Yearly Archives: 2015

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Great Texas Birding Classic, an all ages statewide birding event, has generated $844,500 for 95 on-the-ground habitat acquisition, restoration and enhancement projects during the last 19 years. This year’s tournament, which saw a record 530 participants representing 100 teams, contributed $25,000 from registration fees and sponsorships to fund conservation grants.

Condominium and townhome sales slowed in Texas’s major metro areas in the first half of 2015, according to the 2015 Texas Condominium Mid-Year Sales Report. Released today by the Texas Association of REALTORS®, the report shows that condominium (condo) and townhome sales in Texas’s four major markets remained relatively consistent with condo sales in the first half of 2014.

Rep. Pete Olson (TX-22), Vice Chairman of the House Energy and Power Subcommittee, today issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision that stripped the basis of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) sweeping rule on mercury and other emissions from power plants in the United States

On Saturday, June 27, 2015, Congressman Al Green (TX-9), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Financial Services Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, and Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-5), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Financial Services Housing and Insurance Subcommittee, held a Congressional Housing and Banking Public Forum.

Governor Greg Abbott today issued the following statement on the Supreme Court’s decision to reject the EPA’s regulations on power plants. “The Supreme Court rightly held that the EPA violated the law when it imposed a multi-billion-dollar regulation on power plants without considering whether the cost was justified. While today’s decision is good news for Texas

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently recognized Thermal Energy Corporation (TECO) of Houston, Texas with the ENERGY STAR Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Award. TECO substantially reduced emissions of carbon dioxide at its plant that serves 19.3 million square feet of building space at the Texas Medical Center—world’s largest medical center complex.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may provide grants to help pay for rent, emergency home repairs, personal property replacement, and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other sources

Thousands of law enforcement officers across the United States, including Texas Game Wardens, will be on heightened alert for those violating boating under the influence laws during the annual Operation Dry Water weekend, June 26-28. Operation Dry Water is a nationally coordinated heightened awareness and enforcement campaign, focused on deterring boaters from boating under the influence of drugs or alcohol

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loans are the primary source of federal long-term disaster recovery funds for disaster damages not fully covered by insurance or other compensation.

Congressman Rubén Hinojosa announced the Small Business Administration (SBA) will be offering residents and small business owners, who had storm damage from May 4 through June 16, 2015, loans at a low interest rate.

Congressman Rubén Hinojosa, along with many of his colleagues who supported President Obama’s plan for the Affordable Care Act were thankful that the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a key provision of the Affordable Care Act agreeing with President Obama’s administration that government subsidies that make health insurance affordable for millions of Americans should be available to all.

Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards (MD-4) issued the following statement after the Supreme Court issued its 5 to 4 ruling affirming the use of an important tool in fighting against housing discrimination.

In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court today issued its opinion ruling that disparate impact claims may be used to support plaintiffs’ claims of alleged Fair Housing Act (FHA) violations. Justice Kennedy wrote the Court’s opinion, joined by Justices Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor, and Kagan in the case of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA) v. Inclusive Communities Project, Inc. The decision remands the case to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals for further proceedings consistent with the Supreme Court’s opinion.

The final phase of a senior living community opened Tuesday in Dallas, thanks in part to a $500,000 Affordable Housing Program (AHP) grant from Amegy Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas)

The national Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Lawyers’ Committee) and the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs applaud today’s decision by the Supreme Court in Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs v. Inclusive Communities Project (TDHCA) holding that disparate impact claims are cognizable under the Fair Housing Act (FHA).

On Thursday, June 25, 2015, Congressman Al Green (TX-09) released a statement on the Supreme Court's ruling on the legal doctrine known as Disparate Impact in Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, et al v. Inclusive Communities Project, Inc

A second State/FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is now open in Hays County for homeowners, renters and business owners who sustained damage as a result of the ongoing severe storms, tornadoes and flooding.

Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) issued the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the use of the controversial “disparate impact” legal theory, saying those who file housing discrimination lawsuits don’t have to show they were victims of intentional discrimination

Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch released the following statement today after the Supreme Court ruling in Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs v. Inclusive Communities Project Inc

Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller today announced the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) has awarded $1 million to Polk County, located northeast of Houston, for infrastructure improvements and engineering services through the Texas Capital Fund (TCF). The award will support the creation of a wood-product manufacturing facility operated by Corrigan OSB, LLC and create 100 new, full-time jobs