My fellow Texans, I am as frustrated and distraught as many of you by last month’s infrastructure failures across our state.
Thirteen million Texans were affected by the power outages in the state. And now, days later, at least 250,0000 Texans remain without any power in their homes. Texans are freezing and suffering through a crisis without access to power, heat, water, and, in some areas, fuel or food. You deserve answers and actions by your elected officials to ensure this never happens again.
For this reason, I joined my Texas colleagues to voice our concerns and demand answers from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas for the 48 and 72-plus hours-long power outages.
As the ongoing pandemic impacts the health of our families and communities, access to health care is more critical than ever. On Jan. 28, President Biden issued an executive order creating a special enrollment period for enrolling in HealthCare.gov that runs from Feb. 15 until May 15. This means that if you are currently uninsured you have until May 15 to purchase affordable, quality coverage that will last through 2021.
I know that many in Texas Congressional District 34 have lost their jobs and health care as a result of the pandemic. Now is not the time to go uncovered. This special enrollment period gives you access to a wide array of plans so that you can pick the one that best meets your needs. If you have questions about signing up or want to talk through your options with a trained professional, free help is just a call or click away. For more information or assistance, call the HealthCare.gov Call Center at 1-800-318-2596, visit the Get Covered Connector or visit localhelp.healthcare.gov.
I remain committed to ensuring that every South Texan has access to affordable healthcare and COVID-19 vaccinations.
U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville
