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Fletcher fields questions on tariffs, maps, energy and immigration at IACCGH dialogue

By Somdatta Basi

Houston, TX, Aug. 11, 2025: U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) took questions from business owners and community leaders at the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston’s (IACCGH) “Power of Dialogue” on August 11, Monday, addressing a wide range of policy topics – including tariffs, redistricting developments, energy reliability, and immigration – during a card-submitted Q&A format.

“This is a really, really challenging time,” Fletcher told the standing-room crowd after introductions by IACCGH Founding Secretary and Executive Director Jagdip Ahluwalia and Chamber President Malisha Patel. “My goal is to bring the voice of our community to Washington and work with anyone who will work with me to solve the problems we face.”

Fletcher said local employers are most worried about volatility. “What I hear consistently from business leaders is that uncertainty – whether it’s the tariffs or the regulatory state—stalls investment,” she said. “Tariffs are not going to bring costs down… Americans are by and large the ones paying them.”

Citing India specifically, she added: “India in particular suffers from this 50% tariff, which is just insane given our alliance.” She said she has signed onto six bills aimed at pulling some trade authorities back to Congress.

Turning to the state’s special session, Fletcher argued proposed congressional maps are designed to reduce minority voting power. “The only way you get to that outcome is by intentionally diluting the voices of minority voters,” she said. “They’re drawing the map in a way that it doesn’t matter whether we vote or not… That’s obviously undemocratic.” She urged attendees to call their state representatives and senators and submit comments.

“Congress is not acting like Congress these days,” Fletcher said, criticizing what she called an aggressive centralization of executive power and “claw backs” to recent programs. “We need to restore Congress’s power – and its willingness to use it.”

Asked about physician pay cuts, Fletcher called annual stopgaps insufficient. “Every single year there’s a short-term fix,” she said, warning that “things are going to get worse before they get better,” citing automatic spending cuts and coverage losses. She referenced estimates that about 17 million Americans could lose health insurance, straining hospitals and access to care.

On reliability and costs, Fletcher forecast “increased demand for energy that’s almost unprecedented,” driven by data centers and AI. From her Energy & Commerce perch, she backed an “all-of-the-above” approach – “abundant oil and natural gas as well as renewables” – and criticized rollbacks she said hamper diversification and storage. One area of optimism: “There is a lot of talk about permitting reform… it might be the one thing we could actually get done.”

Fletcher opposed floated efforts to end birthright citizenship – “completely insane and not something the president can do, because it’s in the Constitution” – and condemned enforcement practices that, she said, have created “an absolute environment of fear and terror” in communities. She backed bipartisan legislative fixes but said political will is the missing ingredient.

Patel closed by thanking Fletcher for her “transparency and engagement,” adding, “We need more Houston in D.C.”

Photo Credit: Bijay Dixit, Unique Photo Images