{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where party = \"Republican\", state = \"TX\" and year = 2018 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["http://burgess.house.gov/blog/?postid=398897", "Burgess Releases 2018 Year End Report", "2018-12-28", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Michael Burgess", "B001248", "burgess.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, released the following statement after publishing his 2018 Year End Report detailing key accomplishments and services for the 26th District.   \r\n            \r\n            I began the 115th Congress with high expectations for what we could accomplish for North Texans. As this term concludes, it is clear we have achieved important legislative victories and made significant strides in areas where work remains. From committee hearings to town halls, case work to media interviews, I am committed to serving the 26th District to the best of my ability. As a Member of Congress, I have always made communicating with constituents one of my top priorities, and this annual report is one way I share my work on behalf of the 26th District of Texas. I hope North Texans review it and let me know how I can best serve them and their families as we look ahead to 2019. \r\n            \r\n            During 2018, Dr. Burgess: \r\n             Authored and introduced 18 bills \r\n             Hosted or attended more than 430 meetings \r\n             Gave 80+ interviews \r\n             Resolved 434 cases with federal agencies on behalf of constituents\r\n             Received and responded to more than 50,000 pieces of correspondence \r\n             Honored 19 student constituents entering the U.S. Service Academies\r\n             Traveled more than 6,000 miles in North Texas\r\n            For more, please read the complete 2018 Year End Report. \r\n            \r\n            ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://burgess.house.gov/blog/?postid=398894", "Burgess Urges Senate to Fund Border Security, End Shutdown", "2018-12-27", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Michael Burgess", "B001248", "burgess.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, released the following statement on the current government shutdown. \r\n\r\nThe defense of our nation must be Congress' first priority. Period. I urge the Senate to join the House and pass H.R. 695, the Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2019, which includes President Trump's requested funding to build an effective wall on our southern border and protect the American people. Any vote against this funding is not only a vote for this unnecessary government shutdown, but also a direct vote against secure borders and national security. \r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://williams.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/nations-oldest-wwii-veteran-dies-in-austin-at-112", "Nation's Oldest WWII Veteran Dies In Austin At 112", "2018-12-27", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Roger Williams", "W000816", "williams.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "AUSTIN, TEXAS Richard Arvin Overton, the nation's oldest living war veteran  and the oldest man in the U.S.  died Thursday in Austin at the age of 112 after a bout with pneumonia.\nBorn near Bastrop, Texas, on May 11, 1906, Overton served a three-year stint in the U.S. Army during World War II. He fought in the 1887th Engineer Aviation Battalion during WWII, serving as a corporal in the South Pacific. Overton joined his all-black military unit in 1942, and became a skilled sharpshooter.\nAfter the war, Overton built a home in East Austin where he a neighborhood fixture usually out on his front porch puffing on a cigar while holding court as admirers spontaneously dropped by to meet him. \"His front porch is his everything,\" VolmaOverton, his septuagenarian cousin who helped care for him, once told the Washington Post. \"It's his throne.\nIn interviews with myriad media outlets, Overton spoke of his fondness for cigars in which he indulged daily  sometimes up to 12 smokes a day, he would note unabashedly. In interviews, he often credited his love of stogies, along with a splash of whiskey in his morning coffee and a steady diet of fried catfish and ice cream as secrets to his longevity. He also expressed a fondness for Dr. Pepper.\nHe outlived two wives and close family members, and received countless honors and accolades along the way  including a 2013 visit to the White House where he met President Barack Obama as a relative youngster of 107. He met Obama at the White House for breakfast ahead of a Veterans Day ceremony at the National Cemetery where he was honored.\n\"His service on the battlefield was not always matched by the respect that he deserved at home,\" Obama said at the time. \"But this veteran held his head high.\"\nOverton earlier this year came close to losing his home in East Austin  once an enclave largely inhabited by a black and Latino working class that's been swept over by gentrification for the better part of a decade or so as an influx of younger residents are lured to trendy restaurants and bars and plentiful luxury apartments where single-family homes once stood. Gentrification-fueled spikes in property taxes threatened to render Overton unable to afford staying in his home, and he faced the likelihood of spending his final years in a nursing home.\nBut in a sign of the depth of affection residents of Austin  and admirers far beyond the city limits  had for Overton, a GoFundMe campaign designed to keep him at his home ultimately would raise more than $450,000 for 24-hour-a-day home care.\nFrom near and far, people expressed their condolences late Thursday as news of Overton's death spread. Gov. Greg Abbott called the late veteran \"...an American icon and a Texas legend\" in a prepared statement, adding his and his wife's voice in expressing sympathies.\n\"With his quick wit and kind spirit, he touched the lives of so many, and I am deeply honored to have known him. Richard Overton made us proud to be Texans and proud to be Americans. We can never repay Richard Overton for his service to our nation and for his lasting impact on the Lone Star State. On behalf of Texas, Cecilia and I offer our thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.\"\nU.S. Rep. Roger Williams, representative for Texas's 25th congressional district, also issued a statement in reaction to Overton's passing: \"I join the Austin community and the entire country in mourning the loss of a great man, and our nation's oldest veteran, Mr. Richard Overton. Throughout my time in Congress, I have had the honor of getting to know Mr. Overton very well  sitting on his porch and listening to him tell stories are memories I will never forget. I am thankful for his service to our country, and I am eternally grateful to have had him in my life as a friend and role model. I will miss him dearly and will continue to pray for his family during this difficult time.\"\nState Rep. Lloyd Doggett of the 35 District of Texas, added his voice via Twitter: \"Saluting Richard Overton for his service, spirit, and longevity. One of the last of our World War II vets has passed away at age 112. Pleased that he could share so many honors late in life, including, here, my getting the healing garden at our veterans clinic named in his honor.\"\nThe U.S. Army paid tribute via social media as well: \"Today we mourn not just a hero, but a legend. The oldest American #WWII Veteran, Richard Overton, died at the age of 112. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Overton family. He was a hero to us all. May you rest in peace Sir.\"\nIn its own dispatch announcing the death, the venerable Stars and Stripes newspaper put Overton's long life in historical perspective: \"Richard Overton, the oldest-living veteran, was born on May 11, 1906, the same year as the first wireless radio broadcast, and a year before Oklahoma became a state. He died Thursday at the age of 112.\"\nIn 2015, Austin filmakers Rocky Conly and Matt Cooper made a short film about Overton. In the opening moments of the film, the then-109-year-old Overton noted with palpable drive he had just had his driver's license renewed.\n\"I still walk, I still talk and I still drive,\" he said. \"Yeah, I've had a lot of people say God kept you here to help others. But I don't know why he kept me here. I can't tell you.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://williams.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/oldest-living-wwii-veteran-dies-in-texas", "Oldest living WWII veteran dies in Texas", "2018-12-27", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Roger Williams", "W000816", "williams.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - A family member says the nation's oldest World War II veteran who was also believed to be oldest living man in the U.S. has died in Texas.\nShirley Overton, whose husband was Richard's cousin, says the Army veteran died Thursday evening at a rehab facility in Austin.\nOverton had been recently hospitalized with pneumonia.\nOverton was in his 30s when he volunteered for the Army and was at Pearl Harbor just after the Japanese attack in 1941.\nHe once said that one secret to his long life was smoking cigars and drinking whiskey, which he often was found doing on the porch of his Austin home.\nIn 2013, he was honored by former President Barack Obama at a Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.\nU.S. Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, issued a statement expressing sympathy to Overton's family.\nThroughout my time in Congress, I have had the honor of getting to know Mr. Overton very well - sitting on his porch and listening to him tell stories are memories I will never forget. I am thankful for his service to our country, and I am eternally grateful to have had him in my life as a friend and role model. I will miss him dearly and will continue to pray for his family during this difficult time.\nTexas Gov. Greg Abbott called Overton \"an American icon and a Texas legend.\"\n\"With his quick wit and kind spirit he touched the lives of so many, and I am deeply honored to have known him. Richard Overton made us proud to be Texans and proud to be Americans. We can never repay Richard Overton for his service to our nation and for his lasting impact on the Lone Star State,\" he said.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://williams.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/reactions-to-the-passing-of-richard-overton-recall-a-texas-legend", "Reactions to the passing of Richard Overton recall a 'Texas legend'", "2018-12-27", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Roger Williams", "W000816", "williams.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "AUSTIN (KXAN)  Shortly after the news of World War II veteran Richard Overton's death, condolences and memories came pouring in from around Texas and the nation.\nOverton's cousin, VolmaOverton Jr., said the family will miss the funny 112-year-old and that his memory will keep them going.\n\"We are truly blessed for everyone who has shown support and prayers, everyone who was encouraging to him and our family,\" Volma Overton Jr. said. \"We are so thankful.\"\nPeople gathered at a mural on 12th and Chicon Streets that depicts Overton. They sang songs in his honor and did two his favorite things: drank whiskey and smoked cigars.\nGov. Greg Abbott called Richard Overton an \"American icon and a Texas legend,\" in a statement.\n\"With his quick wit and kind spirit he touched the lives of so many, and I am deeply honored to have known him,\" Abbott wrote. \"Richard Overton made us proud to be Texans and proud to be Americans. We can never repay Richard Overton for his service to our nation and for his lasting impact on the Lone Star State.\"\nPeople, including Rep. LloydDoggett, shared photos of the veteran and remembered his \"service, spirit and longevity.\"\nRep. Roger Williams said he had the honor of knowing Overton well and will miss him dearly.\n\"Sitting on his porch and listening to him tell stories are memories I will never forget,\" Williams wrote. \"I am thankful for his service to our country, and I am eternally grateful to have had him in my life as a friend and role model.\"\nRep. Will Hurdshared a quote of Overton's that said \"You don't know when you get here. You don't know when you go. It's in God's hands. Hurd added that \"Our words will never be enough to fully show our gratitude for your selfless service. Fair winds and following seas, my friend.\"\nA Twitter account called EverythingTXshared a picture of the born-and-raised Texansmoking his signature cigar that he claimed helped him live a long life.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://williams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-williams-statement-on-the-passing-of-richard-overton", "Rep. Williams Statement on the Passing of Richard Overton", "2018-12-27", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Roger Williams", "W000816", "williams.house.gov", "williams", "https://williams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "AUSTIN, TEXAS \u2013 Congressman Roger Williams (R \u2013 Austin) released the following statement on the passing of the nation's oldest World War II veteran and Austin-resident, Richard Overton:\n\n\"I join the Austin community and the entire country in mourning the loss of a great man, and our nation's oldest veteran, Mr. Richard Overton,\" said Rep. Williams. \"Throughout my time in Congress, I have had the honor of getting to know Mr. Overton very well - sitting on his porch and listening to him tell stories are memories I will never forget. I am thankful for his service to our country, and I am eternally grateful to have had him in my life as a friend and role model. I will miss him dearly and will continue to pray for his family during this difficult time.\"\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:11:43Z"], ["https://williams.house.gov/media-center/newsletters/come-and-read-it-report-66", "Come and Read It Report", "2018-12-24", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Roger Williams", "W000816", "williams.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Texans,\nMerry Christmas and happy holidays to you and yours! With all the hustle and bustle during this time of year, it isoften easy to forgetwhat tomorrow is really all about - the birth of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ.I hope this serves as a reminder to be kind to one another during the Christmas season and remember that there are many people who are unable to spend this time with loved ones. Iencourage you takea moment and think about the brave men and women in uniform, and our first responders,who cannot be with their families. They are spending today and tomorrow protecting this great nation so that all of you can enjoy time at home. Please join me in thanking them for their service, and praying for their safety, wherever they may be around the globe. \nSecuring our Borders \nLast week, the Democrats once again chose to put open borders and illegal immigrants over the safety of American citizens. I joined many of my conservative colleagues in the House and proudly voted in favor of $5.7 billion in additional funding to defend and secure our southern border. I encourage our Senate counterparts to follow our lead and do the same. We must do everything in our power to protect thisnation, and we should not rest until it is properly done. I will continue to support President Trump and I will oppose any funding bill that does not fully fund his border request.\nHigh School Football State Champions \nCongratulations to the Grandview High School Zebras, who took home the Class 3A Division I State Championship last week! They defeated the Malakoff Tigers 35-21 and all of us in Texas-25 couldn't be more proud. Great job boys!\nI have included some articles and releases you may find interesting located on the right side of this newsletter. It is an honor and privilege to represent the people of Texas' 25th Congressional District and as always, please reach out to me with any issues and concerns that are important to you.\nIn God we trust, \nRoger Williams\nMember of Congress", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=4238", "Sen. Cruz: We Celebrate the Birth of Jesus Christ, Our Promised Savior", "2018-12-24", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "HOUSTON, Texas  U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) issued the following statement in advance of Christmas Day:\nIn this season of hope, we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. The promised Savior, born in Bethlehem, came that we may know Him and his everlasting love and redemption.\nEvidence of Christ's love can be found all across the Lone Star State. Just this week, high school students and others volunteered their time with Lubbock's Meals on Wheels to distribute more than 400 boxes of supplies for seniors. In Laredo, United Middle School students collected presents for children living at Casa De Misericordia, a shelter for survivors of domestic violence. And nearly 1,800 children in Georgetown received gifts from the Williamson County Sheriff's Office. All around us, there are stories of Texans sharing the joy of Christmas with their neighbors.\nWe also remember our servicemen and women who are spending the holiday season far away from home at sea or deployed in a foreign land. We pray for their safe return. And we remember their families, who sacrifice enormously for our great country.\nHeidi and I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year. May God continue to bless the great state of Texas and the United States of America.\nSen. Cruz also released a video wishing America's armed forces and their families a Merry Christmas, and thanking them for their service. The video is being played overseas on the American Forces Network. Watch the full video here. A transcript is below.\nHi, I want to take a moment to say thank you' for your dedicated service to our great country.\nY'all represent the finest qualities of the United States: service to others and sacrifice of self. The enormous sacrifices you and your family make each day in order to secure our freedoms don't go unnoticed. America owes you, your families, and the generations of great Americans who have answered the call to defend our country a debt that we can never fully repay.\nAs we prepare for a season of celebration, we are thinking of our servicemen and women who are spending the holidays far away from home, at sea, or deployed in a foreign land. We are praying for your safe return. Heidi and I want to wish every member of the armed forces and their families a very Merry Christmas, and a blessed New Year. May God bless America, and may God bless each and every one of you.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=4239", "Sen. Cruz: 'Esta Navidad Celebramos El Nacimiento De Jesucristo, Nuestro Salvador Prometido'", "2018-12-24", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Hoy el Senador Ted Cruz (R-Texas) emiti la siguiente declaracin antes del Da de Navidad:\nEn esta temporada de esperanza, celebramos el nacimiento de Jesucristo. El Salvador prometido, nacido en Beln, vino para que podamos conocer su amor eterno y redencin.\nLa evidencia del amor de Cristo se puede encontrar en todo el estado de Texas. Justo esta semana, los estudiantes de secundaria y otros ofrecieron su tiempo en Lubbock distribuyendo ms de 400 cajas de suministros para personas mayores con la organizacion (can you add the o with the dash to organization) Meals on Wheels. En Laredo, los estudiantes de la escuela United Middle School recolectaron regalos para nios que viven en la Casa De Misericordia, un casa refugio para sobrevivientes de violencia domstica. Y casi 1,800 nios en Georgetown recibieron regalos de la Oficina del Sheriff del condado de Williamson. A nuestro alrededor, hay historias de Tejanos que comparten la alegra de Navidad con sus vecinos.\nTambin recordamos a nuestros soldados que estn pasando la temporada lejos de casa desplegados en una tierra extranjera. Oramos por su regreso seguro y recordamos a sus familias, que sacrifican enormemente por nuestro gran pas.\nHeidi y yo le deseamos a usted y a su familia una Feliz Navidad y un Prospero Ao Nuevo. Que Dios contine bendiciendo el gran estado de Texas y los Estados Unidos de Amrica.\nEl Sen. Cruz tambin public un video en el cual le desea a las fuerzas armadas de los Estados Unidos y a sus familias una Feliz Navidad, y le da las gracias por su servicio. El video se esta transmitiendo en el American Forces Network. Usted puede ver el video completo aqu. La transcripcin est debajo.\nHola, quiero tomar un momento para decir gracias' por su servicio dedicado a nuestro gran pas.\nUstedes representan las mejores cualidades de los Estados Unidos: el servicio a los dems y el sacrificio de s mismo. Los enormes sacrificios que usted y su familia hacen cada da, a fin de asegurar nuestras libertades no pasan por desapercibidos. Amrica le debe a usted, sus familias y las generaciones de grandes Americanos que han contestado el llamada de defender nuestro pas. Es una deuda que nunca podremos totalmente pagar.\nMientras nos preparamos para una temporada de celebracin, estamos pensando en nuestros soldados que estn pasando la temporada lejos de casa, desplegadas en una tierra extranjera. Estamos orando por su regreso seguro. Heidi y yo queremos desearle a cada miembro de las fuerzas armadas y sus familias una muy Feliz Navidad y un Prospero Ao Nuevo. Que Dios bendiga a los Estados Unidos, y que Dios los bendiga a cada uno de ustedes.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://weber.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=487", "Weber Statement on Partial Government Shutdown", "2018-12-22", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Randy Weber", "W000814", "weber.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Weber Statement on Partial Government Shutdown \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 22, 2018\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Washington, D.C.  At the turn of midnight on December 22, 2018, the U.S. government went into a partial government shutdown. Congressman Randy Weber (R  Friendswood) released the following statement:The House listened and sent the answer to the Senate. Rather than working together to better border security, Democrats shut down seven agencies. The Senate Democrats need to get in gear; it takes 60 votes. The ball is in their court. It's time they start listening to the American people and fund border security, disaster relief and our seven key agencies. ###  \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/news/cornyn-feinstein-bill-modernize-cybertipline-signed-law", "Cornyn, Feinstein Bill to Modernize CyberTipline Signed Into Law", "2018-12-22", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "John Cornyn", "C001056", "www.cornyn.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON- U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) released the following statements after President Trump signed the CyberTipline Modernization Act into law:\nIn the two decades since the Tipline began, online child exploitation has grown exponentially, Sen. Cornyn said. This legislation will allow the CyberTipline to adapt to the modern-day tactics of online predators. I'm grateful to President Trump for signing this legislation into law so NCMEC can continue to connect victims to the law enforcement resources they need. \nChild abduction and abuse are among the most heinous crimes, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's tipline is critical in the fight to protect children. Last year alone the tipline received more than 10 million reports of potential exploitation. Our legislation improves the tipline to ensure it's better equipped to coordinate with law enforcement and respond to the widespread use of the internet by child predators, said Sen. Feinstein.\nBackground:\nThe National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) created the CyberTipline in 1998 to help prevent and stop the sexual exploitation of children. The CyberTipline provides the general public and technology industry with the ability to report online instances of child sexual exploitation, including child pornography. Congress enacted legislation related to the CyberTipline in 2008; however, the federal statute has not been revised since. Senators Cornyn and Feinstein introduced the CyberTipline Modernization Act to provide much needed updates to the statute to better reflect the current operation of the CyberTipline.\nSpecifically, the CyberTipline Modernization Act will:\n Underscore the true purpose of the CyberTiplineto reduce the proliferation of online child sexual exploitation and prevent it from circulating online in the first place;\nFacilitate reporting to NCMEC for imminent or planned violations and provide an opportunity for intervention before further harm to a child;\nAddress new trends of online abuse by referencing reported content as visual depictions to reflect that illegal content now often includes videos as well as images;\nRecognize the increased proliferation of child pornography across the globe; and\nStrengthen NCMEC's process for handling international reports to ensure that they are sent to the proper authorities in foreign countries.\n The reports to the CyberTipline not only help ensure law enforcement can identify child victims and provide them with services that they need, but they also ensure those images can be removed from the internet and contribute to safer online communities for our nation's children.\nIn addition, the CyberTipline allows NCMEC to engage with the Internet industry on voluntary initiatives to help reduce the proliferation of child sexual abuse images online. NCMEC uses the information submitted to the CyberTipline to create and tailor NCMEC's safety and prevention publications that are provided to educators, parents, and the public.\nIn addition to strong support from NCMEC, the CyberTipline Modernization Act is supported by the National District Attorneys Association, the Internet Association, RAINN, and leaders in the tech industry.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/news/cornyn-klobuchar-bill-fight-human-trafficking-signed-law", "Cornyn, Klobuchar Bill to Fight Human Trafficking Signed Into Law", "2018-12-22", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "John Cornyn", "C001056", "www.cornyn.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) released the following statements after their bipartisan legislation, the Abolish Human Trafficking Act, was signed into law by President Trump.The legislation strengthens and reauthorizes key programs supporting survivors of human trafficking and provides resources to law enforcement officials working to combat modern-day slavery.\nBy equipping law enforcement with resources to better fight against human trafficking and connecting survivors with the support they need, we can help those affected restore their lives. Sen. Cornyn said. Human trafficking is a heinous crime that must be eradicated, and I'm grateful to the Trump Administration for making it a priority.\nAs a former prosecutor, I have seen firsthand the horrors of human traffickingand it's happening in our own backyards, Sen. Klobuchar said. This bipartisan legislation is a major step forward in the fight against human trafficking. This law will strengthen and reauthorize critical programs that support survivors and improve the tools available to federal, state, and local law enforcement.\nSenate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), along with Senators Bob Corker (R-TN), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Dean Heller (R-NV), Ron Wyden (D-OR), MarcoRubio (R-FL), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Orrin Hatch (R-UT), joined as original cosponsors of the legislation. Sens. Cornyn and Klobuchar were the authors of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, a 2015 law that increased the resources and tools available for combatting human trafficking in the United States. The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act ensures American law enforcement agencies areequipped to fight this crime, while helping victims rebuild their lives by using fines and penalties against their exploiters to fund restorative services and compensation. The Abolish Human Trafficking Act enhances and expands the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act.\nBackground on the Abolish Human Trafficking Act:\nFunding for Victims' Services and Law Enforcement: The Abolish Human Trafficking Act extends the life of the Department of Justice Domestic Trafficking Victims' Fund, which is financed through fines on convicted human traffickers and sexual predators and through an annual allotment from the Community Health Centers Fund and was used to provide nearly $5 million to victims' services last year. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that federal law enforcement may impose liens on the property of criminals who fail to pay required fines to the Domestic Trafficking Victims' Fund and allows Child Advocacy Centers to use resources from the Fund to provide services to human trafficking victims. Finally, the legislation reauthorizes key Trafficking Victims Protection Act programs that are used to fund restorative services for victims and law enforcement anti-trafficking operations.\nEmpowering and Restoring Victims' Lives: The Abolish Human Trafficking Act permanently authorizes the Human Trafficking Advisory Council, through which human trafficking survivors formulate annual recommendations to combat and prevent this crime to the Federal Government. The legislation also requires mandatory restitution for victims of commercial sexual exploitation offenses.\nFighting Human Traffickers: The Abolish Human Trafficking Act gives law enforcement additional tools and resources to target criminal street gangs involved in organized human trafficking and sexual exploitation. By enhancing statutory maximum penalties for several human trafficking offenses, the legislation ensures the penalties remain an adequate tool for prosecutors.The bill also expands the authority of state and local governments to seek wiretap warrants in sexual exploitation and prostitution cases and establishes Human Trafficking Coordinators at every U.S. Attorney's Office and at the Department of Justice. In order to help curb foreign offenders and internal human trafficking, the legislation clarifies that persons who travel overseas with a motivating purpose of engaging in illicit sex tourism can be federally prosecuted for their offense.\nIncreasing Awareness and Prevention:The Abolish Human Trafficking Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to develop specialized screening protocols for implementation across federal, state, and local law enforcement anti-trafficking task forces to ensure agencies nationwide are trained to recognize victims and refer them to services instead of arresting or prosecuting them.The bill makes a number of improvements to data collection and reporting so that agencies can better utilize information.The legislation ensures regular reporting on the number of human trafficking crimes is separated from reports on the particular form of the offense for the use of the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program and requires the Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking to provide an annual report on the use of data received from the national human trafficking hotline.Lastly, the Abolish Human Trafficking Act requires National Institute of Justice and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to conduct a landmark study on the long-term physical and psychological effects of the commercial sex trade.\nBreaking the Cycle of Sexual Exploitation: The Abolish Human Trafficking Act ends government partnerships with the commercial sex industry and improves the national strategy to combat human trafficking by utilizing demand reduction techniques.\nMajor Supporting Organizations: More than 50 victims' rights and law enforcement organizations support the Abolish Human Trafficking Act, including Shared Hope International, Rights 4 Girls, Fraternal Order of Police, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, National District Attorney's Association, National Association to PROTECT Children, and Coalition Against Trafficking Women.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/news/cornyn-peters-bill-improve-efficiency-and-boost-safety-us-ports-entry-becomes-law", "Cornyn, Peters Bill to Improve Efficiency and Boost Safety at U.S. Ports of Entry Becomes Law", "2018-12-22", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "John Cornyn", "C001056", "www.cornyn.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTONU.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Gary Peters (D-MI) released the following statements after President Trump signed their United States Ports of Entry Threat and Operational Review Act into law. This bill, which they jointly authored, would initiate an in-depth analysis of the strengths, opportunities, and vulnerabilities of land, sea, and air ports of entry so that we can promote more efficient trade and travel across our borders while targeting vulnerabilities to decrease illegal activity.\nTrade and travel through Texas' many ports of entry spur our state's economy, connect cross-border communities, and provide jobs for millions of Texans, so it's important we ensure ports have the resources and information they need to run efficiently and safely, said Sen. Cornyn. I'm grateful to the Trump Administration for their support of this critical bill that will affect millions of Texans.\nMichigan is home to two of our nation's busiest trade crossings, and our economy relies on our ports of entry to securely and efficiently move goods and travelers across our border, said Senator Peters. I'm pleased this bipartisan bill has been signed into law to ensure Michigan's ports have the necessary resources to keep our state a thriving hub for international commerce.\nThe United States Ports of Entry Threat and Operational Review Act requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit a threat and operational analysis of ports of entry, including:\n current and potential threats posed by individuals and organized groups seeking to exploit security vulnerabilities at ports of entry or to unlawfully enter the United States through such ports of entry;\nmethods and pathways used to exploit security vulnerabilities at ports of entry;\nimprovements needed at ports of entry to prevent the unlawful movement of people, illicit drugs, and other contraband across our borders;\nimprovements needed to enhance travel and trade facilitation and reduce wait times at ports of entry;\nprocesses conducted at ports of entry that do not require law enforcement training that could be fulfilled with non-law enforcement staff; and\nimprovements needed during secondary inspections to meet food safety standards.\n This analysis should consider personnel needs, technology needs, and infrastructure needs at each port of entry, including their associated costs. It should suggest strategies to mitigate threats, reduce wait times, prevent unlawful activity, focus intelligence collection, identify fraudulent documents, prevent corruption, and adequatelystaff each port of entry.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=298", "115th Congress Accomplishments", "2018-12-21", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Jodey C. Arrington", "A000375", "arrington.house.gov", "arrington", "https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "It is a profound honor and blessing to represent you and your family in our nation\u2019s capital. West Texas is more than the energy basin and breadbasket for the United States \u2013 it\u2019s the backbone of our nation\u2019s traditional values. I hope you are as pleased as I am with the record of results from our first term. Our overarching goal was to rein in the federal government, renew our commitment to the Constitution, be a strong voice for Rural America, and restore power back to \u201cWe the People.