{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where party = \"Republican\", state = \"TX\" and year = 2023 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-cruz-another-great-year-of-fighting-and-winning-for-texans", "Sen. Cruz: Another Great Year of Fighting and Winning for Texans", "2023-12-31", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", "cruz", "https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) led the fight in the Senate this year against the Biden administration\u2019s woke agenda and delivered pro-growth, pro-jobs, and pro-freedom policies to promote jobs, freedom, and security for Texans.\n\nReflecting on the past year, Sen. Cruz said, \u201cAs your senator for Texas, I have been proud to lead the fight to defend our values and promote jobs, freedom, and security. This year, I\u2019ve had the privilege of leading my Republican colleagues as ranking member on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. We formed bipartisan coalitions around Biden nominees to stop inexperienced and radical ones while supporting qualified public servants, and we worked in a bipartisan manner to advance policies that will benefit the families and businesses in the Lone Star State. As we look ahead to 2024, I excited to keep fighting for the Lone Star State, and defending your freedoms, strengthening our economy, and creating more jobs for hardworking Texans and their families.\u201d\n\nSen. Cruz\u2019s 2023 Highlights:\n\nDelivering for Texas\n\nSIGNED INTO LAW: After months of legislative efforts from a bipartisan coalition of Texas lawmakers led by Sen. Cruz, the annual defense authorization bill included language to streamline the presidential permitting process for building key bridges across the Rio Grande in Brownsville, Laredo, and Eagle Pass, Texas.\n\nSen. Cruz also wrote a letter to the Biden administration in support of the Puerto Verde Global Trade Bridge (PVGTB)presidential permit application.\n\nSECURED BIPARTISAN, BICAMERAL SUPPORT: Sen. Cruz led the fight for U.S. diplomats and officials of the U.S. Section of the International Boundary Commission to have the necessary resources to ensure Mexico\u2019s compliance with the 1944 Treaty on Utilization of Waters of the Colorado, Tijuana, and Rio Grande Rivers. A bipartisan majority of senators supported his efforts.\n\nPASSED THE U.S. SENATE: Sen. Cruz led efforts to formally name the Ports-to-Plains Corridor through Texas and New Mexico asInterstate 27, which will boost economic growth in Texas.\n\nSen. Cruz participated in agriculture roundtables with industry leaders from the coast to the panhandle as he works to ensure our farmers and ranchers have the resources they need for Texas agriculture to thrive.\n\nSen. Cruz sent a letter calling out FEMAfor rejecting the City of Corpus Christi\u2019s appeal for additional funding for the Packery Channel Restoration Project to rebuild after damage caused by Hurricane Harvey in 2017.\n\nSen. Cruz sent a letter to President Biden supporting Texas Governor Greg Abbott\u2019s request for an emergency disaster declaration to provide federal assistance to Texans impacted by severe weather, including tornadoes and heavy rain, in Harris, Jefferson, Liberty, and Orange counties.\n\nSen. Cruz sent a letter to the Biden administration supporting Texas Governor Greg Abbott\u2019s request for an emergency disasterdeclaration to provide federal assistance to Texans impacted by Winter Storm Mara.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced the Highway Formula Modernization Act, bipartisan legislation that would direct the Department of Transportation to reevaluate the funding formulas used to distribute federal highway dollars to ensure we invest properly in Texas highways and highways across the nation.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced the Improving Access to Our Courts Act to provide an additional court \u2013 located in Alpine, Texas \u2013 to those served by the Pecos Division of the Western District of Texas.\n\nFollowing reports of mail theft in the Galveston area, Sen. Cruz introduced the Upholding a Secure Postal System (USPS) Act that would require the Comptroller General of the United States to submit a report to Congress on nationwide mail theft trends, and what the Postal Service is doing to combat theft.\n\nBoosting Jobs and the Economy\n\nSen. Cruz was awarded the 2022 Club for Growth Defender of Economic Freedom Award for dedication to promoting economic growthand championing issues related to limited government.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced the Cost Recovery and Expensing Acceleration to Transform the Economy and Jumpstart Opportunities for Businesses and Startups (CREATE JOBS) Act to generate much-needed investment in America\u2019s workforce, create jobs, and provide relief for struggling Americans.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced the Capital Gains Inflation Relief Act, and legislation to make permanent the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act\u2019s middle-class tax cuts.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced the Chemical Tax Repeal Act to eliminate the Superfund Tax imposed by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced an amendment to repeal a provision from the 2021 infrastructure package that created new reporting requirements for many cryptocurrency and blockchain companies. The amendment would remove harmful regulations on the cryptocurrency industry that stifle innovation, endanger the privacy of Americans, and would push key aspects of the industry overseas.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced the Adopting Cryptocurrency in Congress as an Exchange of Payment for Transactions Resolution, also known as the ACCEPT Resolution.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced legislation to prohibit the Federal Reserve from developing a direct-to-consumer central bank digital currency, which could be used as a financial surveillance tool by the federal government.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced the Federal Permitting Modernization Act (FAST Act) and the 90-day Review Act aimed at streamlining and expediting federal permitting for major infrastructure projects by putting more stringent timetables on federal agencies and courts to review projects.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced legislation that will prevent companies that manage investment funds held in federal employee retirement accounts from using those holdings to vote in corporate shareholder meetings to force leftist Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies onto private sector businesses.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced legislation to eliminate the Office of Financial Research, a stark example of redundancy and unaccountability within the Treasury Department.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced legislation to eliminate the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.\n\nProtecting Our Independent Judiciary and Combating the Weaponization of Government\n\nSen. Cruz introduced a proposed constitutional amendment that would ensure only nine justices could serve on the U.S. Supreme Court at a time.\n\nSen. Cruz led a Supreme Court amicus brief in the case Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo arguing that the doctrine of \u201cChevron deference\u201d violates Articles I, II, and III of the Constitution.\n\nSen. Cruz filed a Supreme Court amicus brief in the case Washington Alliance of Technology Workers v. Department of Homeland Security in support of a Petition for a Writ of Certiorari, seeking Supreme Court review of the unlawful issuance of student visas by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.\n\nSen. Cruz sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland confronting the Department of Justice for surveilling the personal communications of attorneys advising congressional oversight committees.\n\nSen. Cruz filed an amicus brief in the case Estados Unidos Mexicanos v. Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. with the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit to support the Second Amendment and American sovereignty.\n\nSen. Cruz sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland at the Department of Justice requesting an investigation into why radical environmental organizations have been able to accept foreign money without registering under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).\n\nSen. Cruz introduced Eric\u2019s Law, a bill that aims to deliver justice to victims and their families in federal death penalty cases.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced a joint resolution pursuant to the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to fight a D.C. Council measure that would allow illegal aliens to vote in local D.C. elections.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced a series of bills to stop the lingering authoritarian COVID-19 mandates and protect Americans fromunconstitutional federal mandates around the COVID-19 pandemic.\n\nSen. Cruz led a coalition of Senate Republican committee ranking members in sounding the alarm over an attempt by the White House to hijack the rulemaking process to promote left-wing policy goals.\n\nPushing Back on the Left\u2019s Woke Agenda\n\nSen. Cruz introduced bicameral legislation, the Safeguarding Free Speech Act, to prohibit federal agencies from forcing an employee or contractor to use personal pronouns that differ from an individual\u2019s biological sex.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced the Respect for Hispanic Americans Act, which would ban the use of the wholly-invented term \u201cLatinx\u201d in any official government communication by a federal agency or employee.\n\nFreeing American Energy and Dismantling Burdensome Environmental Regulations\n\nThe International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) honored Sen. Cruz with the Legislator of the Year Award for championing policies and advocating and leading legislative efforts to promote U.S. energy.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales (CARS) Act to counter the Biden administration\u2019s executive overreachbanning gasoline powered vehicles and establishing an electric vehicle mandate.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced the Public Water Supply Invasive Species Compliance Act and the Saving America\u2019s Vulnerable and Endangered Species Act (SAVES Act), which would remove regulatory burdens for ranchers and conservators engaged in captive breeding of exotic wildlife while promoting animal conservation in the United States.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced a resolution pushing back on the implementation of a carbon tax. The resolution addresses the negative impacts of instituting a carbon tax.\n\nSen. Cruz sent a letter to the Executive Director of the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (FPISC) against addingunnecessary bureaucratic barriers to the permitting process for domestic mining.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced the Congressional Oversight of the Antiquities Act to reform the Antiquities Act of 1906 and require congressional approval for national monument designations.\n\nSen. Cruz sent a letter calling on the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) to extend the public comment period for the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) financial assurance proposed rule.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced legislation to amend the National Trails System Act and designate Route 66 as a National Historic Trail without harming Texas and American energy development projects in the areas around Route 66.\n\nSen. Cruz sent a bipartisan letter to the Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer Granholm raising concern about a proposed rule by the DOE to change efficiency standards on distribution transformers\u2014critical electric grid components.\n\nSen. Cruz sent a letter to Secretary of the Department of the Treasury Janet Yellen condemning efforts by the Biden administration to use the U.S. tax code to penalize American energy production.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced the Natural Gas Export Expansion Act, which would expedite the federal approval process for exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) and increase free trade.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced the Energy Freedom Act, in order to make America energy secure again by accelerating federal permitting for energy projects and pipelines, mandating new onshore and offshore oil and gas lease sales, approving pending liquified natural gas (LNG) export licenses, and generally speeding up solar, wind, and geothermal development.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced the Black Vulture Relief Act, which would alleviate burdensome government regulations and allow farmers to protect their newborn livestock from black vultures without a depredation permit whenever their livestock is threatened.\n\nBacking Law Enforcement\n\nPASSED THE SENATE: Sen. Cruz sponsored a resolution commemorating the bicentennial of the Texas Ranger Division of the Texas Department of Public Safety.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced the Back the Blue Act, which would increase penalties for criminals who target law enforcement officers and provide new tools for officers to protect themselves.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced legislation that would protect the brave men and women of law enforcement by criminalizing fleeing from agents or officers in a high-speed chase. The bill is named in honor of Border Patrol Agent Raul Gonzalez, Jr., who died in the line of duty while pursuing a group of illegal aliens near Mission, Texas.\n\nCombating the Drug Crisis and Increasing Healthcare Access\n\nSIGNED INTO LAW: Sen. Cruz\u2019s Testing, Rapid Analysis, and Narcotic Quality (TRANQ) Research Act is now law. It will direct the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to take steps to enhance understanding of the dangerous animal tranquilizer xylazine, or tranq and other novel synthetic drugs, develop new tests for detection, and establish partnerships with front-line entities that are often the first points of contact with new street drugs.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced bipartisan legislation to address the online sale of counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced the Reciprocity Ensures Streamlined Use of Lifesaving Treatments Act, to expand healthcare innovation and accessibility for Texans and all Americans by increasing access for all Americans to life-saving drugs, devices, and other medical therapies already approved in other trusted countries.\n\nDefending the Right to Life\n\nSen. Cruz sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland demanding answers about allegations that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was secretly surveilling recent meetings of the pro-life group Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising (PAAU).\n\nSen. Cruz led the effort to demand answers from Lonnie G. Bunch III, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institute, about the reported harassment of a pro-life Catholic school group at the National Air and Space Museum.\n\nSen. Cruz sent a bicameral letter to the National Archives and Records Administration acting archivist Debra Steidel Wall urging a prompt response regarding the treatment of several pro-life Americans at the National Archives Museum on January 20, 2023.\n\nChampioning Our Military and Veterans\n\nSIGNED INTO LAW: Sen. Cruz authored the bipartisan, bicameral bill that renamed a Texas post office after Spc. Vanessa Guill\u00e9n, a 20-year-old soldier of the United States Army stationed at Fort Hood Army Base who was murdered by another soldier on base.\n\nSIGNED INTO LAW: Sen. Cruz\u2019s Changing Age-Determined Eligibility to Student Incentive Payments (CADETS) Act expanded the age of eligibility for the Student Incentive Payment Program at the Maritime Administration, granting financial assistance to cadets who attend one of six state maritime academies, including Texas A&M Maritime Academy, and who commit to a post-graduation service obligation.\n\nSIGNED INTO LAW: Sen. Cruz spearheaded a bipartisan amendment to the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)prohibiting the sale of Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) crude oil to China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced an amendment to the FY24 NDAA that build on the NDAA of 2023, to support servicemembers who were wrongly discharged solely based on their COVID-19 vaccine status.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced the Pay Our Coast Guard Act, bicameral, bipartisan legislation to ensure Coast Guardsmen are paid just like other military personnel in the event of a government shutdown.\n\nSen. Cruz sent a bipartisan letter to the United States National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) requesting answers on the backlog of veterans\u2019 service record requests impacting their access to critical government benefits and services.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced legislation that creates an opt-in for military families to establish Military Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) to help fund their child\u2019s education and expand access to personalized, high-quality educational experiences.\n\nSIGNED INTO LAW: Sen. Cruz introduced the Deterring Egregious State Infiltration of Schools\u2019 Training (DESIST) Act, which would prohibit the Department of Defense from establishing or maintaining a Junior Reserve Officers\u2019 Training Corps (JROTC) program at any private school operated or controlled by entities linked to the People\u2019s Republic of China (PRC), Chinese Communist Party (CCP), or the People\u2019s Liberation Army (PLA). This amendment was included in the FY24 NDAA.\n\nAdvocating for Our Students\n\nSen. Cruz introduced and fought for the immediate passage of his Securing Our Schools Act and the Protect Our Children\u2019s Schools Act, which would improve school security and access to student mental health resources and allow schools to use unspent, previously appropriated federal COVID-19 education-related funding to improve school security.\n\nSen. Cruz sent a letter to Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, urging the Biden administration to address the growing rates of antisemitism in K-12 schools following Hamas\u2019s war against Israel.