Past Contributions

• Texas may get a coastal storm barrier, but will it be too late?

  By Bethany Irvine Updated: Jan. 22, 2022

  The federal infrastructure bill’s passage renewed hopes that Texas would finally get a coastal storm barrier. But Galveston and Houston could still get hit by a hurricane before it is built. Full Story 

• Texans in U.S. House vote along party lines to pass $1.75 trillion social spending package

  By Bethany Irvine Nov. 19, 2021

  After months of contentious negotiations, the U.S. House passed the Build Back Better plan. It would establish universal pre-K and provide funding to combat climate change, among other things. Full Story 

• Majority of Texans support COVID-19 vaccine and mask mandates, UT/TT poll says

  By Bethany Irvine Nov. 9, 2021

  Fifty-seven percent of voters support mask requirements in indoor public spaces based on local conditions, while 58% support mask requirements in public schools. Full Story 

• Texans John Cornyn and Ted Cruz join GOP senators to block voting rights bill that would have protected voters of color

  By Bethany Irvine and Abby Livingston Nov. 3, 2021

  In a final push to secure federal voting rights legislation this year, congressional Democrats failed to secure the necessary votes to avoid a GOP filibuster on the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Full Story 

• “A pivotal day”: Texas abortion law’s Supreme Court hearings spur hope for some, fear for others

  By Abby Livingston and Bethany Irvine Nov. 1, 2021

  Anti-abortion groups and reproductive rights activists faced off outside the U.S. Supreme Court as it heard Texas' abortion case. Full Story 

• U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz delays dozens of President Joe Biden’s ambassador nominations, stoking feud over national security

  By Abby Livingston and Bethany Irvine Oct. 27, 2021

  Cruz has single-handedly delayed dozens of key State Department nominees in retaliation for a Biden decision to drop U.S. opposition to a Russian pipeline to Germany. Full Story 

• U.S. Senate Republicans block federal voting rights legislation that would override Texas’ restrictions

  By Bethany Irvine Oct. 20, 2021

  In their latest push to lift state-level voting restrictions, Senate Democrats failed to secure the 60 votes required to break a filibuster on the Freedom to Vote Act. Full Story 

• After Texas and other states passed new voting restrictions, federal bills could expand ballot access. Here’s what you need to know.

  By Bethany Irvine Oct. 19, 2021

  The U.S. Senate is expected to vote this week on the Freedom to Vote Act, which would supersede some of Texas’ new elections law. Full Story 

• Ted Cruz and John Cornyn opposed a debt-limit increase that will stave off economic catastrophe, but backed previous borrowing hikes

  By Abby Livingston and Bethany Irvine Oct. 8, 2021

  The two Republican senators from Texas have routinely supported more government borrowing when Republicans held the White House. Full Story 

• Here’s what Texans need to know about the government shutdown threat in Congress

  By Bethany Irvine Sept. 29, 2021

  In a late-night scramble, U.S. Senate leaders circulated a continuing resolution that could prevent a federal shutdown and the furlough of some 35,000 Texans who work for the federal government. Full Story