Congressman John R. Carter (TX-31) and Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02) introduced the Securing Energy Infrastructure Act of 2017, which establishes a pilot program to evaluate United States energy security vulnerabilities. As bipartisan co-chairmen of the House Army Caucus, Rep. Carter and Rep. Ruppersberger continue their shared commitment to national security through this important legislation

As Texas rebuilds in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is committed to ensuring safe, affordable housing for all those affected by the disaster. HUD is tasked with comprehensive, long-term disaster relief and has been working on the front lines in Texas. We are your ear on the ground and your voice in Washington, and we are committed to providing a compassionate and effective response

Mercy Loan Fund (MLF), a leading Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) today announced that it has provided a $7.0 million loan to Chesapeake Community Advisors (CCA) and Trinity Village Non Profit Housing Corp. (Trinity) for the acquisition of Forest Dale Apartments, a 206-unit community for seniors with low incomes in Dallas, Texas

Rep. Louie Gohmert (TX-01) released the following statement today regarding the vote in Congress to provide federal funding in the Disaster Relief Fund

Congressman John Culberson (TX-07) released the following statement after House Appropriations Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen announced an initial emergency supplemental appropriations bill to begin rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Harvey.

Granger MacDonald, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder and developer from Kerrville, Texas, issued the following statement on the need for collaboration among key stakeholders as communities look to rebuild.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) release the following statement today, in regards to the water quality of flood-impacted areas from Hurricane Harvey

The Texas Big Game Awards program is announcing rule changes designed to better reflect the objectives of this 27 year partnership between the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Wildlife Association — to recognize the contributions hunters and landowners make in managing and conserving wildlife and wildlife habitat in Texas

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) approved grant funding this week to repair the Presidio International Rail Bridge and South Orient Railroad, which extends from Presidio to San Angelo. With this funding, Presidio can continue serve as a pillar of Texas trade, benefitting both the border region and the State’s economy. U.S. Representative Will Hurd (R-Texas) championed this initiative to TxDOT and local officials to ensure the line’s rehabilitation and improved operations, and safety. Texas Tax ID

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) announced the election of G. Granger MacDonald to FHLB Dallas’ Board of Directors (Board). Mr. MacDonald was elected by the Board to fill an independent director seat that was vacated in April. He will serve out the remainder of the term for that seat, which expires December 31, 2017.

A new study from The University of Texas at Austin and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) finds that new homes in Texas built to meet green building standards like LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), the world’s most widely used green building rating system, are worth an average of $25,000 more in resale value than conventional homes

Michael Cowen helps homeowners with inspections so they can buy windstorm insurance. He drives hundreds of miles and spends hours on the phone each week talking with homeowners, contractors, and local building officials about inspection requirements.

A new multi-partner playa restoration program, the Texas Playa Conservation Initiative, is offering participating landowners free backfilling of pits and trenches in playas surrounded by grass.

The Presidential Permit for the Presidio-Ojinaga infrastructure project in the 23rd Congressional District of Texas was approved this week, indicating final approval of a long and tedious process to widen the local Port of Entry one lane in either direction to accommodate 18-wheelers. Due to the efforts of Congressman Will Hurd alongside local officials, the long-planned expansion initiative will strengthen cross-border trade between the U.S. and Mexico and position Presidio as an efficient and cost-effective transit hub for imports and exports. Receiving the permit is the last hurdle before construction may begin. LASIK Houston

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee released the following statement announcing today that the U.S. Department of Education has awarded the University of Houston-Downtown a $497,413 grant to implement its Upward Bound Program to provide students with the skills and motivation necessary to enter and succeed in a program of postsecondary education

A redevelopment plan for a Chicago site presented by a team from the University of Texas at Austin has taken top honors in the 2017 Urban Land Institute (ULI) Hines Student Competition, an ideas competition that provides graduate students the opportunity to devise a comprehensive design and development scheme for a large-scale site in an urban area. Members of the team were awarded a first-place prize of $50,000 after the conclusion of the competition on April 6.