Yearly Archives: 2016

Federal funding for three border infrastructure projects in the 23rd Congressional District of Texas was approved today by the Texas Transportation Commission. The following counties and projects will receive Coordinated Border Infrastructure (CBI) funding

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton today announced a $470 million joint state-federal settlement with mortgage lender and servicer HSBC to address mortgage origination, servicing and foreclosure abuses. The settlement provides direct payments to Texas borrowers for past foreclosure abuses; loan modifications and other relief for borrowers in need of assistance; institutes rigorous mortgage servicing standards, and grants oversight authority to an independent monitor

Senators Jeff Sessions (R-AL) and Ron Johnson (R-WI) joined Representative John R. Carter (R-TX-31) in his fight to close a loophole in the current law regarding unaccompanied minors entering the U.S. illegally by filing companion legislation in the Senate. The Protection of Children Act of 2015 (H.R. 1149/S. 2561) will ensure all unaccompanied children who enter the U.S. illegally are processed and safely returned to their home country as soon as possible. Under the current law, Central American children entering the U.S. illegally end up trapped in government red tape instead of being processed by U.S. Customs and returned safely to their home country.

Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith today joined over 200 colleagues in both the House and Senate to file an amicus brief supporting petitions filed by 27 states seeking to overturn the EPA’s Clean Power Plan.

Sen. Cruz (R-Texas) along with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and House Energy and Power Subcommittee Chairman Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), filed an amicus brief in State of West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency, a case currently pending before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (Bank) today reported net income of $14.7 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2015. In comparison, for the quarter ended September 30, 2015, the Bank reported net income of $5.6 million. For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Bank reported net income of $67.2 million, as compared to $48.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2014

Texas dove hunters would get an additional 20 days this fall under proposed changes to the 2016-17 Statewide Hunting Proclamation for Migratory Game Birds up for public comment.

Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, today introduced legislation that would foster free market-driven innovation and technological advances. The Energy Efficiency Free Market Act of 2016 (H.R. 4504) would strike all government-mandated energy efficiency standards currently required on a variety of consumer products found in millions of American homes

Congressman Cuellar (D-TX-28) announced that he had secured an additional $10 million federal funding for environmental programs along the U.S.-Mexico border. These grant programs, which received funding under the recently passed omnibus appropriations bill, will help improve the environment, drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, all of which are important to conservation efforts and communities along our border and across the nation.

Commissioner of Insurance David Mattax recently made six appointments to the Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) Plan Governing Committee. The FAIR plan provides residential property insurance in underserved areas where it’s not readily available through the private market.

Celebrating a year of accomplishments, the Texas Association of REALTORS® recognized its outstanding members and local Realtor associations on February 8 during its annual Texas REALTORS® Winter Meeting at the Hyatt Regency in Austin.

Rep. John R. Carter (R-TX-31) introduced the Resist Executive Amnesty on Defense Installations (READI) Act which will prohibit any illegal alien from being housed on our military installations. The Obama Administration is planning to force several military bases to house illegal immigrant minors rather than face the facts and reverse the President’s misguided and broken immigration policies. This bill will ensure no military installation will be required to house any illegal immigrant

U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced significant new investments that are a part of the President’s proposed fiscal year 2017 budget request. The proposed budget is focused on tackling our nation's greatest challenges by making smart investments in federal infrastructure in Austin, Texas, including the purchase of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Annex Building and improvements to the Austin Finance Center.

U.S. Representative Bill Flores (R-Texas) released the following statement regarding the U.S. Supreme Court issuing a stay on the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan

MERSCORP Holdings, Inc. today announced that the Dallas County District Court, 101st Judicial District, issued a final judgment in MERS’ favor recognizing MERS’ right, as beneficiary, to notice of a lawsuit under the United States and Texas Constitutions.

The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology today held a hearing to examine the various scientific, economic and other policy issues surrounding President Obama’s recent pledge to the United Nations-led effort to curtail greenhouse gas emissions. The president pledged that the United States will cut its greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 28 percent over the next decade and by 80 percent or more by 2050.

Congressman Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX-15) delivered the following remarks when offering an amendment during consideration in the House Committee on Financial Services Budget Views and Estimates to expand affordable housing in rural communities

On Tuesday, February 2, 2016, Congressman Al Green (TX-09), a veteran civil rights advocate, introduced the Original National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Resolution of 2016 and the Original Black History Month Resolution of 2016. The resolutions were introduced with 22 original co-sponsors

On Tuesday, February 2, 2016, the House of Representatives approved Congressman Al Green’s Homes for Heroes Act as part of the H.R. 3700, the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2015.

Texas home sales and home prices reached all-time highs in 2015, capping off another strong year for Texas real estate, according to the 2015-Q4 Texas Quarterly Housing Report released today by the Texas Association of REALTORS