\u201d Here are some of the ways we advanced our conservative principles and West Texas values during our first term in Congress: rebuilt the military and restored our readiness, supported the President to secure the border and stop illegal immigration, grew our economy and created jobs through tax cuts and regulation reduction, repealed Obamacare\u2019s individual mandate, improved services to our veterans by enhancing the GI Bill and increasing accountability at the VA, increased access to healthcare for people in rural communities, introduced the only bi-partisan term limits legislation endorsed by President Trump, and defended our constitutional rights and traditional American values by protecting the 2nd Amendment and State sovereignty in public education. In addition, President Trump signed five pieces of legislation into law that we introduced on behalf of the good people of West Texas, improving agriculture, rural healthcare, and veteran services. We also led efforts to restore cotton to the Farm Bill safety net and secure the new B-21 bomber at Dyess - two generational opportunities with billions in economic impact to West Texas. Furthermore, as Chairman of the Veterans Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee, I spearheaded legislation to improve accountability and quality of care at the VA. On the Farm Bill conference committee, I ensured that the 2018 Farm Bill gave our farmers and ranchers the certainty and security they need to feed and clothe the American people. In spite of our accomplishments during the 115th Congress, there is much more work to be done. As we enter the 116th Congress, I will, first and foremost, defend the conservative policies we put in place that have made America safer, stronger, and freer. I will also continue to work to solve our nation\u2019s problems in a bipartisan fashion when possible, putting our country before politics. Watch my end of year video below \u2193 https://vimeo.com/308586910", 1, "2026-04-07T12:09:11Z", "2026-06-27T23:11:43Z"], ["https://babin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2316", "Babin Comments on Secretary Mattis Service", "2018-12-21", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Brian Babin", "B001291", "babin.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Rep. Brian Babin (TX-36) released the following statement regarding the announced retirement of Secretary of Defense James Mattis after four decades of public service.\n\n\u201cThe American people are losing a very smart, tough and patriotic public servant in Secretary of Defense General James \u201cMad Dog\u201d Mattis. His departure will leave a big void, and we will miss his leadership, experience and knowledge. Our enemies feared and respected him and our friends appreciated him.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-06-27T23:11:43Z"], ["https://kevinbrady.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401309", "Brady stands with Trump; condemns Democrats putting partisanship over national security", "2018-12-21", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Kevin Brady", "B000755", "kevinbrady.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Brady stands with Trump; condemns Democrats putting partisanship over national security \r\n   \r\n    \r\n      Its a simple choice; open government or open borders \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 21, 2018\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Washington, DC  Congressman Kevin Brady (R-TX-08) released the following statement after voting for legislation to fund the government and secure the border:\r\nFor me this was a simple choice  stand with President Trump, keep the government open and build the border wall. Democrats would prefer to have open borders, despite the risk this poses to our national security and the thousands of Border Agents who risk their lives to protect our sovereignty and secure the border. This is political gamesmanship at its worst. The safety and security of our citizens and our homeland are not pawns, and Pelosi and Schumer should be ashamed for treating them as such.\r\n###\r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://marchant.house.gov/?p=24954", "Marchant Votes to Build the Wall and Secure our Borders", "2018-12-21", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Kenny Marchant", "M001158", "marchant.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Marchant Votes to Build the Wall and Secure our Borders\n      \n  \n  Congressman Kenny Marchant (TX-24) released this statement after the House passed legislation to secure our borders and fund the government:\nLast night I voted to pass common sense legislation to build the wall, provide disaster assistance to necessary areas, and keep the government open. said Marchant. In one month Speaker Pelosi will not allow us to put the security and safety of the American people first and secure our borders.\nWe need to fulfill the will of the people and most of the feedback I've received from my district is to vote to fund the wall. We can't allow the dysfunction of Washington and the Democrats putting party over country to put our citizens safety in jeopardy. The constant flow of opioids and Illegal immigration at our southern border has gone unchecked for too long. Congress needs to put the safety of Americans first and keep our promise of securing the border.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://marchant.house.gov/?p=24957", "Marchant Statement on the Resignation of Defense Secretary James Mattis", "2018-12-21", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Kenny Marchant", "M001158", "marchant.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Marchant Statement on the Resignation of Defense Secretary James Mattis\n      \n  \n  Congressman Kenny Marchant (TX-24) released this statement after the Secretary of Defense James Mattis announced he will be leaving his post at the end of February:\nMr. Mattis joined the Marine Corps Reserve at 18 years old looking to make a positive difference in the world, and has served his country tirelessly in his more than four decades in uniform, said Marchant.\nOver the years he has earned a reputation among his colleagues and the defense community for integrity and good judgement, garnering the respect and trust of presidents, lawmakers, and the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces. Defense Secretary Mattis has faithfully carried out missions both military and civilian, always working to protect the American people and our allies. His tenure at the Department of Defense will be remembered for leading the effort to defeat ISIS, rebuilding our military, and protecting the American people.\nI thank him for his lifelong commitment to our national security and steadfast leadership in times of conflict.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://ratcliffe.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=330", "Rep. John Ratcliffe votes for $5.7 billion wall funding", "2018-12-21", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "John Ratcliffe", "R000601", "ratcliffe.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://ratcliffe.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=331", "Trump signs Ratcliffe bill to modernize federal government", "2018-12-21", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "John Ratcliffe", "R000601", "ratcliffe.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://thornberry.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398368", "Thornberry on temporary funding bill", "2018-12-21", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "William Thornberry", "T000238", "thornberry.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Thornberry on temporary funding bill \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 21, 2018\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n       \r\n\r\n\r\n    \r\n        \r\n            \r\n            \r\n                \r\n                    \r\n                        FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\r\n                        CONTACT:Jordan Hunter\r\n                        \r\n                    \r\n                    \r\n                        December 21, 2018\r\n                        (202) 225-3706\r\n                    \r\n                \r\n            \r\n            \r\n                \r\n                    \r\n                        Thornberry on temporary funding bill\r\n                        \r\n                        \r\n                    \r\n                \r\n            \r\n            \r\n                \r\n                    \r\n                        \r\n                        WASHINGTON- U.S. Congressman Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) released the following statement after the House passed a stopgap spending bill that contains $5.7 billion for border construction and almost $7.8 billion in disaster relief aid.I voted to support a bill that keeps the government open, improves border security, and provides disaster relief aid. The House passed this bill by 217 to 185. The budget process is dysfunctional, but this bill provides a path forward while funding border security and disaster relief, two things the country needs. The Senate should pass it.\r\n                        \r\n                    \r\n                    \r\n                        ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/news/cornyn-new-criminal-justice-reform-law-brings-texas-model-nationwide", "Cornyn: New Criminal Justice Reform Law Brings Texas Model Nationwide", "2018-12-21", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "John Cornyn", "C001056", "www.cornyn.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after President Trump signed the First Step Act into law, which includes Senator Cornyn's prison reform provisions:\nI've worked for years to bring the Texas model of successful prison reform nationwide, and this law will help us close the revolving door of recidivism for Americans looking for a second chance on life. This is a great example of what we can achieve when we bring ideas that work from our home states  the laboratories of democracy - to Congress.\nThe First Step Act was a whole of government effort that required input from both sides of the aisle and law enforcement groups to make this bill stronger, and I'm gratified by President Trump's support.\nThe First Step Act includes provisions from Senator Cornyn's prison reform legislation, which was modeled after Texas' successful reforms.\nBackground on Senator Cornyn's Prison Reform Provisions:\n Risk Assessment: Requires the Department of Justice to develop risk assessment tools that will assess the recidivism risk of all eligible offenders.\nReducing Prison Spending: Focuses limited Bureau of Prison resources on those most likely to commit future crimes and shifts lower-risk inmates to less restrictive conditions, reducing prison costs and freeing up resources for law enforcement.\nExpanded Recidivism-Reduction Programming: Requires the Bureau of Prisons to provide evidence-based recidivism reduction programming to all eligible offenders.\nPartnerships with Faith-Based and Community-Based Organizations: Promotes efficient and effective recidivism reduction programming by requiring, the Bureau of Prisons to partner with private organizations, including non-profits, to enhance existing efforts.\nCredit toward Prerelease Custody: Incentivizes low-risk and non-violent inmates to reduce their risk profile by allowing eligible inmates who successfully complete recidivism reduction programs to earn credit toward time in pre-release custody.\nImproving Prisoner Reentry: Requires the federal probation office to begin planning for eligible offenders' reentry at the beginning of the inmate's sentence and requires the Justice Department to implement reentry pilot projects across the country.\nGood Time Credits: Increases the amount of good time credits for good behavior in prison.\nProtecting Vulnerable Prison Populations: Limits the use of restraints on pregnant prisoners and improves audits to reduce or eliminate prison rape.\nCorrectional Officer and Prison Guard Provisions:Requires the warden of every federal prison facility to provide a secure storage facility for guards to secure firearms. Requires prison guards to receive de-escalation training.\n The First Step Act received endorsements from the Texas Fraternal Order of Police, the Texas Municipal Police Association, the Texas Public Policy Foundation, American Conservative Union, Prison Fellowship, the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Association of Counties, the National Conference of State Legislatures, and the Council of State Governments.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=news&id=4253", "Ted Cruz Is Right: Make El Chapo Pay for the Wall", "2018-12-21", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By: Daniel John Sobieski \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tIt would be poetic justice, is deliciously named, and wouldn't cost the taxpayers a dime. It doesn't make Mexico pay for the wall, just one particular Mexican who has done great injury to the people of the United States and who is responsible for a major part of drugs flooding into the United States.\nIt is legislation introduced by Sen.Ted Cruz of Texas last year -- the Ensuring Lawful Collection of Hidden Assets to Provide Order (E.L.C.H.A.P.O.) Act which would use fund confiscated from drug dealers like El Chapo and traffickers to pay for border security. As Cruz explained after introducing his bill in April of 2017:\nSenator Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced a bill calling for the use of $14 billion seized from cartel drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman to be used to pay for the President's border wall between the U.S. and Mexico.\nFourteen billion dollars will go a long way toward building a wall that will keep Americans safe and hinder the illegal flow of drugs, weapons, and individuals across our southern border, Senator Cruz stated, according to a statement obtained by Breitbart Texas from the senator's office\nThe Texas senator said that leveraging criminally forfeited assets from El Chapo and other Mexican cartel members and drug dealers can offset the wall's cost and make meaningful progress toward achieving President Trump's stated border security objectives.\nSome might dismiss this idea as a campaign gimmick intended to help Cruz in his tough 2018 reelection bid, but it is an idea whose time has definitely come. El Chapo is responsible for many crimes against his people and ours, including the murder of Border Patrol agent Brian Terry using a weapon supplied by presidential wannabe and former Obama AG Eric Holder:\nWe assume Holder reads the morning paper and has heard of the 40 assault weapons illegally purchased under the Phoenix ATF's Fast and Furious operation that somehow wound up in the home of Sinaloa cartel enforcer Torres \"the Jaguar\" Marrufo. If he has, we suspect his reaction might have been akin to that of another famous sitcom character, Steve Urkel: \"Did I do that?\"\nThis is no sitcom, but rather a major tragedy -- and a major crime. Marrufo is the enforcer for Sinaloa Cartel chieftain Joaquin \"Chapo\" Guzman. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was killed at the hands of an illegal immigrant working for the Sinaloa cartel just 10 miles from the Mexico border near Nogales, Ariz.\nAmong the weapons Obama and Holder supplied El Chapo with under Fast and Furious was a .50-caliber rifle liberals like to rail against: As Fox News reported about Mexican drug kingpin El Chapo:\nA .50-caliber rifle found at Joaquin \"El Chapo\" Guzman's hideout in Mexico was funneled through the gun-smuggling investigation known as Fast and Furious, sources confirmed Tuesday to Fox News.\nA .50-caliber is a massive rifle that can stop a car or, as it was intended, take down a helicopter\nFederal law enforcement sources told Fox News that El Chapo' would put his guardsmen on hilltops to be on guard for Mexican police helicopters that would fly through valleys conducting raids. The sole purpose of the guardsmen would be to shoot down those helicopters, sources said.\nWisconsin Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner has proposed similar legislation in the House to spend money seized from the drug cartels to fund a border wall:\n\"This is a way to fulfill the president's desire to have Mexico pay for the wall,\" Sensenbrenner, a member of the Judiciary Committee, told the Washington Examiner. \"Having the money seized from Mexican drug cartels would mean that the bad Mexicans would end up paying for the wall, and the bad Mexicans have been terrorizing the good Mexicans with crime and kidnappings and murders within Mexico itself.\"\n\"The [Drug Enforcement Agency] has estimated that the gross receipts of the Mexican drug trade or somewhere between $19-$29 billion a year,\" he said. \"We don't have to be 100 percent efficient to get the the money we need to completely pay for the wall relatively quickly.\"\nContrary to claims by Sen. Chuck Schumer that border walls are ineffective, the empirical evidence shows that border walls work and no place is better proof than the Yuma sector in Arizona:\nFor years, Yuma sector was besieged by chaos as a nearly unending flood of migrants and drugs poured across our border. Even as agents were arresting on average 800 illegal aliens a day, we were still unable to stop the thousands of trucks filled with drugs and humans that quickly crossed a vanishing point and dispersed into communities all across the country\nThe bipartisan Secure Fence Act of 2006 -- supported by then-Sens. Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Joe Biden and others -- mandated the construction of hundreds of additional miles of secure fencing and infrastructure investments. Yuma sector was one of the first areas to receive infrastructure investments.\nWe built new infrastructure along the border east and west of the San Luis Arizona Port of Entry in 2006. The existing fence was quickly lengthened, and we added second and third layers to that fencing in urban areas. Lighting, roads and increased surveillance were added to aid agents patrolling the border.\nAlthough there is still work to do, the border in Yuma sector today is more secure because of this investment.\nTrump was initially able to begin immediate construction of the border wall and open up bidding for contracts thanks to the 2006 measure signed into law by President George W. Bush and supported by Democrats including then-senators Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Hillary Clinton:\nDemocrats are already grumbling about Donald Trump's proposed border wall, though Barack Obama and other leaders in their party voted not so long ago for George W. Bush's proposal to build a major wall on the border with Mexico.\nBush signed the proposal into law in 2006, after it was passed by huge bipartisan majorities in the House and Senate. The law ordered the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to construct about 700 miles of fencing along the southern border, and authorized the addition of lights and cameras and sensors to enhance security. The law explicitly required the wall to be constructed of at least two layers of reinforced fencing.\nTwo-thirds of the Republican-led House approved the bill, including 64 Democrats, and 80 of 100 senators approved the bill in the Senate.\nThe Secure Fence Act of 2006 required the construction of 700 miles of new border fence along the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border. The Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide for at least two layers of reinforced fencing, the installation of additional physical barriers, roads, lighting, cameras and sensors the act said.\nIt was to be modeled on the success of the border barriers in the San Diego sector of the U.S. border. The operative word was secure. Instead of this two-layer secure fence what has been built consists of flimsy pedestrian fencing or vehicle fencing consisting of posts people can slither through.\nThe two-tier fence in San Diego runs 14 miles along the border with Tijuana, Mexico. The first layer is a high steel fence, with an inner high anti-climb fence with a no-man's land in between. It has been amazingly effective. According to a 2005 report by the Congressional Research Service, illegal alien apprehensions in the San Diego sector dropped from 202,000 in 1992 to 9,000 in 2004.\nCameras and sensors played a part, but the emphasis was on physical barriers and roads that were patrolled by real live border guards, not by robots. Then in 2006, the Democrats took back Congress and, in 2008, the White House.\nThey saw in unrestricted immigration a means to fundamentally transform the demographics of America and its political landscape. A wave of what some called undocumented Democrats would be allowed to flood across the border as ICE was told not to enforce the law. Former border state governor Janet Napolitano, who became DHS secretary, reportedly once said: You show me a 50-foot fence and I'll show you a 51-foot ladder at the border, The rest, as they say, is history.\nBut the consequences of unrestricted illegal immigration soon became too big to ignore and with a candidate willing to touch the new third rail of American politics, border security, a political movement chanting build the wall swept Trump into power.\nIf President Trump compromises the wall into nonexistence, he risks his campaign mantra build the wall becoming his read my lips ticket to a single term. In Yuma and San Diego fences and walls worked. So will Trump's wall. Build the wall and make the likes of El Chapo pay for it.\nYou can read the original article here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=news&id=4257", "Senate passes commercial space bill", "2018-12-21", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By: Jeff Foust \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWASHINGTON  The Senate approved legislation Dec. 20 to reform commercial space regulations and extend the life of the International Space Station, but the passage may be too late for this bill to become law.\nThe Senate approved by unanimous consent the Space Frontier Act, S. 3277, a bill introduced in July by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and co-sponsored by Sens. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) The Senate Commerce Committee had favorable reported the bill in August.\nThe bill approved by the full Senate includes several changes to the one that cleared the committee. Among its new provisions are sections calling for studies on the joint use of military facilities for commercial launches and on ways to improve the integration of launches and reentries into the national airspace system.\nIt also renames the Office of Space Commerce within the Commerce Department as the Bureau of Space Commerce to be led by an Assistant Secretary for Space Commerce, a change sought by the Commerce Department to elevate the importance of the office. The bill authorizes $10 million a year for the bureau for fiscal years 2020 through 2024.\nWhile the bill is devoted primarily to reforms of commercial launch and remote sensing regulations, it also extends authorization to operate the ISS from 2024 to 2030. Cruz and Nelson included that extension after expressing opposition to the administration's plan in its fiscal year 2019 budget request to end direct funding of the ISS in 2025.\nThe version passed by the Senate does include a new section authorizing NASA to start a low Earth orbit commercialization program to encourage the fullest commercial use and development of space by the private sector of the United States. NASA sought to start such a program in its 2019 budget request that could lead to installation of commercial modules on the ISS and, later, commercial space stations.\nThe Space Frontier Act takes the critical step of continuing the operations and utilization of the International Space Station through 2030, ensures that the United States won't cede low Earth orbit to China, and enacts meaningful reforms to modernize our nation's launch and re-entry regulations, and streamlines nongovernmental Earth observation regulations, said Cruz in a statement about the passage of the bill.\nReforms in this bill will help commercial space companies get to two launches a day in Florida, said Nelson in the statement. Extending the life of the International Space Station well into the next decade, as this bill does, will also ensure America remains a leader in space exploration.\nNelson, who lost reelection for a fourth term in the Senate last month, said in a floor speech last week that he and Cruz were continuing to work on an extension of the space station. Senator Cruz and I are still trying in this Congress to get the date for extension of the International Space Station extended to the end of the decade, he said in a Dec. 10 speech that was his last in the Senate devoted to space.\nHowever, time is running out in the 115th Congress to enact that bill. The House would have to take up the bill and pass it before the new Congress convenes Jan. 3, and it's not clear it will have the time to do so even if members support the bill. The Senate bill is not among the legislation the House plans to consider Dec. 21.\nOne industry group thinks the Space Frontier Act will set the groundwork for future commercial space legislation. This bipartisan bill is a strong statement in support of America's growing commercial space industry, Eric Fanning, president and chief executive of the Aerospace Industries Association, said in a statement after the Senate approved the bill. We look forward to working with members of Congress next year to get commercial space legislation passed and signed into law, ensuring American space presence and dominance into the future.\nCongress did approve one space-related bill Dec. 20. The House passed on a 3900 vote a bill to provide a one-year extension of NASA's existing authority to lease its facilities to companies, known as enhanced use leases. The bill, S. 7, was introduced in the Senate last month by Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and passed the Senate by unanimous consent Dec. 6.\nNASA's enhanced use lease authority is a win-win for taxpayers and the private sector by letting commercial companies leverage NASA investment, Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), the retiring chairman of the House Science Committee, said in a statement. The bill will allow NASA to continue to implement this key authority while Congress works out a long-term solution on NASA's use of excess property.\nYou can read the original article here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=4237", "Sens. Cruz, Jones Applaud House Passage of Civil Rights Cold Case Legislation", "2018-12-21", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Today the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation led by U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Doug Jones (D-Ala.) to require the review, declassification, and release of government records related to unsolved criminal civil rights cases. Sens. Cruz and Jones have led a months-long bipartisan effort to provide public access to unsolved civil rights crime documents through their Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act. U.S. Rep. Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.) led the companion legislation in the House. Their bill will now go to the President's desk to be signed into law.\nThis week has been a historic week for justice, Sen. Cruz said. Crimes committed against Americans seeking their rightful place in the American dream during the civil rights movement too often went unsolved. But this bill seeks to right these historic wrongs by disclosing case records so that the public may pursue leads and document these tragic events. I am grateful my colleagues in the House recognize the importance of this issue, and am proud to have worked with Sen. Jones on this bipartisan bill. It is my hope that, with additional sunlight to these cold cases, there will be revelation, justice, and closure where it has long been lacking.\nThis legislation has made a remarkable journey from its conception in a high school classroom to its passage in Congress today. From the students who first brought their draft bill to my attention years ago to the journalists and researchers who study these civil rights cold cases to my colleagues Senator Ted Cruz and Representative Bobby Rush, this was truly a team effort to do the right thing by these victims and their families. While we can't change history, we can and should do whatever we can to seek truth and healing. Today, we took an important step forward in the effort to ensure justice delayed is not justice denied, said Senator Jones.\nI was delighted when Senators Jones and Cruz introduced companion legislation to my bill, H.R. 1272, and I am even more excited to see that this bill is on its way to the President's desk. With the passage of this legislation, families and communities that have waited too long for answers about the loss of loved ones may finally have the chance for closure. This bill came to fruition because of the hard work of a group of students from Hightstown High School in New Jersey and their teacher, Mr. Stuart Wexler, who started this legislative journey when they first visited my office in 2016. I thank these devoted students for their dedication to this cause and applaud them for their diligence, said Rep. Bobby L. Rush.\nThe Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018 will:\n \nRequire the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to establish a collection of cold case records about unsolved criminal civil rights cases that government offices must publicly disclose in the collection.\nEstablish a Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board to facilitate the review, transmission to NARA, and disclosure of government records related to such cases.\n \n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://gohmert.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398675", "DHS: Jesus, Mary and Joseph could have earned asylum in U.S.", "2018-12-20", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Louie Gohmert", "G000552", "gohmert.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen assured members of Congress Thursday that Jesus, Mary and Joseph would have qualified for asylum in the U.S. as they fled King Herod.\r\nThat turned out to be a point of contention as Ms. Nielsen testified to the House Judiciary Committee, fielding angry questions and denunciations from Democrats who say the Trump administration has been cruel to migrants.\r\nRep. Luis V. Gutierrez, Illinois Democrat, was the most pointed, saying a Trump administration transported back to biblical times would have left Jesus to his death.\r\nA Jesus Christ who had to flee for his life, with Mary and Joseph, Mr. Gutierrez said. Thank God there wasn't a wall that stopped him from seeking refuge in Egypt. Thank God that wall wasn't there, and thank God there wasn't an administration like this or too would have perished on the 28th, the day of innocents, when Herod ordered the murder of every child under two years of age.\r\nThe Feast of the Holy Innocents, celebrated on Dec. 28, commemorates the events recorded in the Book of Matthew describing in which Herod the Great, fearing the prophesy of the rise of a King of the Jews, has children executed. Joseph, warned in a dream, had fled with his family to Egypt.\r\nRep. Louie Gohmert, Texas Republican, was indignant at that Mr. Gutierrez's denunciation, saying it was part of an overall campaign of slander against Ms. Nielsen and other administration officials.\r\nMr. Gohmert asked Ms. Nielsen to alleviate Mr. Gutierrez's worries over the Holy Family, saying Herod's persecution of children seemed like a reason for asylum.\r\nWouldn't they be eligible for asylum in the United States? he wondered.\r\nYes, Ms. Nielsen assured him.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://gohmert.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398676", "Gohmert Introduces Bill That Removes Liability Protections for Social Media Companies That Use Algorithms to Hide, Promote, or Filter User Content", "2018-12-20", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Louie Gohmert", "G000552", "gohmert.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Louie Gohmert (TX-01) released the following statement regarding the introduction his bill, H.R.7363, that amends section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934: \r\nSocial media companies like Facebook, Twitter, and Google are now among the largest and most powerful companies in the world. More and more people are turning to a social media platform for news than ever before, arguably making these companies more powerful than traditional media outlets. Yet, social media companies enjoy special legal protections under Section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934, protections not shared by other media. Instead of acting like the neutral platforms they claim to be in order obtain their immunity, these companies have turned Section 230 into a license to potentially defraud and defame with impunity.\r\nRepresentatives of social media companies have testified in Congressional hearings that they do not discriminate against or filter out conservative voices on their platforms. But for all their reassurances, the disturbing trend continues unabated. Employees from some of these companies have communicated their disgust for conservatives and discussed ways to use social media platforms and algorithms to silence and prevent income to conservatives.\r\nIn one hearing, one of the internet social media executives indicated a desire to be treated like Fox News. Fox News does not have their immunity and this bill will fulfill that unwitting request. Since there still appears to be no sincere effort to stop this disconcerting behavior, it is time for social media companies to be liable for any biased and unethical impropriety of their employees as any other media company. If these companies want to continue to act like a biased medium and publish their own agendas to the detriment of others, they need to be held accountable. Congressman Gohmert is the Vice Chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security, as well as the Vice Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee. Prior to being elected to serve in Congress, he was elected to three terms as District Judge in Smith County, Texas and was appointed by then Texas Governor Rick Perry to complete a term as Chief Justice of the 12th Court of Appeals.\r\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=165", "Arrington Supports Spending Measure With Border Wall Funding", "2018-12-20", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Jodey C. Arrington", "A000375", "arrington.house.gov", "arrington", "https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Congressman Jodey Arrington (TX19) released the following statement after the House passed a short-term spending bill that included $5.7 billion for border security and $7.8 billion for disaster relief. \u201cWe have a national security crisis in our country, and our Commander-in-Chief has asked for the necessary resources to defend our sovereign borders and protect our citizens and communities,\u201d said Arrington. \u201cI am proud to stand with him in his efforts to secure the border and stop illegal immigration by voting to give him the funding he requested for the border wall and other physical barriers. \u201cThere is no country without borders; there is no freedom without security; and the first and most important job of the federal government is to keep the American people safe.\u201d", 1, "2026-04-07T12:09:11Z", "2026-06-27T23:11:43Z"], ["https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=166", "Arrington on USDA's Proposed SNAP Rule", "2018-12-20", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Jodey C. Arrington", "A000375", "arrington.house.gov", "arrington", "https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Congressman Jodey Arrington (TX19) released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a proposed rule that would \u201crestore the original intent of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)\u201d by tightening state waivers for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWD). \u201cI applaud Secretary Perdue and the Trump Administration for finishing the job House Republicans started to ensure that able-bodied adults on Food Stamps work in order to receive assistance,\u201d said Arrington. \u201cI am proud that 18 of the 21 House-passed reforms to the Food Stamp Program made it in the final 2018 Farm Bill. \u201cWe have a growing economy and millions of surplus jobs \u2013 it\u2019s time we pull those in poverty up and out of the welfare trap of government dependence and ensure those who are capable of working do so.\u201d See USDA\u2019s press release here. See the proposed rule here.", 1, "2026-04-07T12:09:11Z", "2026-06-27T23:11:43Z"], ["https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/hurd-statement-significant-chinese-cyber-aggression", "Hurd Statement on Significant Chinese Cyber Aggression", "2018-12-20", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Will Hurd", "H001073", "hurd.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  In response to the recent announcement by the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation to counter Chinese national security threats, former CIA undercover officer and cybersecurity entrepreneur U.S. Representative Will Hurd (TX-23), who chairs the House IT Subcommittee and serves on the Homeland Security and Intelligence Committees, issued the following statement:\nWe are in a hot war with China, and cyber space is the battle space. I've said time and time again that we must play nice with nice guys, and tough with tough guys. This is no different. There must be consequences for digital attacks that compromise our national security.'\nChina views hacking as a means to attain leadership in advanced technology and 21st century great power politics and is currently working to improve its position at the expense of other nations. This systemic breach was undertaken by a hacking group, APT 10, with clear links to the Chinese Ministry of State Security, clearly violating our countries' shared cyber commitments from the 2015 Xi-Obama Memorandum. I applaud today's announcement, which sets a clear tone that the United States has zero tolerance for China's deliberate efforts to steal our information and technology. Attribution is a deterrent against future cyber attacks, and we must continue to expose bad actors that threaten our intellectual property and national security.'\nAs Chair of the IT Subcommittee I have been working since 2015 to improve our federal government's ability to defend our digital infrastructure against cyberattacks. I am pleased that last night, the House and Senate passed a bipartisan national security package that ensures the Department of Homeland Security has the authorities to do just that, including establishing a process for the federal government to address critical supply chain risks to our digital infrastructure. I urge the President to sign the SECURE Technology Act into law as soon as possible so we can begin to take action.'", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://kaygranger.house.gov/media/press-releases/lowey-granger-statement-acquittal-ngo-workers-egypt", "Lowey, Granger Statement on Acquittal of NGO Workers in Egypt", "2018-12-20", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Kay Granger", "G000377", "kaygranger.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON Representatives Nita M. Lowey (D-NY-17) and Kay Granger (R-TX-12), incoming Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on the acquittal of 43 NGO workers who had been prosecuted by the Egyptian government: While the Egyptian government should not have targeted NGO workers in the first place, we are pleased that the rule of law eventually prevailed in the Egypt. With a number of challenges in the region, we welcome this step in the right direction, but we continue to be concerned with the state of human rights in Egypt. The U.S.-Egypt relationship is a deep and historic one built on shared interests and honest communication, and one that we will continue to advance as incoming Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee. We look forward to working with the Egyptian government to grow our mutual understanding and to advance human rights for all Egyptians.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://kevinbrady.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401307", "First Step Act passes House with Bradys support", "2018-12-20", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Kevin Brady", "B000755", "kevinbrady.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC  After passage in the Senate on Tuesday, the First Step Act was passed by the House on Thursday with overwhelming support from both sides of the aisle.  \r\n\r\nWe can be smart and tough on crime at the same time, said U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady (R-TX-08) after voting in favor of the bill. A number of provisions in the First Step Act mirror many of the same reforms the Texas legislature has implemented at the state level, which has a proven record of saving tax dollars, reducing crime rates, and lowering Texas incarceration rate. This is no get out of jail free card, but a chance for inmates to utilize meaningful employment and training opportunities, and other evidence-based programs to help reduce recidivism. This is a win for the inmates, their families, the taxpayers and our communities. I applaud President Trump and his Administration for making this a priority.\r\nThe First Step Act requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to construct an individualized risk-and-needs assessment for every offender upon being sentenced. Subsequently, the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) would offer inmates a tailor-made recidivism reduction plan, which could include resources such as mental health care, anger-management courses, vocational training and other resources. If these programs are successfully completed, low and minimum risk prisoners will begin to earn time credits for pre-release custody. ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://olson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/olson-urges-reevaluation-of-syria-withdrawal", "Olson Urges Reevaluation Of Syria Withdrawal", "2018-12-20", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Pete Olson", "O000168", "olson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  Rep. Pete Olson (TX-22) today released the following statement regarding President Trump's plan to withdraw U.S. military troops from Syria:\nAs a Navy veteran, I believe our commander in chief mustlisten to our generals and military on the ground. These warfighters say we must maintain a presence in Syria to contain the threat of a weakened but very potent ISIS. I share their concerns over an abrupt withdrawal from the region. This decision is a victory for Russia and their efforts to influence the region and, much like the previous administration's decision to withdraw from Iraq prematurely, may strengthen the hands of not only ISIS but also Iran. Much of the progress our military has made in the war to end the ISIS caliphate will be lost. I urge the president to reconsider this decision immediately.\n###\nMedia Contact: Cate Cullen\n\t202-225-5951", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://poe.house.gov/2018/12/co-chairmen-poe-connolly-applaud-passage-of-georgia-support-act", "CO-CHAIRMEN POE & CONNOLLY APPLAUD PASSAGE OF GEORGIA SUPPORT ACT", "2018-12-20", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ted Poe", "P000592", "poe.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Co-Chairmen of the Georgia Caucus,U.S. Congressmen Ted Poe (R-TX)andGerald Connolly (D-VA)released the following statements after the House passed H.R. 6129, the bi-partisan Georgia Support Act. The legislation reasserts the United States' support for Georgia's sovereignty and opposition to the forceful and illegal Russian invasion of Abkhazia and Tskhinivali region/South Ossetia.\r\n\r\n\"The Republic of Georgia is a beacon of democracy in a part of the world that has long struggled to break the legacy of Soviet oppression,\" said Congressman Poe, the co-chair of the Congressional Georgia Caucus. \"While Georgia successfully achieved independence in 1991, Moscow has persistently attempted to bully the small nation back into its orbit -- even going to the extent of invading and occupying a third of Georgia's territory. As Georgia's friend and ally we have a duty to help the Georgian people resist Russia's aggression. That is why I am proud to join my counterpart on the Georgia Caucus, Rep. Gerry Connolly, in introducing the Georgia Support Act. This important bill not only sends a message to the Kremlin that Congress opposes its violations of Georgian sovereignty and territorial integrity, but we are ready to back it up with action. By passing this bill, we are enhancing Georgia's ability to defend itself and taking steps to target Russians who commit brutal human rights atrocities against the Georgian people.\"\r\n\r\n\"I am proud that the House has passed the Georgia Support Act, which strengthens the vital U.S.-Georgia partnership, a strategically important relationship in a critical part of the world, said Congressman Connolly, co-chair of the Congressional Georgia Caucus. This bill demonstrates the United States' robust support of Georgia's sovereignty, continued democratic development, and security, especially in the face of Russian aggression. The Georgia Support Act builds on previous efforts to bolster Georgia's territorial integrity by authorizing sanctions against those responsible for or complicit in human rights violations in Georgia's occupied territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.\"\r\n\r\nThe Georgia Support Act:   Calls for increased security assistance to Georgia to enhance the country's deterrence, resilience, and self-defense.  Sanctions Russian actors in the occupied Georgian territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia linked to serious human rights abuses.  Aids Georgia in defense against Russia's cyber-enabled warfare by increasing U.S. cybersecurity cooperation with Georgia.  Requires the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to improve Georgia's capabilities to combat Russian disinformation and propaganda campaigns.\r\n\r\nCongressmen Ted Poe and Gerald Connolly serve on of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Congressman Poe is the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://poe.house.gov/2018/12/poe-and-connolly-congratulate-salome-zurabishvili-as-first-female-president-of-georgia", "POE AND CONNOLLY CONGRATULATE SALOME ZURABISHVILI AS FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT OF GEORGIA", "2018-12-20", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ted Poe", "P000592", "poe.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressmen Ted Poe (R-TX) and Gerald Connolly (D-VA), Chairmen of the Georgia Caucus, issued the following statement on the election of ruling party candidate and former Georgian foreign minister, Salome Zurabishvili,as the first female president of Georgia:\r\nCongratulations to our friends in the Republic of Georgia on the historic election of Salome Zurabishvili as their first female president, said Reps. Poe and Connolly. This election demonstrates the continued development of Georgia's young democracy. Despite the challenges their country faces, Georgians have shown their strong commitment to freedom, the rule of law, and thepeaceful transfer of power. We reiterate the concerns of election observers regarding the abuse of state resources for partisan campaigning and urge Georgian authorities to address these issues todemonstrate their commitment tofully fair and transparent elections. The United States, as a close ally of Georgia, stands ready to work with President Zurabishvili and to support her nation's integration with the transatlantic community.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://ratcliffe.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=329", "Rep. Ratcliffe praises Trump administrations actions against China's state-sponsored cyber espionage", "2018-12-20", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "John Ratcliffe", "R000601", "ratcliffe.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://thornberry.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398366", "House passes tax bill before the end of the year", "2018-12-20", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "William Thornberry", "T000238", "thornberry.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "House passes tax bill before the end of the year \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 20, 2018\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n        \r\n            FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\r\n            CONTACT:Jordan Hunter\r\n            \r\n        \r\n        \r\n            December 20, 2018\r\n            (202) 225-3706\r\n        \r\n    \r\n\r\n\r\n    \r\n        \r\n            House passes tax bill before the end of the year\r\n        \r\n    \r\n\r\n\r\n    \r\n        \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            WASHINGTON- The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 88, the Retirement, Savings, and Other Tax Relief Act. This bill passed the House by a vote of XXX to XXX.\r\n            It is important that we continue to work on legislation that brings relief to hardworking Americans. Last year, we took a step in reforming our tax code by passing tax reform. Earlier this year, the House passed tax reform 2.0. Now, we are taking a third step to continue to help our economy thrive, Thornberry said. With our progress on tax reform, we have seen a lot of growth in our economy, Americans keeping more of the money they earn, and jobs being created.\r\n            Highlights:\r\n            \r\n                Includes special tax relief benefits forindividuals and businesses affected by recent natural disasters;\r\n                Helps businesses provide retirement plans for their workers and helps families to start saving earlier;\r\n                Makes key technical corrections to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act;\r\n                Further delays several Obamacare taxes, including the medical device tax and health insurer tax;\r\n                Makes the railroad track maintenance credit permanent; and\r\n                Updates the IRS and makes taxpayer service the focus of the agency.\r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n        \r\n        \r\n            ###\r\n        \r\n    \r\n\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://thornberry.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398367", "Thornberry on Mattis retirement", "2018-12-20", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "William Thornberry", "T000238", "thornberry.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Thornberry on Mattis retirement  \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 20, 2018\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n        \r\n            FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\r\n            CONTACT:Jordan Hunter\r\n            \r\n        \r\n        \r\n            December 20, 2018\r\n            (202) 225-3706\r\n        \r\n    \r\n\r\n\r\n    \r\n        \r\n            Thornberry on Mattis retirement\r\n            \r\n        \r\n    \r\n\r\n\r\n    \r\n        \r\n            WASHINGTON-U.S. Congressman Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) released the following statement after Secretary Mattis announced his retirement:\"In January 2017, Congress took an extraordinary action by passing a law that allowed James N. Mattis to serve as Secretary of Defense. The only other time it has been done was for General George C. Marshall. Speaking in support of the legislation on the House Floor I said, 'I know of no one more respected, more admired in the field of national security today than General Mattis.' His service as Secretary over the last two years have only added to the luster of his name.\"Americans and freedom-loving people around the world have rightfully trusted his steady hand and sound judgmentleadingthe United States Department of Defense. He inspired and motivated the men and women serving in our military. His personal integrity and forthright manner have been a modelforpublic servants, whether military or civilian.\"I am incredibly grateful to him for being willing to serve, for fulfilling his duties with such extraordinary commitment to American national security, and for the close working relationship he fostered with the Congress.\"\r\n        \r\n        \r\n            ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://weber.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=486", "Weber Statement on House Amended Continuing Resolution with Border Security Funding", "2018-12-20", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Randy Weber", "W000814", "weber.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Weber Statement on House Amended Continuing Resolution with Border Security Funding \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 20, 2018\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Washington, D.C.  On Thursday, December 20, 2018, the U.S. House of Representatives sent an amended version of the Senate's Continuing Resolution back to the Senate for final approval. The amended bill funds the remaining seven agencies of the government through February 2019, while also providing $5.71 billion for border security and $7.8 billion for disaster relief. Congressman Randy Weber (R  Friendswood) released the following statement:The People's House knows our constituents want to see the border properly funded and secured. Our President heard that message, and the House resolved to plus up our border funding. Our border needs securing, and having survived Hurricane Harvey, I know first hand the critical need for disaster funding. My colleagues and I were elected to serve our districts. We have a job to do, and House Republicans did just that. It is now time for the Senate to take a stand for the desires of the American people. I actively encourage them to accept our amendment to the bill and avoid a partial government shut down. ###  \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/news/cornyn-peters-bill-improve-efficiency-and-boost-safety-us-ports-entry-passes-senate", "Cornyn, Peters Bill to Improve Efficiency and Boost Safety at U.S. Ports of Entry Passes Senate", "2018-12-20", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "John Cornyn", "C001056", "www.cornyn.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTONU.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Gary Peters (D-MI) released the following statements after the United States Ports of Entry Threat and Operational Review Act passed the Senate. This bill, which they jointly authored, would initiate an in-depth analysis of the strengths, opportunities, and vulnerabilities of land, sea, and air ports of entry so that we can promote more efficient trade and travel across our borders while targeting vulnerabilities to decrease illegal activity.\nTexas boasts some of the most active ports of entry in the United States, and reviewing the vulnerabilities and inefficiencies at these ports will help us to better facilitate legitimate trade and travel, said Sen. Cornyn. I'm grateful to Sen. Peters and all my colleagues in the Senate for supporting this bill critical for international trade, travel, and security.\nThe day-to-day operations of businesses in Michigan and throughout the country depend on the secure flow of goods through our ports,said Senator Peters.I am pleased the Senate has passed this bipartisan bill to provide our ports with the resources needed to effectively handle increased levels of trade and travel, and ensure small business owners and entrepreneurs across Michigan can continue to sell their products in the global marketplace.\nThe United States Ports of Entry Threat and Operational Review Act requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit a threat and operational analysis of ports of entry, including:\n current and potential threats posed by individuals and organized groups seeking to exploit security vulnerabilities at ports of entry or to unlawfully enter the United States through such ports of entry;\nmethods and pathways used to exploit security vulnerabilities at ports of entry;\nimprovements needed at ports of entry to prevent the unlawful movement of people, illicit drugs, and other contraband across our borders;\nimprovements needed to enhance travel and trade facilitation and reduce wait times at ports of entry;\nprocesses conducted at ports of entry that do not require law enforcement training that could be fulfilled with non-law enforcement staff; and\nimprovements needed during secondary inspections to meet food safety standards.\n This analysis should consider personnel needs, technology needs, and infrastructure needs at each port of entry, including their associated costs. It should suggest strategies to mitigate threats, reduce wait times, prevent unlawful activity, focus intelligence collection, identify fraudulent documents, prevent corruption, and adequatelystaff each port of entry.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=4231", "Sen. Cruz Introduces NASA Authorization Act of 2018", "2018-12-20", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) this week introduced the NASA Authorization Act of 2018. This bipartisan legislation is the product of a series of hearings and establishes a legislative marker to build upon in the 116th Congress. The legislation supports an overall budget of $21.545 billion for fiscal year 2019 which would sustain NASA and ensure continued progress for our nation's existing national space initiatives and investments. This is crucial as we look to advance space exploration and assert the United States' leadership in the final frontier. Sens. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Ed Markey (D-Mass) are co-sponsors.\nAs chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Space, Science, and Competitiveness, Sen. Cruz has been a strong advocate for fortifying the United States' leadership in space. He led a series of hearings leading to the introduction of the NASA Authorization Act of 2018, which focused on topics including: America's future exploration of Mars, support for scientific missions in the search for life beyond Earth, and the future of America's ability to maintain its leadership in space.\nFor decades the United States has been a leader on the global stage and advanced exploration by pushing humans further than they've ever gone before, Sen. Cruz said. I am proud of this bipartisan legislation, and firmly believe that we are in a strong position to continue to build upon this bill in the 116th Congress to create an opportunity for a new generation of Americans to witness a new chapter in history: American boots stepping foot on the surface of Mars. Additionally, this bill will provide new commercialization opportunities in low-Earth orbit which will help a private sector commercial space flourish. Most importantly, this bill maximizes the return of American taxpayers' dollars that have been invested towards the operation and utilization of the International Space Station.\nThe full bill text may be viewed here. Highlights of the NASA Authorization Act of 2018 include:\n \nExtends operation and utilization of the International Space Station (ISS) through 2030.\nEstablishes U.S. policy to encourage the development of a healthy and robust U.S. commercial sector in low-Earth orbit, and authorizes a low-Earth orbit commercialization program that will encourage the fullest commercial use and development of space by American private sector companies.\nSupports the development a next-generation advanced space suit.\nAuthorizes the establishment of a lunar discovery program which will use commercial lunar landers.\nReaffirms Congress' support for NASA's scientific objective to Search for Life in the Universe' and directs the Administrator to continue to implement a collaborative, multidisciplinary science and technology development program to search for proof of the existence or historical existence of life beyond Earth.\nEnhances NASA's cybersecurity by requiring the Administrator to update and improve, as necessary, the cybersecurity of space assets and supporting infrastructure within the Administrator's domain, and implement priority recommendations of the Comptroller General of the United States pertaining to information security controls over select high-impact systems.\n \n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=4233", "Sens. Cruz, Nelson, Markey Applaud Senate Passage of Bipartisan Space Frontier Act", "2018-12-20", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) today issued the following statements after the Senate passed their bipartisan Space Frontier Act (S.3277) by a unanimous vote of approval. In July, Sens. Cruz, Nelson, and Markey introduced this legislation to fortify America's leadership in space exploration, continue operations for the International Space Station (ISS) through 2030, and reign in overreaching regulations to support further development of the commercial space sector.\nFor over half a century the United States has been the global leader in space. The Space Frontier Act not only ensures that the United States will remain the global leader in space exploration, but reduces regulatory barriers to allow a vibrant commercial economy to flourish in space, Sen. Cruz said. The Space Frontier Act takes the critical step of continuing the operations and utilization of the International Space Station through 2030, ensures that the United States won't cede low-Earth orbit to China, and enacts meaningful reforms to modernize our nation's launch and re-entry regulations, and streamlines nongovernmental Earth observation regulations. I am proud to have worked with Senators Nelson and Markey on this bipartisan legislation, and urge my House colleagues to take swift actions to pass our bill and send it to the President's desk to be signed into law.\nReforms in this bill will help commercial space companies get to two launches a day in Florida, Sen. Nelson said. As a result, jobs will continue to soar as rockets roar off the launch pads. Extending the life of the International Space Station well into the next decade, as this bill does, will also ensure America remains a leader in space exploration.\nPassage of the Space Frontier Act is not just one small step, it is one giant leap that gets us that much closer to the next Great Space Age, Sen. Markey said. I am proud of the Subcommittee's hard work on this bipartisan piece of legislation, especially my partners Senator Cruz and Ranking Member Nelson. No mission is beyond the power of American ingenuity, and the Space Frontier Act will ensure that our sky is not a ceiling for innovation and achievement.\nThe full bill text may be viewed here. Highlights of the Space Frontier Act may be viewed below:\nSustains the Utilization of the International Space Station\n \nSupports full and complete utilization of the International Space Station through at least 2030.\nExpresses support for maintaining a national lab to benefit the scientific community and promote commerce in space.\n \nModernizes Launch and Re-Entry Regulations\n \nThe Office of Commercial Space Transportation was previously located inside the Office of the Secretary at the Department of Transportation before being placed within the Federal Aviation Administration. The Space Frontier Act establishes an Assistant Secretary for Commercial Space Transportation within DoT, elevating the profile of commercial space issues within the Department.\nRequires DoT to issue a rulemaking to overhaul existing regulations within 1 year, and directs that the revised regulatory framework be focused around clear, high-level performance requirements applicable to both reusable and expendable systems.\nEncourages DoT to use its existing waiver and safety approval authorities to streamline the existing regulatory process while a more comprehensive regulatory overhaul is in work.\n \nOverhauls Earth Observation Regulations\n \nSince they were first created in the early 1990s, the regulations for Earth observation systems have failed to keep pace with a maturing industry. Applications frequently get stuck in an ineffective interagency consultation process which has led the Department of Commerce (DoC) to fail to meet its statutory requirement to act within 120 days on Earth observation satellite license applications.\nThe Space Frontier Act repeals the existing legal framework for Earth observation regulations and creates a new framework at DoC that focuses on managing risk to national security and preventing harmful interference to other space activities.\nProvides a streamlined 90-day process for other agencies to review applications; non-responsiveness is treated as assent to the application, and non-concurrences must be signed by the head of the non-concurring agency or department.\n \n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=4234", "Sen. Cruz Announces Staff Updates", "2018-12-20", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today announced new staff roles in his Senate D.C. office. Effective immediately, Sean McLean will be fulfilling the role of Legislative Director, and Austin Smithson as the Domestic Policy Advisor.\nSean and Austin have been exceptional assets to my office and the people of Texas, serving as experts for their legislative portfolios while helping to secure numerous victories for the Lone Star State and all Americans, Sen. Cruz said. I am confident that they will continue the fight for freedom and economic growth as they advance into their new roles. And I look forward to working with each of them as we head into a new legislative session to represent the values and concerns of Texans in Washington.\nSean McLean, Legislative Director: McLean has over a decade of experience working in the United States Congress, and for the past four years has handled the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation portfolio for Sen. Cruz. In addition to handling issues before the full committee, McLean has also managed Sen. Cruz's priorities as the chairman of the Subcommittee on Space, Science, and Competitiveness. Under McLean's leadership, Sen. Cruz has passed five bipartisan bills that have been signed into law by Presidents Obama and Trump. Previously, McLean worked for U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) for over seven years in a number of positions, including Legislative Director.\nAustin Smithson, Domestic Policy Advisor: Smithson, a native of Tyler, most recently served as Director of the Hurricane Harvey Working Group' in Sen. Cruz's D.C. office, where he oversaw the office's response to Hurricane Harvey and worked to ensure Texans and Texas communities impacted by the storm received the federal assistance needed to recover and rebuild. Prior to that, Smithson served as Legislative Counsel for Sen. Cruz, handling issues critical to Texas, including energy, agriculture, environment, and transportation. Before joining Cruz's office, he was Legislative Director and Legislative Counsel to Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), and also practiced law in San Antonio.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=4235", "Sen. Cruz Introduces the End Palestinian Terror Salaries Act of 2018", "2018-12-20", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today introduced the End Palestinian Terror Salaries Act of 2018. The bill imposes sanctions against Palestinian officials who provide financial rewards for Palestinian terror attacks.\nThe text of the bill may be viewed here.\nPalestinian terrorists have wounded or killed more than a dozen Israelis over the last few months, including 45-year old American-Israeli Ari Fuld, Sen. Cruz said The Palestinian government continues to provide hundreds of millions of dollars each year rewarding such terrorists and their families, providing an incentive for ever more violence. It's past time for Congress to impose direct costs on the Palestinian officials who manage the programs that provide these rewards.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=4236", "Sen. Cruz, Rep. Smith's Student Empowerment Act Passes U.S. House", "2018-12-20", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.) today issued the following statements applauding the House passage of the Student Empowerment Act, which expands the use of 529 College Savings Plans to allow families to save for K-12 education expenses.\nThis important legislation builds upon the biggest school-choice initiative in American history by enabling public, private, and homeschool families to use a 529 savings account for everyday educational expenses, ensuring that every family is able to use these tax-advantaged accounts to pay for their child's elementary and secondary education, Sen. Cruz said. By investing in the next generation of students and expanding school choice, we're allowing more families to access a quality education that truly fits their child's needs, and to escape the one-size-fits-all approach to education.\nThe Student Empowerment Act will help working families pay for their children's everyday K-12 education expenses, no matter where they attend school, said Congressman Smith. Parents know better than Washington about what's right for their children, and this legislation will allow families to save for the expenses unique to their children's needs. It will also end wrongful discrimination against families who homeschool their children, because every family has the right to choose where their children receive their education. I thank Senator Cruz for his partnership on this important issue to expand school choice and uphold individual liberty.\nEligible expenses would include tuition, books and instructional materials, tutoring expenses, fees for exams related to college admissions, and educational therapy for students with disabilities. Additionally, the Student Empowerment Act would allow all families to use tax-free 529 savings accounts, regardless of where their children receive their education. It would change current law, which does not permit families to use 529 savings accounts for homeschool expenses.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=video&id=4232", "Sen. Cruz Encourages Senate Colleagues to Pass the Space Frontier Act", "2018-12-20", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Central TX \n\t\t\t\t\t(512) 916-5834  300 E 8th  Suite 961  Austin, TX 78701  Email\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t North TX \n\t\t\t\t\t(214) 599-8749  Lee Park Tower II  3626 N. Hall St.  Suite 410  Dallas, TX 75219  Email\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t Southeast TX \n\t\t\t\t\t(713) 718-3057  The Mickey Leland Federal Building  1919 Smith Street  Suite 9047  Houston, TX 77002\nEmail\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t South/Cen. TX \n\t\t\t\t\t(210) 340-2885  9901 IH-10W  Suite 950  San Antonio, TX 78230  Email\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t East TX \n\t\t\t\t\t(903) 593-5130305 S. Broadway  Suite 501  Tyler, TX 75702  Email\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t South TX \n\t\t\t\t\t(956) 686-7339   200 S. 10th St   Suite 1603   McAllen, TX 78501   Email\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t Washington, D.C. \n\t\t\t\t\t(202) 224-5922  404 Russell  Washington, DC 20510  Contact", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/hurd-bill-supporting-libraries-passes-house", "Hurd Bill Supporting Libraries Passes House", "2018-12-19", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Will Hurd", "H001073", "hurd.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  Today, the Housepassed the Museum and Library Services Act (S. 3530), a bipartisan initiative to ensure the continued success of our libraries and museums across the nation originally introduced by Senator Reed (D-RI). U.S. Representative Will Hurd (TX-23) joined representatives Reps. Raul Grijalva (AZ-03), Leonard Lance (NJ-07) and David McKinley (WV-01) to introduce the House companion and push the bill to the finish line.\nOur public libraries, especially in rural areas, go far beyond simply providing books. They serve as the primary provider of literacy programming, technology training and job seeking assistance in many communities I represent across South and West Texas,said Hurd, who represents more than one hundred public libraries, college libraries and school districts in the 23rd District of Texas.The grant funding authorized through this bill directly serves libraries across our state and is vital for their continued success. I am glad my colleagues came together today in a bipartisan manner to support this bill, and I will continue to ensure that South and West Texans can continue to access quality educational resources.\nLibraries are centers of community life, providing opportunities for millions of Texans to discover their passion, and pursue education and career goals. On behalf of the Texas Library Association's more than 6,000 members, we'd like to thank Representative Hurd and Senator Reed for supporting our libraries, and for their leadership on the reauthorization of the Museum and Library Services Act,saidDana Braccia, Executive Director of the Texas Library Association.\nWe thank Representative Hurd and Senator Reed for their leadership in support of the important work of the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the thousands of libraries across the United States,said Mark Smith, Librarian and Director of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.The Museum and Library Services Act will help state library agencies like ours in all states and territories continue to bring excellent library services to all communities.\nModernizing our libraries and museums and prioritizing a diverse workforce that reflects the communities they serve is critical to ensuring a lifetime of learning for all individualsno matter their race, age, or socio-economic status, said Rep. Ral M. Grijalva. I've seen the important role that libraries play in educating and serving our communities, and I'm thrilled that more funding will be heading their way to help them fulfill their mission. This bipartisan legislation conquered the gridlock of Washington, and countless libraries across the country will now have the resources they need to improve their services and reach more people.\nThe bill is headed to the President's desk.\nTheMuseum and Library Services Act renews federal museum and library grant funding programs administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, of which Texas public libraries receive nearly $11 million in federal assistance each year.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/hurd-national-security-bill-passes-house", "Hurd National Security Bill Passes House", "2018-12-19", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Will Hurd", "H001073", "hurd.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  Today, the House of Representatives passed the SECURE Technology Act, a bipartisan national security package that ensures our Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel have the resources needed to keep Americans safe from global threats in today's interconnected world. The bill combines three bipartisan initiatives previously introduced in both the House and Senate that will ensure that DHS has the authorities to keep our digital infrastructure safe from cyber attacks.\nCyber security is national security. Not a day goes by that our critical infrastructure isn't targeted by bad actors from every corner of the Globe, said Hurd, a former CIA undercover officer who serves on the House Homeland Security and Intelligence Committees. The SECURE Technology Act ensures that our federal agencies can better mitigate the risks to our networks and supply chains. I'm proud that my colleagues and I came together to support this bipartisan initiative to keep Americans safe across the finish line, and I'll continue to do all that I can to deliver real results back home.\nThis bipartisan bill strengthens our national security by:\n Creating guidelines for addressing security vulnerabilities at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS);\n\tEstablishing a bug bounty program at DHS to incentivize personnel to find and fix potential holes in their system;\n\tEstablishing a process for the federal government to address critical supply chain risks.\n This proposal includes Majority Leader McCarthy's Public-Private Cybersecurity Cooperation Act (H.R. 6735), Senator Hassan (D-NH) and Portman's (R-OH) Hack the Department of Homeland Security of 2018 (S. 1281) and Senator McCaskill (D-MO) and Lankford's (R-OK) Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act of 2018 (S. 3085).", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/mccaul-s-statement-on-the-president-s-recent-announcement-on-us-forces", "McCaul\u2019s Statement on the President\u2019s Recent Announcement on U.S. Forces in Syria", "2018-12-19", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Michael T. McCaul", "M001157", "mccaul.house.gov", "mccaul", "https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Michael McCaul (TX-10), Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee and a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement following President Trump's recent announcement on U.S. forces in Syria:\n\nCongressman McCaul: \"I have been very supportive of President Trump's actions over the last two years to crush the so-called Caliphate in Iraq and Syria. We have retaken almost all of the territory once controlled by ISIS and put them on the run. However, I am concerned by today's reports that America has started an immediate withdrawal of all of our troops, as well as our diplomats who are charged with helping those impacted by ISIS to rebuild.\n\n\"Such a move is premature and could empower ISIS to regroup and rebuild, inspire Assad to slaughter scores of innocent Syrians, strengthen Russia in the region, and embolden Iran and its Shia proxies to fill the void we've left behind. By removing our presence in Syria, we put our ally Israel in a very dangerous situation with having to deal with a growing Iranian military presence on its border.\n\n\"History has taught us that when we completely disengage from a hostile area, it emboldens our enemies to continue their belligerent actions. I am hopeful that President Trump and his national security team can explain how this immediate withdrawal is in America's best interest.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:11:43Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=4229", "Sen. Cruz Introduces Bill to Establish the Position of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space", "2018-12-19", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) this week introduced a bill to establish a new position of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space within the Department of Defense. Since being elected to the Senate, Sen. Cruz has served as a leader on space issues and an advocate for American military superiority in space.\nSuccessfully competing in space requires leaders who are empowered to advocate and allocate the resources they need to secure American leadership in this new domain, Sen. Cruz said. My legislation will establish a new Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space, which would ensure the Pentagon adequately prioritizes the issue and that the Senate is able to provide oversight. This legislation also requires that one of the first tasks of the new Assistant Secretary is bringing emerging technologies critical for advancing U.S. national interests into the Department of Defense. Establishing the Assistant Secretary is a prerequisite to creating a robust military approach to space.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=4230", "Sen. Cruz: Continuing Resolution is a 'Missed Opportunity' to Build the Wall", "2018-12-19", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today issued the following statement in opposition to the continuing resolution:\nThe American people gave us a clear mandate: secure the border and build the wall.\nI have long called for building a wall as a necessary step in defending our border and stopping the flow of illegal immigration into our country. To that end, I introduced the EL CHAPO Act and the WALL Act  two bills that would offset the cost of completing the wall and securing our border.\nUnfortunately, this continuing resolution fails to reflect these priorities by not sufficiently securing the border. This is a missed opportunity to deliver on the promises made to the American people. Further, this bill continues to fund sanctuary cities, which are defying the law and making Americans less safe. We should instead pass Kate's Law, a bill I introduced that would put criminal illegal immigrants in jail so they cannot prey on innocent Americans.\nCongress must do better. I will continue to fight for a better path that respects the will of the American people.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/house-lawmakers-boosting-ai-cyber-workforce-gov-t-industry-2019", "House Lawmakers Boosting AI, Cyber Workforce in Govt, Industry in 2019", "2018-12-18", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Will Hurd", "H001073", "hurd.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "House lawmakers announced plans to improve the use of artificial intelligence andincrease the government's cyber workforce through new bills in 2019 that would provide funding and set standards in the public and private sectors, Federal News Networkreported Monday. Reps. Will Hurd, R-Texas, and Robin Kelly, D-Ill., said they want to increase coordination between the government andindustry to explore and expand investments inAI technologies.\nArtificial intelligence matters because it will impact every single industry, Hurd said. We need to make sure we are aligning research in the federal government and the private sector, to make sure we are aligning the standards for the workforce, and we are training the workforce of the future. We need to make sure we are working with our international partners on this.\nThe Texas representative said he's working on a cyber national guard bill to increase the number cyber experts in the future.Hurd also aims to push the Senate to increase its budget for the Technology Modernization Fund in 2019 after the House agreed to provide $150M in the coming year.\nMeanwhile, Kelly also plans to introduce a separate bill to improve the security of connected devices by requiring basic cybersecurity standards on government-purchased Internet of Things devices.\nKelly and Hurdserve in the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on IT.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/immigrant-children-be-released-faster-tornillo-tent-city-hhs-policy-change", "Immigrant children to be released faster from Tornillo tent city with HHS policy change", "2018-12-18", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Will Hurd", "H001073", "hurd.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Undocumented immigrant children willbereleased quicker from the Tornillo tent city and othersheltersafter a policy change regarding the fingerprinting of sponsors' households.\nAbacklog ofFBI background checksof sponsor families had been blamed fordelaying the release of unaccompanied immigrant children held in Tornillo and other government-contracted shelters across the nation.\nThe Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday announced that it waschanging the way it conducts background checks, which will speed up the release of children.\nFingerprints and FBI background checks still will be required of all sponsors but not from all members of a sponsor's household, an HHS spokesperson said.\nA search of U.S. Department of Homeland Security arrest records is still part of the sponsor background check, HHS said.\nThe government will continue to conduct a public records check of all adults in a household \"to ensure child safety,\" HHS said in a statement.\nThere wereabout 2,800 children, ages 13-17, as of last weekat the controversial tent city at the Tornillo border port of entry outside El Paso, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.\nSeveral members of Congress have called on the Trump administration to close the facility, saying that children belong with their parents or relatives instead of being detainedbythe government.\nWhenchildren are released from shelters, they are placed with a relative or sponsor in the United States as their cases gothrough immigration court proceedings.\nThe temporary shelter in Tornillo opened in June and initially housed about 300 children before significantly expanding.\nAlso in June, the government put into place a new policy that required all sponsors and household members to be fingerprinted as part of the background check.\nHHS saidthat the fingerprint background checks of all household members had generally not found additional child welfare risks and that the fingerprints checks had increased the time children spent at the shelters.\nHHS reports that 79 percent of the childrenat the Tornillo facility are boysand spend an average of 33 days at the site.The shelter has 3,800 beds.\nSince it opened, the shelterhas housed 6,000 children, with 3,100 having been released from the facility, HHS said.\nThe children are mostly from Guatemala, El Salvadorand Honduras, officials have said.\nIn October, about 60 percent of the 1,500children housed at the temporary facility were waiting for the background check results in order to be released, said the commander who works for BCFS, the nonprofit contracted to run the shelter.\n Calls for shelter's closure \nRepublicanU.S. Rep. Will Hurd, whose district runs from San Antonio to eastern El Paso County, on Tuesday joined other members of Congress in calling for the shelter's closure.\nIn a series of tweets, Hurdasked that HHS \"stop intentionally delaying\" the release of children to relatives or sponsors in the U.S. or to family in their home countries.\n\"We are the United States of America. ... We are better than this,\" Hurd said.\nOn Saturday, U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso,and U.S. Rep.-elect Veronica Escobar of El Paso joined Democratic U.S. Sens. Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii and Tina Smith of Minnesotaand Democratic U.S. Rep. Judy Chu of California in a tour of the Tornillo shelter.\nMerkley said 1,300 of the children at Tornillo have family members and sponsors who have completed fingerprint background checks but had yet to be released.\nThe contract between the federal government and BCFSexpires Dec. 31. O'Rourkesaid the contracthas yet to be renewed.\nMultiple protests have taken place since June demanding the closure of theTornillotent city.\nO'Rourke said the government has already spent more than $144 million to run the Tornillo facility since it opened in June, and the government has earmarked a total of $300 million for the operation.\nThe Tornillo shelteris part of an HHS network of about100 facilities in 17 states.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://williams.house.gov/media-center/newsletters/come-and-read-it-report-65", "Come and Read It Report", "2018-12-18", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Roger Williams", "W000816", "williams.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Texans,  \nIt's one of our favorite times of the year- high school football playoffs! In Texas, we know that means early morning practices, decking out in school colors, and braving the coldto watchour players leave itall out on the field for a shot at the state title.  \nLast weekend, our very own Grandview High SchoolZebrasdefeated the Yoakum Bulldogs, 28-14, and are nowheaded to the State Championship! The game will take place this Thursday, December 20, at 7pm CT at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. While I cannot be there due to votes taking place in Washington, I will be cheering for the Zebras that day!  \nPhoto credit: TexasHSFootball.com \nLegislative Update \nLast week: we voted on 10 pieces of legislation, including the Farm Bill, which will provide economic stability to farmers and ranchers in our district, and around the country.  \nI had the opportunity to preside over the House floor of the US Capitolone final time during the 115th Congress. It has been a true honor serving with these men and women the past two years on behalf of Texas' 25th District, and I look forward to two more! \nI have included some articles and releases you may find interesting located on the right side of this newsletter. It is an honor and privilege to represent the people of Texas' 25th Congressional District and as always, please reach out to me with any issues and concerns that are important to you.\nIn God we trust, \nRoger Williams\nMember of Congress", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/news/cornyn-texas-shows-criminal-justice-reform-works", "Cornyn: Texas Shows Criminal Justice Reform Works", "2018-12-18", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "John Cornyn", "C001056", "www.cornyn.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "We've seen these changes implemented across the country at the state level, including my home state of Texas.'\nWe were able to reduce our incarceration rate and our crime rate by double-digits at the same time.'\nThe odds of these individuals leaving prison and becoming more productive members of society should be higher than the odds of a coin flip.'\nI'm proud to be a cosponsor of this legislation, and I look forward to voting yes when it comes up for a vote later today or tomorrow.'\n \nWASHINGTON  On the floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) discussed the First Step Act and highlighted provisions to reduce recidivism based off successful reforms in Texas. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn's floor remarks are below, and video can be found here.\nAlmost everybody in prison will serve their time and get out of prison. The question for us is, will they be better prepared to live life on the outside in a productive way, or will they simply reengage in a turnstile?\nWe've seen these changes implemented across the country at the state level, including my home state of Texas, which have yielded incredible results.\nSo using sorts of recidivism reduction programs that are included in the First Step Act at the state level, we were able to reduce our incarceration rate and our crime rate by double-digits at the same time.\nWe're not just talking about money. We're talking about human potential. We're investing in the men and women who want to turn their lives around once they're released from prison, and we're investing in so doing in stronger and more viable communities, and we're investing tax dollars into a system that helps produce stronger citizens.\nThat's what this legislation tries to do and that's why it's gained such broad support on both sides of the aisle.\nThe odds of these individuals leaving prison and becoming more productive members of society should be higher than the odds of a coin flip. I'm proud to be a cosponsor of this legislation, and I look forward to voting yes when it comes up for a vote later today or tomorrow.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/news/senate-passes-cornyn-backed-criminal-justice-reform", "Senate Passes Cornyn-Backed Criminal Justice Reform", "2018-12-18", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "John Cornyn", "C001056", "www.cornyn.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "We've seen these changes implemented across the country at the state level, including my home state of Texas, which has yielded incredible results.'\nThis bill is our opportunity to make meaningful changes in our criminal justice system. An opportunity to begin fixing a problem that plagues our country and our opportunity to take a model that's been working in the states for more than a decade and use it to benefit all Americans.'\n \nWASHINGTONSenator John Cornyn (R-TX) made the following remarks on the Senate floor prior to the Senate passing the First Step Act, criminal justice reform legislation largely based on his prison reform bill:\nWe've seen these changes implemented across the country at the state level, including my home state of Texas, which has yielded incredible results.\nWe can be smarter on crime and produce better results at a lower cost, and that message and those things that have followed have been enormously successful.\nBy investing in these education and training programs - these recidivism reduction programs - we can ensure that people who get out of prison, more of them will actually stay out of prison.\nThis bill is our opportunity to make meaningful changes in our criminal justice system. An opportunity to begin fixing a problem that plagues our country and our opportunity to take a model that's been working in the states for more than a decade and use it to benefit all Americans.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=4226", "Bipartisan Jones-Cruz Bill to Release Civil Rights Cold Case Records Passes Full Senate", "2018-12-18", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Doug Jones (D-Ala.) announced that their bipartisan Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act has passed through the full Senate by unanimous consent. Sens. Cruz and Jones introduced the legislation in July to require the review, declassification, and release of government records related to unsolved criminal civil rights cases. Despite being nearly 50 years old, many of these documents are not publicly available and some remain classified unnecessarily. Since its introduction, Sens. Cruz and Jones have worked together to earn support for the bill both at the committee level and in the full Senate.\nDuring the civil rights movement, far too many violent crimes committed against black Americans went unsolved, Sen. Cruz said. This bill attempts to address this injustice by disclosing case records so that the publicincluding private detectives, historians, victims, and victims' familiesmay access these files, pursue leads, and document these tragic events. I want to thank Sen. Jones for his efforts on this important bill. It is my hope that this bill will bring justice for the victims, closure to their families, and another victory for the legacy of the civil rights movement.\nThis legislation means a great deal to the families and communities that have been impacted by these civil rights-era crimes, and I am so proud that we have been able to move the bill quickly through the Senate this year, said Senator Jones, a former U.S. Attorney. I understand well how important it is to confront the darkest moments in our history so that we can begin to heal and move forward together. This bill will unlock records that can help us better understand that history and give victims' families a chance at a sense of closure. I thank Senator Cruz for his partnership in this effort and I look forward to seeing this bill move through the House and to the President's desk.\nSince its introduction, the legislation has earned bipartisan support and has brought renewed national attention to the issue of civil rights cold cases. Among the most well-known of these cases is that of Emmett Till, who was murdered in Mississippi in 1955 at the age of fourteen. Till's case was re-opened by the Department of Justice earlier this year after it had received new information. However, more than 100 other cold cases remain closed without any resolution.\nThe Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018 will:\n \nRequire the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to establish a collection of cold case records about unsolved criminal civil rights cases that government offices must publicly disclose in the collection.\nEstablish a Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board to facilitate the review, transmission to NARA, and disclosure of government records related to such cases.\n \n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=4227", "Sens. Cruz, Cotton Introduce Resolution Encouraging the United States to Recognize Israel's Sovereignty Over Golan Heights", "2018-12-18", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) introduced a Senate resolution encouraging the United States to recognize Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights. The full text of the resolution may be read here.\nIsrael's northern border is threatened by Iranian forces and their proxies in Lebanon and Syria, including Hezbollah's 150,000 rockets, armed drones, newly discovered terror tunnels, and more. Meanwhile, with the Ayatollahs' help, Bashar al Assad's regime is on the verge of securing victory in Syria's civil war. He may soon turn his attention back to threatening the Jewish state. Sens. Cruz and Cotton said. Israel gained possession over the Golan Heights in a defensive war over 50 years ago, and has responsibly controlled the area ever since. It's past time for the United States to recognize reality by affirming Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights.\nThe following is the full text of the resolution:\nExpressing the sense of the Senate that the United States should recognize Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights.\nWhereas, until 1967, Syria controlled the Golan Heights and used the topographical advantage it provided to attack Israeli troops and civilians;\nWhereas, in June 1967, Syria intensified its attacks against Israel from the Golan Heights, and Israel captured the Golan Heights in a defensive war;\nWhereas, in October 1973, the Golan Heights provided Israel with critical strategic depth to repel a surprise attack by Syrian forces;\nWhereas, on September 1, 1975, President Gerald Ford provided a diplomatic assurance to Israel that the U.S. will support the position that an overall settlement with Syria in the framework of a peace agreement must assure Israel's security from attack from the Golan Heights and that the U.S. has not developed a final position on the borders. Should it do so it will give great weight to Israel's position that any peace agreement with Syria must be predicated on Israel remaining on the Golan Heights;\nWhereas, in October 1991, Secretary of State James Baker provided a diplomatic assurance to Israel that the United States continues to stand behind the assurance given by President Ford to Prime Minister Rabin on September 1, 1975;\nWhereas, in 1981, Israel applied its law, jurisdiction, and administration over the Golan Heights and has controlled the Golan Heights for 51 years;\nWhereas, since 2011, Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad has killed hundreds of thousands of Syrian civilians, including with weapons of mass destruction, and has pursued an ethnic cleansing campaign against Syrian Sunnis;\nWhereas Iran has used the war in Syria to establish a military presence in the Levant, including thousands of Iranian troops and proxies, and now seeks to create territorial corridors that solidify its control, expand its activities, establish a permanent military presence, and provide arms to its terrorist proxies;\nWhereas Iran is the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism and the leaders of Iran regularly threaten to wipe out Israel;\nWhereas Iran and its proxies have repeatedly attacked Israel from inside Syria, including in February 2018 when Iranian forces infiltrated Israel with a drone and in May 2018 when Iranian forces shelled the Golan Heights;\nWhereas, in December 2014, Congress unanimously resolved that the United States supported the sovereign right of the Government of Israel to defend its territory and its citizens from attacks against Israel by Hamas, a terrorist group supported by Iran; and\nWhereas Israel's control over the Golan Heights provides a defensible border, deters attacks from hostile forces, facilitates intelligence gathering, and allows Israel to detect threats to its national security: Now, therefore, be it\nResolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that\n \nthe United States supports the sovereign right of the Government of Israel to defend its territory and its citizens from attacks against Israel, including by Iran or its proxies;\nIsrael's sovereignty over the Golan Heights is critical to Israel's national security;\nIsrael's security from attack from Syria and Lebanon cannot be assured without Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights;\nit is in the United States' national security interest to ensure Israel's security;\nit is in the United States' national security interest to ensure that the Assad regime faces diplomatic and geopolitical consequences for the killing of civilians, the ethnic cleansing of Syrian Sunnis, and the use of weapons of mass destruction, including by ensuring that Israel retains control of the Golan Heights; and\nthe United States should recognize Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights.\n \n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=4228", "Sen. Cruz Applauds Senate Passage of First Step Act", "2018-12-18", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today released the following statement after Senate passage of the First Step Act:\nFrom my first days in the Senate, I have been a strong advocate for criminal justice reform. The First Step Act is a major bill that moves our system in the direction of greater justice. It lowers mandatory minimums for non-violent drug offenders and increases anti-recidivism programs to help offenders better reenter society, while excluding violent offenders from early release from federal prison.\nThe First Step Act both helps nonviolent, low-level offenders transition back into society while at the same time protecting public safety. It will create greater opportunities for offenders to be rehabilitated, and will reduce the costs of our federal prison system while protecting public safety.\nToo many young men, particularly young black men, face long mandatory prison sentences for nonviolent drug offenses; this bipartisan legislation corrects that injustice. And it will focus our law enforcement resources where they are most needed: preventing violent crime.\nI want to thank the bill sponsors for working with me to amend the bill in order to explicitly exclude violent felons from its coverage. With my amendment adopted, I was proud to vote in favor of this bill in the Senate, and I look forward to its passage in the House and signing by the President.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/hurd-hill/hurd-hill-spirit-season", "Hurd on the Hill: The Spirit of the Season", "2018-12-17", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Will Hurd", "H001073", "hurd.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "There is a spirit of joy and giving in the air this time of year that goes unmatched, no matter the occasion celebrated. From getting together with family and loved ones to giving back to those in need, the holidays bring out the best in each of us and our nation as a whole. As this season continues, I encourage everyone to take time to reflect on this spirit of the season and carry a perspective of kindness, civility and cooperation into the New Year.\nWe live in a nation more divided than ever. And although bringing up politics is typically frowned upon at a family gathering, my fear is that we are unable to put our labels of Democrat or Republican aside and work for the common good of our communities. One of the founding principles of our nation is the freedom of speech, or put alternatively, the ability to disagree. Through civil discourse and competition of ideas, we have created a democracy that has allowed Americans to prosper. We must come together as a nation and show the world our ability to disagree civilly, and that more unites us than divides us. For this experiment called America' to continue to thrive, we must be able to disagree with one another, without being disagreeable.\nOne of the things I consistently hear when I'm back home crisscrossing South and West Texas is that folks fear our country is on the wrong track. I understand why you all feel this way  I often feel the same after seeing pointless partisan bickering in Congress. However, what I have seen during my time in Congress is that bipartisanship is a real thing, and it is the only way to ensure that everyone's voices are heard.\nFor example, last week alone, Congress saw three major bipartisan wins that deliver real results back home, from saving your hard-earned taxpayer dollars and keeping you safe to providing certainty for TX-23's more than 9,000 working farms and ranches. On Wednesday, I held my final hearing as Chair of the IT Subcommittee in the House, which oversees how our federal government is storing and protecting your information online. Due to bipartisan technology policies that my committee members and I have advocated for, the federal government saved over $714 million in taxpayer dollars this year alone to streamline their IT systems and keep your data safe from hackers. Although my time as Chair has come to an end, I assure you that I will continue to work with my friends on both sides of the political aisle to make sure our government is more efficient and transparent for the American people.\nMy bipartisan DHS Data Framework Act has also officially been sent to the President's desk, becoming my thirteenth piece of legislation since 2015 to be signed into law. In today's interconnected world, it is imperative that our law enforcement agencies can get the right information to the right people at the right time, so we can keep terrorists on the run and off our shores. This bipartisan bill provides the tools to make this happen, allowing the Department of Homeland Security to quickly and safely share information with other law enforcement agencies without compromising our nation's secrets. I'm glad that my colleagues and I could get this bipartisan initiative to keep Americans safe across the finish line.\nLast but certainly not least, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018, commonly known as the Farm Bill, is also headed to the President's desk to become the law of the land for the next five years, providing TX-23's hardworking farmers and ranchers with strong agricultural policy that provides them with certainty and stability they need to put the clothes on our backs and the food on our tables. I was proud to support this bipartisan legislation and will continue to fight for the 3.75 million Texans employed by the agricultural sector.\nThe fact of the matter is clear and simple: we work better when we work together. I am excited to head home to Texas after these major bipartisan wins, and I hope that my colleagues also understand that the only way we can continue to get things done is by working together. If we want our nation to be better, each of us needs to be better. That's why in Congress I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to advocate for each of you, whether you voted for me or not, because it's my job as Representative to find solutions and deliver real results back home.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/ai-cyber-workforce-top-house-it-subcommittee-priorities-2019", "AI, cyber workforce at the top of House IT subcommittee priorities for 2019", "2018-12-17", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Will Hurd", "H001073", "hurd.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Artificial intelligence and the cyber workforce will be front and center when the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on IT comes back for the 116thCongress.\nBoth Reps. Will Hurd (R-Texas) and Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), currently the chairman and ranking member of the subcommittee, respectively, said they want to see progress across the government in both of these areas.\nWhile it's still unclear what the shape of the committee and subcommittees will look like and whether Hurd and Kelly will switch roles both say they plan to remain involved in federal IT and management issues.\nHurd said no matter how things come together, he will continue to work in a bipartisan fashion on IT oversight, starting with a focus on AI.\nWe need a national AI strategy. Artificial intelligence matters because it will impact every single industry, Hurd said onAsk the CIO. Most immediately when it comes to cybersecurity, the future of cybersecurity will be good AI versus bad AI. We need to make sure we are aligning research in the federal government and the private sector, to make sure we are aligning the standards for the workforce and we are training the workforce of the future and we need to make sure we are working with our international partners on this  so we are driving how artificial intelligence and ethics of AI are in the future and not China.\nKelly said she agreed with Hurd that agencies need to work with the private sector on investments and development of AI capabilities.\nWe are seeing countries like China put far more investment into it than we have so I think we need to look at that, she said. I think hearing from agencies who are using it and whether there are pilots we can do in certain agencies.\n Expanding efforts around AI \nThe executive branch already is busy looking at different aspects of AI. But Hurd is concerned there is a lack of coordination.\nThe Trump administration, for instance,created an AI task forcein May under its Office of Science and Technology Policy.\nThe group plans to release an updated version ofresearch and development strategynext spring. The Obama administration issued the first AI R&D strategy in 2016.\nAdditionally, the Defense Department, the Intelligence Community and the National Institute of Standards and Technology are alladdressing challengesin the AI space from strategies to standards.\n\nHurd and Kelly say they would like to see many of those efforts come closer together to guard against duplication and potentially wasting money.\nAlong with AI, Hurd and Kelly said ensuring the federal workforce has the right skill sets, especially around cybersecurity is another big priority heading into 2019.\nHurd said he continues to work on his cyber national guard bill to make sure there is a pipeline of cyber experts for the future.Kelly said she supports that concept, but also would like to broaden the discussion about what it takes to attract and retain skilled workers.\nI'm also working with Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), who is expected to be the chairman of the Education and Labor Committee, about what we can do vocationally to get folks up to speed and interested in the technology and cybersecurity world, she said.\n IoT cyber bill coming \nA third priority for Kelly is around the security of connected devices. She plans to introduce a bill to require basic cybersecurity standards to be baked into government-purchased Internet of Things (IoT) devices.\nKelly said with all the cyber attacks and vulnerabilities agencies are facing, it just makes sense for these products to have a baseline set of protections.\nKelly said she has been working on the bill for about a year where she and her staff heard from industry, academic and other experts to improve the final version.\n\nLike with any bill whether it's IoT or not, it's important to bring people to table and listen to how they feel about it and what they think about it, she said. The thing I think about is what entities have to go through even already to protect themselves and how much money is spent to protect themselves. We are trying to be sensitive to that, but more needs to be done.\nKelly added she would like to get the bill out of committee and get a vote from the full House. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) introduced a similar bill in the upper chamber earlier this year.\nAnother key area that Hurd is watching closely to get out of Congress is new funding for the Technology Modernization Fund (TMF).\nThe House approved $150 million but theSenate zeroed itout in its initial version of the Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill for fiscal 2019.\nHurd said he is confident Senate lawmakers will go with the House's version in the end.\nSenate appropriators were rightly upset with how OMB had been handling information around the TMF and that has been changed. OMB has made all the right changes so I think we will see Senate appropriators put some money into the TMF so we can continue to help all these agencies get to the point where they have resilient, nimble, modern infrastructure, he said. It's an important tool for our CIOs and to modernize our systems. As we've found with [the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act], when you have prolonged oversight over a particular piece of legislation, you actually see it getting implemented and you actually see agencies responding.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/hhs-latest-agency-begin-figure-fitara-out", "HHS is latest agency to begin to figure FITARA out", "2018-12-17", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Will Hurd", "H001073", "hurd.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee marked the fourth anniversary of the passage of the Federal IT Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA) with the releases of the seventhiteration of its scorecard, there was plenty to celebrate.\nNo agency received an F grade for the first time. While there were no As either, there were 11 Bs and every agency either improved or stayed the course.\nThe intent of the scorecard, as my colleague and original co-author of FITARA [Rep. Gerry] Connolly (D-Va.) has pointed out, is not to paint agencies with a scarlet letter. Rather, our intent is to incentivize behaviors and actions that result in better managed and more secure IT resources, said Rep. Will Hurd, (R-Texas), chairman of the IT subcommittee, in his opening statement.\nAnd it's that goal of driving and incentivizing a specific set of behaviors that came through in thislatest scorecardmore than ever before.\nThe changed behaviors can be seen at the agency level whether it's the Commerce Department's acting CIO Rod Turkexercising his oversightmuscles over the bureau's IT spending, or the Transportation Department's decision tofreeze IT spendingback in 2016 to address cybersecurity challenges and then in 2017 to add more oversight to IT spending.\nFor many agencies, complying with the law doesn't mean getting all As and staying out of the cross-hairs of the committee. It means CIOs can stop talking about getting a seat at the table and start exercising their authorities to affect real change.\nThe bi-annual hearings, in many ways, are a reminder that at least House lawmakers are watching with high expectations.\nThese hearings and our consensus on the issue of federal information technology procurement sends a message to agencies that the Oversight and Government Reform Committee is serious about agency implementation of the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act  or FITARA  and we are not going to take our foot off of the gas pedal until we achieve full implementation of the law, regardless of who is in the majority, Connolly said in his opening statement.\nNow if only the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee cared as much about public accountability when it comes to FITARA  that would really help drive home the message.\nIn the aftermath of FITARA 7.0 scorecard and hearing, as I'vedone for the past six, here are my three takeaways:\n No A by May, but pretty close \nThe Department of Health and Human Services was mired in the FITARA basement with five Ds before inching up to a C- last May. So HHS officials launched a new initiative to improve their scores, but more importantly change the culture of the agency.\nEd Simcox, the acting HHS CIO and the chief technology officer, told the committee that after the agency's fourth straight D grade in June 2017, it paused to do an analytical review of the legislation, their implementation and figure out where they can improve.\nOver the next 18 months, HHS focused on a three-pronged approach to improve how it manages technology, knowing that FITARA scorecard improvements would come almost as a byproduct.\nSimcox said HHS termed the initiative D3:\n Data HHS created an internal FITARA scorecard, developed a CIO work plan and refreshed its approach to transparency and risk management.\n\tDialogue Headquarters executives held bi-weekly and monthly meetings with bureau level CIOs to discuss FITARA implementation as well as monthly briefings with the Office of Management and Budget and the Government Accountability Office. Simcox said through these conversations, which also included the deputy secretary, the agency brought in more of the CXOs so FITARA wasn't considered just an IT law, but one to support mission and business operations through the effective use of technology.\n\tDelivery The agency identified and captured cost savings or avoidance through the use of shared services, cloud services and consolidation of IT acquisitions. HHS created its first-ever software inventory and found more than 4 million licenses across 12,000 software publishers.\n Through the D3 initiative, HHS fell short of its goal of an A by May but did improve to a B+.\nOur rapid improvement from FITARA 4.0, where we received a D-,' to today's FITARA 7.0, where we have a B+,' would not have been possible without broad collaboration, Simcoxtold the committee. Working in partnership with GAO, OMB and Hill staff has been critical. This committee's advice has directly contributed to the IT improvements at HHS.\nSimcox said D3 created a common language across the agency to compare performance and take advantage of the data to address high risk areas.\nHHS's improvements are an example of how the FITARA scorecard positively incentivizes agencies to act, Hurd said.\nHHS now is moving to the next iteration of D3, called M3: Monitor, maintain and mature.\nSimcox said under M3 HHS plans to drive performance further through an internal FITARA dashboard and discussions, specifically around CIO reporting, data center optimization and cross-agency cyber priorities.\n\nThe committee specifically pushed Simcox on data center efforts. So far, HHS has closed 17 tiered data centers out of 54.\nWe can do better and will continue to make progress on that, he said. I also would like to mention our enthusiastic support for shifting from a cloud first approach to a cloud smart approach where we are able to actually look at the subject matter that is in systems and really match that to the mission that is supported by the systems and any legislative requirements.\nThe lessons learned by HHS and what the six agencies with D grades  the departments of Justice, Agriculture, Defense and Treasury, the Office of Personnel Management and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission  should take from their experience are clear.\nAnd Simcox summed it up very simply: The truth lies in the data. We achieved high scores by following instructions and using data to drive conversation, collaboration and change. FITARA has created a culture shift inside HHS. At HHS, we like to say FITARA is both a law and a lifestyle.\n Rep. Hurd's obsession with working capital funds \nWithout a doubt, among the biggest frustrations Hurd is experiencing with the entire IT reform effort, which includes both FITARA and the Modernizing Government Technology (MGT) Act, is the lack of willingness for most agencies to create working capital funds to help pay for IT modernization efforts.\nOnly four agencies  the departments of Agriculture, Labor and Homeland Security and the Small Business Administration  plan to set up a MGT Act authorized fund.\nHurd said the working capital fund authority really is the most important part of the MGT Act, even though many others like to focus on the Technology Management Fund (TMF).\nDuring the hearing, he specifically questioned HHS's decision to use its nonrecurring expenses fund (NEF) instead of creating a specific IT working capital fund.\nSimcox said about two-thirds of the fund is used for IT projects and one-third for capital investments.\nHHS CFO Sheila Conley said since 2013, the agency has spent about $5 billion on IT and cyber projects from the fund.\nBut Hurd said the problem he sees with HHS's NEF and other existing working capital funds in other agencies is the lack of control by the CIO. In HHS's case, Simcox is part of the decision-making process, but the secretary has the final say of how the money is spent.\nAnd that's what frustrating him the most. The point of the MGT Act was to give the CIO the final say. Now that idea also begs the question whether any CIO really has a final say when the secretary and deputy secretary really control all spending across the agency.\nAt the same time, HHS is among several agencies whose general counsel determined their agency doesn't have the legal authority to transfer money into the MGT Act working capital fund, which comes before there is even a decision on how the money is spent.\nAgain, Hurd questioned HHS on this issue and even asked for the general counsel to appear before the subcommittee to explain their determination.\n\nWhat legal analysis went into making the conclusion that HHS lacks the transfer authority to move money into a MGT account? Hurd asked.\nConley responded, As it relates to our transfer authority, we have very specific transfer authority that is provided in several instances\nHurd interrupted, And that's why we wrote and passed the MGT Act to give the authority for the CIO to have access to a working capital fund that is exclusively used by the CIO. It's frustrating that agencies claim they lack the transfer authority when we just passed legislation to do that.\nConley said HHS needs to be provided with explicit transfer authority to move money into the MGT Act fund.Hurd responded by asking that the law by Congress wasn't enough?\nIn the GAO's red book, or the federal appropriations law book, they point out that the agency may transfer funds only when expressly authorized Conley said.\nHurd interrupted again saying the red book was last updated before the passage of the MGT Act.GAO said it lastupdated the red bookin March 2016, which was 15 months after FITARA became law.\nIt seems Hurd will either work with GAO to clarify the red book or get some sort of FITARA technical correction or update into a future bill to specifically clarify how the working capital funds work. And other agencies should pay attention too and come up with a more detailed legal analysis or face being called to the carpet like HHS.\n Data center definition concerns \nGAO and OMB's debate over the definition of a data center doesn't look to be simmering down any time soon.\nOMB'sdraft data center policyreleased Nov. 26 isn't sitting well with government auditors. In that draft policy, which is out for public comment through Dec. 26, the administration decided to remove the requirement that agencies track and close non-tier data centers as well as change how agencies measure optimization.\nAt the FITARA hearing, Connolly said OMB's decision to change the definition is concerning.\nCarol Harris, the director of IT management issues at GAO, said OMB's decision to move away from fully measuring the progress to consolidate and optimize all data centers is worrisome.\nWhen you take a look at server utilization that is currently being reported as a percentage, which gives an idea to the degree of the servers are being utilized, Harris said. With OMB's proposed change, they are looking to report only the number of underutilized servers in each data center. So without that context of the total number of servers, you lose the ability to know the progress being made in consolidating those servers. That is one example of a metric where OMB could potentially be fuzzing things up.\nHarris told Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) later in the hearing that GAO plans to meet with OMB to discuss the proposed changes.\nMeadows asked Harris if the current data center metrics are working as intended.\nIt's not perfect, but we do think the current metrics that are in place are giving a pretty good picture of how the agencies are doing relative to their goals, she said.\nMeadows pressed Harris for further explanation about why the data center metrics needed to be changed whether the recommendation came from Federal CIO Suzette Kent or the CIO Council or somewhere else.\nBut Harris said she couldn't answer the why and would find out more in their meeting with OMB.\nIf you and your colleague [at GAO] would reach out to OMB and tell them it is of significant concern, Meadows said. It's like changing the parameters for a SAT test. If you change it and it's a different standard for high school students today versus high school students 20 years ago, you can make the scores anything they want to be, Meadows said. I'm concerned if you are only looking at underutilized servers and that matrix, then you have no idea how much stuff you've moved to the cloud. If you are truly looking at server capacity at these data centers, then it doesn't show the whole picture.\n\nData centers and the metrics around them have been asource of disputefor OMB and GAO almost since the beginning of the initiative in 2011.\nConnolly said he believes the data center initiative has stalled at some agencies. GAO said in August 2018, six agencies reported that they did not plan to meet their goals for closing tiered data centers and nine agencies reported that they did not plan to meet their goals for closing non-tiered data centers by the end of fiscal 2018.\nOMB's meeting with GAO in the coming weeks will do a lot to alleviate or spark the obvious concern in Congress. The fact that OMB didn't at least brief GAO on the draft strategy before putting it out, once again, is a missed opportunity for the federal CIO's office to control the narrative.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://poe.house.gov/2018/12/december-17th-december", "December 17th - December 21st", "2018-12-17", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ted Poe", "P000592", "poe.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Monday 12.17.18\r\n \r\nPakistan's army chief has approved death sentences for 15 people convicted by military courts of involvement in attacks that killed 32 security forces and two civilians. A military statement issued Sunday says Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa also approved prison terms for 20 alleged militants. It says they were involved in attacks on security forces and Christians, and the destruction of educational institutions. It did not say when the men would be executed. Military trials are not open to the public in Pakistan, but defendants can hire their own lawyers.\r\nThe Taliban released ashort statementtoday confirming that representatives of its political office are set to meet with an American delegation tomorrow (Dec. 17). The face-to-face is to take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). And according to the Taliban, [r]epresentatives of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and [the] United Arab Emirates will also attend the meeting.Notably absent from the Taliban's statement is any mention of the Afghan government. The jihadists have publicly rejected any talks with President Ghani's government, repeatedly describing it as an illegitimate puppet of the US.\r\nFighting against the Islamic State group inits last enclave in eastern Syriais going very well, a U.S. official said Saturday as U.S.-backed Syrian fighters battled the extremists on the edge of the largest urban area they still hold. Spokesman for the U.S.-led Coalition Col. Sean Ryan's comments came a day after the U.S.-backedSyrian Democratic Forcescaptured the town of Hajin, the largest urban area controlled by ISIS in the enclave. Ryan said ISIS still poses a threat and its fighters are regrouping, planting improvised explosives devices to slow the progress of SDF offensives. He added that the end days of ISIS in the enclave they hold near Iraq's border are getting closer, however, they still have the capability for coordinated attacks, and the fight is not over.\r\nA bomb blast in a northwestern Syrian town held by Turkish-backed opposition forces killed at least eight people Sunday, activists said, the latest in a series of attacks along the border where Turkey has troops. The spike in attacks follows Turkish threats to expand its offensive against U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish forces, moving from the areas it currently controls in northwestern Syria to the east, where U.S. troops are also based.\r\nTurkey's leader says he received positive answers from President Donald Trump on the situation in northern Syria, where Turkey has threatened to launch a new operation against American-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan did not elaborate Monday. The two leaders spoke by phone Friday. Turkey has vowed to launch a new offensive against the People's Protection Units, or YPG, which is the main component of a U.S.-allied force that drove Islamic State militants out of much of northeastern Syria. U.S. troops are based in the area, in part to reduce tensions.\r\nThe Israeli military says it has exposed a fourth Hezbollah attack tunnel dug from Lebanon. The military said Sunday that it has placed explosives in the tunnel as part of an open-ended operation to identify and destroy the cross-border passageways. Israel says the tunnels were built by Hezbollah militants to carry out attacks against Israelis. Hezbollah, which used such tunnels inside Lebanon in the 2006 war, has yet to comment on the operation, which began two weeks ago.\r\nShin Bet DirectorNadav Argamanmade it clear to theForeign Affairs and Defense Committee last month that the apparent state of calm in the West Bank is nothing more than an illusion. The situation is very complex, he explained. On the surface it appears as if there's relative calm, but thisquiet is deceptive, because beneath the surface tensions are increasingly simmering. According to Argaman, Hamas is doing everything it can to launch attacks from the West Bank, directing themfrom Gaza, Turkeyand Lebanon. Going in to greater detail, Argaman added, \"Over the past year, we were able to thwart 480 terror attacks, including 219 Hamas cells and 590 lone attackers. This is a very large number that is indicative of the terrorism bubbling under the surface.\"\r\nEgyptian security officials say two roadside bombs have hit a police convoy in northern Sinai, killing two conscripts. The officials say Monday's attack just west of the border town of Rafah also wounded six conscripts. The bombs struck two armored vehicles that were part of a convoy on a search-and-destroy mission in the area. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.\r\nSixty-two militants were killed by US airstrikes in Somalia this month, US Africa Command said in a statement released Monday. The strikes, which targeted al-Shabaab militants, were conducted near Gandarshe, Somalia, according to the statement. A strike on Saturday killed 34 militants, and a strike on Sunday killed 28 militants, US Africa Command said. The airstrikes were conducted in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia to \"prevent terrorists from using remote areas as a safe haven to plot, direct, inspire and recruit for future attacks,\" according to the statement.\r\nAfter issuing a direct threat to al Qaeda's branch in Somalia last month, the Islamic State followed through on its warning. Earlier today, the Islamic State claimed its men clashed with Shabaab, killing 14 of its members, in northern Somalia. Yesterday, soldiers of the caliphate leaped on a grouping of members of the al Qaeda organization in Somalia near B'ir Mirali southwest of Qandala, where they had been preparing to attack the Islamic State's position, the statement from Amaq News Agency reads. Amaq adds that 14 among them were killed and others were wounded and their weapons and equipment were captured.\r\nA Cameroon official says two female suicide bombers have died after detonating in a northern town near the Nigerian border. The governor of the Far North region, Midjiyawa Bakari, says the attack in Kolofata town occurred Friday night and wounded a woman and a 12-year-old girl. The governor says the attackers came from Nigeria, adding that \"you know that the borders are very porous.\" He says the bombers targeted a home where women had gathered to prepare for a weekly market.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/news/cornyn-criminal-justice-reform-clears-key-vote", "Cornyn: Criminal Justice Reform Clears Key Vote", "2018-12-17", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "John Cornyn", "C001056", "www.cornyn.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "These reforms and these outcomes are real, and I've been working with my colleagues in the Senate Judiciary Committee since 2013 to try to bring these reforms now to the national level. And the First Step Act is our opportunity to do just that this week in the Senate.'\nThe current bill has undergone some major improvements over the last few weeks which I'm very proud of.'\nMore than three-quarters of the bill was based on the CORRECTIONS Act that Senator Whitehouse and I introduced in 2014, which is the prison reform component of the legislation.'\nThe bill has been endorsed by a number of important groups, including the National Association of Counties, the Texas Municipal Police Association, the Fraternal Order of Police, and the Council of State Governments.'\nI'm confident that the Senate will pass this bill, and we can soon send it to the president's desk for his signature.'\n \nWASHINGTON  On the floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) discussed the recent changes made to the First Step Act and the resulting endorsements from key law enforcement groups. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn's floor remarks are below, and video can be found here.\nThis legislation is based on prison reform but has taken on some additional attributes relative to how we sentence and how judges sentence people convicted of various crimes.\nIn Texas, in 2007 or thereabouts, we had some far-sighted, visionary leaders actually who decided instead of just being tough on crime, which Texas has always had a reputation for, we needed to be smart on crime, too.\nWhen I say we saw both a reduction in the incarceration and crime rates, let me give you a couple of numbers. From 2005 to 2016, the Texas FBI index crime plummeted by more than 34 percent. In the same period, the incarceration rate dropped 23 percent. That's pretty shocking and surprising numbers. The crime rate went down 34 percent. The incarceration rate dropped 23 percent. You would think the opposite would be true, that with incarceration rates going down, the crime rate would go up, but because of these visionary programs and these reforms, they simply worked in tandem to reduce the incarceration rate and improve public safety at the same time.\nThese reforms and these outcomes are real, and I've been working with my colleagues in the Senate Judiciary Committee since 2013 to try to bring these reforms now to the national level. And the First Step Act is our opportunity to do just that this week in the Senate.\nThe current bill has undergone some major improvements over the last few weeks which I'm very proud of. The previous version of the legislation had a number of very positive attributes.\nIn fact, more than three-quarters of the bill was based on the CORRECTIONS Act that Senator Whitehouse and I introduced in 2014, which is the prison reform component of the legislation. But the remainder of the sentencing elements in the bill were more controversial, and many of my concerns were shared by members of the law enforcement community. As I was gauging where members stood on the bill, it was clear that many could not support the old version of the bill and needed the primary sponsors of the bill, who I mentioned a moment ago, to work with them to try to make it more acceptable to law enforcement.\nWe've all learned how to get things done here in the Senate to listen and to work together to find solutions, and that's exactly what we did. We spent a lot of time talking to, as I said, national law enforcement organizations, and those in Texas. I know we all value the input of our sheriffs and our police chief and our other law enforcement professionals, and we tried to work with them to try to figure out how can we make this bill stronger. I listened to feedback from our nation's police officers and sheriffs, and we all got to work. We had meetings, we negotiated, we compromised with colleagues on both sides of the aisle as well as friends across the Capitol in the House.\nWe also worked with the White House, who we've all stayed in constant contact with on this issue since the Trump Administration took office nearly two years ago.\nSo this bill is the product of those negotiations and those changes, and I'm not the only one that's happy with the result. Since the improvements have been made, the bill has been endorsed by a number of important groups, including the National Association of Counties, the Texas Municipal Police Association, the Fraternal Order of Police, and the Council of State Governments. So I appreciate the dedication and hard work of our colleagues who have worked on this to get the bill where it is today.\nI'm confident that the Senate will pass this bill, and we can soon send it to the president's desk for his signature.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/news/cornyn-klobuchar-bill-fight-human-trafficking-heads-president%E2%80%99s-desk", "Cornyn, Klobuchar Bill to Fight Human Trafficking Heads to President\u2019s Desk", "2018-12-17", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "John Cornyn", "C001056", "www.cornyn.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) released the following statements after their bipartisan legislation, the Abolish Human Trafficking Act, passed the Senate after being amended by the House of Representatives.The legislation strengthens and reauthorizes key programs supporting survivors of human trafficking and provides resources to law enforcement officials working to combat modern-day slavery.\nHuman trafficking is modern-day slavery, and we cannot turn a blind eye to this human rights crisis, Sen. Cornyn said.By training law enforcement to spot and connect victims with the support they need, we can help them rebuild their lives. I'm grateful to my colleagues in the House for recognizing the importance of this legislation, and I look forward to the President signing it into law soon.\nAs a former prosecutor, I have seen firsthand the horrors of human traffickingand it's happening in our own backyards. This bipartisan legislation is a major step forward in the fight against human traffickingit strengthens and reauthorizes critical programs that help support survivors and improves the tools available to federal, state, and local law enforcement, said Sen. Klobuchar.\nSenate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), along with Senators Bob Corker (R-TN), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Dean Heller (R-NV), Ron Wyden (D-OR), MarcoRubio (R-FL), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Orrin Hatch (R-UT), joined as original cosponsors of the legislation. Sens. Cornyn and Klobuchar were the authors of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, a 2015 law that increased the resources and tools available for combatting human trafficking in the United States. The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act ensures American law enforcement agencies areequipped to fight this crime, while helping victims rebuild their lives by using fines and penalties against their exploiters to fund restorative services and compensation. The Abolish Human Trafficking Act enhances and expands the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act.\nBackground on the Abolish Human Trafficking Act:\nFunding for Victims' Services and Law Enforcement: The Abolish Human Trafficking Act extends the life of the Department of Justice Domestic Trafficking Victims' Fund, which is financed through fines on convicted human traffickers and sexual predators and through an annual allotment from the Community Health Centers Fund and was used to provide nearly $5 million to victims' services last year. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that federal law enforcement may impose liens on the property of criminals who fail to pay required fines to the Domestic Trafficking Victims' Fund and allows Child Advocacy Centers to use resources from the Fund to provide services to human trafficking victims. Finally, the legislation reauthorizes key Trafficking Victims Protection Act programs that are used to fund restorative services for victims and law enforcement anti-trafficking operations.\nEmpowering and Restoring Victims' Lives: The Abolish Human Trafficking Act permanently authorizes the Human Trafficking Advisory Council, through which human trafficking survivors formulate annual recommendations to combat and prevent this crime to the Federal Government. The legislation also requires mandatory restitution for victims of commercial sexual exploitation offenses.\nFighting Human Traffickers: The Abolish Human Trafficking Act gives law enforcement additional tools and resources to target criminal street gangs involved in organized human trafficking and sexual exploitation. By enhancing statutory maximum penalties for several human trafficking offenses, the legislation ensures the penalties remain an adequate tool for prosecutors.The bill also expands the authority of state and local governments to seek wiretap warrants in sexual exploitation and prostitution cases and establishes Human Trafficking Coordinators at every U.S. Attorney's Office and at the Department of Justice. In order to help curb foreign offenders and internal human trafficking, the legislation clarifies that persons who travel overseas with a motivating purpose of engaging in illicit sex tourism can be federally prosecuted for their offense.\nIncreasing Awareness and Prevention:The Abolish Human Trafficking Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to develop specialized screening protocols for implementation across federal, state, and local law enforcement anti-trafficking task forces to ensure agencies nationwide are trained to recognize victims and refer them to services instead of arresting or prosecuting them.The bill makes a number of improvements to data collection and reporting so that agencies can better utilize information.The legislation ensures regular reporting on the number of human trafficking crimes is separated from reports on the particular form of the offense for the use of the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program and requires the Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking to provide an annual report on the use of data received from the national human trafficking hotline.Lastly, the Abolish Human Trafficking Act requires National Institute of Justice and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to conduct a landmark study on the long-term physical and psychological effects of the commercial sex trade.\nBreaking the Cycle of Sexual Exploitation: The Abolish Human Trafficking Act ends government partnerships with the commercial sex industry and improves the national strategy to combat human trafficking by utilizing demand reduction techniques.