Escobar, Veronica RSS Articles

Congresswoman Escobar Statement on Fort Bliss Data Center Project Update

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) released the following statement after attending a community stakeholder meeting on the Fort Bliss data center project:

“Today, the Army and Carlyle Group held a meeting of El Paso community stakeholders to discuss the latest updates on the Fort Bliss data center.

"Since March, when my team and I first learned of this project, we have asked that the public and local representatives be kept in the loop and be allowed to voice their concerns and ask questions. I’m grateful to the Army and Carlyle for their continued engagement.

"I’ve consistently had a number of requests, including that they:

Move the data center far away from any neighborhood;
Preserve our water;
Use renewable energy for the electrical generation;
Be transparent and accountable.

"Today we learned that the location of the data center has indeed been moved, but it is still too close to residential areas. Close proximity to homes is not acceptable, and I will continue to advocate for a different location.

"We also learned that their water use will likely be of brackish water that will be sent to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Plant for desalination, which I see as a positive development. And while the scale of the data center has also been reduced, they are still on track to utilize gas generation for their power needs. The gas generation for power remains an additional serious concern. We must protect our community’s air quality, and I will continue to push for the use of renewable energy.

"As more information becomes available, my team and I will continue to keep the community updated."

Congresswoman Escobar Sends Navy Letter Requesting More Information on the Use of Swine in Diving Experiments

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Yesterday, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16), joined by Representatives Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Mark Pocan (WI-2) and Dina Titus (NV-1), sent a letter to Department of the Navy Secretary Hung Cao requesting more information on the use of swine in hyperbaric diving experiments.

The full letter can be found here or below:

Secretary Cao:

We are writing to express our strong concern regarding the Department of the Navy funded research projects involving the use of swine in hyperbaric diving experiments, specifically the recent study conducted at Duke University utilizing animal models to test breathing gas switches involving carbon tetrafluoride.

While we recognize the vital importance of ensuring the safety, health, and operational readiness of our divers and submariners, we remain deeply troubled by the continued reliance on animal testing when novel scientific methods and advanced models exist and should be fully exhausted. Specifically, the research recently published titled "Isobaric counterdiffusion of carbon tetrafluoride breathing gas to prevent severe decompression sickness" subjected juvenile swine to extreme pressure profiles, rapid decompressions, and severe physiological distress to evaluate decompression sickness mitigation, leading to mortality for some of the swine.

As advocates for animal welfare standards, we question whether the Department has thoroughly exhausted non-animal methodologies. We request that the Department of the Navy provide responses to the following questions within 30 days:

Have there been insistences on where alternative methods are the preferred method to live, animal testing? If so, what were the reasonings behind those decisions and the effectiveness of the results?
What specific validation protocols are used to ensure that all non-animal testing alternatives are fully exhausted before any animal models are approved for use?
Does the Navy enforce protocols or data-sharing agreements to prevent redundant animal testing on the same research questions across different laboratories or research groups
How many total studies are planned under this overarching research initiative, and what is the projected timeline for concluding all associated animal testing?
What specific military or operational necessity required the use of live pigs rather than advanced computer or lab-based modeling for this research? What total amount of federal funding from the Department of Defense has been allocated to institutions for animal testing over the past five fiscal years?
What specific steps are being taken by the Navy to transition toward non-animal methods?

Our national security and the health of our service members are paramount, but we must achieve these goals ethically and responsibly. We look forward to your prompt response and to working together to ensure taxpayer funds support both naval innovation and high standards of animal welfare.

Representatives Escobar, Rivas Lead 45 of Their Colleagues in Demanding ICE to Restore Detainee Details Back to ODLS

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) and Congresswoman Luz Rivas (CA-29) led 45 of their colleagues in a letter urging U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director David Venturella to restore detainee details to the Online Detainee Locator System (ODLS). The Members’ letter comes after a disturbing report from the Associated Press revealed that ICE began removing individuals with final orders of removal from ODLS. ODLS allows family members, legal representatives, and members of the public to locate individuals detained by ICE.

