, I co-sponsored several pieces of legislation important to our community, including:

a bill to establish a National Domestic Violence Prevention Action Plan to expand, intensify, and coordinate domestic violence prevention programs in the United States, H.R.10099;
the Rights for the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act of 2024, H.R. 8370, to ensure Transportation Security Officers are afforded the same rights and protections as other federal employees under Title 5 of the U.S. Code; and
the VA Employee Fairness Act of 2024, H.R. 9855, to ensure full collective bargaining rights for Department of Veterans Affairs Title 38 healthcare professionals;
the Rosie the Riveter Commemorative Coin Act, H.R. 7770, to direct the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue coins in recognition and celebration of the women who contributed to the war effort in the United States during World War II;
a resolution supporting the goals and principles of Transgender Day of Remembrance, H.Res.1588; and
a resolution honoring and commending the American Jewish Committee on its 118th anniversary, H.Res.1578.

I joined my colleagues in sending several letters recently on issues important to our community. Congressman Morgan Lutrell (TX-08) and I, joined by six of our colleagues, sent a letter to the House Committee on Administration requesting a change to the current House rules to allow members of Congress to share information about non-profit resources during natural disasters. Under the current rules of the House of Representatives, Members of Congress are prohibited from referring constituents to or sharing information from resources unaffiliated with the government, even during natural disasters. In our district, we know all too well that, while FEMA plays a crucial role in recovery efforts, other organizations, including non-profit entities that provide services that FEMA cannot, are essential in recovery efforts, especially in the earliest days after a disaster.

In addition to this letter, I also joined in the following:

a letter to House and Senate Appropriations Committee leaders asking them to support long-term funding for the FEMA Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) and other essential disaster recovery programs; and
a letter to President Biden, House leaders, and Senate and House Appropriations Committee leaders urging them to remove the harmful, anti-equality provisions in the final, negotiated fiscal year 2025 funding package.

With a busy week of caucus meetings and elections, I was glad to have a few minutes back in the office to visit with some Houstonians visiting Capitol Hill about energy issues, including work that is ongoing in this Congress and what we may expect in the next Congress and next administration.

This week, I participated in a roundtable discussion on the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA), which is set to expire in 2025, and U.S. economic engagement in Africa. Since 2000, AGOA has proved critical to economic development, job creation, and innovation both in African countries and the U.S., and serves as the primary framework that supports our trade and investment relationships. I was grateful to visit with our TX07 neighbors at the Texas Africa Chamber of Commerce before the roundtable to bring their perspective on this vital agreement and the opportunities it brings for our community, state, and country to the discussion. As Chair of the New Democrat Coalition’s Trade Task Force, I am focused on continuing the work to maintain the United States’ leadership in the global marketplace and to enact trade policy that will benefit American workers, consumers, and businesses and that will enhance our economic and national security.

In Washington, Team TX-07 held nearly two dozen meetings with constituents and groups advocating on their behalf, including representatives from the University of Houston and fwd.us' Texas Bipartisan Business Coalition pictured below.

Back home in the district, our team was out and about, helping constituents and attending community events across the district, including The Lighthouse of Houston’s 85th anniversary ceremony and a ribbon cutting with Houston West Chamber of Commerce, pictured below.

Big news this week! The Department of Energy has officially signed its deal with Houston energy developers to create the HyVelocity Hub, a clean hydrogen hub across Texas and the Gulf Coast. HyVelocity Hub will receive $1.2 billion in federal funding to build and expand low-carbon hydrogen and hydrogen infrastructure, which will create up to 45,000 jobs and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to seven million metric tons per year. This transformative federal investment will expand Gulf Coast energy resources, ensuring energy security and the benefits of clean hydrogen and high-quality jobs for communities. I was glad to support the creation of this program through legislation in the House and to advocate for the Houston Hub in the nationwide competition. Congratulations to the HyVelocity team!

As the year, and the 118th Congress comes to a close, I am looking forward to hosting a virtual town hall to provide an overview of the work this year and this Congress. Save the Date: December 3, 2024. To help me focus the presentation on the issues that matter most to you, please submit your questions and RSVP here.

Another important happening: Delivering Winter Wishes to seniors in our district. Once again, I am collecting cards and greetings to share with our senior citizens this holiday season. I will deliver cards from neighbors from across TX-07 in December. My team is working with schools in the district, and we welcome anyone who would like to participate to sign up here.

Next week, we will observe Thanksgiving—a day to spend with family and friends and celebrate all that we are grateful for. I am looking forward to spending that time back home in Houston, and I am sending you wishes for a wonderful Thanksgiving wherever you celebrate it!

Our offices will be closed next Thursday, November 28 and Friday, November 29 to observe the holiday. And the Weekly Wrap Up will be on its own Thanksgiving break next Friday. But, I’ll be in touch, and I’ll send you a full report from Washington the following week.

As always, I am proud to represent you and I am here to help you. 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 look forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes,