Texas RealEstateRama

Rep. Lamar Smith voted to provide $15 billion in emergency funding for the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA), the Small Business Administration (SBA), and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to fund recovery efforts following Hurricane Harvey. The funding bill also extends the National Flood Insurance Program.

Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and a member of the House Foreign Affairs, House Intelligence, and House Education and Labor Committees, and Congressman Mark Meadows (NC-11)

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)’s Texas Energy Sector Rural Improvement Program received $50 million through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s BUILD grant program to improve roads impacted by the Permian Basin energy boom in Winkler, Reagan and Glasscock Counties

Monday, the House of Representatives passed Congressman Mike Conaway’s H.R. 3008, the George W. Bush Childhood Home Study Act. This legislation, which passed 382-4-2, aims to preserve the Midland home of the Bush family as a national landmark.

Congressman John Culberson (TX-07) today passed an amendment to the fiscal year 2019 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill to repeal a FEMA rule that prevents Hurricane Harvey survivors from receiving continued rental assistance. After the amendment’s adoption by unanimous vote, Congressman Culberson released the following statement.

Hundreds of laws get passed every year that can affect you as a Texas resident. These new laws can cause legal concerns and sprout confusing legal questions for both you and your families. Here are a few of the laws that began to take effect in 2018.

Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) voted today for the passage of the Community Institution Mortgage Relief Act of 2017 (H.R. 3971) in the U.S. House of Representatives. This bill will reduce compliance costs for smaller community financial institutions by exempting them from certain escrow or impound requirements.

The House unanimously passed H.R. 3359, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Act of 2017. This watershed legislation will streamline the current structure of the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) and re-designate it as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) to more effectively execute cybersecurity and critical infrastructure related authorities.

Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas), chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection, praised the House passage of legislation to reorganize the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) at DHS on Monday.

Sandra Flores will begin serving a six year prison term this week for insurance fraud after a Texas Department of Insurance investigation found she had stolen $1 million from real estate transactions. She was sentenced earlier this week by a Harris County judge.

Rep. Pete Olson (TX-22) today acted to help redevelop abandoned or contaminated properties and encourage economic development by voting for H.R. 3017, the Brownfields Enhancement, Economic Redevelopment, and Reauthorization Act. Brownfields are abandoned, closed or under-utilized industrial or commercial properties that may be contaminated because of their prior use. However, these sites often have great potential for redevelopment, if they are cleaned up properly. This bill reauthorizes the EPA Brownfields Program in order to help states and localities get the tools and guidance they need to clean up and redevelop brownfields.

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

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.

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