Texas Lawmakers in Congress: Key updates and legislative news - Page 126 of 201

Clockwise from top left: Jan McDowell, Mike Siegel, Gina Ortiz Jones and Sri Preston Kulkarni.

In Texas’ biggest congressional races, Democrats face choices new and old

By Patrick SvitekMay 30, 2019

All but one of Texas’ six U.S. House contests that national Democrats are targeting will feature candidates who ran last time.

In 2017, Hurricane Harvey wreaked havoc on the Texas Coast, dumping more than 50 inches of rain in parts of the Houston area, flooding thousands of homes and killing more than 80 people.

Environment

Texans in Congress push for release of billions in Harvey aid approved more than a year ago

By Adam WillisMay 17, 2019

Texas, Puerto Rico and other communities hit by major natural disasters have been waiting for over a year to receive their shares of $16 billion in grant funding approved by Congress.

Demographics

Texas demographer: Census citizenship question isn’t necessary

By Alexa UraMay 16, 2019

Responsible for providing population projections for the state, Lloyd Potter said citizenship information is not needed “for the purposes of the census.”

Clockwise from top left: Houston City Councilwoman Amanda Edwards; former U.S. Rep. Chris Bell; state Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas; and MJ Hegar.

Congress

Joaquin Castro’s out and MJ Hegar’s in, but other Democrats still eyeing John Cornyn’s seat

By Patrick Svitek and Abby LivingstonMay 14, 2019

Hegar, who drew national attention last year with a viral campaign ad, is the most high-profile Democrat in the race. But others are weighing whether to jump in after Castro decided to bow out.

State representatives take a picture of the Texas Taxpayer Transparency Act on the House Floor.

TribCast

TribCast: Tax night in the Texas Lege; state ends its voter citizenship review

By Emily Ramshaw and Todd WisemanMay 1, 2019

On this week’s TribCast, Emily talks to Ayan, Aman and Matthew about the Legislature’s progress on property taxes and school finance reform, the state’s decision to end a botched voter citizenship review and the fate of marijuana decriminalization in the Texas Senate.

MJ Hegar spoke to supporters and volunteers at an early vote rally at her field office in Austin last fall.

TribCast

TribCast: A legislative status report, and MJ Hegar throws in for U.S. Senate

By Emily Ramshaw and Michael Rey de LeonApril 25, 2019

On this week’s TribCast, Emily talks to Ross, Patrick and Jolie about the Legislature’s progress — or lack thereof — as we cruise into the last month of the session, former congressional candidate MJ Hegar’s bid for John Cornyn’s U.S. Senate seat and a Texas mental health program meant to help prisoners avoid solitary confinement.

Lawmakers now have more than $13 million available to pay interns at the U.S. Capitol.

Higher Education

All Texans in Congress now have money to pay interns. Will they?

By Gabe SchneiderApril 11, 2019

Congressional internships in Washington, D.C., have traditionally been unpaid. While some Texans in Congress have paid some of their interns in the past, those opportunities were not always well-publicized.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is planning to open a satellite office in Austin to focus on 2020 elections.

Politics

U.S. House Democratic campaign arm to open Austin office, boosting focus on Texas in 2020

By Abby LivingstonApril 9, 2019

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is opening an office in Austin as the committee aims to flip six U.S. House seats in Texas next year.

State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, speaks on his resolution to declare an emergency on the Texas-Mexico border on April 2, 2019.

State Government

Texas Senate declares migrant surge an emergency

By Arya SundaramApril 2, 2019

Republican state senators passed a resolution that would declare a crisis at the Texas-Mexico border and request Congress to fully fund border security measures. Democratic senators say they never saw the measure until it hit the floor.