\n\nStanding Up to America\u2019s Enemies and Adversaries, While Standing with Her Allies\n\nPASSED THE U.S. SENATE: Sen. Cruz spearheaded the passage of his bipartisan legislation to rename the street outside of the Cuban embassy in Washington, D.C. as \u201cOswaldo Pay\u00e1 Way\u201d after the Cuban dissident leader who was assassinated by Cuba\u2019s communist regime.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced the Protecting America from Spies Act, legislation that would make individuals who have committed acts of espionage or intellectual property theft against the United States ineligible for visas, as well as the family members of such individuals, for a period of five years.\n\nStanding with Israel\n\nSen. Cruz sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken calling on him to rescind discriminatory guidance issued by the State Department halting bilateral scientific and technological cooperation in certain Israeli-held territories.\n\nSen. Cruz sent a letter to Harvard University President Claudine Gay demanding that the university condemn the antisemitic statementsmade by student organizations on campus.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced the Hamas Sanctions Act, the first piece of legislation to comprehensively target Hamas. The legislation wouldimpose sanctions on Hamas, its members and affiliates, and countries that provide funding and territory for Hamas operations.\n\nCountering the Iranian regime\n\nSen. Cruz introduced the Strengthening Entry Visa Enforcement and Restrictions Act, or SEVER Act, to block the Biden administrationfrom allowing Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and other sanctioned individuals linked to the Iranian regime to enter the United States.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced legislation to prohibit the Biden administration from waiving Congressional sanctions that prohibit cooperation on Iran\u2019s nuclear program.\n\nCountering Communist China\n\nPASSED THE U.S. SENATE: Sen. Cruz gained unanimous support for his resolution calling for the release of wrongfully detained Texan Mark Swidan, who is imprisoned in China.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced the Protecting Military Installations and Ranges Act, to stop adversaries from acquiring land near military bases, and military areas, which puts our military and national security at risk.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced the Stop Higher Education Espionage and Theft (SHEET) Act to counter Chinese espionage efforts in American universities.\n\nSupporting freedom and opposing oppression in Central and South America\n\nSen. Cruz introduced a resolution supporting the Alliance for Development in Democracy (ADD), a multilateral initiative by American allies in Latin America including Panama, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, and Ecuador.\n\nSen. Cruz sent a letter to President Biden calling on his administration to reverse political concessions and increase pressure on the Maduro regime in Venezuela, after the administration eased economic pressure as part of a deal related to the Venezuelan elections in 2024.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced the Corruption in Argentina Stymied by Enforcing Sanctions Act of 2023, or CASES Act, which would require the President to investigate five Argentinian officials for corruption, including Argentina\u2019s Vice President Cristina Fern\u00e1ndez de Kirchner.\n\nFighting to Secure the Southern Border\n\nSen. Cruz introduced the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act, which would allow local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration authorities and would pull taxpayer-funded grants going to sanctuary cities.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced the FINISH IT Act, which would require the federal government to use previously purchased and unused border wall panels to extend the wall along the U.S.-Mexico border or to transfer them to state governments to be used for wall construction.\n\nSen. Cruz sent a letter to President Biden urging the White House to reverse the administration\u2019s decision to end Title 42.\n\nSen. Cruz led Republican Senate colleagues on a trip to the U.S.-Mexico border to Brownsville, Texas on the eve of the end of Title 42 to meet with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, the Texas National Guard, and other law enforcement officials.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced bicameral legislation to amend federal law and impose a mandatory minimum sentence of five years for any person who has multiple convictions, or a conviction for an aggravated felony, who enters the country illegally.\n\nSen. Cruz traveled to Texas\u2019 maritime border at South Padre Island to visit key Coast Guard stations and hear directly from the men and women of the Coast Guard about what resources they need to keep Texas\u2019 maritime borders safe and secure.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced the Schools Not Shelters Act, which passed the House with bipartisan support, to protect and prioritize students by prohibiting K-12 schools, colleges, and universities that receive federal funding from being used as shelters to house illegal aliens.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced an amendment to add the Secure the Border Act to the continuing resolution to stop the Biden Border Crisis dead in its tracks and halt the invasion at our southern border.\n\nSen. Cruz led Republican Senate colleagues on a trip to the U.S.-Mexico border to witness the impacts of the millions of illegal immigrants who have flooded through the southern border, the rising rates of drug smuggling, and the increasing national security threats due to President Biden\u2019s open border policies.\n\nSen. Cruz sent a letter to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas calling on the Biden administration to address a text message, discovered by El Paso Sector Intelligence, soliciting personal information of Border Patrol agents and their families.\n\nSen. Cruz sent a letter to Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas demanding that the Biden administration immediately address the influx of \u201cspecial interest aliens\u201d who have been arrested at the southern border.\n\nLeading Republican Legislative Initiatives as the Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce Committee\n\nPASSED THE U.S. SENATE: Sen. Cruz advanced legislation that would streamline the CHIPS permitting reform process, removing burdensome hurdles to achieving environmental reviews and permits. The amendment, which passed the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support in July, would provide regulatory certainty and accelerate the construction of semiconductor manufacturing plants.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced the bipartisan, bicameral AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act to require automakers to maintain AM broadcast radio in vehicles. In Texas, over 88,000 jobs are tied to radio.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced bipartisan legislation that passed the Commerce Committee to require all event ticket sellers to display the total ticket price\u2014including all required fees\u2014in any advertisement or marketing materials.\n\nSen. Cruz led bipartisan efforts to stop three Biden administration nominees over lack of experience or radical policy positions.\n\nSen. Cruz introduced legislation to limit children\u2019s access to social media at school by requiring schools receiving federal broadband funding to prohibit access on subsidized services, devices, and networks.\n\nSen. Cruz unveiled a discussion draft of legislation aimed at addressing major issues in college athletics that have wrought a patchwork of pending litigation, inconsistent state laws, and labor complaints.\n\nSen. Cruz and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va), Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, introduced the Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act, legislation that would block the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) from banning gas stoves.\n\nSen. Cruz and Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, introduced the Informing Consumers about Smart Devices Act, legislation that would require the FTC to create reasonable disclosure guidelines for products that have audio or visual recording components, such as refrigerators, washers, dryers and dishwashers that are not clearly obvious. This legislation passed the Commerce Committee.\n\nSen. Cruz sent a letter to Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) President and CEO Patricia de Stacy Harrison, expressing objections to a CPB mandate that radio and television stations must engage in affirmative action to qualify for grant funding.\n\nSen. Cruz sent a letter to Eventbrite President and CEO Julia Hartz requesting details regarding the firm\u2019s seemingly inconsistent enforcement of community guidelines targeting conservatives, which has resulted in the removal of events featuring comments from Riley Gaines, while permitting feature speakers espousing allegiance to Hamas.\n\nSen. Cruz sent a letter to the U.S. Department of State, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and National Science Foundation (NSF) to turn over information regarding their role in helping facilitate the censorshipof Americans\u2019 constitutionally protected speech online.\n\nSen. Cruz led 27 of his colleagues in calling on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to rescind its draft order on \u201cDigital Discrimination,\u201d which would give the federal government control over nearly every aspect of the Internet while opening broadband providers to expansive, indeterminate, and crippling liability under a \u201cdisparate impact\u201d standard.\n\nSen. Cruz sent a letter to Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey demanding answers regarding the company\u2019s decision to delete references to a donation the company made to the Black Lives Matter Global Network.\n\nSen. Cruz asked the National Science Foundation (NSF) to turn over information regarding its taxpayer-funded censorship, including doling out tens of millions of dollars in grants to universities building online censorship tools and developing \u201ctrauma support\u201d therapy for journalists.\n\nSen. Cruz led more than 100 other lawmakers in calling on Congressional leaders to include Sens. Cruz and Kelly\u2019s amendment to streamline the CHIPS permitting reform process in this year\u2019s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).\n\nSen. Cruz led a bicameral coalition of federal lawmakers calling on the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to reverse its suspension of rules allowing liquefied natural gas (LNG) by rail.\n\nSen. Cruz led Commerce Committee Republican members in sending a letter to companies X, Meta, TikTok, and Google seeking information on their content moderation policies during the Israel-Hamas war, and asking the companies to commit to fully preserving a documentary history of Hamas\u2019s atrocities.\n\nSen. Cruz led a group of senators in urging the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to withdraw a proposed rule designating more than 28,270 square miles of the Gulf of Mexico, an area larger than West Virginia, as a \u201ccritical habitat\u201d for the newly discovered Rice\u2019s whale\u2014a clear attempt to shut down oil and gas operations in the area over a single sighting of a whale in 2017.\n\nSen. Cruz sent a letter pressing Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg about the decision-making behind certain grants to the Amtrak NY-NJ Gateway Program and asked the Department of Transportation (DOT) to commit to giving fair consideration to the whole country for grants, rather than favoring the Northeast Corridor.\n\nSen. Cruz sent a letter to the administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) demanding answers on whether the deployment of federal air marshals to assist along the southwest border is risking the safety of the flying public.\n\nSen. Cruz sent a letter to the newly sworn-in Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner, Anna Gomez, urging her to oppose FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel\u2019s plan to expand the E-rate program beyond school classrooms and libraries. The proposed expansion of funding, including to fund Wi-Fi hotspots on school buses, is not only unlawful (the statute only allows for connectivity spending for classrooms and libraries) but raises concerns about subsidizing children\u2019s unsupervised internet access to social media sites like TikTok and Instagram on their bus rides to and from school.\n\nSen. Cruz and House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) today sent a letter to the law firm Sher Edling LLP demanding information related to the firm\u2019s barrage of lawsuits targeting energy companies, and the role the acting administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Ann Carlson, played in these lawsuits while serving as a professor at UCLA Law School.\n\nSen. Cruz took to the Senate floor requesting unanimous consent to pass the Pay Our Coast Guard Act, bicameral, bipartisan legislation he introduced with Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.). The Pay Our Coast Guard Act would ensure Coast Guardsmen are paid just like other military personnel in the event of a government shutdown.\n\nSen. Cruz led all Committee Republicans in sending a letter to President Biden, blasting the administration for violating the Vacancies Act by allowing Ann Carlson, who was effectively rejected by the Senate to be administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), to serve as acting head of the agency.\n\nSen. Cruz joined Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) on an amicus brief in a case concerning the Biden administration\u2019s decision to alter the terms of \u201cLease Sale 261,\u201d an oil and gas lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico required by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.\n\nSen. Cruz released a fact-finding report on the single largest pot of federal money ever allocated for broadband\u2014the $42.45 billion allocation for the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program.\n\nSen. Cruz sent a letter to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairwoman Lina Khan seeking answers regarding her plans to regulate artificial intelligence for \u201cdisinformation\u201d and \u201cbias.\u201d The letter explains that the FTC\u2019s review of large language models used to train AI, which comes without any explicit statutory congressional authorization, may also infringe on constitutionally-protected speech.\n\nSen. Cruz sent letters to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairwoman Lina Khan and the head of the European Union\u2019s San Francisco office, demanding answers regarding the degree of coordination between the FTC and the EU to enforce the EU\u2019s Digital Services Act (\u201cDSA\u201d) and Digital Markets Act (\u201cDMA\u201d) on U.S. soil.\n\nSen. Cruz and Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Joe Manchin (D-W.Va), announced that they had secured a bipartisan amendment to prevent the Biden administration from banning gas stoves in households across America in the Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) funding bill. The amendment largely mirrors the bipartisan Gas Stoves Protection and Freedom Act that they had introduced together in February that would preclude CPSC from using federal funds to ban gas stoves or impose regulations that would substantially increase the costs of gas stoves to make them unaffordable for Americans.\n\nSen. Cruz sent a letter to Vice Admiral Joanna Nunan, the superintendent of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), demanding answers about the safety of cadets in light of disturbing remarks by the school\u2019s sexual assault prevention and response (SAPR) director.\n\nSen. Cruz and Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) sent a bipartisan letter to seven automakers that either removed or planned to remove broadcast AM radio in their current and future vehicle models, including electric vehicles, urging the automakers to make a commitment to keep AM radio in their vehicles.\n\nSen. Cruz sent a letter to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairwoman Lina Khan regarding the troubling drop in employee morale at the agency.\n\nSen. Cruz led a coalition of Senate Republican committee ranking members in sounding the alarm over an attempt by the White House to hijack the rulemaking process to advance left-wing policy goals that have been rejected by Congress.\n\nSen. Cruz published a 13-page memo to the beer industry\u2019s self-regulatory body detailing how Bud Light\u2019s sponsorship of Dylan Mulvaney violated industry standards that prohibit marketing to underage individuals.\n\nSen. Cruz sent a letter to President Biden, urging him to immediately nominate a \u201cserious and well-qualified person with substantial aviation experience\u201d to serve as Federal Aviation Administration administrator.\n\nSen. Cruz sent a letter to Meta Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg demanding answers about reporting from the Wall Street Journal describing how Instagram\u2019s recommendation systems actively facilitated the production, purchase, and possession of child sexual abuse material.\n\nSen. Cruz and Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) opened an investigation into and called on the beer industry\u2019s self-regulatory body\u2014the Beer Institute\u2014to investigate whether Anheuser-Busch\u2019s partnership with influencer Dylan Mulvaney violates the Beer Institute\u2019s guidelines prohibiting marketing to underage individuals. The letter outlines evidence showing that Dylan Mulvaney\u2019s audience skews younger than the legal drinking age and that Mulvaney\u2019s social media content appeals to young viewers.\n\nSen. Cruz sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission Acting Inspector General asking that she open an investigation into whether FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel\u2019s unprecedented actions against the Standard General-TEGNA transaction, including the decision to have the FCC\u2019s Media Bureau designate the transaction for an Administrative Law Judge (\u201cALJ\u201d) hearing, were motivated by a biased desire to block the deal.\n\nSen. Cruz and House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) sent bicameral letters to Consumer Reports, the Climate Imperative Foundation, and Stacey Abrams\u2019 Rewiring America group.