On September 21, 2026, the Associated Press reported that ICE began removing individuals with final orders of removal from ODLS on September 15, 2026. This change in policy was not publicly announced, and was not communicated to detainees’ families or legal representation. The Washington Post also reported that ICE’s new policy bars immigration officials from sharing information with their attorneys or relatives by phone.

The full letter can be found here or below:

Dear Acting Director Venturella:

We write with serious concern regarding a recent report from the Associated Press (AP) that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) implemented a policy change to its Online Detainee Locator System (ODLS) on September 15, 2026, so that individuals with final removal orders from an immigration court no longer appear in the searchable database while they remain in ICE custody. ODLS is a public system that allows family members, legal representatives, and members of the public to locate individuals detained by ICE. We urge ICE to restore ODLS location in- formation for all individuals with final removal orders who remain in ICE custody and to provide Congress with the justification underlying this change. The federal government should not be denying any individual access to legal counsel or shielding their whereabouts from loved ones.

ICE created ODLS so that family members, legal representatives, and members of the public can locate individuals in immigration custody. On September 21, 2026, AP reported that ICE began removing individuals with final orders of removal from ODLS on September 15, 2026. ICE has not publicly announced this change in policy and has not communicated to detainees’ families or legal representation where detainees are currently held who have disappeared from ODLS. The Washington Post also reported that ICE’s new policy bars immigration officials from sharing information with their attorneys or relatives by phone, information that ICE has been providing for decades. This is a wholly unprecedented move by the United States government to impede both access and legal representation for people in federal custody. It is also contrary to foundational principles of the American legal system, where there is a general right to know where a prisoner is being held.

The consequences of this change extend beyond public transparency. Immigration attorneys have reported losing track of clients after they disappeared from ODLS, while family members are un- certain whether their loved ones were transferred to another facility or removed from the United States completely. For families, this uncertainty in suddenly losing contact with a loved one can lead to anxiety, trauma, and the continued mistrust of the federal government. Detainees may be held in facilities thousands of miles away from their homes, and while ICE maintains that detainees have access to phones while in custody, detainees are not always able to place phone calls due to the cost of the calls, high demand for phone usage, or a combination of these and other factors. Attorneys have warned that losing access to a detainee’s location can interfere with communication and make time-sensitive legal challenges more difficult to pursue, especially where venue for litigation depends on knowing where someone is physically detained. Individuals with final orders of removal may still have pending legal claims or other avenues for relief, making continued access to counsel especially important.

Individuals with final orders of removal are routinely held in ICE custody for days, weeks, or months. Some individuals with final orders cannot be rapidly deported due to difficulty obtaining travel documents, or logistical challenges. Others have been granted protection from deportation to their home country and remain detained for substantial periods of time while ICE appeals the decision or seeks a third country of removal. Under ICE’s new policy, these individuals will be hidden from the public, with their lawyers and family members having no way to determine where they are being held at any time.

This unprecedented policy also substantially interferes with the oversight capacity of Members of Congress from locating constituents who have been detained by ICE and the ability of detainees’ legal counsel to determine where an individual is being held.

As part of our Congressional oversight responsibilities, we request a response to the following information by October 14, 2026:

Immediate restoration for all individuals with final removal orders detained by ICE back into ODLS.
Is ICE withholding information on detainees’ location from their family members and their lawyers who are calling or emailing to request this information, in addition to no longer listing the location of a detainee on the online locator system?
What directive, guidance, memorandum, or other instructions were ordered as part of the change to ODLS that removed detainees who are subject to final removal orders? Provide this in writing, in addition to how ICE’s new policy constitutes a final order of removal.
What procedures has ICE established to ensure that attorneys and family members can promptly determine the location of individuals with final removal orders who remain in ICE custody, but no longer appear in ODLS?
Provide a list of ICE detention facility locations that are currently exempt from this policy, either due to a judicial order or for any other reason.

