Congresswoman Escobar Statement on El Paso City Council Item 24

Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) released the following statement after the El Paso City Council voted down Item 24 in today's City Council meeting:

"Many El Pasoans - myself included - were outraged by the partisan, unlawful video of Kristi Noem being shown by TSA at our airport. Members of Congress and members of the Administration must follow the law outlined by the Hatch Act, and the Noem video, and her use of public assets for political messaging is a clear violation of it.

"I'm so grateful for the leadership of my City Representative Josh Acevedo, who sought to protect the City of El Paso's Airport from being used in an egregious political manner by this administration. His City Council item would have directed the City to get TSA to the table and his effort could have protected the airport's customers, employees and visitors from the unabashed and illegal partisanship that's been on recent display by the administration - and which could and very likely will get worse over the next three years.

"Rep. Acevedo actually sought to preserve the non-partisan nature of government operations.

"I cannot emphasize enough that fighting authoritarianism happens in both big and little ways. Things we never thought possible or that are considered outside the norm only become normalized if we the people allow them to be.

"Thank you, Representatives Joshua Acevedo, Deanna Maldonado-Rocha, Cynthia Boyar Trejo and Chris Canales for your affirmative votes and leadership during this shocking era. I hope Council reconsiders this item and the decision."