\n\nSen. Cruz led his Senate Commerce Republican colleagues in sending a letter highlighting serious concerns regarding President Biden\u2019s nominee to lead the National Highway Transportation Administration (NHTSA), Ann Carlson, and her past record of promoting green energy mandates for the automobile industry.\n\nSen. Cruz and House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) sent a bicameral letter to Mary Daly, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco (\u201cSF Fed\u201d), regarding the SF Fed\u2019s failure to properly ensure the safety and soundness of Silicon Valley Bank (\u201cSVB\u201d) and to comply with congressional oversight requests about SVB\u2019s collapse.\n\nSen. Cruz sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg requesting information related to the Federal Aviation Administration\u2019s (FAA) long-running inability to address congestion and air traffic controller shortages in the New York region.\n\nSen. Cruz and Republican committee members sent a letter expressing concern that President Biden and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg are improperly favoring Northeastern states over the rest of the country with respect to Amtrak Board seats and a large taxpayer-funded rail grant program.\n\nSen. Cruz sent letters to nine Big Tech firms seeking information about coordination with more than 40 government officials who were attempting to flag, censor, and investigate the content and accounts of Americans online.\n\nSen. Cruz led a letter with more than a dozen Senate Republican colleagues to Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo urging the administration to strike a number of liberal social policy conditions that were attached to grants for domestic chip production. Few of the requirements on the $39 billion in money, such as requiring applicants to develop plans around mass transit use and affordable housing, were found in the CHIPS Act, a bill enacted last year meant to help re-shore semiconductor manufacturing.\n\nSen. Cruz sent a series of letters to Biden regulators and left-wing environmental advocacy groups seeking information and preservation of documents regarding their role in the Biden administration\u2019s recent efforts to ban gas stoves.\n\nSen. Cruz and Rep. Jim Jordan opened a probe into the Federal Trade Commission\u2019s investigation of Elon Musk\u2019s Twitter takeover.\n\nSen. Cruz called on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to rescind its costly, radical proposed rule to require government contractors to provide extensive information about greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.\n\nSen. Cruz sent a letter to the Department of Transportation\u2019s Maritime Administration (MARAD) seeking information about its lengthy delays in reaching decisions on applications for deepwater ports for exporting oil and natural gas. The letter also urged MARAD to meet its statutory deadlines to make decisions. Currently, four of the seven applications for licenses are for projects located off the coast of Texas.\n\nSen. Cruz sent a letter to social media companies Meta, Google, Twitter, and TikTok launching an oversight investigation into these companies\u2019 use of recommendation algorithms and their reported use of \u201cblacklists,\u201d \u201cde-emphasizing,\u201d and other means of \u201creduced distribution\u201d of content from users, including many conservatives.\n\nSen. Cruz, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) sent a letter to the CEOs of DirectTV and its controlling shareholders, AT&T and TPG, voicing deep concerns about DirecTV\u2019s decision to drop conservative news network Newsmax.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://crenshaw.house.gov/2023/12/crenshaw-s-psychedelic-research-provision-signed-into-law", "Crenshaw's Psychedelic Research Provision Signed into Law", "2023-12-22", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Dan Crenshaw", "C001120", "crenshaw.house.gov", "crenshaw", "https://crenshaw.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC - Legislation led by Representative Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) to research the use of psychedelics to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) in active-duty servicemembers was signed into law as part of this year\u2019s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Originally introduced as H.R. 3684, this provision is focused on ending the suicide epidemic plaguing our active-duty and veteran populations.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve led this two years in a row in the House, and now finally got it into the final bill with the Senate,\u201d said Crenshaw. \u201cI\u2019m thrilled. This will save lives and potentially revolutionize the way we treat all types of PTSD.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe inclusion of psychedelic research in the NDAA marks a pivotal turn in our journey to revolutionize mental health care for our military,\u201d said Amber Capone, CEO and co-founder of Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions (VETS). \u201cThe unwavering support and dedication of our community, combined with the collaborative efforts of policymakers like Rep. Crenshaw, have been instrumental in achieving this milestone. This is more than a legislative success; it's a beacon of hope, promising innovative and effective treatments for those who have selflessly served our nation.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis legislation is a historic accomplishment for our Country, our servicemembers, and for science. This achievement, coupled with the recent actions of the VA, have shown psychedelic-assisted therapies are moving from theoretical ideas to tangible therapeutic treatments,\u201d said former Congresswoman Mimi Walters, chair of the patient advocacy group, Apollo Pact. \u201cThis will give our active-duty service men and women more options to heal. I commend Reps. Crenshaw & Luttrell on their leadership to bring innovative solutions to the forefront.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nRetired U.S. Navy SEAL Representative Morgan Luttrell co-led the legislation and offered it as an amendment to this year\u2019s NDAA. Under Crenshaw\u2019s bill, the Secretary of Defense is directed to establish a clinical trial grant program for the use of psychedelic substances to treat PTSD and TBI in active-duty servicemembers.\n\nA recent FDA Phase 3 Trial of MDMA-Assisted Therapy for PTSD found that 71% of participants who received three MDMA-assisted therapy sessions no longer qualified for a PTSD diagnosis and 86% experienced a clinically meaningful reduction in symptoms, underscoring the significant impact psychedelic treatment can have on those suffering from trauma-related disorders.\n\nThe bill has a broad, bipartisan coalition of co-sponsors: Reps. Luttrell, Bergman, Van Orden, Zinke, Gaetz, Ocasio-Cortez, Laurel Lee, Mace, Correa, Moskowitz, Khanna, Blumenauer, Trone, and Bill Johnson.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cruz-demands-answers-about-temporarily-shuttered-international-railway-crossings-in-texas-diverted-cbp-resources-to-process-illegal-aliens", "Cruz Demands Answers About Temporarily Shuttered International Railway Crossings in Texas, Diverted CBP Resources to Process Illegal Aliens", "2023-12-22", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", "cruz", "https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2013 U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) sent a letter to Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Pete Buttigieg, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, and Tom Vilsack, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, demanding answers about U.S. Customs and Border Protection\u2019s decision to temporarily close two international railway crossing bridges in Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas, and divert CBP resources to help process illegal aliens, who are unlawfully entering the U.S. in record numbers. Sen. Cruz asked for answers about who made these decisions, what led to the decisions, and how CBP plans to prevent this from happening again.\n\nClosing these international railway crossings delayed hundreds of thousands of tons of consumer and agriculture goods from traveling between the U.S. and Mexico. This is the second time since September that DHS has closed an international bridge in response to uncontrolled numbers of illegal aliens.\n\nIn the letter, Sen. Cruz wrote,\u201c\u2026by shutting down legal border crossings to accommodate the surge of illegal aliens flooding the border at Eagle Pass, you have created a national security threat of the highest degree. You are also signaling to the world that the United States government\u2014and certainly your Department\u2014will put the interests of foreign citizens over the needs of American people and businesses. Furthermore, by ceding operational control of our southern border to criminal cartels that are ferrying terrorists, drugs, and dangerous criminals, you have effectively turned Border Patrol into a travel agency rather than a law enforcement organization. It goes without saying that this is an outrage and a total breakdown of law-and-order.\u201d\n\nRead the full letter here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://gonzales.house.gov/2023/12/rep-tony-gonzales-to-congressional-leadership-failure-to-act-on-border-may-lead-to-a-point-of-no-return", "Rep. Tony Gonzales to Congressional Leadership: Failure to Act on Border May Lead to a Point of No Return", "2023-12-21", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Tony Gonzales", "G000594", "gonzales.house.gov", "gonzales", "https://gonzales.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "EAGLE PASS, TEXAS \u2013 Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) sent a letter to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (LA-04), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) urging the four corners of leadership in Congress to take emergency action to secure the border.\n\n\u201cOur southern border is in the worst state it has ever been. As the U.S. Representative for the largest border district in Congress, I do not say that lightly. Today, I am calling on all lawmakers to take emergency action to secure our border. Failure to act may lead to a point of no return,\u201d Congressman Tony Gonzales wrote. \u201cIn my district specifically, local communities have no further resources to continue sustaining migrants. Their limited budgets are being drained by this crisis, and they are not being reimbursed by the federal government. Local law enforcement has engaged in countless high-speed pursuits with human smugglers, some of which have led to innocent American bystanders losing their lives. We know what policies are needed to end this chaos, and we need to act on them now. There is no time to delay further on this issue.\u201d\n\nThe full letter can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://luttrell.house.gov/media/press-releases/luttrell-introduces-ctpat-pilot-program-act", "Luttrell Introduces CTPAT Pilot Program Act", "2023-12-21", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Morgan Luttrell", "L000603", "luttrell.house.gov", "luttrell", "https://luttrell.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Morgan Luttrell (R-TX), along with Congresswomen Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), and Rob Menendez (D-NJ), introduced the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) Pilot Program Act. This legislation would pilot expanding CTPAT to include \u201cfreight forwarders\u201d and warehouses, helping reduce disruption of international trade, strengthen border security, and reduce supply chain congestion. The Senate companion was introduced by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Tom Carper (D-DE) and passed with bipartisan support.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to introduce legislation to support a much-needed pilot program that would assess the national security value of including additional trade partners in CTPAT,\u201d said Congressman Luttrell. \u201cThis legislation would provide a path to more security at our borders, as well as enhance the security of the supply chain while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade. Strengthening our national security while boosting our supply chain is common sense legislation and I look forward to this bill passing in the House with bipartisan support.\u201d\n\nFollowing 9/11, Congress created the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) program, a partnership between supply chain leaders and the federal government to expedite freight through the country safely and securely. However, the original legislation left out critical links in cross-border supply chains that play a key role in moving goods to the final customer.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-roy-and-sen-cruz-demand-answers-texas-college-firing-teacher-who-said", "Rep. Roy and Sen. Cruz demand answers from Texas college for firing a teacher who said there are only two genders", "2023-12-21", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Chip Roy", "R000614", "roy.house.gov", "roy", "https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 On Wednesday, Representative Chip Roy (TX-21) and Senator Ted Cruz (TX) demanded answers from St. Philip\u2019s College in San Antonio, Texas for allegedly terminating a professor, Dr. Johnson Varkey, for saying that there are only two genders.\n\nThe lawmakers wrote in a letter,\u201cIt is our understanding that in January 2023, your institution terminated the employment of Dr. Johnson Varkey, a longtime adjunct professor, for teaching standard human biology and reproduction principles consistent with the school-approved curriculum that he had taught for consecutively for nearly twenty years.\u201d\n\nDr. Varkey had consistently received exemplary reviews throughout his tenure until November 28, 2022, when reports indicate four students walked out of his class after he articulated the scientific fact that sex is a fixed characteristic determined prior to birth by X and Y chromosomes.\n\nThe legislators said,\u201cDr. Varkey received a Notice of Discipline and Termination of Employment and Contract letter from your administration alleging that the college \u2018received numerous complaints\u2019 about his \u2018religious preaching, discriminatory comments about homosexuals and transgender individuals, anti-abortion rhetoric, and misogynistic banter\u2019 and that Dr. Varkey\u2019s teaching \u2018pushed beyond the bounds of academic freedom with [his] personal opinions that were offensive to many individuals in the classroom.\u2019\u201d\n\n\u201cRegrettably, this incident is not an isolated occurrence at St. Philip\u2019s College and the broader Alamo Colleges District. Instead, recent history reveals a pattern of targeting and penalizing educators who refuse to capitulate to the prevailing progressive narrative\u2026 Given that St. Philip\u2019s College receives federal funding, we hope that your administration can address this matter with both swiftness and clarity.\u201d the Texas lawmakers wrote.\n\nThe letter is also signed by Representative Michael Cloud (TX-27), Lance Gooden (TX-05), and Dan Crenshaw (TX-02).\n\nRead the full letter here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cruz-statement-on-americans-including-texans-freed-from-maduro-custody-in-venezuela", "Cruz Statement on Americans, Including Texans, Freed from Maduro Custody in Venezuela", "2023-12-21", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", "cruz", "https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Following the announcement that ten Americans, including three Texans, have been freed from captivity in Venezuela, where they were held by the Maduro regime, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said, \u201cI\u2019m pleased these Americans, including Texans Luke Denman, Airan Berry, and Jerrel Kenemore, will finally be reunited with their loved ones here at home. I have long called on the Maduro regime to release them and for the United States to impose pressure on the regime until it did so, and it is heartening that their unjust ordeal is over. Nevertheless, I continue to be concerned that the Biden administration\u2019s hostage diplomacy, in this case the release of criminal and terrorist financier Alex Saab, sends a message to terrorists and other American adversaries abroad that American hostages can be used as bargaining chips.\n\n\u201cThis news must also deepen our focus and commitment to bring back all Americans who are wrongfully detained overseas. Texan Mark Swidan remains unjustly imprisoned by the Chinese Communist Party, and the Biden administration must do everything it can to secure his release.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sens-cruz-britt-introduce-legislation-to-bar-non-citizens-from-voting-in-federal-elections", "Sens. Cruz, Britt Introduce Legislation to Bar Non-Citizens from Voting in Federal Elections", "2023-12-21", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", "cruz", "https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Katie Britt (R-Ala.), members on the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, joined together with their colleagues on the committee to introduce the Citizen Ballot Protection Act. This bill would ensure states have the authority to verify that only American citizens are voting in federal elections. The bill specifically amends Section 6 of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) of 1993, to explicitly allow states to put in place a proof of citizenship requirement for both the federal mail voter registration form, and any state mail voter registration forms they might develop.\n\nUpon introducing the bill, Sen. Cruz said, \u201cVoting is a privilege and right reserved for American citizens to participate democratically in deciding the leadership of our country. Under Joe Biden\u2019s watch, the integrity of our electoral process has been compromised. Democrat-run jurisdictions have violated our electoral process by granting an open invitation to any non-citizen or illegal alien to unconstitutionally participate in voting in local elections. This presents an unreasonable risk of cross-contamination of ballots and voting by non-citizens in federal elections. We must uphold the integrity of our electoral system by requiring voters to provide proof of citizenship before casting a vote at the ballot box.\u201d\n\nCosigners of the bill include Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Senate Rules Committee Ranking Member Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), and Sens. Shelly Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.).