\nMajor Supporting Organizations: More than 50 victims' rights and law enforcement organizations support the Abolish Human Trafficking Act, including Shared Hope International, Rights 4 Girls, Fraternal Order of Police, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, National District Attorney's Association, National Association to PROTECT Children, and Coalition Against Trafficking Women.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=blog&id=4225", "Cruz News: December 16, 2018", "2018-12-16", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 16, 2018\nGreetings,\nThis week, the House of Representatives passed two of my bipartisan bills addressing the national security interests of the United States. TheNICA Actimposes targeted sanctions and establishes conditions for U.S. approval of international loans to the Government of Nicaragua, ensuring the Ortega regime will be held accountable for its systemic corruption, human rights violations, and assault on democratic order. I had the pleasure of participating in aFacebook Live discussionwith Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) where we urged President Trump to sign our bill into law, and talked about our shared hope for a free Nicaragua.\nI am also pleased the House passed mybipartisan billto impose sanctions on Iran-backed groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis for their use of civilians as human shields. For years, the international community has failed to hold these groups accountable. By passing this bill, the United States is sending a message that it will not turn a blind eye to terrorist war crimes, that those who use civilians as human shields are the ones responsible for endangering civilians, and that they will be held accountable.\nIn the weeks after Hurricane Harvey made landfall, Congress passed theCruz-Cornyn-Rubio bill,which among other items, eliminated the tax penalty for hurricane survivors who wanted to withdraw from retirement accounts to pay for the costs of repairs from storm damages. Retirement account withdrawals must be made by December 31, 2018  a deadline that is quickly approaching. If you are still in the process of rebuilding and recovering from the ravages of Harvey, I strongly urge you to contact your tax advisor or for more information go to the IRS website atirs.gov. I am encouraged by the progress we have seen in the Texas communities affected by Hurricane Harvey, and will continue working each day to ensure Texas rebuilds stronger than before.\nPlease read below for an update from this last week.\nKeep Texas Strong,\n  Ted Cruz\nSen. Cruz and Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) introduced the SuperPAC Elimination Act, which expands and protects free speech in elections by allowing unlimited individual contributions to candidates with immediate disclosure, effectively eliminating SuperPACs.Read more...\nSen. Cruz and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) were joined by Sens. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), as well as Reps. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) and Albio Sires (D-N.J.) in applauding the final passage of H.R. 1918, the Nicaraguan Investment and Conditionality Act (NICA), which will soon be signed into law by President Trump.Read more...\nSen. Cruz, member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, participated in a hearing entitled, Oversight of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.'Read more...\nSen. Cruz issued a statement in response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' proposal to rein in federal overreach by replacing the Obama administration's 2015 definition of waters of the United States with a clear definition and by creating a cost-effective approach to distinguishing federally protected waterways from state protected waterways.Read more...\nSen. Cruz issued a statement upon casting a vote in support of the final 2018 Farm Bill.Read more...\nSens. Cruz, Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Reps. Mike Gallagher (R-Wisc.), Thomas Suozzi (D-N.Y.), Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), and Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) applauded the House's passage of the Sanctioning the Use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act (H.R. 3342) to impose sanctions on Hezbollah and Hamas for their use of civilians as human shields.Read more...\nSen. Cruz, member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned administration officials on the threats of China's non-traditional espionage against the United States.Read more...\nSen. Cruz and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) on Thursday sat down in a Facebook Live discussion to talk about the ongoing crisis in Nicaragua and their efforts to shine a light on the human rights abuses by the Ortega regime.Read more...\nSen. Cruz, member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wisc.), member of the House Armed Services Committee, on Thursday introduced the Blocking Iranian Illicit Finance Act.Read more...\nSens. Cruz and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) issued statements praising the bipartisan deal to combat sexual harassment in Congress.Read more...\nThe full press releases may be viewedhere.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=164", "Arrington at Wreaths Across America Ceremony in Abilene", "2018-12-15", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Jodey C. Arrington", "A000375", "arrington.house.gov", "arrington", "https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Congressman Jodey Arrington (TX19) joined the Abilene community to honor and remember fallen soldiers during the annual Wreaths Across America ceremony at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery. \u201cThe freedoms and opportunities we enjoy as Americans are only possible because of the service and sacrifice of our men and women in the armed forces,\u201d said Congressman Jodey Arrington. \u201cWe all must do our part to ensure we pass down to our children a culture of honor and respect for those who wore the uniform \u2013 they\u2019ve earned it!\u201d Remarks given as keynote speaker: \u201cMr. Cooper, thank you for that kind introduction, thank you to the leadership of the men and women of Dyess, and thank you to all the volunteers and everyone who has contributed to make this very special event possible and bring us all together in honor of our veterans. It\u2019s great to be home in West Texas with so many friends. \u201cWhen I started this job, I knew I would get to be a voice for Ag, but I didn\u2019t anticipate I\u2019d have the joy and blessing to serve those who have borne the battle as a member of the VA Committee. \u201cAs a guy who didn\u2019t serve in the military, I\u2019m proud to represent over 40,000 veterans in West Texas and rural America. I\u2019m proud of the work we\u2019ve done to make sure our veterans receive the benefits they\u2019ve earned and the service that reflects the same level of excellence they demonstrated in service to our country. \u201cAs was said before, right now there are thousands of Wreaths Across America ceremonies taking place in cemeteries and memorial sites across our land. Wreaths Across America is yet another testament to the patriotism and charitable spirit that has always reflected the true character of our country. What started as a simple act of kindness from one family in Maine has grown into a powerful annual tradition where families and fellow Americans throughout our nation come to remember our fallen heroes, and to celebrate the freedoms and the American ideals they fought to defend. \u201cI\u2019m proud that today\u2019s event takes place right here in the Key City, where the bond between the Abilene community and the freedom fighters of Dyess Air Force Base are inseparable, and where support for our military and respect for our veterans is so deeply rooted in our West Texas culture. \u201cAt each of the sites upon which we place a wreath today lies someone who answered the sacred calling to serve our country in the Armed Forces. As President John F. Kennedy said, \u2018The cost of freedom is always high, but Americans have always been willing to pay it.\u2019 \u201cThere is no freedom without security; and there\u2019s no security for a nation without tremendous sacrifice. Every solider, sailor, marine, airmen, and guardsman gives something when they decide to wear the uniform, including some who gave everything, to defend our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and to defend a country that holds these truths to be self-evident: all men are created equally, all have been endowed by God with basic human rights, and only just governments are those who protect those rights and reflect the will of the people it serves. \u201cWhile each of us owes our veterans a debt we can never fully repay, we can do our part to make sure they are properly recognized and strive to be worthy of their sacrifice. \u201cTo do that we must take time to remember them and honor their legacy of service \u2013 not only at ceremonies like this today \u2013 but each and every day by finding ways to give of ourselves to our families, to our friends, and our neighbors. After all, strong nations are no more than the sum of strong families and strong communities. \u201cWreaths Across America is about remembering and paying tribute to our heroes who have gone before us, but it\u2019s also about telling our veterans who are still with us \u2013 we love you, we are grateful for you, we thank God for you and your family. It\u2019s also about the next generation of Americans and teaching them to appreciate that the cost of freedom is high and making sure they show the utmost respect for those who paid it, some even with their own blood. \u201cWhile this holiday season most of us will gather with our families and with old friends, I\u2019m mindful of the fact that there are many who are standing guard and standing in the gap for us all over the world who won\u2019t be able to be their families. We pray for their safety and protection, and we also pray for their spouses and their children \u2013 that they may be comforted and be reunited soon. \u201cSo as we go forth from here and place a wreath at the foot of the fallen, let us make Wreath Across America\u2019s mission our mission: to remember those who served, to honor those still serving, and to teach the next generation about the cost of service. \u201cThe wreaths we will lay in a few minutes represent much more than a simple Christmastime decoration. Going back to Ancient Greece, evergreen wreaths have been laid at final resting places as a way to symbolize the gift of everlasting life. \u201cToday, it\u2019s a reminder that a soldier\u2019s legacy \u2013 like his soul \u2013 never dies. Or rather that it never dies so long as the generations that follow do our part keep to their memory and their story alive. That is why we are here today \u2013 so that our veterans\u2019 legacy doesn\u2019t fade and become forgotten, but instead is honored and lives on in each of us. \u201cIt\u2019s been a great honor for me to with you today. It\u2019s a great privilege to represent you in our nation\u2019s capital. May God bless you, and may God continue to bless and watch over the United States of America.\u201d", 1, "2026-04-07T12:09:11Z", "2026-06-27T23:11:43Z"], ["https://weber.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=485", "Weber Statement on Initial Draft of Proposal for Coastal Barrier Protection Plan", "2018-12-15", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Randy Weber", "W000814", "weber.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is currently conducting a five-and-a-half year study on how to best protect the lives and homes of Texans living along the Gulf Coast. Congressman Randy Weber (R  Friendswood) and Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) sponsored legislation directing the Army Corps to expedite that study protecting our Gulf Coast. The Corps released a Tentatively Selected Plan (TSP), and that plan is now undergoing a public comment period. Congressman Weber released the following statement:The initial proposal has been released, and there is work to be done. There is clearly a need for protection along the Gulf Coast  we have a lot of people in harm's way when the next storm surge comes barreling up our coast. The TSP released by the USACE is only a preliminary draft and conversation starter to solicit feedback from our residents and should in no way be considered the final plan. While I don't endorse any specific plan at this time, I am in regular conversation with USACE to better understand the study, plans and impact on our district. I encourage everyone impacted to submit their comments, questions and concerns either in person or online to the Corps. It is vitally important that all who are impacted weigh in on this important issue and that USACE be made well aware of all of our concerns. I am hearing a great deal  both from those concerned with where the barrier and levees could be placed, as well as from those supportive of coastal barrier protection. I am listening to everyone and appreciate everyone's input. I am particularly concerned with any potential use of eminent domain. Only through thoughtful, robust, productive conversations will we get the best system to protect our children, our families, our lives, and our homes. Please be assured: This is one of my top priorities. I am tracking the progress of this plan very closely. The TSP is the first iteration of the plan; it will not be the last. I cannot stress how important your opinion is as we aim toward a workable plan to protect our way of life. As these important conversations progress, leading to new and improved plans based on everyone's comments, I will continue listening to all residents and working with all involved to make sure we are all better protected from the next big storm. ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=4222", "Sen. Cruz, Rep. Ros-Lehtinen Celebrate Final Passage of NICA Act", "2018-12-14", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) on Thursday sat down in a Facebook Live discussion to talk about the ongoing crisis in Nicaragua and their efforts to shine a light on the human rights abuses by the Ortega regime. During their discussion, they urged President Trump to sign their bipartisan NICA Act into law.\nWatch the full Facebook Live discussion here. Excerpts are below.\nWe're here to celebrate the passage of the NICA legislation that Ileana and I worked on together, Sen. Cruz said. This is major legislation for the people of Nicaragua and Ileana has been working on this a long, long time. We have been working together, hand in hand, and this is a great victory for human rights. This is a great victory in terms of imposing sanctions, in terms of using the international muscle of the United States, of the international financial institutions to push for human rights in Nicaragua. To stand with the people of Nicaragua against oppression, against torture, against the human rights travesties that we've seen. This is a great day for the people of Nicaragua and a great day for human rights across the globe.\nYou're so right when you characterize this bill as a bill in favor of international human values that we all treasure--American values, Rep. Ros-Lehtinen said. And they should be the values respected in Nicaragua: human rights, democracy, no corruption, the ability to speak one's mind. Ortega is just as dictatorial as Diaz-Canel and Castro in Cuba, as Maduro in Venezuela--as all of these thugs they have one thing in common: they want to remain in power and they want total repression against human rights activists. So, this says to the Ortega regime no international dollars and human rights violators you can't come to the United States, we will make sure that we protect the people of Nicaragua. They will have to then decide. These thugs will have to decide. Do they want all the good things that come of being a good international partner or do they want to be treated like the pariahs that they are?\nDuring their discussion, Sen. Cruz highlighted the sacrifices and bravery of the Nicaraguan people fighting for freedom.\nIleana and I have both met with Nicaraguan protestors who've risked their lives, Sen. Cruz said. Many young people, so often the voices of freedom are young people. High school kids, college kids, who are risking their whole lives. They're risking being beaten and bloodied because they want to stand up, they're filled with hope. And for the people of Nicaragua, I believe we will see a free Nicaragua. I believe that shining this light, speaking the truth, and using the financial muscle of the United States can help vindicate human rights in Nicaragua. That's what this fight is all about.\nSen. Cruz also thanked Rep. Ros-Lehtinen for her leadership battling for freedom and fighting against oppression.\nShe has been a lion, standing up to communist dictators, standing up to oppression, standing up with a ferocity that is unmatched, Sen. Cruz said. Now Ileana is stepping down and I'll tell you, I for one and a lot of us, are mourning. You're moving on to the next chapter. Now we know you're going to be a big part of the fight just from a different vantage point. But this bill passing is a wonderful capstone and celebration to three decades of leadership and fighting for freedom. I'm proud to have worked hand in hand with you. Congratulations.\nThe NICA Act imposes targeted sanctions and conditions U.S. approval of international loans to the Government of Nicaragua, ensuring the Ortega regime will be held accountable for its systemic corruption, human rights violations, and assault on democratic order. Sen. Cruz and Rep. Ros-Lehtinen have championed the bill in both the Senate and House of Representatives.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=4223", "Sen. Cruz, Rep. Gallagher Introduce the Blocking Iranian Illicit Finance Act", "2018-12-14", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wisc.), member of the House Armed Services Committee, on Thursday introduced the Blocking Iranian Illicit Finance Act. The bill seeks to counter the Iranian regime's money laundering and financing of terrorism, protect the global financial system from Iranian illicit finance, and impose maximum financial pressure on Iran.\nThe Obama Iran nuclear deal gifted the Ayatollahs with hundreds of billions of dollars and reconnected them to the global financial system, which they used launder even more money and fund even more terrorism Sen. Cruz said. Undoing that damage requires imposing maximum pressure against the Iranian regime. President Trump was absolutely right when he began that process by withdrawing from the nuclear deal. Effectively disconnecting Iran from the global financial system, which this bill does, is a necessary next step. I look forward to working more with the administration and my Congressional colleagues to ensure this bill becomes law during the next Congress.\n\"Withdrawing from the JCPOA was only the first step in ratcheting up pressure on the Iranian regime. We now have an important window to impose maximum economic pressure and degrade the Iranian regime's ability to export violence across the region. This legislation does exactly that by effectively cutting Iran off from the international financial community. Its message is clear: Iran must pay a steep price for its aggressive and destabilizing behavior, and the United States will never tolerate its pursuit of nuclear weapons, Rep. Gallagher said.\nU.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), and Reps. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), Jacki Walorski (R-Ind.), Peter King (R-N.Y.), and Don Bacon (R-Neb.) also joined as original cosponsors of the bill.\nThis important legislation would empower the United States and our like-minded allies to do more to end the Iranian government's ability to illicitly finance its dangerous efforts to sponsor terrorism and militancy, to advance its nuclear and missile programs, to egregiously abuse human rights in Iran and abroad, and to suppress the Iranian people's aspirations for self-determination, Sen. Rubio said. I look forward to working with fellow lawmakers and the Administration to enact this legislation and fully implement the maximum pressure against the regime in Tehran.\nThe ayatollahs will find it much more difficult to sponsor terrorism, launder money, and research and develop nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles without access to the global financial system, Sen. Cotton said. This bill supports the administration's maximum pressure campaign to curb Tehran's malign activities, and Congress needs to send it to the President's desk.\nThe current Iranian regime is one of the world's largest sponsors of global terrorism has shown no interest in discontinuing their support, said Sen. Tillis. This critical legislation will block Iran's dishonest financial dealings and send a clear message that the United States will not tolerate the bad actions of this regime.\nThe United States needs to take strong action against Iran for financing and arming terrorists around the globe, said Sen. Gardner. The Blocking Iranian Illicit Finance Act will cut off Iran's access to financial institutions around the world and have a direct impact on their ability to support terrorism and destabilize the region. The Senate needs to act on this legislation and show Iran the United States will not tolerate their behavior.\nLeveraging the global finance system against Iran and other rogue nations that sponsor terrorism is a position I'm happy to take, Sen. Hyde-Smith said.\nIran is the world's worst state sponsor of terrorism and the biggest destabilizing force in the Middle East, said Sen. Young. This legislation would further cut off the Iranian regime from the global financial system, imposing increasingly severe consequences for their terrorist activities, pursuit of WMDs, and ongoing human rights abuses.\nI am proud to cosponsor this important legislation which will further impede the Iranian regime's ability to spread death, chaos, and misery throughout the Middle East, Rep. Lamborn said. We were promised by the Obama Administration that opening up Iran to international markets would encourage them to cease exporting terror around the world. Instead of spending the new revenue on improving the lives of the Iranian people, the despots in Tehran squandered the wealth supporting murderous dictators, terror groups, and foreign wars. This important legislation cuts Tehran out of the financial markets, further limiting their ability to spread their fanatical terror abroad.\nCongress should step up to the plate and condemn Iran for its support for terrorism throughout the world, Rep. Banks said. Limiting Iran's access to the SWIFT network will finally initiate the change the we need to see in the Middle East.\nVery simply, we need to increase pressure on the Iranian financial sector to effectively shut down those banks or financial institutions involved in terrorism, WMDs, money laundering or human rights violations. I commend Rep. Gallagher for his efforts, Rep. Peter King said.\nIn August, Sen. Cruz sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, urging him to take all necessary steps to ensure the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) disconnects the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) and all other designated Iranian financial institutions.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=4224", "Sens. Cruz, Gillibrand Applaud Bipartisan Deal to Combat Sexual Harassment and Hold Abusers in Congress Accountable", "2018-12-14", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) issued the following statements praising the bipartisan deal to combat sexual harassment in Congress.\nIn the last year, as scores of victims have come forward to share their stories of abuse, it has become overwhelmingly apparent that workplace misconduct is far too common, Sen. Cruz. These stories come from across the country  from Hollywood studios, newsrooms, corporate America, universities, athletic institutions, and the halls of Congress. Sexual harassment is wrong, and it should never be tolerated. Offenders must be held accountable. I have been proud to work with Sen. Gillibrand on reform, and am glad this bill empowers victims to report sexual harassment and bring their perpetrators to justice. I will continue working with my colleagues to stop the cycle of sexual harassment, and ensure no one is above the law.\nTaxpayers should never be left on the hook for politicians' sexual harassment scandals. Yesterday, Congress came together to pass an important reform to make sure that never happens again. Congress should never be above the law or play by their own set of rules, said U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. What we have seen over the last two years with the #MeToo movement is that sexual assault and sexual harassment are pervasive across our entire society. Passing the Congressional Harassment Reform Act was a step in the right direction but we still have more work to do to reform our broken system and increase transparency. I will continue to fight in the Senate for legislation that will help create better, safer and fairer work environments for men and women in all industries.\nSen. Cruz has long championed reform, joining a letter in April calling on Senate leaders to reform the Senate's sexual harassment rules.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=video&id=4221", "Sen. Cruz and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Discuss the NICA Act", "2018-12-14", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Central TX \n\t\t\t\t\t(512) 916-5834  300 E 8th  Suite 961  Austin, TX 78701  Email\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t North TX \n\t\t\t\t\t(214) 599-8749  Lee Park Tower II  3626 N. Hall St.  Suite 410  Dallas, TX 75219  Email\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t Southeast TX \n\t\t\t\t\t(713) 718-3057  The Mickey Leland Federal Building  1919 Smith Street  Suite 9047  Houston, TX 77002\nEmail\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t South/Cen. TX \n\t\t\t\t\t(210) 340-2885  9901 IH-10W  Suite 950  San Antonio, TX 78230  Email\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t East TX \n\t\t\t\t\t(903) 593-5130305 S. Broadway  Suite 501  Tyler, TX 75702  Email\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t South TX \n\t\t\t\t\t(956) 686-7339   200 S. 10th St   Suite 1603   McAllen, TX 78501   Email\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t Washington, D.C. \n\t\t\t\t\t(202) 224-5922  404 Russell  Washington, DC 20510  Contact", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://flores.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399139", "Flores Honors Former President George H.W. Bush", "2018-12-13", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Bill Flores", "F000461", "flores.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "This week, U.S Representative Bill Flores (R-Texas) paid tribute to the life of former President George H.W. Bush with a speech on the House floor and introduction of a resolution honoring the life of President Bush,H. Res. 1172. Last week, our nation mourned the loss and celebrated the life of our 41st president, George H.W. Bush. The 17th Congressional District is home to the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum where he, Barbara and their daughter Robin have been laid to rest. Given this special distinction, I was humbled to pay tribute to President Bush's legacy of extraordinary public service, Congressman Flores said. President Bush will forever be remembered for his devotion to our great nation.  H. Res. 1172 passed the House by unanimous consent on Tuesday, December 11, 2108. Text of the resolution can be found below and HERE.   \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n    \r\n        \r\n                 \r\n        \r\n    \r\n\r\nWatch Congressman Flores' House floor remarks honoring the late President George H.W. Bush HERE.\r\n\r\n  \r\nHonoring the life of President George Herbert Walker Bush.  \r\nWhereas President George Herbert Walker Bush's lifetime record of service to the United States will continue to inspire Americans for years to come; Whereas, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, George H. W. Bush joined the United States Naval Reserve in 1942 on his 18th birthday and became a distinguished naval aviator; Whereas George H. W. Bush's TBM Avenger aircraft was hit with enemy fire over Chi Chi Jima, and though the engine was ablaze, he completed his mission and escaped over water, and floated on a raft for 4 hours before being rescued; Whereas George H. W. Bush flew 58 combat missions during the Second World War, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the U.S. Navy Air Medal with 2 gold stars; Whereas George H. W. Bush graduated from Yale University with a degree in economics and moved his family to West Texas and embarked on a successful career in the energy industry; Whereas in 1966, George H. W. Bush was elected to represent Texas in the United States House of Representatives; Whereas from 1971 to 1973, George H. W. Bush served as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations; Whereas from 1974 to 1975, George H. W. Bush served as the Chief of the U.S. Liaison Office to the People's Republic of China; Whereas from 1976 to 1977, George H. W. Bush served as the Director of Central Intelligence; Whereas from 1981 to 1989, George H. W. Bush served as the 43d Vice President of the United States; Whereas from 1989 to 1993, George H. W. Bush served as the 41st President of the United States; Whereas President George H. W. Bush provided the steady leadership needed through the fall of the Berlin Wall, the reunification of Germany, the peaceful end of the Cold War, and the collapse of the Soviet Union; Whereas President George H. W. Bush led a coalition of 32 nations to restore Kuwait's sovereignty following its invasion by Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein; Whereas President George H. W. Bush is noted for the advancement of civil rights with the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act; Whereas President George H. W. Bush negotiated the North American Free Trade Agreement, creating the world's largest free trade zone; Whereas on January 6, 2000, President George H. W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Pierce Bush became the longest married presidential couple, setting forth for the Nation an example of love and commitment;  Whereas on January 10, 2009, the U.S.S. George H. W. Bush was commissioned as the 10th and final Nimitz class carrier for the Navy, named in recognition of George H. W. Bush's Navy service; Whereas in 2011, President George H. W. Bush received the Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award, for his life of public service and commitment to liberty;  Whereas President George H. W. Bush was a tireless advocate for volunteerism and community service, speaking in his inaugural address of a Thousand Points of Light, of all the community organizations that are spread like stars throughout the Nation, doing good; Whereas President George H. W. Bush and Barbara Bush were strong supporters of the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, established in 1997 as a component of the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library, to encourage future generations to live a life of service to others; Whereas President H.W. Bush, with Barbara Bush, had 6 children, 17 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren, and considered, Houston, Texas, his home and Walker's Point in Kennebunkport, Maine, as his anchor and windward; and  Whereas George H. W. Bush's life will be remembered for civility, public service, humility, and servant leadership: Now, therefore, be it Resolved,That the House of Representatives--  \r\n(1) expresses its appreciation for the profound public service of President George H. W. Bush; (2) expresses its deep sympathy to the children of President George H. W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush: President George W. Bush, Jeb Bush, Neil Bush, Marvin Bush, and Dorothy Bush Koch; and to the entire family of the former President; (3) directs the Clerk of the House to transmit a copy of this resolution to the family of President George H. W. Bush.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://olson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/olson-thanks-delaney-for-his-leadership", "Olson Thanks Delaney For His Leadership", "2018-12-13", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Pete Olson", "O000168", "olson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  Rep. Pete Olson (R-TX), co-chair of the Congressional Artificial Intelligence Caucus, today thanked his fellow co-chair, Rep. John Delaney (D-MD) for his leadership during their tenure as co-chairs in the 115th Congress. Rep. Olson and Rep. Delaney participated in an Axios event this morning discussing the future of AI. It has been a true privilege working with Rep. Delaney over the past two years educating Members of Congress on the importance of Artificial Intelligence, Rep. Pete Olson said. Together we have advanced Congressional knowledge of AI by bringing together issue area experts, lawmakers and stakeholders, staying true to our caucus motto of Educate then Legislate'. Rep. Delaney has been a trailblazer in this burgeoning industry, constantly encouraging thoughtful and forward-thinking discussions. I will miss working hand-in-hand with Rep. Delaney, but I look forward to continuing on as a co-chair of the AI Caucus in the 116th Congress. The Congressional dialogue has only just begun, and we have much more to accomplish to embrace the future and potential of AI. ### Media Contact: Cate Cullen\n\t202-225-5951", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://poe.house.gov/2018/12/standing-with-the-people-of-iran", "STANDING WITH THE PEOPLE OF IRAN", "2018-12-13", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ted Poe", "P000592", "poe.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Mr. Speaker, the people of Iran have taken to the streets and continue to protest against the illegitimate regime of the Ayatollah and the mullahs. These protests have taken place in numerous cities now for 1 year.\r\n\r\nThe people protest the war-mongering dictatorship, the tyranny of the Iranian Government and its terrorist activities. The people want freedom. However, the mullahs are reacting with crackdowns on the people.\r\n\r\nArrests, beatings, and jailing continues to occur. It is interesting that the majority of these protests are led by women and the young.\r\nEven truck drivers have gone on strike in the protest.\r\nGroups such as the MEK have spoken out against the corrupt Iranian Government and oppression of the people. Further, the Government of Iran has sworn to destroy the United States. The United States should stand with the Iranian people in their quest for freedom from the tyrants of Iran.\r\n\r\nAs President Kennedy once said: ``Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.''\r\n\r\nAnd that is just the way it is.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://thornberry.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398365", "House sends Farm Bill 2018 to Presidents desk", "2018-12-13", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "William Thornberry", "T000238", "thornberry.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "House sends Farm Bill 2018 to President's desk \r\n   \r\n    \r\n      Thornberry Amendments Included \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 13, 2018\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n        \r\n            FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\r\n            CONTACT:Jordan Hunter\r\n            \r\n        \r\n        \r\n            December 12, 2018\r\n            (202) 225-3706\r\n        \r\n    \r\n\r\n\r\n    \r\n        \r\n            \r\n            House sends Farm Bill 2018 to President's desk\r\n            Thornberry Amendments Included\r\n            \r\n            \r\n        \r\n    \r\n\r\n\r\n    \r\n        \r\n            \r\n            WASHINGTON- U.S. Congressman Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) voted today in support of H.R. 2, the \"Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018.