Published on NPR.com on April 15, 2020 Watching the White House briefings on the pandemic is prompting questions about the officials gathered near the podium, including: Who's that in the blue uniform with four stars on his collar? Admiral Brett Giroir, M.D., is assistant secretary for health – not in the Navy but in the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS), one of the country's two unarmed services. (For extra credit: The other one is NOAA.) The Public Health Service has a commissioned officer co...
Published in Military.com on April 8, 2020 The U.S. military should develop a new emergency weapon: a national roster of individuals with specialized training, experience and clearances, ready to don a uniform at their nation's call. That's one of the key recommendations to emerge from a multi-year study undertaken by the National Commission on Military, National and Public Service. In a report issued to Congress late last month, the commission called for a "Critical Skills Individual Ready Rese...
WASHINGTON - WASHINGTON - Today, the nonpartisan Congressional Management Foundation (CMF) announced Congressman Van Taylor (TX-03) as a finalist for a Democracy Awards, CMF’s award recognizing non-legislative achievement and performance in congressional offices. Congressman Taylor was selected for outstanding achievement for the category of Transparency and Accountability, which recognizes offices that provide clear and relevant information on their work and publicly acknowledge metrics for tha...
WASHINGTON – This afternoon, United States Congressman Van Taylor (TX-03) supported legislation to provide additional emergency funding to combat coronavirus. After previously voting in favor of H.R. 6074, the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Act and H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, Congressman Van Taylor (TX-03) joined his colleagues in support of H.R. 748, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. Following passage of the legislation in th...
Congressman Taylor Introduces Resolution Calling for Use of Defense Production Act for COVID-19 Response WASHINGTON - Today, United States Congressman Van Taylor (R-TX-03) joined Congressman Andy Levin (D-MI-09) to introduce a bipartisan resolution urging the President to utilize the Defense Production Act to respond to COVID-19 and meet the critical supply needs of our nation's healthcare system. Congressman Taylor said, “This is an unprecedented moment for our nation - a threat unlike any we h...
PLANO - To provide information to his constituents and answer their questions, United States Congressman Van Taylor will host a free, telephone town hall event tomorrow, March 24, 2020 at 3:45 PM CT. Open to residents of Texas' Third Congressional District, Congressman Taylor will be joined by Collin County Judge Chris Hill, State Representatives Jeff Leach and Matt Shaheen, and officials from the Collin County Department of Public Health. Together, they will provide information and take questio...
PLANO - Today, Congressman Van Taylor (TX-03) sent a letter to the United States Department of Education regarding standardized testing amidst uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Addressed to United States Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, the letter urges the Department of Education to grant a waiver to the State of Texas on certain federal requirements for states, including the requirement to administer standardized testing. In the letter, Congressman Van Taylor states, "I write ...
WASHINGTON - Early this morning, United States Congressman Van Taylor (TX-03) voted in favor of legislation to provide additional emergency funding to combat coronavirus. After President Donal Trump declared a National Emergency yesterday, lawmakers brought H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, to the House Floor for consideration. H.R. 6201 provides additional authorities and resources for the U.S. response to coronavirus. After voting in favor of the legislation, Congressman ...
WASHINGTON - This afternoon, United States Congressman Van Taylor (TX-03) sent a letter to Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner Dr. John Hellerstedt, MD regarding funding provided to states by Congress. On March 6, 2020, President Donald J. Trump signed into law H.R. 6074, the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act which Congressman Taylor proudly supported. This legislation provided over $8 billion in total resources, including $950 million for s...
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the For Country Caucus formally endorsed the bipartisan Federally Requiring Earned Education-Debt Discharges for Veterans Act (FREED Vets Act). Introduced by Representative Conor Lamb (PA-17) along with Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14), Joe Courtney (CT-02) and Andy Levin (MI-09), the legislation would require the U.S. Department of Education to automatically discharge federal student loan debt for eligible permanently disabled veterans...
