The latest Congress news from The Texas Tribune.
Valenzuela is running for a North Texas seat long held by Republicans. But the shifting political winds in the suburbs are giving Democrats hope. Full Story
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U.S. citizens who have undocumented family members were barred from receiving stimulus checks earlier this year. They're hoping that Congress doesn't leave them out again. Full Story
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"Where appropriate, we intend to seek justice on behalf of those in uniform," the subcommittee chairs said while announcing their probe of the Texas Army base. Full Story
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The case at issue stems from a 2017 investigation into suspected mail-in voter fraud in Dallas County. Full Story
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Driven by Democrats worried about mail-in voting being jeopardized this November, members returned to the U.S. Capitol amid summer recess to vote on the legislation. Full Story
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The union leader said tens of thousands of pieces of mail were carted away ahead of U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro’s visit. The office's delays have been exacerbated by employees missing because of COVID-19 concerns. Full Story
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Confusion over unemployment relief in Texas has persisted since President Donald Trump took executive action in early August announcing an extra $400 weekly payment — but only if states administer the funds and chip in a quarter of the cost. Full Story
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Carolyn Lewis, a former USPS Board of Governors chair, said she has been disturbed by reports of cost-cutting measures and concerns that the mail service will not be able to handle an influx of mailed-in ballots. Full Story
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Changes at the U.S. Postal Service have raised concerns about whether ballots will be delivered on time, but local officials and Democrats stress that mail-in voting remains a vital and safe way to cast a ballot. Full Story
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Under President Donald Trump’s directive, the federal government may only have enough money to pay the enhanced $300 weekly benefits for about five weeks. The extra federal benefit was previously $600 a week. Full Story
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The president does not have the legal authority to move Election Day; that power resides with Congress. Full Story
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Gohmert's colleagues were afraid the mask-avoiding congressman from Northeast Texas might get infected with the coronavirus. On Wednesday, their fears came true. Full Story
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Gohmert, 66, said in a televised interview that he wonders if he may have caught the virus from wearing his mask. Medical experts, however, overwhelmingly recommend masks as a means of preventing the virus. Full Story
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Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad F. Wolf said that in response to the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, officials are considering whether to fully rescind the program. Full Story
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The Trump administration wants to exclude undocumented immigrants from the population counts used to determine seats in Congress, an idea that would cut into the strength of the Texas delegation to Washington, D.C. Full Story
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The CARES Act's $600 weekly unemployment benefit expires in Texas on Saturday, leaving out-of-work Texans in a period of uncertainty as Congress debates what to put in new federal relief legislation. Full Story
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Williams, an Austin Republican, says he didn't hear or participate in a heated exchange involving Ocasio-Cortez and a Republican colleague. Full Story
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If it withstands legal challenges, the memo signed Tuesday by the president could cost Texas several seats in Congress. But it's unclear what data would be used to parse undocumented immigrants from the overall population counts. Full Story
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Julián Castro said Abbott made three consequential mistakes: reopening the state too early, not pushing hard enough to get adequate testing or contact tracing, and banning local officials from requiring masks in the earlier months of the pandemic. Full Story
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The move will pit Castro, a four-term House member and chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, against more senior colleagues in contention for the gavel: Rep. Brad Sherman of California and Rep. Gregory W. Meeks of New York. Full Story
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