The latest Congress news from The Texas Tribune.
Red flag laws are designed to keep guns out of the hands of individuals who pose a threat to themselves or others. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn has championed the bipartisan agreement. Full Story
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Mayra Flores, a Republican, won a special election to fill the unexpired term of U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela. Another election will be held in November. Full Story
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Nearly three weeks after the deadliest school shooting in Texas history, the state has been fiercely criticized for not providing Spanish-language information in an overwhelmingly Hispanic community. Full Story
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The U.S. House voted to authorize the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to begin planning for the massive coastal barrier project in Galveston Bay, but funding is not yet secured. The largest civil engineering project in U.S. history would permanently alter the Texas coast. Full Story
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The committee previously subpoenaed several Trump allies with Texas ties. The hearing begins at 7 p.m. Central time Thursday, but a witness list has not been released. Full Story
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Miah Cerrillo, 11, was among the small group of Uvalde survivors and community members who testified at a House hearing Wednesday, offering details about the incident and the devastation to those left behind. Full Story
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Cornyn on Monday made clear in a Senate floor speech that there are limits to what he and the Senate GOP conference are willing to support in their efforts to pass bipartisan gun legislation. Full Story
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The state Democratic Party confirmed Monday that Ramirez’s opponent, Michelle Vallejo, won by a slim margin. Full Story
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The GOP is spending big to capture an open congressional seat in South Texas — if only for a few months — as they try to create momentum toward a November election where they are newly targeting the region. Full Story
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More than 250 self-declared gun enthusiasts, including donors who have contributed to Gov. Greg Abbott’s campaigns, have signed on to an open letter supporting Sen. John Cornyn’s efforts at bipartisan gun reform legislation. Full Story
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He offered other measures more likely to pass in Congress, like raising the age to 21 to purchase such weapons. Full Story
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House Democrats are combining several gun policy bills into one large package known as the Protecting our Kids Act. Among the measures in the bill: raising the age to purchase semi-automatic weapons to 21; outlawing the sale, manufacture, transfer or possession of a large-capacity magazine; and creating tax breaks for purchasing proper gun storage equipment. Full Story
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In addressing mass shootings, Texas’ top officials have tailored their responses to the wishes of some of their most outspoken voters. The results haven’t changed because we haven’t changed. Full Story
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U.S. Sen. John Cornyn has a history of working across the aisle to advance small gun policy bills after mass shootings. Full Story
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U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar’s too-close-to-call runoff got most of the attention, but three other primary runoffs Tuesday carried big stakes for Democrats as they try to defend South Texas from a new GOP offensive. Full Story
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The state representative beat Jane Hope Hamilton in the primary runoff for the congressional seat based in southern Dallas. Full Story
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The race is a rematch from 2020, when Cuellar narrowly defeated Cisneros in the March primary of that year. This time, Cuellar is weakened because of an FBI raid on his home and renewed attention on his anti-abortion stance. Full Story
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The Army’s largest active-duty armored post is named after Gen. John Bell Hood. A commission has recommended naming it for Gen. Richard Cavazos, a native Texan. Full Story
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Cornyn is the most prominent Texas Republican to criticize the attorney general’s rocky record ahead of the runoff election against George P. Bush. Full Story
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The bill, which passed in the House, would expand the formula brand choices available to mothers on a federal assistance program in an attempt to mitigate a disruptive baby formula shortage around the country. Full Story
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