\n\nRead the full text of the bill here.\n\nBackground:\n\nSen. Cruz has spearheaded several efforts to block non-citizens from voting in elections including:\n\nIntroducing legislation to prohibit the Washington D.C. city government from using federal funds to facilitate non-citizen voting in elections in our nation\u2019s capital;\n\nIntroducing a joint resolution pursuant to the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to fight a measure passed by the D.C. Council that would allow illegal aliens to vote in local D.C. elections.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sens-cruz-coons-colleagues-introduce-bipartisan-resolution-urging-steps-to-restore-deterrence-against-iran-proxies-attacking-us-troops", "Sens. Cruz, Coons, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Urging Steps to Restore Deterrence Against Iran Proxies Attacking U.S. Troops", "2023-12-21", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", "cruz", "https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), joined by 12 additional cosponsors, this week introduced a resolution urging the Biden administration to take all necessary steps to restore deterrence against Iran and Iranian proxies targeting Americans and American interests in the Middle East. American troops in the region have been targeted by Iran and Iranian proxies more than 115 times since mid-October. Iran provides financing, training, and other support to terrorist groups throughout the region, including the Houthis.\n\nSen. Cruz said, \u201cThe Iranian regime is attacking Americans, our allies, and our interests across the Middle East. They are not only launching attacks and massacres against our Israeli and Arab allies, but their Houthi proxies are now trying to shut down freedom of navigation that is vital to the American and global economies. It is clear that they are not deterred, and it is long past time for the Biden administration to take all necessary steps to deter and counter these activities. Enough is enough.\u201d\n\nSen. Coons said, \u201cAttacks on American troops are reprehensible, and Iranian support for these attacks has rightfully earned a swift and forceful response from the Biden administration. I join Senator Cruz in introducing this resolution to condemn these attacks, increase pressure on Iran to cease its support for violent militia groups, and support efforts to deter Iranian-backed militia attacks on U.S. troops and the international community. I also commend the resiliency and bravery of American service members across the Middle East and hope this resolution makes clear Congress\u2019 support for U.S. Central Command\u2019s mission of countering terrorism and maintaining stability across the region.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Sens. Coons and Cruz, the resolution is cosponsored by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.).\n\nThe text of the full resolution is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://gonzales.house.gov/2023/12/rep-tony-gonzales-issues-statement-on-the-release-of-american-hostages-from-venezuela", "Rep. Tony Gonzales Issues Statement on the Release of American Hostages in Venezuela", "2023-12-20", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Tony Gonzales", "G000594", "gonzales.house.gov", "gonzales", "https://gonzales.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "EL PASO, TEXAS \u2013 Today, Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) released the below statement following the release of Americans Eyvin Hernandez, Jerrel Kenemore, and Joseph Cristella, who were wrongfully detained in Venezuela.\n\n\u201cToday, Americans who were wrongfully detained in Venezuela were released, and have arrived safely back on U.S. soil. Among them were Eyvin Hernandez, Jerrel Kenemore, and Joseph Cristella, who had been wrongly imprisoned in Venezuela since last year by the Maduro regime,\u201d said Congressman Tony Gonzales. \u201cLast week, I sent a letter with bipartisan support alongside members of the For Country Caucus urging the Biden administration to secure their release as soon as possible. I am grateful Eyvin, Jerrel, Joseph, and the other American hostages who were detained have made it home safely.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://nehls.house.gov/media/press-releases/exclusive-rep-troy-nehls-biden-mayorkas-sheer-neglect-blame-international", "Exclusive \u2014 Rep. Troy Nehls: Biden, Mayorkas \u2018Sheer Neglect\u2019 to Blame for International Railway Crossing Closures", "2023-12-20", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Troy E. Nehls", "N000026", "nehls.house.gov", "nehls", "https://nehls.house.gov/media", "scraper", "Breitbart News\n\nBy: Bradley Jaye\n\nRep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) is criticizing Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for rail bridge closures in Texas in response to the border invasion.\n\nThe Congressman from Texas sent a letter to Mayorkas blasting him for closures by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the international railway crossings at Eagle Pass and El Paso, accusing the Biden Administration of failing to understand how the border operates.\n\nNehls says illegal aliens are not using the rail crossings in any significant numbers to enter the United States, and that while they often hitch rides to traverse the landscape in Mexico, they depart from the trains prior to entering the United States on foot.\n\n\u201cThe Biden Administration\u2019s sheer neglect to secure our nation\u2019s borders has resulted in not only a national security crisis, but a humanitarian crisis,\u201d Nehls told Breitbart News. \u201cOnce again, rail traffic between the United States and Mexico has been disrupted, resulting in the strain of our nation\u2019s supply chains, which will cause a ripple effect throughout our economy during the holiday season.\n\n\u201cThis is all because President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas have failed to secure our homeland. The consequences of the Biden Administration\u2019s actions, or lack thereof, will be felt around the country.\u201d\n\nUnion Pacific and BNSF have been forced to halt their operations in Eagle Pass and El Paso, the second time in four months that the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (USCBP) has suspended rail operations at critical U.S.-Mexico international railway crossings. Nehls says these closures prevent legitimate trade, will supercharge inflation, and will cripple our nation\u2019s agricultural producers.\n\nOn October 5, Nehls sent a letter to Acting CBP Commissioner Troy Miller warning that unless immediate steps are taken to address this humanitarian crisis, it remains \u201cvery possible that CBP, or other relevant decision makers, will again close Eagle Pass rail gateway to freight traffic.\u201d\n\nHis warning appears to have fallen on deaf ears inside the Biden Administration.\n\nThe border crisis has reached historic proportions under Biden and Mayorkas. Border Patrol agents assigned to the southwest U.S. border with Mexico apprehended approximately 121,000 migrants during the first 15 days of December, according to unofficial Border Patrol reports reviewed by Breitbart Texas. Another 11,000 migrants are listed as \u201cgot-aways.\u201d\n\nNehls is Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials and has also been a leader in Congress calling for tougher border security. Prior to serving in Congress, Chairman Nehls served in law enforcement for nearly 30 years and was the Sheriff of Fort Bend County, Texas.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://williams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-williams-condemns-bidens-veto-stands-firm-defense-main-street", "Rep. Williams Condemns Biden's Veto, Stands Firm in Defense of Main Street Against CFPB Overreach", "2023-12-20", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Roger Williams", "W000816", "williams.house.gov", "williams", "https://williams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013Congressman Roger Williams (TX-25) released the following statement on Wednesday following President Biden\u2019sveto ofS.J. Res. 32, Senate companion forH.J. Res. 66, a Congressional Review Act disapproving of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau\u2019s (CFPB) Dodd Frank Section 1071 Small Business Lending Data Collection Rule:\n\n\u201cPresident Biden\u2019s veto of S.J. Res. 32 has made it clear that he answers only to socialist unelected bureaucrats,\"said Congressman Williams. \u201cDuring a time when small businesses are facing historical inflation, backlogged supply chains, and increasing borrowing costs, the House and the Senate came together in a bipartisan fashion to protect Main Street from the CFPB\u2019s overreaching and burdensome 1071 rule. American small businesses continue to pay the price of this Administration\u2019s disastrous rule-making. I urge my colleagues in both chambers to come together to override Biden\u2019s America-last veto and protect small businesses.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nS.J.Res.32 is a Congressional Review Act disapproving of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau\u2019s Dodd-Frank Section 1071 Small Business Lending Data Collection Rule. This legislation would bar the CFPB from enforcing the 1071 rule.\n\nTherule, published in the Federal Register on May 31, 2023, is more than 900 pages long and requires lenders to report 81 data fields, including race, sex, gender identity, and ethnicity of loan applicants. Section 1071 forces lenders to pass increased compliance costs onto small business owners through higher interest rates or fees and less credit availability. Among concerns on compliance costs, the February CFPB major data breach involving unauthorized use of sensitive personal and business data by a CFPB employee makes the risk of data leaks clear. Disapproval of the CFPB\u2019s 1071 rule ensures that this burdensome rule does not take effect, unnecessary costs and harms to consumers are avoided, and that small businesses can maintain access to affordable credit, including from community banks, to support and grow our economy.\n\nS.J. Res. 32, which passed the Senate with bipartisan support, is the Senate companion toH.J. Res. 66, which was introduced by Congressman Williams in the House on May 31, 2023.\n\nRead Biden\u2019sveto of this bipartisan legislation here.\n\nRead the bill texthere.\n\n###\n\nCongressman Roger Williams is the Chairman of the House Small Business Committee and member of the House Financial Services Committee. He proudly represents the 25th Congressional District of Texas", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sens-cruz-marshall-rep-arrington-send-letter-calling-out-the-usdas-misguided-emergency-relief-program-requirements", "Sens. Cruz, Marshall, Rep. Arrington Blast USDA\u2019s Discriminatory Emergency Relief Program Requirements", "2023-12-20", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", "cruz", "https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) along with Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) sent a letter to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) calling out the USDA\u2019s discriminatory methodology for the Emergency Relief Program (ERP). Under the Biden administration\u2019s 2022 ERP requirements, the purpose of the relief program is not to provide the greatest amount of relief to those farmers who\u2019ve suffered the most from recent natural disasters, but instead to adjust payments based on a farmer or producer\u2019s skin color and sex. Under the new requirements, farmers will receive a fraction of the amount they would previously have received, simply because of their color. This is blatantly discriminatory, and a shocking example of the Biden administration\u2019s radical social agenda, pushed under thecover of \u201cequity.\u201d The USDA\u2019s new methodology undermines the agriculture community and breaks a long-popular, highly praised, and well-functioning program. The new requirements will hurt Texas farmers and Texas agriculture.\n\nAbout the letter, Sen. Cruz said, \u201cTexas and American farmers are vital to our thriving country. The cattle they raise and crops they grow are the very food on our table, and the USDA is actively attacking a huge swath of the Lone Star State\u2019s ranchers and producers because they think people of one race need less help than people of another. This is taxpayer-funded racism, it is anti-American, and it will only increase the amount of foreign agricultural products that we consume. American farmers will suffer for it, and I was proud to call out this action with my colleagues in the House and Senate.\u201d\n\nIn the letter, the members wrote, \u201cAmerican producers have experienced significant losses, and the Administration has taken an approach that does not reflect Congressional intent. The current program does not provide needed assistance to full-time farm families that suffered the deepest losses, and in short, it misallocates limited but badly needed assistance.\u201d\n\nCosigners of the letter include, Sens. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Representatives Ronny Jackson (R-Texas) , August Pfluger (R-Texas), Frank Lucas (R-Okla.), Scott Franklin (R-Ga.), Jake LaTurner (R-Kan.), Jake Ellzey (R-Texas), Tracey Mann (R-Kan.), Mike Ezell (R-Miss.), Stephanie Bice (R-Okla.), Pete Sessions (R-Texas), Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), Nathaniel Moran (R-Texas), Michael Guest (R-Miss.), Lance Gooden (R-Texas), Dan Newhouse, (R-Wash.) Keith Self (R-Texas), Julia Letlow(R-La.), James Baird (R-Ind.), Troy Nehls (R-Texas), Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), John Rose (R-Tenn.), Adrian Smith (R-Neb.), Barry Moore (R-Ala.), Morgan Luttrell (R-Texas), Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), Brian Babin (R-Texas), Rick Allen (R-Ga.), Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.), Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Rick Crawford (R-Ark.), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Russell Fry (R-S.C.), Mike Flood (R-Neb.), Mark Alford (R-Mo.), Brad Finstad (R-Minn.), Kat Cammack (R-Fla.), Randy Weber (R-Texas), Michelle Fischbach (R-Minn.), John Moolenaar (R-Mich.), Wesley Hunt (R-Texas), Michael Cloud (R-Texas), John Carter (R-Texas), W. Gregory Steube (R-Fla.), Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), Ron Estes (R-Kan.), Kay Granger (R-Texas), Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), Michael Burgess (R-Texas), David Rouzer (R-N.C.), Roger Williams (R-Texas), Chip Roy (R-Texas), Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas), Pat Fallon (R-Texas), Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), Tony Gonzales (R-Texas), and Monica De La Cruz (R-Texas).\n\nRead the full text of the letter here or below.\n\nDear Secretary Vilsack:\n\nWe write to share our strong concerns regarding the methodology and implementation of the United States Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) Emergency Relief Program (ERP) 2022. As farm and ranch families across the country continue navigating challenges caused by various natural disasters, it is vital that proper assistance be delivered in an effective and timely manner.\n\nIt is unacceptable that USDA\u2019s announcement comes almost one year after Congress appropriated over $3 billion in funding to address natural disasters that occurred during the 2022 crop year through the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2023 (P.L. 117-328). This is especially true considering USDA had the framework of 2021 ERP Phase 1 available and Congress encouraged USDA to use such framework.\n\nAmerican producers have experienced significant losses, and the Administration has taken an approach that does not reflect Congressional intent. The current program does not provide needed assistance to full-time farm families that suffered the deepest losses, and in short, it misallocates limited but badly needed assistance.\n\nAdditionally, the methodology used for the 2022 ERP will negatively impact many farmers\u2019 ability to receive financing from lenders and plan for the next crop year. Based on your regulation, farmers suffering losses who would have received assistance covering more than 75% of their calculated losses in 2020 or 2021 will now be capped at closer to 10%. For a mid-sized farm of 1,000 acres with calculated losses of $200 per acre ($200,000 in total losses), the vast difference between upward of $150,000 assistance in 2020 vs. $18,750 in 2022 could be the difference between survival and bankruptcy.\n\nEarlier this year, Members of Congress sent a bicameral letter to USDA pertaining to the ERP Phase II, requesting that USDA reconsider the fundamental changes under such an approach and utilize EPR Phase 1 framework for the 2022 crop year. Unfortunately, these concerns were not addressed, as evidenced by the two-track payment calculation system utilized in the current program.\n\nFurthermore, ERP for 2022 introduces a new payment limit, albeit under a novel name, the progressive payment factor. These factors have resulted in a system of winners and losers that punish the farm families hit hardest by disasters. Additionally, the 2020 and 2021 ERP payments were adjusted for premiums and administrative fees paid by all eligible producers whereas for 2022 payments this only benefits a limited number of producers. This change is also contrary to the statute.\n\nWhile this program is already unnecessarily delayed it is still imperative that USDA depart from its current path because of the major problems raised by producers and Congress. USDA needs to follow the law and Congressional intent to address the crop losses of our farm families without the pay limits and without preferences that are not authorized by the statute. We strongly request the USDA abandon this current program and implement the framework of 2021 ERP Phase 1 as quickly as possible.