The latest Congress news from The Texas Tribune.
Most national parks in Texas remain open over the weekend despite the federal government shutdown, but visitors can still expect to see consequences of Congress’ failure to pass a spending bill Friday night. Full Story
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The Republican primary to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, has drawn 18 candidates — a staggering number that has created an early urgency to stand out in the crowded field. Full Story
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A short-term funding bill died on the Senate floor late Friday night. Full Story
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Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush told a House committee that badly-needed relief money would be delayed even more if the federal government shuts down. Full Story
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A shutdown is poised to take place unless Congress passes a new spending bill and President Donald Trump signs it into law by Jan. 19. That could mean closed parks, furloughed workers and the temporary closure of NASA in Texas. Full Story
Republican U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Helotes, on Tuesday said he would file legislation to protect young undocumented immigrants from deportation and beef up border enforcement. The move comes as federal lawmakers face a Friday deadline to pass a measure to keep the federal government functioning. Full Story
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After President Donald Trump reportedly questioned why the United States should offer protections to immigrants from "shithole" countries, Democrats and some Republicans from Texas expressed outrage. One Democratic congressman from Houston said he'd push for impeachment. Full Story
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While the 36 Texans in the U.S. House largely voted along party lines to reauthorize a key NSA surveillance program, some Republican voted against it and two Democrats voted for it. Full Story
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Texas immigrants and their advocates said they're pleased that a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction keeping the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program in place. But they said they remain focused on the push in Congress to make the program permanent. Full Story
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The federal government announced Monday that the Temporary Protected Status for Salvadoran immigrants will not be renewed after being in place since 2001. There are more than 260,000 Salvadoran immigrants with the status in the United States, including more than 36,000 in Texas. Full Story
Dozens of women from Texas are running for Congress this year, and several are drawing attention as serious contenders, prompting predictions that the state will elect the first freshman female to a full term in Congress in 22 years. Full Story
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Revisit our animated tour of Texas Congressional District 35, which wiggles its way from Austin to San Antonio, swallowing specific neighborhoods while avoiding — or splitting — others, all in the name of partisan political advantage. Full Story
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The U.S. House voted for billions more in Hurricane Harvey relief, but the U.S. Senate is not likely to take up the measure until after the holidays. Full Story
The U.S. House and Senate voted for a major overhaul of the American tax code on Tuesday and Wednesday, sending the measure to President Donald Trump's desk. Here's how all 38 Texans in Congress voted on the bill. Full Story
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The Texas GOP is suing the Texas secretary of state to keep embattled U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold off the 2018 primary ballot — one day after he announced he will not seek re-election in 2018. Full Story
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James Ho, a well-respected Dallas attorney and former state solicitor general, was confirmed Thursday to the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. He joins Don Willett, a longtime Texas Supreme Court justice who was confirmed Wednesday. Full Story
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U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold announced he wasn’t running for re-election last month, days after the deadline to withdraw his name from the March 6 primary ballot. Yet his name was still omitted. How did that happen? Full Story
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U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi, announced Thursday he would retire from Congress after finishing his current term following new allegations that included former employees describing him as verbally abusive and sexually demeaning. Full Story
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The U.S. Senate confirmed Don Willett, a Texas Supreme Court justice, to the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals Wednesday. A confirmation vote on Jim Ho, a former state solicitor general, is expected later this week. Full Story
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House Speaker Joe Straus praised Alabama for rejecting Roy Moore in Tuesday's special election and urged mainstream Texas voters to get involved in 2018 primaries to keep people like Moore out of power. Full Story
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