Video & Transcript Research : 'Congressional declaration'

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TX

Texas 89th Regular

S/C on Defense & Veterans' Affairs Mar 17th, 2025

S/C on Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Constitution, Congress alone holds the power to declare war.
  • declaration of war.
  • The last time we declared war was in 1942.
  • race for congressional district 32.
  • This is why declarations of war are essential.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Senate and Governmental Affairs May 12th, 2026

Senate & Governmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • They just said that Congressional District 6 was unconstitutional. Yes.
  • Congressional districts are drawn... ...regionally, not statewide.
  • And I am a very disgruntled constituent of Congressional District 2.
  • in Congressional District 6 as proposed in Senator Price's amended bill.
  • I early voted in the Republican primary for the 6th Congressional District.
Bills: SB116, SB121, SB130, SB407
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Senate and Governmental Affairs May 8th, 2026

Senate & Governmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • The reason why we're here today is because there's a suspension of ongoing congressional elections.
  • And at the time, the Secretary of State issued a statement declaring an emergency.
  • But there's already an ongoing election regarding congressional maps that are in place.
  • After the governor issued his suspension, you would agree with me that the congressional election...
  • I only asked like two questions. the congressional elections, are those votes going to be counted or
Bills: SB116, SB121, SB130, SB407
AL
Transcript Highlights:
  • elections, as well as all special or other congressional elections prior to the adoption of a new congressional
  • <00:48:20.840> elections and 30 congressional elections and 30 congressional elections as<
  • or other congressional or other congressional elections<00:48:29.120> prior<00:48:29.640>
  • > >> In congressional district one, >> In congressional district one, two, Two, two, six,
  • look at the districts, congressional look at the districts, congressional districts<01:03:24.320
Bills: HB1
Summary: The Ways and Means General Fund Committee met in special session and took up only one bill, HB 1 by Rep. Chris Pringle, which would authorize a special election for certain congressional districts if the federal court lifts its injunction and allows the state to use the 2023 congressional map. Pringle said the bill only creates a pathway for that special election, and members were told the fiscal note estimates the election could cost about $4.5 million from the General Fund. Committee discussion focused on whether the bill was tied to recent federal court and Supreme Court rulings, including Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and the Purcell principle, and whether it would be too close to an election or create confusion. Several committee members pressed Pringle on whether the bill would reduce Black representation, whether Alabama had agreed not to revisit redistricting until 2030, and whether the 2023 map had previously been found discriminatory. Pringle repeatedly said he was not offering legal advice and that the matter was pending in federal court, while also saying the bill would simply allow voters to use the legislature’s 2023 map if the courts permit it. Rep. Ford raised concerns about the cost to the General Fund and competing budget priorities, and Rep. All questioned the timing and possible administrative confusion. Pringle responded that citizens would still be able to vote for candidates of their choosing. During the public hearing, speakers overwhelmingly opposed the bill. Jamaal Brown, Kenneth Sharpton, Eliza Jane Franklin, Pastor Richard Williams, Rep. Givan, Jacoby Bibbs, and Agnes Lover argued that the proposal would weaken Black voting power, revive a map they described as unfair or racist, and create unnecessary disruption so close to an election. Several speakers framed the issue as one of civil rights, fair representation, and trust in democracy, while others criticized the cost and said the legislature should focus on broader needs such as health care and mental health. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • To take up the congressional plan.
  • We have Two congressional districts, is that correct? Who has two congressional districts?
  • You have the 30th Congressional District held by Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett and the 33rd Congressional
  • District with Congressman Al Green of the 9th Congressional District. congressional district because
  • Of the 38 congressional districts, 70% of our entire state's congressional delegation will be controlled
Bills: HB4, HB 4
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Senate Session Aug 20th, 2025

Texas Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • the United States House of Representatives from the State of Texas to the Special Committee on Congressional
Bills: HB4, HB4, HB4
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Congressional Redistricting, Select Aug 1st, 2025