\n\n/x/\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://nehls.house.gov/media/press-releases/joint-statement-ti-chair-sam-graves-and-railroads-subcommittee-chair-troy", "Joint Statement of T&I Chair Sam Graves and Railroads Subcommittee Chair Troy Nehls on Freight Rail Border Closures", "2023-12-19", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Troy E. Nehls", "N000026", "nehls.house.gov", "nehls", "https://nehls.house.gov/media", "scraper", "Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) and Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee Chairman Troy Nehls (R-TX) joint statement on the U.S. Customs and Border Protections (CBP) closure of freight rail crossings at Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas:\n\n\u201cThe Biden Administration\u2019s failed immigration policies and unwillingness to stem the flow of illegal migration are having a direct impact on transportation, international commerce, and the supply chain. This isn\u2019t the first time this year that CBP was forced to close down freight rail crossings in order to deal with the challenges posed by the Biden border crisis, and the problems are getting worse. A prolonged shutdown of the tracks will have a disastrous impact on the supply chain and commerce, and this is just one of many reasons this administration needs to get this border crisis under control immediately.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sens-cruz-scott-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-crack-down-on-ccp-espionage", "Sens. Cruz, Scott, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Crack Down on CCP Espionage", "2023-12-19", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", "cruz", "https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) introduced legislation to require more stringent reporting requirements from diplomats of American adversaries. This bill also applies to foreign missions in the U.S. conducted by China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. This legislation requires a monthly report of the notification logs from the State Department to the President, Senate Homeland Security Committee, and Senate Foreign Relations Committee to ensure transparency around the business of foreign governments in the United States.\n\nThe Countering Corrupt Political Influence Act (CCP Influence Act), builds upon the Trump administration policy that required the State Department to mandate that Chinese foreign missions, including its embassy and various consulates around the United States, notify the Department of State in advance of all official meetings with state officials, official meetings with local and municipal officials, official visits to educational institutions, and official visits to research institutions.\n\nCosponsors include Sens. Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), and John Cornyn (R-Texas).\n\nUpon introduction, Senator Cruz said, \u201cThe Chinese Communist Party takes a whole of government and indeed often whole of nation approach to advancing its national security interests, including through global influence and espionage operations conducted from within diplomatic facilities. Other American adversaries utilize the same tactics and strategies. This legislation will ensure Congress and the president have a clear picture of what our adversaries are doing in the U.S.\u201d\n\nRead the full text of the bill here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://crenshaw.house.gov/2023/12/crenshaw-introduces-bill-stripping-federal-funding-from-universities-that-require-dei-statements", "Crenshaw Introduces Bill Stripping Federal Funding from Universities That Require DEI Statements", "2023-12-18", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Dan Crenshaw", "C001120", "crenshaw.house.gov", "crenshaw", "https://crenshaw.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Congressman Crenshaw announced legislation to prevent universities across the country from receiving any federal funding if they compel students to write Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) statements.\n\n\u201cWe can see the utter moral bankruptcy in higher education with the spread of antisemitism on college campuses.\u201d Crenshaw said \u201cMake no mistake \u2013 the DEI bureaucracy is directly responsible for a toxic campus culture that separates everyone into oppressor vs oppressed. That\u2019s why I am dropping legislation to protect free thought and prevent federal funding for universities that force students to write diversity, equity, and inclusion statements.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nThe State of Texas recently passed a law curtailing DEI at public universities across the state. Rep. Crenshaw\u2019s legislation builds on this effort by blocking federal funds under the Higher Education Act for all universities that compel their students to write or endorse DEI statements against their will. It specifically includes provisions to also prevent these statements as a condition for employment or enrollment, while including a rule of construction that clarifies this does not infringe on classroom instruction or compliance with antidiscrimination law.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-cruz-calls-for-immediate-release-of-jimmy-lai-as-chinese-communist-party-begins-trial", "Sen. Cruz Calls for Immediate Release of Jimmy Lai as Chinese Communist Party Begins Trial", "2023-12-18", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", "cruz", "https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today called for the release of Jimmy Lai, a dissident and the founder of the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, who is being unjustly detained by the Chinese Communist Party and subjected to an illegitimate trial without his choice of legal representation. Lai has spent over 1,000 days in solitary confinement in a maximum-security prison in Hong Kong. Lai\u2019s trial began today under unprecedented security and coercive measures.\n\nSen. Cruz said, \u201cThe Chinese Communist Party should immediately release Jimmy Lai. He should never have been detained and there is no excuse left to extend his time in prison. He should be released, returned to his family, and allowed to travel.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-cruz-condemns-biden-administration-closing-eagle-pass-bridge-for-second-time", "Sen. Cruz Condemns Biden Administration Closing Eagle Pass Bridge for Second Time", "2023-12-18", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", "cruz", "https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) released the following statement after the Biden administration\u2019s Customs and Border Protections (CBP) Office of Field Operations closed vehicle processing at Bridge 1 and the international railway crossing bridge in Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas in order to accommodate illegal aliens illegally crossing the Texas-Mexico border. This is the second time the bridge has been closed for this reason in 2023.\n\n\u201cThe Biden administration has announced CBP will issue yet another closure of two Texas-Mexico rail bridges, which will stop critical goods like farmers' grain and other consumer goods from flowing between our countries. President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas's failed immigration policies must not stand in the way of commerce. We frankly need to increase the flow of commercial traffic between the U.S. and Mexico, and I have been leading the fight in Congress to remove unnecessary barriers and build new international bridges. Instead, this administration is prioritizing the processing of illegal aliens and won't even staff the bridges we already have. We need legal commerce, not illegal immigration. Time to prioritize American families and keep the bridges open!\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://gonzales.house.gov/2023/12/rep-tony-gonzales-issues-statement-on-suspension-of-railway-operations-in-eagle-pass-el-paso", "Rep. Tony Gonzales Issues Statement on Suspension of Railway Operations in Eagle Pass, El Paso", "2023-12-17", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Tony Gonzales", "G000594", "gonzales.house.gov", "gonzales", "https://gonzales.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) issued the following statement on Customs and Border Protection\u2019s (CBP) decision to suspend operations at the international railway crossing bridges in Eagle Pass and El Paso beginning at 8 AM local time tomorrow, December 18, 2023.\n\n\u201cOur entire southern border is being dismantled by the cartels. While mass migrant caravans pull CBP personnel off the front lines, multiple Border Patrol checkpoints have been shut down--allowing contraband and criminals to flow in without resistance. Trade is slowly coming to a standstill, and our law enforcement officers are exhausted ahead of a demoralizing holiday season that will keep them working overtime. If there were ever a time to sound the alarm, this would be it. For the sake of our national security, Washington must put politics aside and deliver on policy solutions that fix this border crisis once and for all,\u201d said Congressman Tony Gonzales.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://vanduyne.house.gov/2023/12/rep-van-duyne-issues-statement-on-fy2024-national-defense-authorization-act", "Rep. Van Duyne Issues Statement on FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act", "2023-12-16", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Beth Van Duyne", "V000134", "vanduyne.house.gov", "vanduyne", "https://vanduyne.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 \"With the United States facing numerous and escalating threats from around the world, along our borders, and increasingly within the confines of our homeland because of Joe Biden\u2019s unprecedented destruction of U.S. border security, I cast my vote in favor of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). While the legislation was not perfect and contains elements I will continue to work to resolve, especially as they relate to the privacy of American citizens and abuse of surveillance by government agencies, the vast majority of the bill provides critical direction and funding from Congress to deal with a panoply of new and emerging dangers threatening our country and the safety of all Americans.\"\n\nKey Republican provisions added in order to help protect our homeland and southern border\n\nWe can all see how overwhelmed and overworked our Border Patrol agents are, this year\u2019s NDAA fully funds deploying National Guard troops to support our Border Patrol.\n\nThe NDAA also forces the Biden Administration to either build the border wall or transfer border wall materials to states like Texas, which is already working to build barriers.\n\nFunding for programs that will combat fentanyl trafficking and hold China responsible for collaborating with Mexican drug cartels to poison Americans.\n\nInvesting in our troops, their training, well-being, and their families\n\nServicemember Pay and Benefits - supports a 5.2% increase in Servicemember basic pay, the largest pay raise in over 20 years.\n\nAuthorizes the Secretary of Defense to pay junior enlisted members a monthly bonus to counteract the effects of Biden\u2019s record-high inflation.\n\nImproves the Basic Allowance for Housing calculation to increase reimbursement for junior enlisted Servicemembers and counteract soaring rental rates.\n\nExpands Basic Needs Allowance to assist low-income Servicemembers supporting a family.\n\nDealing with the rising threat from the Communist Chinese\n\nRepublicans demanded and successfully added key provisions to increase military readiness, expand programs to deal with new Chinese threats in space and cyberspace, and move production of our weaponry and weapons systems away from the CCP.\n\nExtends the Pacific Deterrence Initiative to enhance U.S. deterrence and defense posture in the Indo-Pacific region. Funds the initiative at $14.7 billion, an increase of $5.6 billion over the budget request. Authorizes over $987 million in INDOPACOM Commander priorities left unfunded in the Biden budget.\n\nIncreases funding and provides multi-year procurement authority for munitions critical to the fight, including advanced autonomous drones, precision missiles, and anti-ship capabilities. Increases funding for innovative new technologies needed to deter the CCP on future battlefields, including AI, autonomous systems, cyber, mobile micronuclear reactors, and high energy lasers. Requires the DoD to undertake efforts to expand the deployable capacity of U.S. nuclear forces to counter the CCP\u2019s unprecedented nuclear buildup.\n\nGetting rid of the \u201cwoke\u201d DEI infestation of our military\n\nAs self-destructive Leftist ideology rampages across college campuses where students have been taught to hate America, so too have these garbage theories and victimology training been force fed into our military, weakening our military readiness and motivation of our fighting forces. Only because of Republican demands were we able to advance key reforms to start gutting DEI and it\u2019s destructive practices from our military.\n\nBanning Critical Race Theory (CRT) - Prohibits funding for the teaching, training, or promotion of CRT in the military, including at service academies and DoD schools.\n\nGuts the Pentagon\u2019s DEI bureaucracy by putting in place a DEI hiring freeze and cutting and capping the pay of DEI bureaucrats.\n\nRestoring Meritocracy - requires all military promotions and accessions to be based on individual merit and demonstrated performance.\n\n\"Taken together, these important provisions, and scores of others, made meaningful changes to reverse the hollowing out of our military readiness and lethality the Biden Administration had caused through ineptitude and extremist ideology. Just as I have always done, I will continue to work on behalf of the people of North Texas to ensure the security of our nation is put first and our military is able to project power, deal with all threats, and effectively eliminate those who seek to harm our nation or our future.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://nehls.house.gov/media/press-releases/exclusive-bipartisan-group-lawmakers-call-investigation-reported-ccp-attacks", "EXCLUSIVE: Bipartisan Group Of Lawmakers Call For Investigation Into Reported CCP \u2018Attacks\u2019 On Vital US Infrastructure", "2023-12-15", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Troy E. Nehls", "N000026", "nehls.house.gov", "nehls", "https://nehls.house.gov/media", "scraper", "Daily Caller\n\nHenry Rodgers\n\nChief National Correspondent\n\nA group of bipartisan House lawmakers sent a letter Friday to the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Jen Easterly, calling for an investigation into concerns regarding recent reporting that says hackers affiliated with a Chinese state-sponsored threat actor possibly infiltrated at least two dozen critical transportation infrastructure entities throughout 2023.\n\nThe Daily Caller first obtained a copy of the letter, which was signed by Chairman Troy Nehls and Ranking Member Donald Payne, Jr. of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials along with Chairman Andrew Garbarino and Ranking Member Eric Swalwell of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection.\n\nIn the letter, the lawmakers request an in-person bipartisan briefing to learn more about the national security issue that was reported by The Washington Post. The Post\u2019s report states \u201chackers affiliated with China\u2019s People\u2019s Liberation Army have burrowed into the computer systems of about two dozen critical entities over the past year.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis reporting builds on May 2023 findings from Microsoft and a Cybersecurity Advisory from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and others that found that Volt Typhoon had engaged in \u2018stealthy and targeted malicious activity\u2019 to gain and maintain persistent access to networks to enable the disruption of \u2018critical communications infrastructure between the United States and Asia region during future crises.\u2019 Given China\u2019s ambitions related to Taiwan, we find the escalation of Volt Typhoon\u2019s tactics extremely troubling,\u201d the lawmakers wrote in the letter.\n\n\u201cThe Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is one of our nation\u2019s greatest foreign adversaries,\u201d Nehls told the Caller before sending the letter.\n\n\u201cBased on recent reporting, it has come to my attention that at least two dozen critical transportation and energy infrastructure entities may have been infiltrated by Chinese state-sponsored cyberattacks in the last year alone. The CCP is attempting to position itself to disrupt and destroy our nation\u2019s supply chains, energy security, and national security. Plain and simple,\u201d he continued.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to lead a bipartisan letter to the Biden Administration\u2019s Cyber and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to ensure that the administration is taking the appropriate measures to protect our country from these blatant attacks and protect our nation\u2019s transportation systems and energy security,\u201d Nehls added.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://sessions.house.gov/2023/12/congressman-pete-sessions-delivers-commencement-speech-at-stephen-f-austin-university-s-100th-anniversary", "Congressman Pete Sessions Delivers Commencement Speech at Stephen F. Austin University's 100th Anniversary", "2023-12-15", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Pete Sessions", "S000250", "sessions.house.gov", "sessions", "https://sessions.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Nacogdoches, TX \u2013 Congressman Pete Sessions addressed the graduating class of 2023 at Stephen F. Austin State University's 100th Anniversary Commencement Ceremony, held at the William R. Johnson Coliseum on December 15, 2023.\n\nIn his commencement speech at Stephen F. Austin University, Congressman Pete Sessions reflected on the institution's historical significance and its integration into the University of Texas system. He urged the graduates to shape their future by embodying American values of capitalism, patriotism, and innovation. Drawing on his varied experiences from AT&T and Bell Labs to a 25-year congressional career, Sessions highlighted the importance of determination, excellence, and the power of persistent effort and practice. He also delved into the university's rich heritage and the enduring legacy of Stephen F. Austin, emphasizing virtues such as courage, character, and performance. Concluding his address, Sessions conveyed his optimism for the graduates' future and the ongoing narrative of American Exceptionalism.\n\nThe full transcript of Congressman Sessions' speech is included below.\n\nA Century of Excellence: Embracing the Legacy & Future of Stephen F. Austin State University\n\n\"Good morning, Interim President Oglesbee, Provost Smith, distinguished current and former members of the Board of Regents, esteemed faculty and staff, proud alumni, devoted parents, and, most importantly, the Stephen F. Austin State University graduating class of 2023. It is a profound honor for me to stand here today, sharing words of encouragement on this momentous day in your lives.