We urge ICE to rescind this policy immediately and restore ODLS location information for all individuals with final orders of removal who remain in ICE custody. ICE should ensure that detainees remain locatable to their families and legal representatives instead of trying to hide these individuals’ whereabouts.

Representatives Escobar, Bacon Introduce Bill to Prevent Military Families from Losing Access to Nutrition Benefits

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) and Congressman Don Bacon (NE-2) introduced the Nutrition Continuity for Military Families Act of 2026. This bill would ensure that at-risk military families do not lose access to crucial supplemental nutritional benefits through the Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) program while conducting military required permanent changes of station (PCS).

"Receiving orders to move around the country or the world is one of the most stressful sacrifices a military family can make," said Congresswoman Escobar. "It's critical that when families conduct a permanent change of station, Congress and the military make this drastic change as smooth as possible. The last thing they should be worried about is the transferring of their nutrition assistance. My bipartisan bill addresses this by ensuring military families have the resources and tools at their disposal to ensure they have food on the table.”

"Food costs are one of the biggest financial pressures on military families right now, and WIC benefits are a lifeline for many of them," said Shannon Razsadin, Military Family Advisory Network CEO. "Our own research backs that up: the Military Family 360° Survey found 41.2% of military families report low or very low food security, up from 15.6% just two years ago, and families who've recently moved due to military orders are among the hardest hit. Families report WIC benefit coverage gaps when they relocate, and some don't even know they qualify in the first place. This legislation fixes both problems: it helps families know what they're eligible for and ensures those benefits don't lapse just because they got new orders. That's real financial stability for the families who need it most, and it strengthens the readiness of our all-volunteer force."

"Military families should not lose access to nutrition assistance simply because of a permanent change of station," said Lt. General Brian Kelly, USAF, (Ret), President and CEO of the Military Officers Association of American (MOAA). "Even a short interruption in WIC benefits can mean going without essential support during an already stressful relocation. MOAA thanks Representatives Escobar and Bacon for introducing bipartisan legislation to ensure military families enrolled in WIC are immediately eligible for benefits at their next duty station. This will provide continuity of support, reduce financial strain, and improve military readiness by allowing servicemembers to remain focused on their mission."

The Nutrition Continuity for Military Families Act of 2026 ensures that the Department of Defense (DoD) provides the necessary resources and tools to fend off military family food insecurity. Specifically, this bill will:

Require the DoD to notify service members upon receipt of PCS orders, if they are likely to fall within the category of income eligibility for WIC based on their grade/rank and time in service. The target category include:
- enlisted service members undergoing a PCS with one or more dependents
- pregnant enlisted service members
- enlisted service members with pregnant spouses
- enlisted servicemembers who meet the following service criteria:
  - serving an initial term of enlistment
  - serving in a paygrade of E-4 of below or,
  - have completed less than 10 years of service and is serving in the paygrade of E-5 or E-6.
Require that state agencies issue a Verification of Certification card to covered members at the time of certification or recertification, ensuring their continued access to program benefits

Require DoD to ensure that every military installation is staffed at least three days a week by a DoD employee knowledgeable of the WIC program and with resources to direct families to local agencies to complete enrollment and manage benefits. These offices will provide readily available resources to military families who may be challenged to access local agencies located off the installation.

The National Military Family Association (NMFA) and Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN) have endorsed the Nutrition Continuity for Military Families Act of 2026.

The full bill text can be found here.

Congresswoman Escobar Joins Representative Greg Casar, Over 100 Members in Demanding Medical Care, Not Deportation, for Man Shot by ICE in Austin

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) joined Congressman Greg Casar and over 100 Members of Congress in demanding that ICE release Wilber Rafael Garces Perez from detention to allow him to receive medical treatment and stop its efforts to deport him. Mr. Garces Perez is a 28-year-old DoorDash driver who was shot in the back by an ICE agent in Austin on September 20th.