Congressional Redistricting, Select

Transcript Highlights:
  • With congressional districts...
  • You've stolen our congressional voice.
  • Congressional District 18.
  • Despite the declaration...
  • The congressional maps.
Bills: HB4
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • I'd also like to thank my colleagues; all of us have constituents in Congressional District 18.
  • All of us have constituents in Congressional District 18.
  • We are state representatives and senators who have constituents in Congressional District 18.
  • We are state representatives and senators who have constituents in Congressional District 18, and we
  • The people of Congressional District 18 are paying their taxes right now.
Summary: State Rep. Jolanda Jones, joined by Sen. Molly Cook and Reps. Christina Morales, Charlene Ward Johnson, and Lauren Ashley Simmons, held a press event at the Capitol urging Gov. Greg Abbott to call a special election for Texas Congressional District 18. They said the district has been without federal representation since the death of Rep. Sylvester Turner and argued that more than 800,000 constituents are losing access to constituent services, federal assistance, and a voice in Congress. The speakers framed the delay as a constitutional and fairness issue, repeatedly describing the situation as “taxation without representation.” They said the vacancy affects Democrats and Republicans alike, and cited examples such as passport help, veterans’ issues, immigration concerns, and access to federal funding. Several speakers accused the governor of delaying for partisan reasons and called for immediate action so the district can elect a new representative. A letter from Sen. Borris Miles was read into the record, urging Abbott to set the earliest possible special election date and noting that the governor has acted quickly in past vacancies. The event ended with a unified demand that Abbott call the election immediately; no vote or formal legislative action was taken.
US
Transcript Highlights:
  • American Legion, Jim LeCourcier, who is a constituent from Plainfield, Connecticut, in the 2nd Congressional
  • And now, as we continue to seek congressional action to provide GI Bill parity for National Guard and
  • We encourage, again, congressional oversight with respect to this situation because veterans are about
  • Furthermore, our members are often the first point of contact for your veterans. own congressional offices
  • and benefit systems, meeting the growing needs of Veterans and their families, and fulfilling Congressional
Summary: This meeting focused on veteran services, emphasizing the urgent need to address the alarming rate of unemployment and homelessness among veterans. Numerous testimonies were presented detailing the impact of mass furloughs and cutbacks at the VA on personnel, notably veterans who were serving as employees. Various representatives expressed deep concern over how these firings could drastically affect the quality of care available to those who have served the nation. There was a strong call for Congress to bolster funding for existing programs aimed at alleviating veteran homelessness and improving overall care quality, especially in mental health services.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Education K-16 (Part I) May 22nd, 2025

Education K-16

Bills: HB4, HB20
Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 heard a series of higher education and K-12 bills, initially without a quorum and with several measures left pending subject to the call of the chair. Early bills included HB 1868, which would direct a study on lowering the dual-credit funding threshold for public junior colleges from 15 to 9 semester credit hours; HB 2598, which would replace statutory references to “licensed specialist in school psychology” with “school psychologist”; HB 3629, which would bar registered sex offenders from serving on independent school district boards of trustees; and HB 4361, which would require the Higher Education Coordinating Board to adopt rules for timely emergency notifications at public institutions of higher education. Each received brief sponsor explanations, no opposition testimony, and was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4848, requiring public higher education systems to ensure at least one institution offers affordable competency-based bachelor’s degree programs in high-demand fields, and HB 1211, which would remove the age 25 deadline for former foster youth to use public college tuition waivers. HB 1211 drew extensive supportive testimony from Texas CASA, a former foster youth who benefited from the waiver, and a current student headed to medical school, all arguing the change would better match the realities faced by youth aging out of care. Members discussed the bill’s fiscal uncertainty and the argument that the waiver is an investment in workforce participation; the bill was left pending. Later, the committee heard HB 20, creating an Applied Sciences Pathway Program to let high school students earn certificates in targeted industries such as welding, plumbing, electrical work, manufacturing, and oil and gas while in school. Industry and workforce groups strongly supported the bill as a way to address labor shortages, while Texas 2036 raised concerns about allowing applied versions of core academic courses to substitute for traditional instruction. HB 4687, which would extend governmental immunity protections to certain campus/district charter schools and adult charter high schools, also received support from a charter-school attorney who said it would align statutes with existing case law and not expand charter rights. HB 4236, as substituted, would create a study group to examine the property value study’s effect on school finance and alternative valuation methods; it was adopted as a committee substitute and left pending. The committee also heard HB 824 on civics instruction in high school government courses and HB 2243, which would create a commission on teacher job satisfaction and retention; the latter prompted debate over removing “ethnic diversity” language from the commission’s makeup. After adopting the substitute for HB 2243 by roll call, the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.