\n\nLet's reflect on the significance of today's ceremony. This institution, a beacon of higher learning and a source of pride for the State of Texas, is celebrating a century of educational excellence. Today, you are not just receiving your degrees; you are part of a historic moment. This commencement marks the transition of Stephen F. Austin from a stand-alone institution to becoming an integral part of the University of Texas system. This change is a testament to the legacy and enduring values of this university, an institution from which you should be proud to graduate.\n\nAs we gather here, we're compelled to ask ourselves: What future roles will Stephen F. Austin State University and its graduates play? What remarkable achievements lie ahead for the next century? What works of art will you produce? What music will you write? How will you propel the fields of microbiology and science forward? What critical actions will you, graduates of Stephen F. Austin, take at key moments in history as we record the next century through 2123? These inquiries inspire us to gaze into the future with PRIDE, HOPE, AND DETERMINATION, setting ambitious objectives for America's destiny.\n\nI come before you today, drawing from my years of experience in various roles, from my time at AT&T and Bell Labs to serving Texas for 25 years in the United States Congress. These experiences have taught me about the intertwining of CAPITALISM, PATRIOTISM, AND INNOVATION. They have shown me how individuals can make significant impacts, much like the many pioneers who have shaped our nation's history.\n\nMy personal journey has been marked by continual learning and adaptation, especially during my time as a Boy Scout working towards becoming an Eagle Scout. In those formative years, I mastered the art of map and compass navigation, acquiring skills that extended far beyond geographical orientation to guide me through life's myriad directions. Among the invaluable lessons learned was the concept of 'declination' \u2013 the difference between magnetic north and true north. This seemingly minor deviation, often just about four degrees, epitomizes a crucial life lesson: understanding exactly where you are is the first step to knowing where you're headed. As my father used to say, even a slight misalignment, like that four-degree difference, can be the deciding factor between achieving success and missing your mark entirely. This experience reinforced the significance of recognizing the subtle nuances and starting points that can ultimately define success or failure.\n\nAnother experience that profoundly influenced me was America's ambitious and successful endeavor to land the first man on the moon. In my lifetime, the nation's aspirations were encapsulated in a single, inspiring challenge: \"Going to the Moon.\" This goal became the benchmark for every child, graduate, adventurer, and entrepreneur. This generational drive is captured vividly in the book \"Rocket Boys,\" which tells the story of Homer Hickam, a young man from Coalwood, West Virginia. Hickam harbored a dream of space exploration, which he transformed into reality by mastering quantum physics and cultivating the necessary determination and grit to become a NASA rocket scientist. His story taught me the significance of determination and striving for excellence as the best benchmark of success. Although we have only ventured to the moon a little more than a handful of times, in the words of Buzz Lightyear, our new challenge takes us from here to \"infinity and beyond.\"\n\nOur nation's story is filled with countless other examples of extraordinary ambition and achievement. From early visionaries like Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt to modern trailblazers like Henry Ford, Albert Einstein, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Gates, these figures embody the American Dream. But this dream isn't just about notable figures; those individuals built on the foundation provided by each of us. Standing on the shoulders, or tremendous efforts, of each of us cumulatively as a great nation\u2013 that is our mark on the world, our legacy.\n\nSo, what does all of this mean to you? Forty years ago, in a paper in American Scientist, Herbert Simon and William Chase drew on one of the most famous conclusions in the study of expertise: it takes a lot of practice to be good at complex tasks. This concept was later expanded by Malcolm Gladwell in his book \"Outliers\" as the \u201cten-thousand-hour rule,\u201d highlighting that in cognitively demanding fields, there are no naturals; talent must be complemented by extensive preparation to achieve high levels of success. Moreover, the psychologist John Hayes concluded that in almost every instance, an individual will produce their greatest works after at least ten years of experience, echoing this rule.\n\nAs graduates of Stephen F. Austin State University, each of you is already on your way to fulfilling these ten thousand hours. Your time here has been a monumental step in the journey of learning and growth that extends beyond the walls of this institution. You have demonstrated dedication and effort in laying a strong academic foundation, which is critical in propelling you toward becoming experts in your chosen fields and achieving high levels of success.\n\nRemember, as Malcolm Gladwell emphasized, and as further elaborated by David Epstein in \"The Sports Gene,\" this rule is an average, with variations among individuals. Some may reach proficiency quicker, but the key takeaway is the importance of persistent effort and the efficient use of practice time.\n\nYour journey is emblematic of a grander story, one that embodies the essence of becoming a distinguished Texan and American, which is at the core of realizing the American Dream. This dream transcends mere success; it encompasses the odyssey toward it\u2014the relentless effort, the unwavering commitment, and the resilience in the face of adversity. As you venture forth into a realm brimming with prospects and trials, bear in mind that your achievements will be forged not solely by your natural abilities but profoundly by your groundwork, your zeal for continual education, and your capacity to grasp opportunities for advancement. This lies at the very heart of the American Dream\u2014 a dream that is within your reach as you are poised to embrace it.\n\nBefore entering Congress, I spent sixteen years in the telecommunications industry. During the mid-1980s, I worked for three years at Bell Labs in New Jersey, then the premier privately held research and development center in the nation. It was home to the invention of many technologies, including the transistor, the basic building block of the microchip, upon which all our smartphones and PCs operate.\n\nDuring my time, I witnessed my team dedicate themselves to their work and produce something new, a product called 'Integrated Digital Services Network' (ISDN), which is called Broadband, today. Looking back, our efforts at Labs built upon the successes of our predecessors, only after putting in their ten thousand hours.\n\nThis is a testament to the principle that excellence in any field is achieved through dedication and perseverance. The same principle applies to every one of us. The American Dream is not just about the end result; it is also about the hard work, the incremental advances, and the dedication to a craft that each person brings to their field. Just as the inventors and engineers at Bell Labs put in their ten thousand hours to revolutionize the telecommunications industry, each of you will put in your hours to innovate and lead in your respective fields. And in doing so, you will be living embodiments of that dream \u2013 the dream where hard work and perseverance not only lead to personal success but drive progress and innovation that benefit us all. Congratulations on reaching your graduation milestones, and may you continue to grow, learn, and excel in all your future endeavors.\n\nAs we look back at the history of this university, we see a rich tapestry of challenges and triumphs. This institution has withstood the tests of time, from economic hardships, like the Great Depression and Great Recession, to global conflicts, like World War II, The Cold War, and the War in Afghanistan, shaping resilient and innovative leaders. Each of you is a continuation of this legacy.\n\nA sentiment that also embodies the legacy of Texas' founder, Stephen F. Austin. During your time here, you have gained firsthand knowledge and a profound connection to the Father of Texas. His visionary contribution lay in shaping Texas into what it is today, a state that stands proud and strong, a testament to the spirit of those who journeyed to America and established what we now cherish as our great state. Furthermore, I offer you another brief anecdote about courage, from one of my favorite books \u201cYear of the Rat.\u201d\n\n'On a wall in the basement of the United States Capitol in Washington, is a bas-relief depicting a Greek warrior engaged in mortal combat with a snake. The artist captures the moment when the man raises his sword to strike the death blow. Across the tableau is one word: COURAGE. Artistically, physical courage is easy to depict. Moral courage is another matter. Moral courage requires taking a cold, hard look at the world and then acting, accepting the consequences, and knowing that the greatest good will ultimately be served. Moral courage demands sacrifice\u2014the subordination of self-interest to the interests of others. To be morally or intellectually courageous requires a basic sense of honesty and integrity coupled with the will to act decisively on those principles. Moral character is of great matter in a leader and will inevitably affect the substance of his performance. Courage, character, and performance can NOT be separated.'\n\nThe stories of great leaders and the poignant imagery of the Greek warrior battling a snake remind us that true courage involves more than just bravado; it encompasses integrity, selflessness, and a steadfast commitment to doing what is right, regardless of the challenges. As graduates of Stephen F. Austin State University, you are embarking on a journey where your moral compass, shaped by the values of honesty and integrity, will guide you. Remember, the convergence of courage, character, and performance is not just idealistic but essential. It forms the bedrock of personal excellence and societal progress. Embrace this ethos, as it resonates with the very motto of SFA, and let it guide you in every endeavor, ensuring that your actions contribute positively to the world around you.\n\nMy optimism for your future is boundless, as is my confidence in the continued journey of American Exceptionalism. Each stride you take builds upon the legacy of greatness that defines our nation. As you embark on this next phase of your lives, remember that the hours of dedication you invest in your passions and professions will shape not only your own destiny but also the fabric of our society. Good luck, and may your endeavors reflect the enduring spirit of excellence and innovation.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/blogs/e-newsletter-week-of-december-15th", "e-Newsletter: Week of December 15th", "2023-12-15", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", "cruz", "https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Good Evening,\n\nThis week, I voted in favor of final passage of the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes five bipartisan victories I was proud to spearhead. One measure reinforces our defense and national security interests by ensuring B-1 bombers at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas remain in service as long as necessary for our national defense. Another measure streamlines the presidential permitting process for building four bridges across the Rio Grande in Brownsville, Laredo, and Eagle Pass. A third victory counters the Chinese Communist Party\u2019s efforts to influence our children in schools. A fourth measure addresses the Maduro regime\u2019s seizure of Americans, including Texans, as hostages in Venezuela, and a fifth victory holds corrupt officials accountable for Vladimir Putin\u2019s Nord Stream 2 pipeline.\n\n\u201cOverall, this bill ensures our military is able to defend the United States at home and abroad, and it secures Texas as a pillar of America\u2019s defense capabilities.\u201d\n\nThis year\u2019s NDAA also provides funding for military construction projects in Texas, including:\n\nRead more about the five bipartisan measures I secured for Texas in the national defense bill: HERE\n\nOn Tuesday, I joined Hannity on Fox News to discuss the ongoing horrific harassment of Jewish students on Harvard University\u2019s campus. I also addressed the disgraceful testimony of Harvard\u2019s President Claudine Gay before Congress.\n\n\u201c[Harvard University President, Claudine Gay] is a radical leftist [and] a cultural Marxist. \u2026 This is Cultural Marxism: they define Jews as oppressors [and] they define Palestinians as victims. The cultural Marxists support the violent revolution of the victims against the \u2018so-called\u2019 oppressors. \u2026 They are cheering for the Hamas terrorists. It is disgraceful. And I gotta say at Harvard, you are seeing Jewish students being harassed. You're seeing Jewish students afraid to go to class, and these leftists are unwilling to stand up and defend their students. She should resign. And I gotta tell you, I think there are thousands upon thousands of Harvard alums who are horrified at the behavior of the institution right now.\u201d\n\nOn Wednesday, as the ranking member on the Senate Commerce Committee, I attended a hearing where we discussed the future of commercial space flight.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s not the value of our system to have asinine delays that accomplish nothing, and that put us at a disadvantage compared to our competitors. We are in a race for space. Understand I'm not advocating for a wholesale repeal of our environmental laws or NEPA. I'm just arguing for them not to be applied and in a way that slows down commercial space. Under the current status quo with agencies giving the opportunity for third party lawsuits to derail commercial space development\u2014that is slowing down our effectiveness.\u201d\n\nOn Thursday, I addressed my colleagues on the Senate floor urging a vote on passage for a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorization bill extension to keep the flying public safe.\n\n\u201cMore than 7.5 million Americans will fly to see loved ones and celebrate the holidays. A record number. This is no easy feat. A seamless travel experience depends on airlines, on air traffic controllers, on airport managers, [and] on TSA screeners\u2014all working together for the aviation system to run efficiently during times of extreme strain, like the holiday season. \u2026 There's one problem, the FAA\u2019s authorities are set to expire at the end of the year. Without the FAA extension, air travel and air cargo \u2026 will be severely impacted. At the moment, we face a potential challenge of not extending the FAA\u2019s authorities because of the objections of a Senate Democrats. This is irresponsible and frankly bad for the safety agency's ability to operate effectively.\u201d\n\nRest assured, I will continue to stop at nothing to fight for the priorities of Texans across the Lone Star State. God Bless!\n\nKeep Texas Strong,\n\nMORE FROM SEN. CRUZ:\n\nREAD: Sen Ted Cruz calls out VP Kamala Harris for Palestinian sympathy push: 'Undermining Israel'\n\nICYMI: Sen. Cruz Secures Five Bipartisan Measures, Victories for Texas in the National Defense Bill\n\nREAD: Ted Cruz Says CPB Tying Grants To Diversity May Run Afoul Of Federal Law.\n\nICYMI: Cruz Rips Durbin For Protecting Those Who Flew On Jeffrey Epstein\u2019s Plane By Not Subpoenaing Flight Logs\n\nState Spotlight\n\nTexas Rangers Victory Celebration Hosted by Arizona Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly\n\nCommerce Corner\n\nNotre Dame University Athletic Director\n\nVerizon CEO", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1133", "Chairman Arrington Statement on Passage of H.R. 2670 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Jodey C. Arrington", "A000375", "arrington.house.gov", "arrington", "https://arrington.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) issued the following statement on H.R. 2670, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024, as it passed the House and Senate.\n\n\u201cAt a time when the world is more dangerous and US military funding as a share of the federal budget is the lowest since World War II, the defense bill provides our troops with the resources they need to be safe and successful in the first and most important job of our government. In addition, this defense package saves billions of taxpayer dollars by cutting $37 billion in wasteful spending and rooting out woke programs by banning CRT, gutting DEI programs, removing the pride flag from military bases, and repealing radical climate mandates.\n\nThis defense package limits the Biden administration\u2019s efforts to reduce the number of Special Forces and prevents the divestment of key aircraft, including the F-22 and C-130; prohibits the DoD from reducing the number of missiles in our nuclear arsenal; and bolsters our lethality to counter adversaries like China, Russia, and Iran.\n\nI am proud we gave our troops the biggest pay raise in 20 years, and that we were able to fully fund Dyess Air Force Base, B-1 weapon modernization, and the next-generation B-21 bomber.\n\nAmerica must project strength - this legislation shows our unwavering commitment to our troops, stewardship of taxpayer dollars, and rooting out woke ideology and unAmerican policies that have no place in our military.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://carter.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1722", "Representative Carter's Statement on the National Defense Authorization Act", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "John R. Carter", "C001051", "carter.house.gov", "carter", "https://carter.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "After voting against H.R. 2670, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Representative John Carter (R-TX-31) released the following statement.\n\n\"Earlier this year, the House passed a strong, responsible NDAA that focused on military readiness and deterrence. Unfortunately, today's NDAA was not that bill, and while it had some strengths to it, it ultimately included several poison pills that I could not support.