In a letter addressed to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Acting ICE Director David Venturella, the Members demand that:

- ICE release Mr. Garces Perez from detention so he can receive medical treatment;

- ICE abandon efforts to swiftly deport him or remove him from Texas;

- The ICE agent responsible remain in Texas; and

- DHS preserve all available evidence related to the shooting and share all evidence with parties that have jurisdiction to conduct a full, independent, and transparent investigation.

The full letter can be found here or below:

Dear Secretary Mullin and Acting Director Venturella,

We are writing to demand Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) cease any and all efforts to interfere with a comprehensive investigation into the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez and release Mr. Garces Perez from detention to allow him to receive medical treatment and continued medical monitoring.

First, we are deeply concerned that ICE is attempting to swiftly deport Mr. Garces Perez, who was shot in the back by an ICE agent in Austin, Texas on September 20th, in an effort to escape scrutiny by impeding an independent investigation into this shooting. Mr. Garces Perez is a key witness to this shooting, and given ICE’s history of obscuring the facts in similar investigations, he must not be removed. Second, Mr. Garces Perez is currently being held at the South Texas Detention Complex in Pearsall, Texas, which has a documented history of medical neglect. Mr. Garces Perez is not receiving the care he needs in detention. According to his lawyers, he “still has the bullet lodged in his body. He’s received no pain medication and had to sleep on the floor.” While he remains in the United States, he should be allowed to receive medical care and pursue all legal options available to him. Finally, Mr. Garces Perez and the ICE agent responsible must remain in Texas until a thorough, independent investigation into the shooting is complete.

On Sunday, September 20th in Austin, TX, an ICE agent shot Mr. Garces Perez, a 28-year-old DoorDash driver with no apparent criminal record, in the back at the 7000 block of West Anderson Lane near U.S. 183 in Austin, TX. Video and photos taken after the shooting show a blue Toyota Corolla with damage to the front passenger door and apparent bullet holes in the right rear window. In a social media video taken during the shooting, at least three gunshots are heard. A person is seen approaching the sedan, which is slowly moving forward. Mr. Garces Perez has publicly stated that prior to the shooting an unmarked car without sirens began aggressively ramming his car. He assumed it was an aggressive driver and attempted to maneuver away. Mr. Garces Perez was moved to a nearby hospital, where he was reportedly in “in serious but stable condition.” When his wife and lawyer attempted to see him hours later, they were told Mr. Garces Perez had already been moved to a detention center but were not provided details regarding his location or medical state. On September 21, Mr. Garces Perez was transferred briefly to a hospital before being returned to detention. His brief transfer followed a visit from Congressman Joaquin Castro’s staff. According to Mr. Garces Perez’s cellmate, Mr. Garces Perez was roughly handled and handcuffed before being taken to the hospital. Mr. Garces Perez has reported losing sensation on the left side of his body.

ICE has provided no justification for this shooting, and there is no indication Mr. Garces Perez posed a threat to officers. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claims Mr. Garces Perez had an active final removal order. However, DHS has repeatedly lied about the facts following violent encounters involving agents. Mr. Garces Perez’s lawyer could not verify DHS’s claim and Mr. Garces Perez previously held a valid work permit and entered the United States lawfully. Of course, Mr. Garces Perez’s immigration status does not justify the shooting.

The City of Austin and Travis County have already begun their criminal investigation into the shooting. DHS has said it will conduct an investigation with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). An investigation must also be conducted by the DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG). DHS has a history of withholding information and attempting to obstruct active investigations into wrongdoing by its agency. DHS must not obstruct or otherwise interfere with this investigation by removing Mr. Garces Perez from the country or interfering with the release of footage, data or other information by Texas state or local agencies involved in the operation.

We are demanding that you release Mr. Garces Perez from detention to allow him to receive medical treatment and abandon efforts to swiftly deport him or remove him from Texas. We are demanding the ICE agent responsible not be allowed to leave Texas. We are demanding that you preserve all available evidence related to this shooting and share it with parties that have jurisdiction to conduct a full, independent, and transparent investigation.

Finally, we are demanding that you answer the questions below by Monday, September 28.

- Provide a detailed sequence of events that culminated in the shooting of Mr. Garces Perez. Please include answers to the following:

- Why were ICE agents attempting to stop Mr. Garces Perez?

- How many ICE agents were involved in this incident?

- Please share information about the disciplinary history of each of the agents involved in this incident.

- What is Mr. Garces Perez's current medical condition? What treatment is he receiving in immigration detention?

- ICE’s current use of force policy requires ICE officers to render medical aid following an incident like this one. Video evidence from this incident suggests ICE agents did not abide by this policy. Why was ICE’s use of force policy not followed?

- Will you commit to releasing all bodycam footage related to this incident?

- If ICE determines there isn’t any bodycam footage, please provide an explanation for why bodycams were not used.

- Will you commit to allowing Mr. Garces Perez to remain in the United States for the duration of the FBI, OIG, and any state or local investigations into the shooting, so they may provide eyewitness testimony to investigators?

- Will you commit to not interfering with any ongoing investigations into this shooting, and to ensuring truly independent investigations into this case?

- Will you commit to ensuring that all investigators, including those from the FBI, OIG, and any state and local offices have access to all witnesses and evidence related to this case?

Representative Escobar Leads Texas Democrats in Requesting Investigation into Social Security Disability Insurance Wait Times

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Representative Veronica Escobar (TX-16) led the Democratic Texas Delegation in a letter to the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General (OIG) requesting an investigation into the wait times for processing Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) applications, which have seen a substantial increase over the past 21 months.

The full letter can be found here or below:

Dear Ms. Anderson,

Over the last 21 months, our offices have seen a steep incline in the processing times of Social Security Disability Insurance applications, leading to many families struggling to make ends meet. We write to request the Office of Inspector General (OIG) at the Social Security Administration (SSA) conduct an official investigation into the wait-times for SSDI applications in Texas.

As you know, SSDI provides monthly payments to eligible individuals who have a disability that either stops or limits their ability to work. For many of our constituents who are unable to work due to a disability, SSDI is their only source of income, so any delays in the processing of their SSDI applications or benefits can have serious consequences.

While we understand that SSDI payments cannot begin until five full calendar months from the date that a disability began, our offices have seen the processing times for the SSDI applications skyrocket. In El Paso, Texas, constituents have seen the processing timelines increase from six to eight months to 10-12 months. Many of our constituents who are applying for SSDI do not have the means to financially float 12 months without income.

We are deeply concerned about how these increased wait-times affect Texas families and urge you to conduct an office OIG investigation into the source of these delays. Specifically, we request that you investigate the following questions:

What is the current processing timeline for new SSDI applications in Texas? a. How does this compare to processing timelines in 2025, 2024, and 2023? b. How does this compare to the national average for SSDI application processing?
What is the average response time to Congressional inquiries regarding SSDI applications in Texas?
1. Is there a difference in response times to Congressional inquiries from Republican Members of Congress versus Democratic Members of Congress in Texas? If so, what is the difference in response times?
2. How do current response times to Congressional inquires compare to 2025, 2024, and 2023 response times to Congressional inquiries?
What are the current staffing levels of SSA field offices in Texas? a. How do these staffing levels compare to staffing in 2025, 2024, and 2023?
What is the source of the delays in processing SSDI?
1. Are the delays a result in slower processing of disability determinations by the Texas Health and Human Services agency? If so, why are there delays in processing disability determinations?
2. Are the delays a result of Reductions-in-Force (RIFs) at the SSA? 5. What steps does the OIG recommend, the Texas Health and Human Services agency and the SSA do to ensure that processing times for SSDI application are minimal?

We respectfully request your timely consideration of this request. Texans with disabilities deserve a federal government that works for them, not one that delays the benefits they need to make ends meet.

In addition to Representative Escobar, the signers of this letter include Texas Representatives Johnson, Doggett, Veasey, Garcia, Fletcher, Gonzalez, Menefee, Cuellar, Green, and Castro.

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Representatives Escobar, Goodlander Lead Democrats in Requesting Information on VA Advisory Committee on Women Veterans

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Representatives Veronica Escobar (TX-16) and Maggie Goodlander (NH-2) led a group of ten Democratic Members of Congress in a letter to Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Doug Collins expressing their concern for the apparent lack of support for the VA Advisory Committee on Women Veterans (ACWV).

The full letter can be found here or below:

Secretary Collins:

We write to express our concern regarding the apparent lack of support for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Advisory Committee on Women Veterans (ACWV). According to the ACWV Charter, which you signed October 6, 2025, this Federal Advisory Committee (FAC) must meet twice annually and submit a report to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs annually on July 1st. However, according to the files assembled and maintained by VA’s Advisory Committee Management Office in accordance with the law, the committee has not met since December 2024. No report has been published for either 2025 or 2026.

Additionally, we understand that the most recent Chair of the ACWV, Colonel (Ret.) Wanda A. Wright, resigned from that position in April 2026 in protest of VA having “effectively rendered the Committee inactive” and affirming the digital record of inactivity referenced above by noting the ACWV has not met since December 2024.

Under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), it is a requirement that advisory committees meet regularly, conduct business transparently, and actively fulfill their statutory purpose. Specifically, the ACWV is mandated by statute, 38 U.S.C. § 542, which requires that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs establish an advisory committee consisting of members from the general public who represent women veterans, veterans with service-connected disabilities, and those recently separated from the military and/or are recognized authorities in fields including gender-specific health-care needs of women. The law also requires you to consult with and seek advice from the ACWV with respect to VA health care, benefits, outreach, and other programs administered by VA. The committee, by statute, is to submit a report to you which you are required to submit to Congress within 60 days of receipt. We did not receive a report in 2025 and have seen no evidence that we should expect one in 2026.

The lapse in the ACWV’s required activities raises concerns about whether the Department is fulfilling its statutory obligation to consult with and seek the committee’s advice on matters affecting women veterans. The limited information available regarding the committee’s status further raises questions about whether VA is meeting its obligations under law and providing Congress and the public with adequate transparency regarding the operation of a Congressionally mandated advisory body.

To better understand the Department’s practices related to this FAC, we request responses to the following questions no later than October 2, 2026:

How many times did the VA Advisory Committee on Women Veterans meet in 2025?
As of the date of your response, how many times has the ACWV met in 2026?
What is informing your decisions about how to optimally provide care, benefits, and services to women veterans in the absence of regular meetings of the ACWV?
Each FAC has an associated budget and employees. Given that ACWV has not met as required in 2025 and 2026, have the budget and employees been redirected and if so how are they being used? Please provide funding levels used to support FAC activities in FY2025 and FY2026 and descriptions of how the funding was used.
What is your plan to ensure that meetings of the ACWV occur according to its statue and charter?

We appreciate your prompt attention to these questions and expect a timely and complete response. Congress created these advisory committees to ensure that the voices, expertise, and experiences of veterans inform the Department charged with serving them. Veterans and their families, caregivers, and survivors deserve nothing less than a clear accounting of why the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans has been allowed to fall silent and what the Department will do to restore these critical perspectives to the table.

In addition to Representatives Escobar and Goodlander, the signers of this letter include Representatives Terri Sewell (AL-7), Ed Case (HI-1), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-6), George Latimer (NY-16), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Tim Kennedy (NY-26), Madeleine Dean (PA-4), and Deborah Ross (NC-2).

Congresswoman Escobar Joins Bipartisan Delegation in Urging House Leaders to Take Immediate Action on Artificial Intelligence

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This week, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) joined a bipartisan group of ten members of Congress, led by Congressman Don Beyer (VA-8), in calling on U.S. House leadership in both parties to take immediate, urgent action to address risks posed by rapidly advancing artificial intelligence (AI). Their push came in the wake of the OpenAI agent cyberattacks on Hugging Face and subsequent warnings from leaders and researchers at prominent AI companies about the societal and existential risks posed by unrestrained advances in the technology.