\" This legislation governs our nation's federal farm and food policy and is known as the Farm Bill. The bill will now go to the President's desk for signature.\"The Farm Bill provides our hardworking agriculture producers with essential tools and the safety net they need to grow the food and fiber our country needs and relies upon,\"Thornberry said.Agriculture is very important to the economy of our area and to the country. This bill will help our farmers and ranchers compete with producers all around the world.\r\n            Thornberry authored an amendment that is included in the final bill to establish Cattle and Carcass Grading Correlation and Training Centers to help ensure that federal beef graders are interpreting and applying the USDA standards in the same way so that cattle and carcasses across the country are graded uniformly.\r\n            Thornberry also said,\"The accuracy of grading cattle is dependent on the grader's knowledge of animal composition, making the process subjective. It is important to ensure that producers are receiving a fair price and that consumers are paying a fair price for the quality of beef.\"\r\n            The Farm Bill authorizes more than $400 million a year for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) broadband infrastructure loans and grants to connect the hardest to reach rural communities to the global economy.This bill also includes a rural broadband amendment developed by Representative Thornberry that allows the USDA to finance middle-mile infrastructure projects, which are necessary to connect rural areas to the backbone of the Internet.\r\n            \"Our country has an ever-growing reliance on technology, and some of our rural areas have been left behind. The Farm Bill also includes expanding broadband access into rural areas to keep them on the same competitive level as the rest of our country,\"added Thornberry.\r\n            The largest portion of the Farm Bill goes to nutrition programs that assist those who are truly in need while providing critical training and opportunities to gain employment and/or better paying jobs.The bill also includes important conservation measures, trade support, and rural development initiatives that support critical rural infrastructure such as public water systems.For more information about the H.R. 2, the\"Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 click here.\r\n        \r\n        \r\n            ###\r\n        \r\n    \r\n\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://williams.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/outgoing-coryell-judge-honored-at-retirement-party", "Outgoing Coryell judge honored at retirement party", "2018-12-13", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Roger Williams", "W000816", "williams.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "GATESVILLE  Area representatives and officials threw a surprise retirement party in Gatesville this week for outgoing Coryell County Judge John Firth.\n\n\n\tU.S. Congressman Roger Williams, Texas House District 59 Rep. J.D. Sheffield, R-Gatesville, and various Fort Hood officials were among those who attended the surprise party Monday at the Coryell County Commissioners building. Firth was presented special plaques honoring his service.\n\n\n\n\tIt's been a real honor to serve the citizens of Coryell County for the past 11 and a half years, Firth said. The judge said that, like his time working for the Army on Fort Hood, he saw serving as judge as a great way to benefit Central Texans.\n\n\n\tFirth, who has served in his capacity for more than 11 years, said following the mantra of serving Fort Hood and the greater Killeen area to be the best it can be serves locals well.\n\n\n\n\tIt's just been a real honor to serve the citizens of Coryell County, Firth said.\n\n\n\tFirth anticipates wrapping things up by Dec. 31. He will be replaced by Roger Miller, a Gatesville man who served in the Army for 23 years.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://flores.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399137", "Supporting Americas Farmers and Ranchers", "2018-12-12", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Bill Flores", "F000461", "flores.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The U.S. House of Representatives passed the conference report to H.R. 2, the Agriculture Improvement Act. Congressman Bill Flores (R-Texas) issued the following statement regarding passage of the bill: Today, I voted to provide certainty and stability to America's farmers and ranchers as they work to provide our nation with food, fiber and fuel. This farm bill, which now heads to the president to be signed into law, provides our agricultural community with five years of certainty by improving vital disaster programs and trade provisions, expanding access to broadband and bolstering investment in research and innovation. While this bill includes sound reforms to improve the integrity and efficiency of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), I do feel that it fell short of what was passed by the House in June. It is important that we continue working to provide the legislative solutions needed to help Americans move from poverty to prosperity  where they can flourish and live the American Dream. Overall, I was pleased to see Congress come together to support America's farmers and ranchers. This farm bill strengthens rural America so that we can continue to grow our economy and provide more opportunity for all hardworking American families.  \r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=145", "Arrington on House Passage of Farm Bill Conference Report", "2018-12-12", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Jodey C. Arrington", "A000375", "arrington.house.gov", "arrington", "https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today the House passed the Farm Bill conference report. Congressman Jodey Arrington (TX-19), member of the Farm Bill conference committee, released the following statement after its passage. \u201cAfter two years of hearings and meetings, as well as months of negotiations on the conference committee, I am excited to be sending a great Farm Bill to the President\u2019s desk,\u201d Arrington said. \u201cAs the representatives of one of the largest agriculture production regions in the United States, no legislation is more important to West Texas than the Farm Bill. \u201cI am pleased that much of the House bill is reflected in our final legislation, including provisions to strengthen the agriculture safety net, make important investments in rural infrastructure, and improve the oversight and integrity of the Food Stamp program. \u201cAdditionally, the final bill includes two amendments I introduced to strengthen access to healthcare for rural communities and allow universities like Texas Tech to compete for more agriculture-related research funding. \u201cAgriculture plays a critical role in America\u2019s prosperity and national security. Farm Bills provide the certainty that our producers desperately need in the face of tremendous weather volatility, trade inequities, and global market swings. They also provide support for critical infrastructure in rural communities that support our family farmers and ranchers. \u201cAgriculture and traditional American values go hand-in-hand. Farmers and ranchers represent more than food and fiber \u2013 they symbolize a culture of faith, hard work, and independence, which has always been at the heart of American\u2019s greatness. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway said, \u201cHouse Republicans refused to stop fighting for rural America and we\u2019ve reached a deal that sets us on a better path \u2013 for producers, for rural communities, and for American consumers. Jodey has been a strong advocate and critical voice for production agriculture in this Farm Bill conference process, and I\u2019m thankful for his leadership, which helped get this across the finish line.\u201d \u201cTexas Farm Bureau strongly supports the 2018 Farm Bill and appreciates Congressman Arrington for his leadership and work on this legislation. Congressman Arrington has listened to the constituents of the 19th Congressional District about the issues facing agriculture,\" Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening said. \"Food security is national security, and it depends on strong agricultural policy that provides certainty and stability for farmers and ranchers. His support of the Farm Bill demonstrates his dedication to the farm and ranch families in Texas and the U.S.\" \u201cThe members of the Rolling Plains Cotton Growers would like to thank Rep. Arrington for his work on the 2018 Farm Bill that passed the House of Representatives today. Cotton has been and continues to be a priority for Jodey, as evidenced by his work earlier this year to help ensure that our crop made it back into the safety net before the 2018 Farm Bill negotiations had even begun,\u201d Rolling Plains Cotton Growers Chairman Richard Gaona said. \u201cWe would also like to thank Chairman Mike Conaway and his staff for their dedication to getting a Farm Bill in place before the end of this year. Our producers need certainty as this crop year comes to a close. BACKGROUND: The rural healthcare amendment modifies USDA\u2019s Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program and the Business & Industry Guaranteed Loan Program\u2019s eligibility requirements to allow rural hospitals to refinance their existing debt. There are over 5,000 hospitals in the U.S. and roughly half of them are in rural areas \u2013 serving one out of every five Americans. Without access to basic medical services, communities in America\u2019s breadbasket and energy basin would not survive. The non-land grant college amendment eliminates the current limitation that if an institution has more than one designation, it must choose which source of funds to draw from. Whether an institution be a McIntire-Stennis forestry university, non-land grant university, or Hispanic-serving agricultural college, it should qualify for all competitive grants and not be precluded for multiples designations.", 1, "2026-04-07T12:09:11Z", "2026-06-27T23:11:43Z"], ["https://babin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2309", "Babin Comments on Passage of Five-Year Farm Bill", "2018-12-12", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Brian Babin", "B001291", "babin.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Rep. Brian Babin (TX-36) released the following statement after the passage of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (H.R. 2), commonly known as the farm bill. Dr. Babin voted for this bill which now awaits President Trump\u2019s signature to become law.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m glad the House and Senate were able to come together to pass a compromise farm bill. The certainty this bill provides our farmers will enable them to plan for multiple crop cycles in the coming years. That certainty is necessary both for the livelihood of our farmers and to secure a dependable supply of food, fiber, and feed for our nation. I\u2019m particularly pleased this bill has improvements which will benefit Texas rice and soybean farmers and timber growers.\n\n\u201cWhile I\u2019m pleased with the commodity, crop insurance, and conservation titles in the farm bill, which will be welcomed by farmers in Southeast Texas, Congress must show a renewed commitment towards ensuring that taxpayer dollars go to those who truly need them and our country\u2019s safety net is not abused at the expense of our agricultural programs. I\u2019m disappointed that Congress missed the best opportunity in decades to make significant reforms to a bill that allocates more than 80 percent of its funding to food stamps. Without the commonsense reforms included in the original version of the House-passed farm bill, funds that could go towards securing our agricultural safety net will continue to go to the SNAP program, which has ballooned in recent years even as our economy has markedly improved. Fortunately, the Administration and USDA will have authority to enact some limited safeguards to strengthen the integrity of our SNAP program.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-06-27T23:11:43Z"], ["https://hensarling.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/hensarling-votes-against-farm-bill", "Hensarling Votes Against Farm Bill", "2018-12-12", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Jeb Hensarling", "H001036", "hensarling.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Jeb Hensarling issued this statement following the House passage of the Farm Bill: \nI come from several generations of farmers, and I grew up working on my family's farm. However, throughout my time in Congress, I have always opposed the federal farm program. This subsidy program is a relic from the New Deal and undermines every free market principle I believe in. The vast majority of farmers and ranchers receive no subsidies, and they instead go to a privileged few. They are not targeted to low income individuals as many recipients make six-figure incomes. The program isn't just unfair to other ag producers, it is unfair to every other trade and profession that is not subsidized by the federal taxpayer. Finally, with an exploding national debt, it makes no sense to leave taxpayers with the burden of out-of-control spending. The simple solution to all of this better crop insurance, but this farm bill once again puts the taxpayers on the hook. I appreciate Chairman Conaway's attempt to improve the SNAP program and institute common sense work requirements. Unfortunately, this version of the bill contains neither of those reforms, which is another reason I voted against it on the floor today.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/congressional-scorecard-finds-federal-agencies-improving-it", "Congressional scorecard finds federal agencies improving on IT", "2018-12-12", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Will Hurd", "H001073", "hurd.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "A new congressional scorecard released this week found that federal agencies are gradually improvingin their use of information technology.\nThe House Oversight and Government Reform committeeunveiledits biannual Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA) scorecard on Tuesday, finding that 11 agencies had improved their scores on IT since May.\nThirteen departments' scores remained the same, while no agencies saw their scores decrease since the last scorecardearlier this year May  whichlawmakers saidis a first.\nWhile lawmakers touted the results during a hearing on Wednesday, they remained critical of agencies that did not have a direct reporting line for IT issues within their department.\nAgencies that did not have their chief information officers report directly to their agency head were docked an entire letter grade on the scorecard.\nThis is best practice in the private sector, in accordance with FITARA, and the subject of an executive order from the President. There is simply no excuse for any agency to have any other reporting structure in place, said Rep.Will Hurd(R-Texas), the chairman of the House Oversight Committee's subcommittee on IT.\nReps.Robin Kelly(D-Ill.) andGerry Connolly(D-Va.), the ranking members of the subcommittee, also generally praised the results at the hearing, while noting that agencies still have plenty of progress to make to keep data secure.\nRecent data breaches potentially allowed access to millions of customers' information, including 500 million guest records hacked via the Starwood Hotels reservation database, as announced by Marriott International last week, Kelly said. These cyberattacks highlight the need to strengthen information security in both the government and private sectors.\nCarol Harris, the director of information technology management issues for the Government Accountability Office (GAO), said in her written testimony for Wednesday's hearing that past failed attempts to address IT within the federal government often struggled over a lack of disciplined and effective management, such as project planning, requirements definition, and program oversight and governance.\nIn many instances, agencies had not consistently applied best practices that are critical to successfully acquiring IT, she said.\nHarris also said in her testimony that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and other federal agencies had implemented about 59 percent of GAO's 1,242 recommendations on IT made by GAO.\nOverall, federal agencies would be better positioned to realize billions in cost savings and additional management improvements if they address these recommendations, Harris's written testimony states.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/texas-lawmakers-say-farm-bill-passed-congress-provides-certainty-and", "Texas Lawmakers Say Farm Bill Passed By Congress Provides Certainty And Stability", "2018-12-12", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Will Hurd", "H001073", "hurd.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Texas lawmakers praised Wednesday the 2018 Farm Bill, which Congress has passed this week, and said it will help farmers and ranchers in the Lone Star state through provisions such as crop insurance programs and inspections for cattle tick fever.\nThe House passed the bill Wednesday afternoon. The legislation had already passed the Senate and is now headed to President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it.\nThe bill reauthorizes agriculture and conservation programs, funds trade programs, expands support for struggling dairy farmers and legalizes the cultivation of industrial hemp.\nJohn Cornyn, the senior Senator from Texas, said the legislation includes priorities for Texas farmers, such as the crop insurance programs. Cornyn also highlighted the maintenance of the seed cotton eligibility for the Farm Bill safety net.\nHe also underlined that the farm bill maintains and funds foreign access programs, which help Texas farmers and ranchers place and sell their products in foreign markets.\nRepublican Senator Ted Cruz also emphasized the importance of the crop insurance and said the legislation provides certainty and stability for Texas farmers and ranchers.\nU.S. Representative Will Hurd, a Republican who represents Texas' 23rd Congressional District which covers farms and ranches across the southern and western part of the state, coincided with Cruz in that the bill brings certainty and stability for the 3.75 million Texans employed by the agriculture sector.\nThe farm bill is the result of months of negotiations by lawmakers. It doesn't make any significant changes to the food stamp program that serves nearly 40 million low-income Americans. Trump and conservatives had pushed to create new work requirements for food stamps, but the Senate rejected the idea.\nCruz said in his statement he looks forward to working with the administration on potential regulations that would strengthen work requirements and prevent states from abusing the waiver process of the food stamp program.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/hurd-s-homeland-security-bill-heads-finish-line", "Hurds Homeland Security Bill Heads to Finish Line", "2018-12-12", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Will Hurd", "H001073", "hurd.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  U.S. Representative Will Hurd's bipartisan bill, the DHS Data Framework Act, is officially on its way to the President's desk today to be signed into law after the House unanimously concurred with the Senate version of the bill. This is Hurd's 13th piece of legislation to be signed into law since 2015. Following the House voice vote, Hurd released the following statement:\nWe live in an increasingly connected world and must be able to get the right information to the right people at the righttime in order to keep terrorists on the run and off our shores,said Hurd, a former CIA undercover officer who serves on the House Homeland Security and Intelligence Committees in Congress.TheDHS Data Framework Actdoes just that by allowing DHS to quickly and safely share sensitive information among law enforcement agencies without compromising our nation's secrets. I applaud Senator Maggie Hassan for introducing this bipartisan bill in the Senate and my House and Senate colleagues for getting this initiative to keep Americans safe across the finish line.\nTheDHS Data Framework Actcodifies an effort at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop a data framework to incorporate all DHS component agency data related to homeland security, terrorist information, weapons of mass destruction and national intelligence into one system, thereby alleviating the current costly, cumbersome process of searching and vetting information against multiple databases with different log-ins, passwords, and legal restrictions.\nThe data framework codified by the bill will also be replicated on a classified network to allow for more efficient classified analysis and vetting of law enforcement data against intelligence information.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/hurd-supports-tx-23-farmers-and-ranchers-through-farm-bill", "Hurd Supports TX-23 Farmers and Ranchers through Farm Bill", "2018-12-12", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Will Hurd", "H001073", "hurd.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  Today, U.S. Representative Will Hurd (TX-23) proudly voted in support of the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 Conference Report (commonly known as the Farm Bill), which provides our nation's farmers and ranchers with certainty and stability to continue feeding America.\nFood security is national security and depends on strong agricultural policy that provides certainty and stability for the 3.75 million Texans employed by the agriculture sector,said Hurd, who represents over 9,000 working farms and ranches across South and West Texas.I am proud to support the Farm Billand will continue to fight for the hardworking men and women who put clothes on our backs and food on our tables.\nTexas Farm Bureau strongly supports the 2018 Farm Bill and appreciates Congressman Hurd for his support of hardworking farmers and ranchers, said Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening. Congressman Hurd has listened to the constituents of the 23rd Congressional District about the issues facing agriculture. His support of the farm bill demonstrates that he cares about the farm and ranch families in Texas and the U.S.\nIt's clear Congressman Hurd has listened to discussion of the issues facing farmers and ranchers in his district, said former Texas Farm Bureau State Director Ronnie Muennink of Hondo. I am one of several Medina County Farm Bureau leaders who have met with the Congressman about issues important to our grassroots members. Congressman Hurd has listened. We thank him for his attention to the issues affecting farmers and ranchers across the nation. Texas Farm Bureau members appreciate his support of the 2018 Farm Bill.\nAmong other benefits, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 Conference Report supports South and West Texas farmers and ranchers by:\n Cutting red tape and reforming burdensome regulations for farm production;\n\tProviding a $45 million annual increase to food banks, of which nearly half annually is devoted to the creation and maintenance of Farm-to-Food Bank programs, commonly known as ag surplus programs;\n\tInvesting in quality rural broadband;\n\tEstablishing a scholarship program to assist the next generation of farmers and ranchers;\n\tPromoting the conservation of America's working lands;\n\tStrengthening the farm safety net by reauthorizing Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage options for the next five years;\n\tProtecting crop insurance; and,\n\tMaintaining the existing SNAP funding authorization.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/bipartisan-resolution-introduced-urging-china-to-maintain-ban-on-rhino", "Bipartisan Resolution Introduced Urging China to Maintain Ban on Rhino and Tiger Parts", "2018-12-12", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Michael T. McCaul", "M001157", "mccaul.house.gov", "mccaul", "https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congressmen Michael McCaul (R-TX), Ed Royce (R-CA), Henry Cuellar (D-TX) and Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) introduced a bipartisan resolution urging China to maintain its ban on rhinoceros and tiger parts. This resolution also highlights the need to reduce demand in Asian markets, work with our global partners to combat transnational criminal organizations, condemn the farming of rhinoceros and tigers, and support ongoing engagement by U.S. government agencies to prevent poaching and wildlife trafficking.\n\nCongressman McCaul: \"China's consideration of allowing the sale of rhino horns and tiger bones would undeniably increase the $20 billion in annual illegal profits already made by wildlife trafficking. Worst of all, these profits are often reaped by transnational criminal organizations and foreign terrorist groups to fund their own malevolent ambitions. This resolution strongly encourages China to maintain a permanent prohibition on the sale of rhino and tiger parts, while continuing to support ongoing efforts at the Department of State and other agencies to combat poaching and international trafficking.\"\n\nCongressman Royce: \"Wildlife trafficking isn't just a threat to rhinos, cheetahs and more, it's a threat to U.S. national security. As one of the most lucrative criminal activities worldwide, wildlife trafficking generates revenues in the billions each year \u2013 funding terrorists and rebel groups. And China, home to the largest market in illegal wildlife products, has long been the biggest source of the problem. Now is not the time to allow loopholes that only serve traffickers; now is the time to demand China makes good on promises to help stop poaching. I applaud Rep. McCaul for his work on this legislation as we keep conservation and anti-poaching initiatives a priority in Congress.\"\n\nCongressman Cuellar: \"It is crucial that China maintain a permanent ban on the sale of rhinoceros and tiger parts. It is unacceptable that each year, these sales generate billions of dollars in illegal profits at the expense of these endangered species. This resolution sends a strong message that the preservation of wildlife populations trumps the worth of their individual parts. I will continue to offer my support on this issue, so that we are able to effectively combat wildlife trafficking, reduce demand in Asian markets, and encourage ongoing cooperation with the Department of State. I thank Congressman Michael McCaul and for his continued bipartisan effort on this matter.\"\n\nCongressman Fortenberry, Co-Chair of the International Conservation Caucus:\"Good stewardship can help people and threatened species thrive. China made an important first step to halt the exploitation of rhinos and tigers. This resolution reminds them of their promise.\"\n\nBackground\n\nToday, wildlife trafficking is one of the world's largest transnational crimes with an estimated $20 billion in illegal profits reaped a year. According to traditional Chinese beliefs, rhinoceros and tiger byproducts are thought to have medicinal and healing properties. These beliefs have created a high demand in Chinese markets, which has only encouraged poaching the animals in both Africa and Asia where illicit trade runs rampant. Transnational criminal organizations and terrorist groups often profit from this poaching and also engage in the trafficking of arms, drugs, and people. Rhinoceros and tigers face extinction and the high demand for their body parts further risks their presence on earth.\n\nIn 1993, China's State Council recognized the endangered status of both rhinoceros and tigers due to poaching, and issued a ban involving the sale, purchase, use, and import of rhinoceros horn, tiger bones, and other body parts. In October 2018, China signaled it would allow exceptions to this ban for medical and scientific research. In November 2018, China postponed lifting the ban on rhinoceros horn and tiger bone for medical and scientific research due to international pressure, particularly by conservation groups.\n\nThe resolution is endorsed by:\n\nThe World Wildlife Fund: \"World Wildlife Fund (WWF) commends Rep. McCaul (R-Tex.) and his bipartisan cosponsors for introducing this resolution, which calls on China to maintain its ban on trade in rhino and tiger parts and supports ongoing efforts to save these species in the wild. Wildlife trafficking is now a multibillion-dollar crime that is devastating populations of these and other species around the globe. Countries need to be doing all they can to shut down this illicit trade, not rolling back existing protections. By passing this resolution, Congress can send a strong signal and reaffirm U.S. leadership on this issue.\"\n\nAnimal Welfare Institute:\"We are grateful to Rep. McCaul for seeking to put the House on record calling upon China to retain its ban on the trade in rhino and tiger parts. There has been a great outpouring of public opposition to loosening this ban and it is vital that the US government recognize its importance and encourage China to maintain it.\"\n\nHumane Society Legislative Fund: \"China must fully reinstate the 1993 ban on the sale, import and export of rhino horn and tiger bone to prevent further loss of rhinos and tigers to poaching and trafficking. As a leading consumer of these parts, China must not erode global efforts to save these species from extinction. We applaud Rep. McCaul and his cosponsors for taking the first step toward a U.S. response to this regrettable development in China.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:11:43Z"], ["https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-on-the-passage-of-the-2018-farm-bill", "Statement on the Passage of the 2018 Farm Bill", "2018-12-12", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Michael T. McCaul", "M001157", "mccaul.house.gov", "mccaul", "https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Michael McCaul (TX-10), Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee and a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill:\n\nCongressman McCaul: \"Today, I am proud to join my colleagues in passing the 2018 Farm Bill. This farm bill delivers the much-needed resources and support for our farmers who provide our nation with safe, abundant, and affordable food. With net farm income dropping nearly 50% over the past 5 years, we are delivering the vital stability America's farmers and ranchers desperately need. Our farmers work day in and day out to put food on the table for the American people, and Congress stands beside them.\"\n\nBelow are a few highlights of the bill:\n\nMaintains the Farm Safety net by reauthorizing and improving the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage through 2023\n\nProvides support for America's dairy farmers through the Dairy Margin Coverage\n\nSustains strong Livestock Disaster Programs\n\nProtects crop insurance for America's farmers whose livelihoods are often threatened by natural disasters\n\nMaintains Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) and improves program integrity\n\nImproves voluntary incentive-based conservation programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)\n\nProvides over a $600 million increase in funding for research, extension, and education projects to keep America a leader in the agriculture industry\n\nAids rural communities with rural development by enhancing broadband service and combatting the opioid epidemic\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:11:43Z"], ["https://olson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/olson-acts-to-help-texas-farmers", "Olson Acts To Help Texas Farmers", "2018-12-12", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Pete Olson", "O000168", "olson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  Rep. Pete Olson (TX-22) today voted in support of H.R. 2, the Farm Bill, which includes needed certainty for Texas and American farmers. The bill passed the House by a vote of 369-47.\nThis is a big win for Texas' farmers, ranchers and producers, Rep. Pete Olson said. As our region continues recovering from Hurricane Harvey, many farming communities and crops were destroyed along the coast of Texas. Today we provided sound policies for disaster assistance for current and future Texas famers. We also strengthened our place as a global trading power by increasing our ability to trade with foreign markets. Agriculture is a critical part of our Texas economy. I was proud to support our farmers and our great state.\nAgriculture Improvement Act Conference Report\n Reforms and reauthorizes farm and nutrition assistance programs for five years, all within a budget-neutral framework.\n  Strengthens the farm safety net and provides farmers and ranchers much-needed certainty and stability.\n\tPrice Loss Coverage, Agriculture Risk Coverage, Commodity Loans, Dairy Margin Coverage, Livestock Disaster Programs, and Crop Insurance are all maintained and strengthened.\n  Improves incentive-based conservation programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).\n\tStrengthens promotion of U.S. agricultural exports through the Market Access Program (MAP) and other trade initiatives.\n\tReduces the threat of catastrophic wildfires by renewing a key categorical exclusion (CE) and expanding its purpose to allow for expedited reduction of hazardous fuels in our forests.\n\tHelps rural communities to combat the opioid crisis and improves broadband delivery.\n\tFunds key animal disease prevention and management initiatives, including the stockpiling of footandmouth disease (FMD) vaccine.\n\tPreserves the Administration's regulatory flexibility on SNAP, including USDA's ability to reign in states who abuse the waiver process.\n\tEnsures political accountability and that Governors support state requests for ABAWD waivers.\n\tReduces state allowances for ABAWD exemptions from 15% to 12%.\n\tEliminates state bonuses and ensures SNAP is administered in the most effective and efficient manner possible.\n\tEstablishes a National Accuracy Clearinghouse to prevent SNAP recipients from receiving SNAP benefits from multiple states.\n\tAuthorizes USDA to audit and inspect state records related to SNAP.\n\tRequires case management to help transition people back to work.\n ###\nMedia Contact: Cate Cullen\n\t202-225-5951", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://poe.house.gov/2018/12/cabeza-de-vaca-explorer-of-the-lone-star-state", "CABEZA DE VACA: EXPLORER OF THE LONE STAR STATE", "2018-12-12", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ted Poe", "P000592", "poe.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Mr. Speaker, in November of 1528, Conquistador Alvar Nuncz Cabeza de Vaca and his crew of 90 Spaniards crashed on Galveston Island. He was the first European to set foot on the land that would become the Lone Star State and is considered to have undertaken one of the most remarkable journeys in the history of American exploration.\r\n\r\nFrom 1528 to 1532, the crew steadily died off from illness, accidents, and attacks until only Cabeza de Vaca and three others remained. During those four years, Cabeza de Vaca became a merchant, and traded seas shells and ``beads of sea'' (though now called pearls) for bison skins and red ochre. \r\nHe also gained a reputation as a healer, which gave him freedom to travel between different tribes.\r\n\r\nThe Karankawa Indians, a group of Coahuiltecans known to be cannibals, enslaved these men until, in September of 1534, the four men snuck away from the Karankawas and fled south towards the Rio Grande River. The following spring, they finally crossed the Rio Grande and made it to Mexico. To avoid hostile tribes, the men turned west towards the Pacific and crossed northern Mexico.