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It’s the last full week of the Biden-Harris administration. As I reflect on the progress our country made over the last four years under the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, I want to remind you about some of those wins and how they’ve set up our country and community for success for years to come. Let’s not forget where we were in 2020: a global pandemic that… Read more »

Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) led eight of her colleagues in sending a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to implement regulatory policy to remove downed pigs from the food supply. This reform would protect the public and farm, slaughterhouse, and meatpacking workers from contact with zoonotic diseases.  The lawmakers wrote: “As members of the United States House… Read more »

Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) celebrated the General Services Administration (GSA)’s adoption of Viable Action Alternative #4 for the Bridge of the Americas (Puente Libre, BOTA) project. Viable Action Alternative #4, one of several design proposals, which removes all commercial cargo operations and modernizes the bridge with a focus on customer service… Read more »

Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) introduced H.R. 8994, the Pigs and Public Health Act of 2024 (PPHA). This piece of legislation would require a joint report by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that tracks pathogens associated with nonambulatory, or “downed,” pigs. The bill aims to establish better,… Read more »

Yesterday, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) led a bipartisan group of nine colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary of Agriculture, Thomas Vilsack, and Under Secretary for Food Safety, José Emilio Esteban, urging the implementation of regulatory protections for nonambulatory, or “downed,” pigs. “As you are aware, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S.… Read more »

Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) joined the League of Conservation Voters, Chispa TX, and Rewiring America to discuss implementation of the historic clean energy and climate justice investments from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The webinar connected state and local government officials, superintendents, and El Paso organizations… Read more »

Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) released the Climate Crisis Advisory Committee Framework and reintroduced her legislation H.R. 5204, the Climate Adaptation Plan Act of 2023 (CAP Act), inspired by the report and the work of her Climate Crisis Advisory Committee (CCAC). This legislation directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator to establish a grant… Read more »

Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) introduced H.R. 2939, the Pigs in Gestation Stalls Act of 2023 (PIGS Act). This legislation would permanently ban the extreme confinement of pregnant sows and require the pigs to have at least 24 square feet of space to allow them to lie down, stand up, and move about freely.   “Pigs are sentient beings that feel pain and suffering. They… Read more »

Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) proudly announced that the Castner Range – the crown jewel of West Texas – will be designated as a national monument by President Biden. The designation was granted through the President’s use of the Antiquities Act.  “I’m absolutely thrilled about the designation,” said Congresswoman Veronica Escobar.“Today’s historic announcement… Read more »

Today, Congresswoman Escobar hosted United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Gloria Montaño Greene, USDA Rural Development State Director of Texas Lilliana Salerno, International Boundary and Water Commissioner Maria-Elena Giner, and various stakeholders around El Paso to discuss the USDA’s role supporting local farms and… Read more »