The letter can be found here or below:

Dear Speaker Johnson and Minority Leader Jeffries:

We call for your joint leadership on an urgent Congressional response to recent incidents involving advanced artificial intelligence (AI) models that have profound implications for economic and national security. Congress has a singular opportunity to respond swiftly and effectively to these warning shots before true catastrophes occur.

On August 26th, 2026, an independent review revealed how hundreds of AI agents that OpenAI was internally testing set up a secret message board, self-organized themselves into a collective, escaped their testing environments, and breached the systems of HuggingFace, another AI company. The agents even tried to deceive their evaluators by attempting to manipulate log files and spoof tool calls. The agents undertook these actions without ever notifying a single official at OpenAI.

OpenAI is not alone. Anthropic and Meta have also disclosed examples of AI agents escaping their testing environment to hack other organizations. OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta are among the most sophisticated AI companies in the world, yet it appears they did not discover these incidents in real time. In OpenAI’s case, they did not know that their agents breached HuggingFace until approximately a week after the event. Months after these incidents began, serious factual questions remain open, and we are relying on AI labs for insight into what happened and what this means for future incidents.

Congress must ensure AI companies implement robust monitoring and independent oversight to protect the public. This incident reinforces that we cannot rely on what are clearly risky testing protocols and self-selected public reporting of incidents of concern. Indeed, nearly every major AI company has called for regulation, and leading employees of those same firms have signed open letters calling for government to pace the rate of AI development. Congress must urgently advance legislation to mitigate the risk of more serious incidents, especially those that could threaten critical infrastructure, our financial system, and other institutions that every American depends on.

The House of Representatives could and should immediately take up legislation that would strengthen AI oversight, security, and transparency. There currently exist dozens of bipartisan bills that that committees of jurisdiction have reported. Members of both parties have also worked in recent months to fast- track bipartisan legislation that is ready to be considered by committees of jurisdiction. We believe these bills should be carefully and urgently advanced through the legislative process.

We urge you to work with committees of jurisdiction, Members across the aisle, and Senate leadership to, as soon as practicable, advance legislation that ensures appropriate guardrails are in place around this powerful technology. The Congress may not receive another warning shot.

The letter was signed by U.S. Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA), Jay Obernolte (R-CA), Lori Trahan (D-MA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Scott Franklin (R-FL), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Gabe Amo (D-RI), Valerie Foushee (D-NC), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Veronica Escobar (D-TX).

To learn more about Congresswoman Escobar’s work on artificial intelligence, click here.

Congresswoman Escobar Statement on Russia Sanctions Bill

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) released the following statement on the Russia sanctions bill:

“I strongly support holding Russia accountable for its brutal war against Ukraine, and I believe strong, targeted sanctions are an important tool to pressure Vladimir Putin and his regime and to support Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression.

“That’s why I supported amendments to today’s Russia sanctions bill that would have removed problematic provisions granting President Trump sweeping power to impose tariffs without sufficient congressional oversight. At a time when this President has repeatedly failed to use America’s leverage to push back on Russia and has instead used tariff authority in ways that have harmed American consumers, businesses, and our relationships with longstanding allies, Congress should be strengthening its oversight. Unfortunately, these provisions remained in the final bill, and I could not support it.

“Congress should use this moment to force the President to act against Putin, not hand him more authority on tariffs. I would have proudly voted to pass a clean sanctions bill that imposes real costs on Russia and makes clear that the United States will not tolerate its continued aggression against Ukraine. We should not have to surrender Congress's authority over trade and tariffs to do it.

“I will continue to support strong sanctions that hold Putin and his regime accountable, and I will continue fighting for Congress to exercise its constitutional responsibility over the economic and foreign policy tools of the United States.”

