Rep. Veronica Escobar

Reminder: back in June, we tried to pass an amendment to prevent the use of federal funds for border barriers at Big Bend, and every single Republican - including those from Texas - voted against it.

On this POW/MIA Recognition Day, we pause to remember the brave servicemembers who were taken as prisoners of war and those who remain missing in action. My thoughts are with the families still waiting for answers. They are not - and never will be - forgotten.

Our nation has begged its government to do the right thing and release every document in the Epstein Files. The President's DOJ has withheld more than 3 million pages.   I joined the discharge petition for the Epstein Files Transparency Act II to force a vote on allowing state attorneys general, victims of Epstein, and Members of Congress to challenge the DOJ on its failure to comply with the full release of the files. Survivors deserve nothing less.

El Pasoans deserve to know what’s in the air we breathe.

After an emissions event at Marathon Petroleum’s El Paso refinery on August 4 & 5, I’m calling on the EPA to investigate what happened, whether federal laws and the refinery’s permit were violated, and why local officials and residents weren’t promptly notified.

I’m pleased to announce that the Department of Homeland Security has transferred the Socorro warehouses to the General Services Administration (GSA). This means the warehouses will be put up for sale and they will no longer be used by the federal government for detention purposes. The community of Socorro has been working on an economic development vision and plan to grow their economy while embracing their rich history. The community has also faced challenges with water, wastewater, and general infrastructure, making the purchase of these facilities for detention a terrible idea to begin with, threatening their ability to execute on their future plans and growth. My team and I have worked diligently to elevate these issues within DHS and ICE and ensure that the voices of our community were heard. My priority is to work with Socorro leadership to support our shared constituents and their needs. This news will help all of us focus on that path ahead instead of the greater challenges a massive detention facility would bring. I will continue to productively advocate for our community and what is in the best interests of all of us.

Every El Pasoan knows where they were on August 3rd, 2019. Today remains a solemn day, and despite the passing of time, seven years later our community continues to feel the pain, loss, and devastation from the senseless violence of that day. I know that many continue to live with the ongoing trauma of that day, and we must continue to be supportive as the journey toward healing continues. While we remember the 23 loved ones taken from us, I remain grateful for how our city came together in the days, months and years since. I’m thinking today of those families still mourning their loved ones, and of the El Pasoans who struggle with their injuries, both visible and invisible.

Republicans are eagerly sending nearly $100 billion more of your tax dollars for a war nobody wants in Iran. They are doing nothing to address the economic crisis created by Donald Trump.   Budgets and what we choose to fund are about our priorities, and Republicans aren’t prioritizing you.

For the last two years, House Republicans have not meaningfully engaged with Democrats in discussions about funding our government. Because they control every lever of government - the House, Senate and White House - Republicans consistently choose to go it alone. But when the time comes time to bring their funding bills to the floor for a vote, they suddenly no longer want to go it alone and expect House Democrats to blindly support their funding bills. This evening, Republicans put a bill on the floor to fund the government through December 4th, with the potential to add millions more funding for Customs Border Protection when, as of June 1st, this agency still has $59 billion available. Meanwhile, the American people are struggling to pay for groceries, utilities and gas — all because of Trump’s tariffs and his illegal war — and we should be working together to address these crises and help our constituents, not throwing more money at agencies that currently have billions available. I’m voting “no.” This isn’t how government should function and as an appropriator, I urge my Republican colleagues to work with us and earn our votes.

Mt. Cristo Rey is a religious and cultural landmark that has been central to our community for generations. Rather than working with border communities to advance effective border security, the Trump Administration continues to disregard the people, history, and culture that make our region special. I will continue to fight for its preservation.