The federal infrastructure bill’s passage renewed hopes that Texas would finally get a coastal storm barrier. But Galveston and Houston could still get hit by a hurricane before it is built.
Bethany Irvine
Bethany Irvine was a graduate student at Georgetown University and a Washington, D.C., reporting fellow. During her years working in the nation’s capital, she has served as a public policy intern and project specialist for the Texas A&M University System’s Office of Federal Relations, a national contributing writer for HerCampus.com and an intern for the U.S. House of Representatives.
Posted in
Economy
Texans in U.S. House vote along party lines to pass $1.75 trillion social spending package
After months of contentious negotiations, the U.S. House passed the Build Back Better plan. It would establish universal pre-K and provide funding to combat climate change, among other things.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
Majority of Texans support COVID-19 vaccine and mask mandates, UT/TT poll says
Fifty-seven percent of voters support mask requirements in indoor public spaces based on local conditions, while 58% support mask requirements in public schools.
Posted in
Demographics
Texans John Cornyn and Ted Cruz join GOP senators to block voting rights bill that would have protected voters of color
In a final push to secure federal voting rights legislation this year, congressional Democrats failed to secure the necessary votes to avoid a GOP filibuster on the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
Posted in
Texas Abortion Restrictions
“A pivotal day”: Texas abortion law’s Supreme Court hearings spur hope for some, fear for others
Anti-abortion groups and reproductive rights activists faced off outside the U.S. Supreme Court as it heard Texas’ abortion case.
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Politics
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz delays dozens of President Joe Biden’s ambassador nominations, stoking feud over national security
Cruz has single-handedly delayed dozens of key State Department nominees in retaliation for a Biden decision to drop U.S. opposition to a Russian pipeline to Germany.
Posted in
Congress
U.S. Senate Republicans block federal voting rights legislation that would override Texas’ restrictions
In their latest push to lift state-level voting restrictions, Senate Democrats failed to secure the 60 votes required to break a filibuster on the Freedom to Vote Act.
Posted in
Politics
After Texas and other states passed new voting restrictions, federal bills could expand ballot access. Here’s what you need to know.
The U.S. Senate is expected to vote this week on the Freedom to Vote Act, which would supersede some of Texas’ new elections law.
Posted in
Politics
Ted Cruz and John Cornyn opposed a debt-limit increase that will stave off economic catastrophe, but backed previous borrowing hikes
The two Republican senators from Texas have routinely supported more government borrowing when Republicans held the White House.
Posted in
Economy
Here’s what Texans need to know about the government shutdown threat in Congress
In a late-night scramble, U.S. Senate leaders circulated a continuing resolution that could prevent a federal shutdown and the furlough of some 35,000 Texans who work for the federal government.