\r\n\r\nCabeza de Vaca and his companions eventually arrived in Mexico City in 1536.\r\n\r\nThey had traveled nearly 2400 miles over eight years in Texas and the Mexican borderlands.\r\n\r\nCabeza de Vaca spent years interacting with Native Americans and learning their language. This allowed him to write and publish in 1542 the first book about Texas, the Relacion, which contained information about the region's geography, landscape, and Coahuiltecan tribes. This account of his journey inspired other conquistadors and Spaniards to cotne and explore Texas.\r\nAnd that's just the way it is.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://poe.house.gov/2018/12/crime-stoppers-global-solutions-turning-concerned-citizens-committed-transnational-crime-warriors", "CRIME STOPPERS GLOBAL SOLUTIONS:    TURNING CONCERNED CITIZENS COMMITTED TRANSNATIONAL CRIME WARRIORS", "2018-12-12", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ted Poe", "P000592", "poe.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Mr. Speaker, we have learned--and had reinforced repeatedly--the lesson about the importance of a strategic asset that is both the decisive advantage and critical success element in American engagement around the globe. Whether it involves prosecuting conventional war, combating terrorism, conducting intelligence operations, or fighting transnational crime, we can never underestimate the significance and necessity of the human factor. Not only do men and women make a difference, they are the difference between success and failure in these endeavors.\r\n\r\nWe spend billions of dollars on advanced weapons systems, equipment, technology, and more to defend and protect our nation and help it execute and achieve manifold missions. Yet these are only tools--albeit expensive and effective tools--but tools nonetheless. \r\nThey exist to serve the talented, dedicated men and women in our federal government who drive and deliver the critical results daily that ensure American leadership, influence, and power worldwide.\r\n\r\nIt is this recognition of the importance and impact of people and reliance on people power, engagement, and tools that prompt me today to bring Crime Stoppers Global Solutions (CSGS) to the attention of my colleagues.\r\n\r\nThis 501(c)(3) organization proactively and aggressively combats serious transnational crime such as human trafficking, terrorism, illicit trade, illegal arms dealing, narcotics smuggling, corruption, and cybercrime. Terrorist organizations and criminal enterprises engage in these activities to finance their campaigns of death and destruction and earn their illicit profits.\r\n\r\nFrom my vantage point as chairman of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade of the Foreign Affairs Committee and as a member of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations of the Judiciary Committee, I see firsthand the growing threat of global terrorism and transnational crime to U.S. national security. Throughout my service in Congress, I have been committed to and engaged in combating both.\r\n\r\nWe are in a prolonged war that threatens America's existence, challenges our leadership and power, and tests our national will and resolve at every turn. To defeat these twin global enemies, I remain convinced that we must declare all-out war and withhold nothing. It is absolutely imperative that we marshal and commit all human resources and tools available, whether government or private, to the aim of destroying global terrorism and transnational crime.\r\n\r\nCrime Stoppers Global Solutions is a natural and ideal ally to the federal government in our must-win campaign. It combines the dual strengths of engaged citizens and advanced wireless technology into an effective weapon. This powerful weapon helps trusted law enforcement, media, and government not only to disrupt and disable transnational criminal enterprises, but also to take down their members and bring them to justice.\r\n\r\nThe organization's crime-fighting initiative turns concerned citizens into committed transnational crime warriors. It arms this mighty citizen force with new, innovative wireless tip technology. Using a free, secure, downloadable phone application, citizens can report crimes they see, hear, or know about with the guarantee of absolute anonymity and without the fear of revenge from apprehended criminal suspects.\r\n\r\nCrime Stoppers Global Solutions is built upon the successful foundation of Crime Stoppers USA that has operated in the United States for 40 years and relied on a simple anonymous telephone tip reporting model. But Crime Stoppers Global Solutions has innovated its own proprietary reporting application and model using new technological advancements. Its solution is designed for a global mission.\r\n\r\nThis new application is several generations in technological innovation, sophistication, and function beyond the now primitive and outmoded technology that once served the cause of domestic citizen-engaged crime-fighting so ably and faithfully nearly a half century ago. Crime Stoppers Global Solutions has developed an application that is at home and functions well today in our connected world of hand-held mobile devices.\r\n\r\nIt is a commendable and valuable effort on the part of the CSGS leadership and its team of distinguished experts to support, through its own initiative and independent efforts, the federal government, as well as foreign governments in the global fight against terrorism and transnational crime. Especially important are the vision and leadership CSGS is exhibiting in targeting global transnational crime at its source or in transit to protect us here at home.\r\n\r\nThis is why I am especially pleased to report that the CSGS team has identified a vital region to bring their mission to: the Balkan Peninsula. This region is of immense geopolitical relevance and strategic and security interest to the United States. The ``Balkan route,'' as it is known, is a major gateway and transit route for transnational crime between the Middle East and other regions and the West. We continue to see crime surging in this area.\r\n\r\nAs the co-chairman of the Congressional Serbian Caucus, I am delighted that the first country in the Balkans to open its doors to the mission and the team of CSGS is the Republic of Serbia. I commend President Aleksandar Vucic and his government, Minister of Interior Nebojsa Stefanovic, and the office of Prime Minister Ana Brnabic for their interest in learning about Crime Stoppers Global Solutions and exploring a possible partnership.\r\n\r\nI am happy to report that since this initial outreach and dialogue, two Serbian non-governmental organizations have signed partnership agreements with Crime Stoppers Global Solutions, joining the global fight against terrorism and transnational crime. \r\nI encourage President Aleksandar Vucic to continue demonstrating the leadership and courage he has shown thus far not only to lead his nation in this area but also to be an example for other Balkan nations to emulate.\r\n\r\nI have spent many years serving and believing in the longstanding friendship and alliance that exist between the United States and Serbia and our peoples. One of the most important pillars of this relationship is the many Americans of Serbian ancestry who have helped contribute to, build, and enrich this country. Nikola Tesla, Mihajlo Pupin, Helen Delic Bentley, and countless more American Serbians in science, business, sports, the arts, public service, and other fields have achieved much and added much to America's greatness. The support of the American Serbian community, including the American Serbian Association, the largest and most influential membership organization of its kind nationwide, is of vital significance.\r\n\r\nIt is not only out of genuine affinity and affection for the Serbian people that I wish to see Crime Stoppers Global Solutions engage in and succeed in Serbia, but also out of sincere interest in and concern for their welfare and protection from global terrorism and transnational crime.\r\nThe United States has strategic interests in Serbia and the Balkan region. Increasingly, what happens there--especially transnational crime such as human trafficking, drug smuggling, terrorism, and more--impacts us here at home. This is because crime is no longer localized in a neighborhood or community or city or country. It is global in presence, scope, reach, and impact.\r\n\r\nSo, when we are engaged in combating terrorism and transnational crime in the Balkan region, we are not only protecting citizens there, we are also protecting citizens here.\r\n\r\nOur federal government is a fierce and determined combatant in the war on global terrorism and transnational crime. But its ferocity and determination are every bit as matched by terrorists and transnational criminals. No one entity--be it a government, non-governmental organization, or other group, even one with considerable human resources and tools--can singlehandedly take on these enemies and prevail against them in the long run.\r\n\r\nBut by joining forces with and making common cause with organizations like Crime Stoppers Global Solutions, the federal government is stronger and more capable of dismantling terrorist organizations and transnational criminal enterprises and bringing their leaders and foot soldiers to justice.\r\n\r\nCrime Stoppers Global Solutions offers the powerful twin assets of people and technology to enhance the efforts and effectiveness of the federal government in its global mission of combating terrorism and transnational crime. These are true and proven force multipliers in crime fighting.\r\n\r\nFor these reasons, I strongly encourage Secretary of State Pompeo and the secretaries of the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Justice, and the Treasury, as well as the heads of relevant federal agencies to partner with Crime Stoppers Global Solutions.\r\n\r\nThe war on global terrorism and transnational crime is winnable. It takes a team approach. By partnering with Crime Stoppers Global Solutions, the federal government can pool, share, and leverage powerful human resources--engaged citizens--and new tools--advanced wireless technology--that far exceed the capabilities of our enemies and their ability to respond in kind. This joint forces approach has the greatest potential for defeating our enemies and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of Americans and Serbians alike for the long term.\r\n\r\nAnd that's just the way it is.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://poe.house.gov/2018/12/standing-with-our-georgian-friends", "STANDING WITH OUR GEORGIAN FRIENDS", "2018-12-12", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ted Poe", "P000592", "poe.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Mr. Speaker, the Republic of Georgia is a beacon of democracy in a part of the world which has struggled to break the legacy of Soviet oppression. While Georgia successfully achieved independence in 1991, Moscow is still attempting to bully the small nation back into its orbit.\r\n\r\nIn 2008, Russian troops invaded the country, seizing nearly a third of Georgia's territory that is still occupied today. Despite Russia's persistent human rights abuses and aggressive tactics, the Georgian people remain defiant. They continue to express a clear desire to determine their own futures and integrate with the Euro-Atlantic community. Putin hates Georgia's path to liberty because successful democracies positioned on Russia's border are a threat to his despotic rule. \r\nTo deter Russia's continued belligerence, we must boost Georgia's ability to defend itself and make an ironclad commitment to our Georgian friends. For peace and freedom to preserve in the Caucasus, it must become clear to Putin that undermining Georgia's independence will be a costly endeavor.\r\n\r\nTo help Georgia repel future Russian aggression, Rep. Connolly and I have introduced H.R. 6219, the Georgia Support Act. This important bill calls on the State Department to provide a strategy to Congress to help bolster Georgia's defenses. Specifically, it calls for efforts to strengthen Georgia's cyber security capabilities and resiliency to Russian disinformation campaigns that undermine its fragile democracy. The bill also requests the President to impose sanctions on Russian individuals who commit human rights abuses on Georgia territory.\r\n\r\nFor more than two decades, Georgia has been a steadfast ally of the United States and the Euro-Atlantic community. We must not abandon our Georgian friends in the face of continued Russian aggression. To do so only invites Putin to further pursue his goal of rebuilding the Soviet Empire. America must stand with Georgia and demand complete respect for our ally's territorial integrity and sovereignty. This bill must pass to send a clear message of defiance to Putin and a message of hope to our Georgian friends.\r\n\r\nAnd that's just the way it is.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://poe.house.gov/2018/12/the-siege-of-bexar", "THE SIEGE OF BEXAR", "2018-12-12", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ted Poe", "P000592", "poe.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Mr. Speaker, between October and early December 1835, an army of Texian volunteers laid siege to a Mexican army in San Antonio de Bexar. The Mexican General Santa Anna knew of the growing resistance against him in Texas, and so he set his brother-in-law General Martin Perfecto de Cos to San Antonio de Bexar and 600 men to quell the rebellion.\r\n\r\nIn October 1835, a group of Texians volunteered to serve under Stephen F. Austin and Edward Burleson and lay siege to San Antonio de Bexar. Before dawn on December 5th of that same year, James Neill distracted the Mexican forces with artillery fire on the Alamo. At this same time, Ben Milam and Francis W. Johnson led two divisions in a surprise attack on the city.\r\n\r\nAfter four days of fighting, Cos sought to consolidate his troops at the Alamo, but a large part of his cavalry decided not to continue fighting and deserted. Mexican General Cos surrendered that same day, December 9, 1835. Cos promised to return to Mexico.\r\nWhen the fighting ended, Texas has between 30 and 35 casualties, while Mexican losses totaled about 150; the difference reflected the greater accuracy of the Texans' rifles. Most of the Texas volunteers went home after the battle, but Texas troops remained in town, which left San Antonio and all of Texas under the Texans' control.\r\n\r\nThis battle was one of the first significant campaigns of the Texas Revolution. Within a few weeks, Texas would declare independence from Mexico. However, after the Mexican Army was defeated, in 1835 Santa Anna was intent on recapturing the mission. In February 1836, he returned to San Antonio de Bexar with several thousand soldiers. This led to the famous Battle of the Alamo where the Texians held out for 13 days before the Alamo fell on March 6, 1836. The Mexican Army killed and/or executed all the 189 defenders.\r\n\r\nOn April 21, General Sam Houston faced off with the numerically superior army of Santa Anna and defeated it, leading to Texas independence from Mexico. Texas remained a country for nine years before joining the United States.\r\n\r\nAnd that's just the way it is.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://ratcliffe.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=327", "Reps. Ratcliffe and Khanna praise Senate passage of 21st Century IDEA", "2018-12-12", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "John Ratcliffe", "R000601", "ratcliffe.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://weber.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=483", "Weber Applauds HHS and NIH Decision Regarding Ethical Research", "2018-12-12", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Randy Weber", "W000814", "weber.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Weber Applauds HHS and NIH Decision Regarding Ethical Research \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 12, 2018\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Washington, D.C.  On Monday, December 10, 2018, the National Institute of Health released a Notice of Intent to make available funding opportunities for the development of ethical alternatives to fetal tissue research. Congressman Randy Weber (R  Friendswood) released the following statement:I am proud to stand among 74 of my House colleagues in calling upon HHS Secretary Azar to end tax payer-funded research tied to the acquisition and use of organs harvested from aborted babies to create mice with similar immune systems to humans. HHS has since canceled its contract with Advanced Bioscience Resources and the University of California San Francisco; after multiple congressional investigations uncovered the gross, unethical practice of buying, selling and manipulating aborted fetal tissue for scientific research. I applaud President Trump, Secretary Azar and my pro-life colleagues for our unrelenting efforts to defend the sanctity of human life.\" ###  \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://weber.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=484", "Weber Statement on Farm Bill 2018", "2018-12-12", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Randy Weber", "W000814", "weber.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Weber Statement on Farm Bill 2018 \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 12, 2018\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Washington, D.C.  On Wednesday, December 12, 2018, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2, the Agriculture Improvement Act, better known as Farm Bill. Congressman Randy Weber (R  Friendswood) released the following statement:With Farm Bill 2018, our farmers and ranchers can rest assured knowing we support and protect their valuable work. The agriculture sector is critically important to our nation's well-being, and I am grateful we could come together and send a bill to the President's desk. ###  \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/news/cornyn-chairs-%E2%80%98narcos%E2%80%99-hearing", "Cornyn Chairs \u2018Narcos\u2019 Hearing", "2018-12-12", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "John Cornyn", "C001056", "www.cornyn.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The drug cartels, transnational criminal organizations, and international gangs will stop at nothing to ensure that their business model remains intact and profitable, and that the international corridors for trafficking remain wide open.'\nIt's not just the people who die at their hands while attempting to enter the United States illegally, it's the poison that they import into the country.'\nThis is a much bigger problem, much more complex, and one we need to open that aperture, and you'll help us here today, in trying to understand before we can begin to come up with solutions.'\n \nWASHINGTON  As Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) today held a hearing to examine the activities of transnational cartels and criminal organizations and the threat they pose to the United States. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn's opening remarks are below, and video can be found here.\nImproving our border security doesn't mean just improving physical security along our border. It also means addressing the problems that bring them here in the first place.\nThe drug cartels, transnational criminal organizations, and international gangs will stop at nothing to ensure that their business model remains intact and profitable, and that the international corridors for trafficking remain wide open.\nWe frequently see these criminal organizations preying on migrants headed toward this country's southern border. They'll offer to smuggle migrants or their children safely across the border in exchange for money.\nIt's not just the people who die at their hands while attempting to enter the United States illegally, it's the poison that they import into the country.\nAmerica's opioid crisis is being further fueled by the illicit narcotics being smuggled by these organizations. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is one of the deadliest drugs in the world, and its analogues are mainly manufactured in China and then smuggled into the United States by these organizations.\nThe United States needs to work with our international partners to develop a comprehensive plan to address these problems. This war on drugs, trafficking, and smuggling is one that affects all of us, and it's time we pick up our pace in dealing with it in a focused and hopefully successful way.\nThis problem does not begin or end at our borders. This is a global problem.\nThis is not looking through a soda straw at what's happening at the San Ysidro Bridge at Tijuana. This is a much bigger problem, much more complex, and one we need to open that aperture, and you'll help us here today, in trying to understand before we can begin to come up with solutions.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/news/cornyn-feinstein-bill-modernize-cybertipline-heads-president%E2%80%99s-desk", "Cornyn, Feinstein Bill to Modernize CyberTipline Heads to President\u2019s Desk", "2018-12-12", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "John Cornyn", "C001056", "www.cornyn.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON- U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) released the following statements after their legislation, the CyberTipline Modernization Act, passed the U.S. House of Representatives:\nThe CyberTipline is often the first place witnesses and victims of child online exploitation turn for help, Sen. Cornyn said. This critical service forwards millions of reports to law enforcement for potential investigation, and this legislation will ensure the CyberTipline can handle the evolving threats targeted at children. I look forward to the President signing it into law so NCMEC can continue its work to protect our most vulnerable.\nChild abduction and abuse are among the most heinous crimes, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's tipline is critical in the fight to protect children. Last year alone the tipline received more than 10 million reports of potential exploitation. Our legislation improves the tipline to ensure it's better equipped to coordinate with law enforcement and respond to the widespread use of the internet by child predators, said Sen. Feinstein.\nBackground:\nThe National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) created the CyberTipline in 1998 to help prevent and stop the sexual exploitation of children. The CyberTipline provides the general public and technology industry with the ability to report online instances of child sexual exploitation, including child pornography. Congress enacted legislation related to the CyberTipline in 2008; however, the federal statute has not been revised since. Senators Cornyn and Feinstein introduced the CyberTipline Modernization Act to provide much needed updates to the statute to better reflect the current operation of the CyberTipline.\nSpecifically, the CyberTipline Modernization Act will:\n Underscore the true purpose of the CyberTiplineto reduce the proliferation of online child sexual exploitation and prevent it from circulating online in the first place;\nFacilitate reporting to NCMEC for imminent or planned violations and provide an opportunity for intervention before further harm to a child;\nAddress new trends of online abuse by referencing reported content as visual depictions to reflect that illegal content now often includes videos as well as images;\nRecognize the increased proliferation of child pornography across the globe; and\nStrengthen NCMEC's process for handling international reports to ensure that they are sent to the proper authorities in foreign countries.\n The reports to the CyberTipline not only help ensure law enforcement can identify child victims and provide them with services that they need, but they also ensure those images can be removed from the internet and contribute to safer online communities for our nation's children.\nIn addition, the CyberTipline allows NCMEC to engage with the Internet industry on voluntary initiatives to help reduce the proliferation of child sexual abuse images online. NCMEC uses the information submitted to the CyberTipline to create and tailor NCMEC's safety and prevention publications that are provided to educators, parents, and the public.\nIn addition to strong support from NCMEC, the CyberTipline Modernization Act is supported by the National District Attorneys Association, the Internet Association, RAINN, and leaders in the tech industry.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/news/cornyn-works-colleagues-law-enforcement-improve-first-step-act", "Cornyn Works with Colleagues, Law Enforcement to Improve First Step Act", "2018-12-12", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "John Cornyn", "C001056", "www.cornyn.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "We went to work trying to make improvements in the bill, which I believe we have succeeded in doing.'\nI appreciate all the work of our colleagues in the Senate who chose to roll up their sleeves and get to work rather than just complain about what was or was not in the bill. And so now I am proud to announce that I will cosponsor this bill, this new and improved version of the bill, and I would encourage all of my colleagues to review it and hopefully join me in supporting this legislation.'\n \nWASHINGTON  On the floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) discussed his support for the revised version of the First Step Act, a criminal justice reform bill that includes Sen. Cornyn's prison reform legislation. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn's floor remarks are below, and video can be found here.\nI've long been a supporter of these reforms after what I saw the positive impact was in my home state of Texas back in 2007. Then, in response to a steadily growing prison population, Texas began enacting reforms to reduce recidivism through programs like job training and vocational education. This of course allows prisoners to spend their time in prison preparing themselves for life outside of prison. The results were pretty significant. We saw a reduction of both incarceration and crime rates by double digits at the same time.\nSome members of the law enforcement community have raised concerns about the bill, and so out of my respect for our law enforcement organizations, I spoke with many of my Republican colleagues about the bill, and originally they said they were unable to support it or undecided because they wanted to make sure that we were doing everything we could to address the concerns raised by law enforcement organizations. So we went to work trying to make improvements in the bill, which I believe we have succeeded in doing.\nThe revised legislation will keep dangerous and violent criminals who use guns to commit crimes from being released from prison early. They will not be eligible for any sort of earned time release. It will also limit the amount of time that offenders can spend on supervised release to ensure that the Bureau of Prisons will revoke pre-release custody for offenders who violate the terms of their supervision. I appreciate all the work of our colleagues in the Senate who chose to roll up their sleeves and get to work rather than just complain about what was or was not in the bill. And so now I am proud to announce that I will cosponsor this bill, this new and improved version of the bill, and I would encourage all of my colleagues to review it and hopefully join me in supporting this legislation.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=4217", "Sen. Cruz Votes in Support of Final 2018 Farm Bill", "2018-12-12", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) issued the following statement upon casting a vote in support of the final 2018 Farm Bill:\n\"America's agriculture and farming communities are vital to the fabric of our great nation, and are an enduring legacy of the Lone Star State. This bill includes important safeguards, including crop insurance, for our farmers and ranchers who feed and supply our country.\n\"We achieved some long-needed reforms in this year's Farm Bill, and took a stride toward more. For example, I am pleased the bill takes steps to restore programs for cotton producers, by reducing the impact of amendments designed to benefit certain regions and commodities at the expense of others.\n\"While this bill falls short of all I wanted to see accomplished, particularly with respect to work requirements for SNAP recipients, I look forward to working with the administration on potential regulations that would strengthen work requirements and prevent states from abusing the waiver process. But by passing this legislation, we will have provided certainty and stability to farmers and ranchers all across the state of Texas.\"\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=4218", "Sens. Cruz, Corker, Reps. Gallagher, Suozzi, Wilson, Moulton Applaud Passage of Bill to Sanction Hezbollah & Hamas for Use of Human Shields", "2018-12-12", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Reps. Mike Gallagher (R-Wisc.), Thomas Suozzi (D-N.Y.), Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), and Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) applauded the House's passage of the Sanctioning the Use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act (H.R. 3342) to impose sanctions on Hezbollah and Hamas for their use of civilians as human shields. The Cruz-authored legislation now goes to the President's desk to be signed into law.\nI am proud to have worked alongside my colleagues in Congress to hold groups that use human shields accountable, including Iran-backed groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis Sen. Cruz said. For years Hezbollah has used civilian infrastructure in Lebanon to store and launch rockets at Israeli civilians, and in recent weeks we've learned they also use homes to hide the entrances of tunnels dug under Israel's northern border to attack Israeli homes. Hamas engages in the same practices. The international community has failed to hold these groups accountable, and last week the United Nations refused to pass a non-binding resolution condemning Hamas. The United States is sending a message that it will not turn a blind eye to terrorist war crimes the way the United Nations does, that those who use civilians as human shields are the ones responsible for endangering civilians, and that they will be held accountable.\nAs a threat to American interests and our ally Israel, Hizbollah and Hamas must be held accountable for endangering the lives of innocent civilians. The use of human shields is an affront to our values and international norms, and this bill will authorize the U.S. to impose consequences on those who engage in such gross violations of human rights. I thank my colleagues for offering this legislation that will now become law, said U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-TN), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.\nSince their creation, groups like Hizballah and Hamas have been dedicated to destroying Israel and combating American interests in the Middle East. Of all the malign activities of these groups, few are more reprehensible or dangerous than their use of civilians as human shields. This bipartisan legislation sends a clear signal that the United States will not tolerate this behavior. I thank my colleagues in both the House and Senate for their hard work on this bill, and I look forward to seeing the President sign this important legislation, said Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wisc.).\n\"This bill will help to protect Israel from two groups that shamelessly use civilians as human shields. Hezbollah stashes its deadly arsenal in hospitals, mosques and homes in Lebanon. Hamas does the same in Gaza. These are flagrant war crimes committed by terrorist groups committed to the destruction of an American ally. They also endanger millions of innocent civilians in Lebanon and Gaza. I am grateful for the support of my colleagues that have joined to support this important legislation imposing sanctions, said Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.).\nTerrorist organizations like Hamas and Hizballah must be stopped from using innocent lives as human shields. This is a clear violation of international humanitarian law. In addition, malicious and provocative acts against our friends and allies in Israel have intensified as we have seen Hizballah tunneling into their sovereign nation. As a part of H.R. 3342, I was grateful to lead the Hamas Human Shields Prevention Act. Through these pieces of legislation, we were able to combine efforts to sanction Hizballah and Hamas for threatening Israel and regional security. I'm grateful to Congressman Mike Gallagher for his leadership on this matter, and I look forward to our continued work together. We will not allow these terrorist organizations to indiscriminately use innocent Palestinians as human shields without reproach from the international community, said Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.).\nThe use of human shields is a clear human rights violation. This bill ensures that members of Hamas who put civilians in harm's way are sanctioned for their actions. We have a moral obligation to hold Hamas accountable and I'm proud to support this bipartisan effort, said Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.).\nThe Sanctioning the Use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act would:\n \nRequire the President to identify and impose sanctions on each foreign person who is a member of or acting on behalf of Hezbollah and Hamas who knowingly orders, controls, or otherwise directs the use of civilians protected as such by the law of war to shield military objectives from attack, as well as each foreign person, agency, or instrumentality of a foreign state that knowingly and materially supports, orders, controls, directs, or otherwise engages in such actions; and\nGive the President authority to identify and impose sanctions on each foreign person who knowingly orders, controls, or otherwise directs the use of civilians protected as such by the law of war to shield military objectives from attack.\n \nIn 2014, Sen. Cruz led a bipartisan, bicameral resolution that unanimously passed Congress condemning Hamas for using human shields and supporting Israel's right to defend itself.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 2924, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"party\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Republican", "p1": "TX", "p2": "2018"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=TX&year=2018", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 2924, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=TX&year=2018", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=TX&year=2018", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 2924, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=TX&year=2018&chamber=House", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=TX&year=2018", "results": [{"value": "TX", "label": "TX", "count": 2924, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&year=2018", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=TX&year=2018", "results": [{"value": "2018", "label": "2018", "count": 2924, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=TX", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2018-12-12,https~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Ecruz~2Esenate~2Egov~3Fp~3Dpress_release~26id~3D4218", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=TX&year=2018&_next=2018-12-12%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Ecruz~2Esenate~2Egov~3Fp~3Dpress_release~26id~3D4218&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 568.7787523493171, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}