\n\n\"The first is that there is absolutely no rhyme or reason why taxpayers' hard-earned dollars should subsidize drag shows and gender reassignment surgeries in our military. Not only is it a violation of our constituents' trust in us to protect their tax dollars, it is also a direct example of why military recruiting numbers are down. The woke nonsense occurring in America's military is damaging to our troop readiness and culture. If we want a strong military, we must quit following the left down the road to their woke army.\n\n\"Secondly, a clean FISA reauthorization should not have been coupled with the NDAA. FISA has been abused in violation of the Fourth Amendment. Any reauthorization should have had safeguards in place to protect Americans' privacy as guaranteed by the Constitution.\n\n\"My constituents sent me to Washington to stand up for Texas-style common sense, follow the Constitution, and protect their tax dollars. For that reason, I voted against today's negotiated NDAA.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://gonzales.house.gov/2023/12/rep-tony-gonzales-secures-wins-supports-passage-of-defense-authorization-package", "Rep. Tony Gonzales Secures Wins, Supports Passage of Defense Authorization Package", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Tony Gonzales", "G000594", "gonzales.house.gov", "gonzales", "https://gonzales.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) voted for the final passage of the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Several of Congressman Gonzales\u2019 priorities for TX-23 were included in the NDAA, which will be signed into law at a future date. Congressman Gonzales\u2019 provision to grant Border Patrol Agents in TX-23 increases to their overtime pay was included in the robust national security package. Qualifying agents would be authorized to receive thousands of dollars in additional compensation.\n\nAdditionally, Congressman Gonzales' provision to increase funding for the Family Separation Allowance (FSA) to $400 from $250 per month was included in the final passage of the bill. Congressman Gonzales also helped secure $158 million for Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (JBSA-Lackland) and $74 million for Fort Bliss in El Paso.\n\n\u201cThe FY24 NDAA strengthens our national security efforts, delivers for our servicemembers and their families, and enhances TX-23\u2019s military installments. As a 20-year Navy veteran, taking care of the men and women in our military and those protecting our homeland is a top priority of mine. Border Patrol Agents have been working around the clock, and they deserve to be fairly compensated. I am proud that my provision to grant them additional overtime pay was included in this legislation,\u201d said Congressman Tony Gonzales. \u201cI am also proud to have delivered a funding increase for military families who cannot serve together\u2014the Family Separation Allowance has not increased since 2004. With the passage of the NDAA, servicemembers eligible for FSA funding will feel much-needed relief soon.\u201d\n\nThe FSA is an additional compensation given to servicemembers whose family members cannot live with or near them at their permanent duty station. This benefit aids service members and their families with the added costs that stem from living in separate locations. Currently, the FSA is capped at $250 per month. Through Congressman Gonzales\u2019 efforts, eligible servicemembers will receive a $150 increase per month totaling $400.\n\nTX-23 Provisions Secured by Congressman Gonzales in the FY24 NDAA:\n\nIncrease in overtime pay for Border Patrol Agents\n\nIncreases the FSA from $250 to $400 per month\n\n$74 million for the Fort Bliss rail yard\n\n$158 million for JBSA-Lackland\n\n$20 million to complete the construction of a Child Development Center\n\n$48 million for a new Cyber Operations Center\n\n$90 million for a new Chapel in San Antonio for America\u2019s Airmen\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://keithself.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-keith-self-votes-against-ndaa-bill-funding-abortion-travel-and", "Congressman Keith Self Votes Against NDAA Bill Funding Abortion-Travel and Reauthorizing Section 702 of FISA", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Keith Self", "S001224", "keithself.house.gov", "keithself", "https://keithself.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congressman Keith Self voted against the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024.\n\n\u201cWhile I fully supported the House Republican\u2019s NDAA bill passed in July, I could not in good conscience vote for the Senate negotiated NDAA as it allows American taxpayer dollars to be used for abortion-travel for servicemembers and extends Section 702 of FISA without reform,\u201d said Congressman Keith Self. \u201cI staunchly stand with our men and women in uniform and am deeply disappointed in the politicization of this essential legislation to fund our military.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://keithself.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-keith-self-votes-support-impeachment-inquiry-president-biden", "Congressman Keith Self Votes in Support of Impeachment Inquiry of President Biden", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Keith Self", "S001224", "keithself.house.gov", "keithself", "https://keithself.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congressman Keith Self voted in support of House Resolution 918, formalizing the House of Representatives impeachment inquiry of President Joe Biden.\n\n\u201cThe American people deserve to know the truth about President Joe Biden\u2019s shady foreign business dealings and disturbing pattern of corruption,\u201d said Congressman Keith Self. \u201cThis Resolution, brought forth in light of the bombshell evidence uncovered by the House Committees on Oversight and Accountability, Judiciary, and Ways and Means, is a decisive step towards ensuring a thorough investigation backed by the strongest legal standing.\u201d\n\nIt is essential to determine with the utmost diligence whether sufficient grounds exist for the impeachment of President Joe Biden.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://luttrell.house.gov/media/press-releases/luttrell-secures-wins-applauds-final-passage-fy24-ndaa", "Luttrell Secures Wins, Applauds Final Passage of FY24 NDAA", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Morgan Luttrell", "L000603", "luttrell.house.gov", "luttrell", "https://luttrell.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "December 14, 2023\n\nWASHINGTON -- Congressman Morgan Luttrell (R-TX) scored several key wins in the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which was adopted in the House and Senate and now heads to the President\u2019s desk to be signed into law. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee and conferee to the NDAA Conference Committee, Rep. Luttrell was responsible for helping craft this legislation.\n\n\u201cAs a Navy combat veteran, I know how important a well-equipped military force is to protect our country. And as a member of the House Armed Services Committee and an NDAA conferee, I am proud of the work we did with the 2024 NDAA to boost defense spending to provide much-needed funding for our military and national security, as our nation faces unprecedented threats from around the globe.\n\n\u201cI was honored to see several of my amendments and priorities accepted into the final version of the bill, including clinical trials on psychedelic therapy to treat PTSD, support for TBI research, and other key provisions that will ensure a safer, stronger United States. This legislation will ensure America can face security challenges with lethality and readiness,\u201d said Congressman Luttrell.\n\nThe 2024 NDAA:\n\nSupports a 5.2% pay raise for service members, the largest pay raise in over 20 years\n\nAuthorizes the Secretary of Defense to pay junior enlisted members a monthly bonus to counteract the effect of President Biden\u2019s record-high inflation\n\nProhibits funding for Critical Race Theory (CRT) in the military\n\nEliminates funding for the DoD\u2019s Countering Extremism Working Group and puts in place a DEI hiring freeze\n\nContinues the prohibition on adverse action on any service member that refuses or refused the COVID vaccine while beginning a path back to service for those that were discharged\n\nIncludes a Parents Bill of Rights to ensure parents of children in DoD schools have the right to review the curriculum, books, etc.\n\nCuts wasteful programs at the DoD\n\nThe 2024 NDAA also includes the following additional legislative provisions championed by Congressman Luttrell:\n\nSupports and provides funding for clinical studies on the benefits of breakthrough therapies for treating Traumatic Brains Injuries (TBI) and other combat-related conditions\n\nFully funds deployment of National Guard troops in support of Border Patrol activities at the southwest border\n\nSupports counterdrug activities\n\nIncludes multiple provisions supporting Special Forces\u2019 ability to fight and win\n\nBolsters cybersecurity capacity at DoD by reallocating responsibilities, creating requirements, and increasing preparedness across the Force\n\nAuthorizes funding for hypersonic research and development\n\nRequires a study on service member nutrition across the military\n\nAuthorizes funding for various programs that are manufactured in Texas\n\nSupports funding for Texas\u2019 military installations\n\nSupports the study of TBIs among service members\n\nIncludes $40 million for Special Operations Command counter drone capabilities", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/mccaul-votes-national-defense-authorization-act-support-troops", "McCaul Votes for National Defense Authorization Act to Support Troops, Strengthen U.S. Military Might", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Michael T. McCaul", "M001157", "mccaul.house.gov", "mccaul", "https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) \u2014 chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee \u2014 released the following statement after voting for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024.\n\n\u201cOur servicemembers and their families deserve the very best our nation can offer, and this year\u2019s NDAA takes crucial steps to honor and provide for these heroes. It also works to keep liberal ideology from infiltrating our military, bolster our nuclear stockpiles, and secure our last line of defense \u2014 the southern border. I\u2019m proud to support this bill to restore the American military might needed to defend our nation and the free world.\u201d\n\nRep. McCaul secured the inclusion of key bipartisan provisions in the FY24 NDAA that will streamline the presidential permitting process for building key gateway bridges between Texas and Mexico.\n\n\u201cThree years into President Biden\u2019s tenure, Americans continue to suffer under the weight of inflation and a struggling economy. This expansion of critical infrastructure will strengthen international commerce, lowering the cost of goods for American families. As a Texan and the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I\u2019m proud to have secured this provision, which will bring economic growth in my home state and far beyond.\u201d \u2013 Rep. McCaul\n\nRep. McCaul was also pleased to see the inclusion of language that will strengthen the DoD\u2019s partnerships with academic institutions like Texas A&M, in Rep. McCaul\u2019s district, for hypersonic weapons research and development.\n\n\u201cChina and Russia's hypersonic capabilities have advanced to a stunning degree, posing an unacceptable risk to our national security. Thankfully, Texas A&M is a national leader in hypersonics, and I am confident the research conducted there will drive American leadership and help advance these critical capabilities.\u201d \u2013 Rep. McCaul\n\nRep. McCaul also supports many conservative victories within the FY24 NDAA, which:\n\nAuthorizes a 5.2 percent pay increase for troops, the largest in more than 20 years;\n\nIncludes a Parents\u2019 Bill of Rights to ensure parents of children in DoD schools have the right to meet with teachers and review curriculum;\n\nProtects and reinstates servicemembers who were discharged due to refusal of the COVID-19 vaccine;\n\nSupports law enforcement operations at the border and tackles the fentanyl crisis through counterdrug activities;\n\nDefends Israel in her time of need;\n\nWorks to track and prevent CCP espionage; and\n\nBolsters U.S. military readiness by strengthening our defense industrial base.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://nehls.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-troy-e-nehls-statement-after-voting-against-ndaa-0", "Rep. Troy E. Nehls\u2019 Statement After Voting Against NDAA", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Troy E. Nehls", "N000026", "nehls.house.gov", "nehls", "https://nehls.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Congressman Troy E. Nehls (R-TX-22) issued the following statement after voting against the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):\n\n\u201cToday, I voted NO on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the Fiscal Year 2024,\u201d said Congressman Nehls. \u201cThis legislation reauthorizes Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), with no reforms. Section 702 was intended to allow the federal government to conduct targeted surveillance of foreign nationals outside of the United States, and instead, it has been abused by the FBI to spy on innocent American citizens.\n\nWe cannot continue to allow federal agencies to abuse the Fourth Amendment rights of the American people.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases/statement-national-defense-authorization-act-fiscal-year-2024", "Statement on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Chip Roy", "R000614", "roy.house.gov", "roy", "https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Rep. Chip Roy (TX-21) issued the following statement Thursday after voting against H.R. 2670:\n\nOnce again, House leadership teamed up with more Democrat than Republicans to pass a White House-endorsed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that greenlights nearly every one of President Biden\u2019s radical policies at the Pentagon.\n\nFrom endorsing Biden\u2019s illegal abortion tourism fund, taxpayer-funded gender transition surgeries, Chief Diversity Officers, and his climate hysteria agenda, 147 Republicans rubber stamped every single one of these priorities.\n\nTo make it even worse, swamp leadership airdropped a 16-month extension of FISA into the NDAA that extends spying authorities that the FBI and intelligence community regularly use to violate the 4th Amendment Rights of Americans.\n\nI was proud to support the House Conference's strong NDAA passed out of the House earlier this year. However, I could not vote for a swamp deal that bargained away almost every policy win in that version of the bill. America, her military, and our men and women in uniform deserve better than the Washington status quo.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://sessions.house.gov/2023/12/congressman-sessions-introduces-legislation-to-protect-investor-autonomy-and-enhance-market-flexibility", "Congressman Sessions Introduces Legislation to Protect Investor Autonomy and Enhance Market Flexibility", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Pete Sessions", "S000250", "sessions.house.gov", "sessions", "https://sessions.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2013 Today, Congressman Pete Sessions (TX-17) introduced H.R. 6783, the Capital Markets Financing and Economic Growth Investments Act of 2023. As well, Congressman Vicente Gonzales (TX-34) co-introduced the pivotal piece of legislation. The act is set to bring significant enhancements to the financial regulatory framework, focusing on protecting investor choices and increasing flexibility within the U.S. capital markets.\n\nKey Features of the Proposed Legislation:\n\nRevamping Money Market Fund Regulations: The Act amends the Investment Company Act of 1940 to codify to opt for a stable share price by using the amortized cost method for portfolio valuation. This flexibility extends to all investor and fund types, thereby restoring the ability of all investors to use prime and municipal money market funds for cash management in addition to U.S. government funds. Enabling stable value prime and municipal money market funds will increase available credit to finance the private economy, potentially by Trillions, without inflation money printing by the Federal Reserve or deficit spending by Congress.\n\nRelief from Mandatory Liquidity Fee Requirements: A pivotal aspect of the proposed legislation is the exemption of money market funds, opting for these new pricing methods, from the existing mandatory liquidity fee requirements. This exemption aims to encourage more dynamic and responsive market practices.\n\nRestriction on Imposing Mandatory Pricing or Fees: The proposal seeks to protect registered open-end companies from mandatory pricing adjustments or transaction fee impositions by regulatory authorities. This measure is designed to ensure a more equitable and stable investment landscape.\n\nEncouragement of Voluntary Compliance: While the Act sets out these prohibitions, it also acknowledges the importance of flexibility by allowing registered open-end companies the freedom to adopt voluntary measures related to asset value adjustments and shareholder transaction fees.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://weber.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1855", "Rep. Weber Statement on National Defense Authorization Act", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Randy K. Weber, Sr.", "W000814", "weber.house.gov", "weber", "https://weber.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Weber (TX-14) released the following statement after voting against the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024:\n\n\u201cIn July, the House Republicans passed the most conservative NDAA in history: it ended Joe Biden\u2019s taxpayer-funded travel abortions, stopped taxpayer-funded gender transition surgeries, and halted the Left\u2019s radical climate agenda. I was proud to vote for this bill and knew compromise from the Senate was inevitable. Unfortunately, the NDAA we voted on today is wrong for America. We are the United States of America, the strongest military force in the world, and it is time we start acting like it instead of pushing Joe Biden\u2019s radical priorities onto our military.