Congresswoman Escobar Statement on Ratepayer Protection Act

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) released the following statement on the Ratepayer Protection Act:

“After months of urging the Republican majority to allow the House to vote on data center regulation legislation, the only bill they are allowing to move forward is the Ratepayer Protection Act, which requires tech companies to pay for the energy generation and consumption of their data centers.

“While I voted in favor of this bill, it represents the absolute bare minimum that Congress should be doing. If this is as far as Republicans will go to protect American communities, it is a pathetic response to what is a top priority for communities like mine. I will continue to push Republicans to allow bills that fully protect our natural resources, air quality and pocketbooks and won’t stop until we have the protections the American people deserve.”

Congresswoman Escobar supports a number of bills to regulate data centers, establish guardrails, and prioritize consumers:

The AI Data Center Site Selection Transparency Act
- This bill would set requirements for new AI data centers, requiring that developers publicly disclose the location 180 days in advance, disclose impacts on energy and water, and restricting NDA agreements with public entities on data centers deals.
The Power for the People Act
- This bill ensures data centers are fully paying for their energy costs and associated infrastructure, creates a system to manage data center interconnection to the grid, and provides resources to improve accurate data center load forecasting.
The Energy Bills Relief Act
- This bill reinstates 2022 tax credits for home and system-wide energy improvements and ensures that facilities like data centers are paying for their own energy costs.
Lowering Utility Bills Act
- This bill would amend the Federal Power Act and the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to require investor-owned electric utilities and gas utilities and transmission providers to, when establishing or calculating a return on equity, establish or calculate the return on equity at the lowest return on equity in an established range of reasonableness, and for other purposes.
Responsible Data Center Siting Act
- This bill directs the Secretary of Energy to establish best practices for the siting of data centers.
Ratepayer Bill of Rights Act
- This bill requires public disclosure of electricity and water use, infrastructure costs, rate impacts, public financial assistance, and related commitments associated with large data centers, and for other purposes.
Responsible Data Center Siting Act
- This bill directs the Secretary of Energy to establish best practices for the siting of data centers.

Federal Services Resource Fair

Sat, 11 Oct 2025 13:00:00 GMT

August 2025 Town Hall

Sat, 23 Aug 2025 14:00:00 GMT

Congressional Office Hours with the Small Business Administration

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 18:30:00 GMT

Congressional Office Hours with Sentri/Global Entry Program

Sat, 09 Aug 2025 14:30:00 GMT

July 21, 2025 Tele-Town Hall

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 22:00:00 GMT

I'd like to invite you to join me on Monday, July 21st at 6pm MT for a live tele-town hall. With so much news over the last few weeks, I wanted to take some time to share my latest updates with you and answer your questions.

You can watch along on my Facebook page, or dial in at 866-478-3483 in English or 855-962-1021 in Spanish.

More Information:

The Republican Spending Bill
The Dignity Act
Impoundment
Republican Cuts: Rescissions

June 7th In-Person Town Hall

Sat, 07 Jun 2025 14:00:00 GMT

Join Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) for her an in-person town hall on Saturday, June 7, at 10 a.m. MT at the Horizon High School Cafeteria.

This town hall is free and open to the public. El Pasoans can join this conversation on Facebook Live. El Pasoans can sign up to receive a reminder and submit their questions ahead of the event here.

For questions or more information, please contact Congresswoman Escobar’s office at (915) 541-1400.

Congressional Office Hours with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA)

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Congressional Office Hours with USCIS

Fri, 09 May 2025 18:00:00 GMT

March 29th In-Person Town Hall

Sat, 29 Mar 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Join Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) for her an in-person town hall on Saturday, March 29, at 9 a.m. MT at the Eastwood High School Auditorium.

For questions or more information, please contact Congresswoman Escobar’s office at (915) 541-1400 or Veronica.Escobar@mail.house.gov.

Congressional Mobile Office Hours with the El Paso Passport Agency

Sat, 12 Apr 2025 14:30:00 GMT