The latest Congress news from The Texas Tribune.
The Texas woman’s death exposed a pattern of violence and abuse against soldiers at Fort Hood, the U.S. military’s largest active-duty base. It also sparked national outrage over federal officials’ handling of sexual harassment and noncombat deaths. Full Story
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The junior senator from Texas initially slammed the bill as “a messaging tactic” but supported it in the final vote because he said an amendment made it more palatable. Full Story
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The bill backed by U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and U.S. Reps. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, and Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio, would create four new processing facilities for asylum seekers and add to federal staffing along the border. Full Story
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A national group is spending six figures to try to stop Ellzey ahead of the May 1 election, and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz came out against him on Tuesday. Full Story
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The junior senator was among only six Republicans who opposed advancing a bill that would expedite the processing of hate crimes against Asian Americans by the Justice Department. Full Story
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The Montgomery County Republican has served in the U.S. House for more than two decades. Full Story
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MLB’s anti-trust exemption reduces the possibility of a competing league from emerging and threatening its status as the preeminent professional baseball league. Full Story
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In the latest episode of our podcast about the Texas Legislature, Evan Smith talks to state Senate Transportation Chair Robert Nichols about Infrastructure Week and the challenges of getting people and goods from point to point in a fast-growing, rapidly urbanizing state. Full Story
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The two Texans' new bill would authorize the federal government to offer grants to states in support of weatherizing the state's electrical grids. It comes in response to February's deadly winter storm and sweeping power outages. Full Story
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The suit says Trump and his personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, violated the 1871 Ku Klux Klan Act. Full Story
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The budget does not factor in over $35 billion in federal aid. Senators said they don't yet know when that money will come in and what strings could be attached. Full Story
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Two of Sery Kim's biggest backers — the first Korean American Republicans to serve in Congress — withdrew their endorsements Friday after she said she doesn't want Chinese immigrants to come to America. Full Story
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Budgetary earmarks, a maligned spending practice banished a decade ago, appear poised to return under Democratic control of Washington D.C. Some Texas lawmakers welcome their revival, while others are pledging to abstain from their use. Full Story
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Democrats will have to defend three seats in the region. And two of those seats could draw heated primary races, too. Full Story
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Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday there is an even greater urgency this legislative session to pass laws expanding gun rights because of Joe Biden’s presidency. Full Story
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At least 57 people died during the winter storm that plunged much of Texas into subfreezing temperatures and caused widespread power outages for days. Full Story
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The U.S. House Judiciary Committee held the hearing to discuss discrimination just two days after police say a white man went on a shooting rampage targeting Asian women in Atlanta. Full Story
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The Biden administration shuttered a migrant tent camp in Mexico that was created under a Trump policy. Immigration advocates praised the move, but the closure adds to growing confusion over which migrants are let in or left out. Full Story
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Texas lawmakers expected to be sweating over a very tight budget right now, after strong early signs that the pandemic would stall the economy. But an improved economy and a huge infusion of federal aid is erasing those fears. Full Story
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Health officials had told Planned Parenthood's Medicaid patients they had until early February to find new doctors, but the health provider filed an emergency lawsuit saying the state had not followed the proper procedures. Full Story
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