In the News

FORT WORTH - On a bone-chilling Washington morning in 2009, Opal Lee of Fort Worth walked miles and stood hours in subfreezing temperatures to see an African-American sworn in as president.

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At the press event with U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, covered by Washington TV, Lee said she sees "no reason why [Juneteenth] shouldn't be a national holiday."

The legislative spotlight recently shined briefly on a few Tarrant County lawmakers. After Republican House Speaker Joe Straus was re-elected for another term Jan. 10, he named a a special committee — as he traditionally does — to escort him to the speaker's rostrum.

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Leadership award

U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, was recently honored with a 2016 Leadership Award from the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility for "strong leadership in preventing impaired driving and underage drinking."

Lockheed Martin CEO Marillyn Hewson emerged from a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump Friday pledging to bring down the cost of the F-35 Lightning II and promising to hire more than 1,800 additional workers in Fort Worth.

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U.S Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, called Hewson's announcement a "win" for the local economy, but he expressed caution about Trump's ideas about the F-18, which lacks the stealth and other high-tech capabilities of the F-35.

WASHINGTON — Under pressure from President-elect Donald Trump to cut costs for the F-35 fighter jet program, Lockheed Martin CEO Marillyn Hewson visited Trump Tower on Friday for a second meeting with Trump, previewing a deal to satisfy him and promising more jobs in Fort Worth.

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Democratic Fort Worth Rep. Marc Veasey, a member of the House Armed Services committee, calls the F-35 program "the most important defense project we've seen in many generations."

Lockheed Martin CEO Marillyn Hewson met with President-elect Donald Trump in New York on Friday, and emerged from the meeting promising to reduce the costs of the company's signature fighter plane and to add 1,800 jobs at its Fort Worth facility.

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House Armed Services Chairman Mac Thornberry of Clarendon backs the plane, as does fellow committee member U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, a Fort Worth Democrat. U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz are vocal F-35 advocates as well.

FORT WORTH - Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth has been selected by the Air Force to land a squadron of F-35 Lightning II fighter jets.

U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, described Fort Worth's selection as a "major milestone."

"Fort Worth's robust defense industry and the proximity and strength of its reserve Air Force base makes it an ideal cost-saving home for the F-35 Lightning II and ensures that our airmen are trained on the latest technology they need to defeat our toughest adversaries," Veasey said.

The Congressional Black Caucus is bigger than ever, but it finds itself struggling to make headway in a Washington where Republicans control all the levers of political power.

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CBC members also devoted an hour on the floor of the House to voicing opposition to Mr. Sessions, as well as Betsy Devos and fellow Rep. Tom Price of Georgia — Mr. Trump's picks to lead the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services.

WASHINGTON —Freshman U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington and his wife recently made an unusual choice: The couple and their three young children are moving to Washington.

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U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, a Fort Worth Democrat, described conversations with former U.S. House Speaker Jim Wright about a previous era in politics when members of Congress bonded over attending balls and softball games together.

That lack of off-hours friendships formed over weekends is frequently blamed for the polarized nature of Capitol Hill.