Latest news with #LizzieFletcher
NBC News
31-07-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
‘Stakes are too high' not to fight Texas redistricting map, says Democratic congresswoman
In an interview with Meet the Press NOW, Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-Texas) slams Republicans in her state for their proposed redistricting map that could give the GOP five additional seats in the midterm 31, 2025
New York Times
15-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Democrats Broach Potential Walkout to Block Texas Redistricting
National Democratic leaders are encouraging state Democrats in the Texas House to consider walking out of a special legislative session this month to block Republicans from redrawing the state's congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. At the same time, President Trump held his own call on Tuesday with congressional Republicans in the state, urging them to carve out five new G.O.P. seats from those held by Democrats, according to a person briefed on that call, which was first reported by Punchbowl News. 'Just spoke to our Great Congressmen and women of Texas,' Mr. Trump wrote on social media. He added, 'I keep hearing about Texas 'going Blue,' but it is just another Democrat LIE.' The redistricting of House seats is supposed to come at the beginning of each decade, after new census data shifts populations and changes the number of seats granted to each state. Reapportionment in the middle of the decade is rare and almost always contentious, since it is driven by political considerations, not demographic shifts. In this case, Mr. Trump is openly trying to use new maps to stave off midterm Democratic gains that would potentially cost his party control of the narrowly divided House. 'It is important that we fight back,' said U.S. Representative Lizzie Fletcher, a Democrat whose Houston district could be affected. 'What is happening is absolutely an unacceptable betrayal of Texans.' During the Democratic call on Monday evening, which lasted for more than two hours, the Democratic leader in the U.S. House, Hakeem Jeffries of New York, and the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Ken Martin, spoke with about 40 Democrats in the Texas House. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Axios
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Houston Democrats pressure Trump on region's NWS staff shortage
Houston Democrats are demanding answers from the Trump administration on how it will address major vacancies at the region's National Weather Service office ahead of hurricane season. Driving the news: Reps. Lizzie Fletcher, Sylvia Garcia and Al Green sent a letter Monday to Department of Commerce leadership asking when roles will be filled at the NWS Houston/Galveston office in League City. Departures at the office have left 11 of 25 positions vacant — including meteorologist-in-charge, warning coordination meteorologist and science and operations officer. What they're saying:"Losing all three of these essential employees will increase the risk of errors or missed extreme weather warnings and exacerbate an already overworked staff," they wrote. "NWS forecast office employees are working longer shifts because of the forced staffing reductions, which is leading to severe worker burnout." "NWS staff provide a vital public service to the Southeast Texas community, and these employees and our communities deserve better." Zoom in: The NWS Houston/Galveston office is in charge of issuing timely and accurate forecasts, watches and warnings for a large swath of Southeast Texas, from Matagorda Bay to Trinity and College Station to the Bolivar Peninsula. The office was short eight positions in March, and that number grew by May. The other side: Trump's cuts to weather and climate services are part of a larger effort to trim the federal budget. The representatives requested a timeline for filling leadership positions, plans for additional support during extreme weather and whether the Houston office will have to downgrade any services amid the administration's cuts to NOAA. They're also seeking answers on how many Houston staffers have left since Trump took office, and how many were cut based on their probationary status. "Adequate staffing for the NWS, especially as we go into hurricane season, is a critical matter that could cost lives if left unaddressed," they wrote.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Lawmakers want answers after reporting reveals crippling vacancies at hurricane-prone National Weather Service office
With less than a month until hurricane season, three House Democrats have expressed concerns over staffing shortages, including vacancies in all management positions, at the National Weather Service's Houston-Galveston forecast office in a letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's acting head. The letter follows CNN's reporting that revealed there are no managers in place at that hurricane-prone forecast office, with the most experienced meteorologists missing after rounds of layoffs, buyouts and early retirements. Sent Monday by Houston-area Democratic Reps. Lizzie Fletcher, Al Green and Sylvia R. Garcia, the letter warns, 'Adequate staffing for the NWS, especially as we go into hurricane season, is a critical matter that could cost lives if left unaddressed.' It also requests details for a timeline for 'permanently filling' the management positions, which includes the meteorologist-in-charge of the office. The office serves more than 7 million people in the Houston metro area alone, providing weather forecasts, warnings and guidance to state and local emergency management officials. Under the Trump administration, an already understaffed NWS has been hit hard by cuts nationwide. This has forced the agency to reduce some services, like weather balloon launches that provide key data to computer models. Several forecast offices are at risk of no longer operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week if action is not taken this month. Houston is one of 30 NWS forecast offices lacking their most experienced meteorologists but is unique in that it also lacks experts occupying all other senior managerial positions, such as its warning coordination and science officer roles. 'Losing all three of these essential employees will increase the risk of errors or missed extreme weather warnings and exacerbate an already overworked staff,' the lawmakers wrote. The letter requests information from acting NOAA administrator Laura Grimm by May 30, including whether NOAA leadership planned for adequate NWS staffing when it laid off probationary employees in February. Grimm is performing the duties of the NOAA administrator while also serving as NOAA's chief of staff. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at
CNN
06-05-2025
- Climate
- CNN
Lawmakers want answers after reporting reveals crippling vacancies at hurricane-prone NWS office
See all topics With less than a month until hurricane season, three House Democrats have expressed concerns over staffing shortages, including vacancies in all management positions, at the National Weather Service's Houston-Galveston forecast office in a letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's acting head. The letter follows CNN's reporting that revealed there are no managers in place at that hurricane-prone forecast office, with the most experienced meteorologists missing after rounds of layoffs, buyouts and early retirements. Sent Monday by Houston-area Democratic Reps. Lizzie Fletcher, Al Green and Sylvia R. Garcia, the letter warns, 'Adequate staffing for the NWS, especially as we go into hurricane season, is a critical matter that could cost lives if left unaddressed.' It also requests details for a timeline for 'permanently filling' the management positions, which includes the meteorologist-in-charge of the office. The office serves more than 7 million people in the Houston metro area alone, providing weather forecasts, warnings and guidance to state and local emergency management officials. Under the Trump administration, an already understaffed NWS has been hit hard by cuts nationwide. This has forced the agency to reduce some services, like weather balloon launches that provide key data to computer models. Several forecast offices are at risk of no longer operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week if action is not taken this month. Read more 4 ways forecasts are about to get worse Houston is one of 30 NWS forecast offices lacking their most experienced meteorologists but is unique in that it also lacks experts occupying all other senior managerial positions, such as its warning coordination and science officer roles. 'Losing all three of these essential employees will increase the risk of errors or missed extreme weather warnings and exacerbate an already overworked staff,' the lawmakers wrote. The letter requests information from acting NOAA administrator Laura Grimm by May 30, including whether NOAA leadership planned for adequate NWS staffing when it laid off probationary employees in February. Grimm is performing the duties of the NOAA administrator while also serving as NOAA's chief of staff.