\u201d\n\n\u201cEven worse, the NDAA has attached a completely unrelated \u201cclean\u201d reauthorization of FISA with zero reforms. It is imperative that we strengthen our Fourth Amendment and stop the corrupt upper echelon of the federal government from spying on everyday Americans. Unfortunately, today, Congress reauthorized the status quo.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-cruz-secures-five-bipartisan-measures-victories-for-texas-in-the-national-defense-bill", "Sen. Cruz Secures Five Bipartisan Measures, Victories for Texas in the National Defense Bill", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", "cruz", "https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) this week voted in favor of final passage of the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes five bipartisan victories he secured to protect Texas and the nation.\n\nUpon passage in the Senate, Sen. Cruz said, \u201cThis week, Congress came together to fund our military and protect our national security, and I'm proud it included several of my measures. We live in dangerous times. That\u2019s why I fought to make sure this bill reinforces our defense and national security interests, including by ensuring that B-1 bombers at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas remain as long as necessary for our national defense.\n\n\u201cThis legislation also includes a provision of mine to streamline the presidential permitting process for building four bridges across the Rio Grande in Brownsville, Laredo, and Eagle Pass, Texas. These bridges will boost the Texas and U.S. economies by billions of dollars. I was proud to lead on this bipartisan effort, and I look forward to seeing these cross-border bridge projects through to completion.\n\n\u201cFurther, the bill includes language I authored to counter the Chinese Communist Party\u2019s efforts to influence our children in schools with JROTC programs.\n\n\u201cThe NDAA also includes my measure to counter the efforts by the Maduro regime to seize Americans, including Texans, hostage. It requires the State Department to produce a detailed report on efforts by the government of Venezuela to detain American citizens.\n\n\u201cFinally, I\u2019m proud that my legislation to hold corrupt officials accountable for Vladimir Putin\u2019s Nord Stream 2 pipeline was included in the final version of the NDAA.\n\n\u201cOverall, this bill ensures our military is able to defend the United States at home and abroad, and it secures Texas as a pillar of America\u2019s defense capabilities.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nThis year\u2019s NDAA also provides funding for military construction projects in Texas, including:\n\n$118 million for construction and land acquisition at Ft. Bliss in El Paso;\n\n$113 million for construction and land acquisition at Red River Army Depot in Texarkana;\n\n$20 million for barracks construction at Ft. Cavazos in Killeen;\n\n$18.25 million for developing a microgrid and backup power at Ft. Cavazos in Killeen;\n\n$90 million to build a chapel at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in San Antonio;\n\n$48 million to build a cyber operation center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in San Antonio;\n\n$20 million to build a child development center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in San Antonio;\n\n$16 million to build a warehouse at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth in Fort Worth; and\n\n$35 million to build an analytic gas laboratory at DOE\u2019s Pantex plant in Amarillo.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1131", "House Passes H.R. 5378 Lower Costs, More Transparency Act Containing Chairman Arrington\u2019s Better Deals and Lower Prices Act", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Jodey C. Arrington", "A000375", "arrington.house.gov", "arrington", "https://arrington.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 This week, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5378, the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act. This legislation, passed by an overwhelming bi-partisan majority, contained a provision from Chairman Arrington\u2019s Better Deals and Lower Prices Act (H.R. 4846). Arrington\u2019s provision was designed to arm employers with the information they need to make informed contracting decisions with PBMs and will lower the premiums of working-class families across the country.\n\n\u201cWhile America leads in medical innovation and ingenuity, our health care delivery system has fundamental flaws that disadvantage patients and taxpayers alike. By increasing transparency on prescription drug prices, we empower consumers to make informed decisions, inject much-needed competition into the health care market; and ensure taxpayer dollars are being spent in the most cost-effective manner,\u201d said Rep. Arrington. \u201cI\u2019m proud to introduce the Better Deals and Lower Prices Act to arm job creators with the information they need to get the best deal possible and lower prices for their employees, while driving down premiums, and reducing health care costs across the board.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nMany companies do not have the resources to negotiate back and forth with drug manufacturers on the cost and quantity of the drugs they require for their employees.\n\nTraditionally, PBMs filled this function, and while companies don't have to contract with a PBM to develop their drug benefit, virtually all of them do.\n\nOver time, and due largely to a lack of oversight and transparency, the 3 Largest PBMs have grown to control 90% of the market - while patients and employers face mounting barriers to understanding how PBMs negotiate for them, and whether the deal they're getting is as good as they think.\n\nThis means two things:\n\nCompanies can't act as rational consumers and compare PBM net price data across the market, or \"shop around,\" and\n\nWorking Americans with employer sponsored insurance (roughly 160,000,000 of them) are paying higher premiums than they need to.\n\nThe Better Deals and Lower Prices Act will address this by requiring PBMs to share net price data from all drugs regardless of class to employers that request it, allowing businesses small and large to access the same information and shop effectively.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1132", "Chairman Arrington Statement on House Authorizing Impeachment Inquiry into President Biden", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Jodey C. Arrington", "A000375", "arrington.house.gov", "arrington", "https://arrington.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) issued the following statement regarding the House of Representatives voting to authorize an impeachment inquiry into President Biden.\n\n\u201cAfter months of extensive investigation by the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees,I voted to authorize a formal impeachment inquiry into President Biden.\n\nFor years, members of the Biden family have engaged in a complex scheme of influence-peddling involving shady business practices with foreign adversaries, and there is evidence asserting that President Biden himself may have committed impeachable offenses relating to treason, bribery, or other crimes.\n\nImpeaching any president is a serious matter. The facts and fidelity to the Constitution should drive the process and determine the outcome \u2013 not politics.\n\nI have long maintained that an impeachment inquiry is justified and necessary to enforce congressional subpoenas, compel the White House to comply with our investigation, and uncover the facts to make a final decision.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://jackson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=848", "Rep. Jackson Introduces Legislation to Improve Transparency in Export Controls", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ronny Jackson", "J000304", "jackson.house.gov", "jackson", "https://jackson.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Last week, Congressman Ronny Jackson (TX-13) introduced the Maintaining American Superiority by Improving Export Control Transparency Act to improve transparency and accountability with regards to export controls. This legislation would require information be provided to Congress about each export license application. This includes the name of the entity submitting the application, who they are exporting to, what the decision was, and how compliance with U.S. export controls is being monitored.\n\nJackson said: \"Export controls are a critical tool for ensuring the national security of the United States. While America welcomes free trade with many countries around the world, it is not a one-size-fits-all policy. The dangerous practice of unrestricted export controls leaves the door open to America providing China with tools and resources they might use to undermine America as a global leader, both militarily and economically. If left unchecked, our export control policies could have disastrous consequences on the world stage. Therefore, Congress must do everything in its power to keep America first and protect our national security interests, this includes improving transparency and accountability for our export controls which my legislation seeks to do. I look forward to this legislation\u2019s rapid consideration and hope to see it signed into law soon!\u201d\n\nBill text can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/mccaul-votes-impeachment-inquiry-president-biden", "McCaul Votes for Impeachment Inquiry Into President Biden", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Michael T. McCaul", "M001157", "mccaul.house.gov", "mccaul", "https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) issued the following statement after voting to formalize House Republicans\u2019 impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden.\n\n\"Because the White House refused to work with House Republicans in good faith, they have forced House Republicans to open a formal impeachment inquiry to give Congress more authorities in the courts and help enforce Congressional subpoenas. That\u2019s why \u2014 as a former federal prosecutor \u2014 I voted for the impeachment inquiry. If the White House refuses to be transparent, we will use our Article I authorities to get the answers the American people deserve.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://weber.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1856", "Rep. Weber votes to launch Impeachment Inquiry into Joe Biden", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Randy K. Weber, Sr.", "W000814", "weber.house.gov", "weber", "https://weber.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Weber (TX-14) voted in favor of H.Res. 918 to formalize ongoing investigations into President Biden being conducted by the House Committees on Oversight and Accountability, Ways and Means, and Judiciary into whether sufficient grounds exist for the House to impeach President Biden. The resolution establishes procedures for carrying out impeachment hearings in each committee.\n\n\"This is a step in the right direction to continue our fact-finding mission into the corruption of Joe Biden without the Biden Administration undermining the investigation,\u201d said Rep. Weber. \u201cThe American people have a right to know if the criminal bribery scheme allegations are true and whether Biden was tangled up in his son's business dealings. We will continue to follow the very damning facts that have already been uncovered and continue to reveal the truth to the American people about President Biden's involvement in his family's foreign business dealings.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://delacruz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=509", "De La Cruz\u2019s Bipartisan \u201cSave Children from Trauma Act\u201d Included in SUPPORT Act, Passed by U.S. House on Tuesday", "2023-12-12", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Monica De La Cruz", "D000594", "delacruz.house.gov", "delacruz", "https://delacruz.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "The bipartisan \u201cSave Children from Trauma Act\u201d introduced by Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) in June passed the House today as part of the SUPPORT Act.\n\nThe \u201cSave Children from Trauma Act\u201d provides resources for the National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative, which helps improve treatment and services for children, adolescents, and families who have experienced traumatic events. The bill reauthorizes the program at the last enacted appropriated level of $93,887,000 for fiscal years 2024-2028.\n\nThe SUPPORT Act (Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act) addresses America\u2019s opioid crisis. It was initially passed in 2018.\n\n\"The escalating fentanyl crisis and rising violence in the United States have far-reaching consequences, extending beyond just adults,\" emphasized De La Cruz. \"These challenges are also taking a toll on our nation's children, subjecting them to immediate trauma and potentially leaving lasting scars. I'm pleased by the inclusion of my bipartisan legislation designed to allocate essential resources for children to access the support they need to address and recover from adolescent trauma, ultimately enabling them to grow into thriving, productive adults.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-roy-issues-statement-hr-5378", "Rep. Roy issues statement on H.R. 5378", "2023-12-12", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Chip Roy", "R000614", "roy.house.gov", "roy", "https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Rep. Chip Roy (TX-21) issued the following statement Tuesday morning:\n\nYesterday, I voted against H.R. 5378.\n\nHealthcare price transparency is a laudable goal but this legislation contains billions to extend federal health programs without making key reforms to ensure these dollars are not spent in a way that violates the American people\u2019s conscience.\n\nWhile the bill is allegedly \"offset,\" it increases the deficit by nearly $10 billion in the first five years, fueling the inflation Americans are facing right now. And the bill\u2019s single biggest \"pay-for\" is an egregious budget gimmick, made possible by last year\u2019s $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill.\n\nFurther, this legislation was moved under suspension of the rules, barring any ability to allow amendments, or a full debate of the House. This is not the way the People\u2019s House should operate.\n\nThe American healthcare system needs transformative changes to bring down costs and expand healthcare freedom. This bill contained some positive provisions, but unfortunately this bill is ultimately more of the same healthcare policy that has helped lead us to the unsustainable system we see today.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-roy-and-schweikert-fight-cut-slush-fund-created-debt-ceiling-deal", "Reps. Roy and Schweikert fight to cut \u201cslush fund\u201d created by debt ceiling deal", "2023-12-12", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Chip Roy", "R000614", "roy.house.gov", "roy", "https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Representatives Chip Roy (TX-21) and David Schweikert (AZ-01) are leading a group of lawmakers in fighting to eliminate a $22 billion \u201cslush fund\u201d created by the debt ceiling deal negotiated this summer that will be used to massively increase federal spending.\n\nRoy and Schweikert\u2019s bill \u2013 The Eliminate Congressional Slush Funds Act \u2013 would rescind the $22 billion the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) allocated to the Department of Commerce Nonrecurring Expenses Fund, while ensuring the rescission does not enable additional funding beyond spending caps.\n\nDuring negotiations on the FRA, a side-deal was hatched to use budget gimmicks and rescissions to allow for $54 billion in additional spending above the discretionary spending caps established by the bill. A significant portion of that side deal depends on the existence of this slush fund.\n\nRepresentative Roy said, \u201cAppropriators have long used sleight of hand to hide the actual level of spending included in massive appropriations bills.\n\nUnfortunately, that practice is alive and well. Indeed, negotiations on the Fiscal Responsibility Act included a well-known \u2018side deal\u2019 that would allow for an additional $54 billion in spending beyond the caps set by the bill, made - in part - possible by giving $22 billion to a fund at the Department of Commerce that will be reallocated during the appropriations process.\n\nHouse Republicans should reject this side deal and ensure we stick to the caps set by the FRA without the use of budget gimmicks. That's why I am proud to introduce this bill with my friend Representative David Schweikert to rescind the $22 billion and prevent it from being funneled behind the scenes.\u201d\n\nRepresentative Schweikert said, \u201cEvery dime that Congress votes on now is on borrowed money. With our government currently borrowing over $80,000 every second, we must make it our moral obligation to solve our nation's debt crisis before it's too late. While the Fiscal Responsibility Act's passage marked the largest deficit reduction in American history, budget gimmicks allowed for billions in additional spending above the caps. The Eliminate Congressional Slush Funds Act ensures that this body cannot abuse unobligated COVID relief funding which was rightfully clawed back and deposited into Treasury. It's past time Washington kicks its spending addiction and starts taking our fiscal reality seriously.\u201d\n\nCo-sponsors of the legislation include Representatives Jeff Duncan (SC-03), Scott Perry (PA-10), Ralph Norman (SC-05), Dan Bishop (NC-08), Andy Ogles (TN-05), Byron Donalds (FL-19), Tom Emmer (MN-06), and Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14). The legislation is also supported by Heritage Action for America.\n\nRead the full bill here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-cruz-introduces-comprehensive-border-security-amendment-to-the-national-security-supplemental", "Sen. Cruz Introduces Comprehensive Border Security Amendment to the National Security Supplemental", "2023-12-12", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", "cruz", "https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced an amendment to the National Security Supplemental to secure our southern border. The amendment is based on a bill Sen. Cruz introduced earlier this year in the Senate, the Secure the Border Act, which includes a comprehensive plan to secure the U.S.-Mexico border by investing resources in both border and interior enforcement. It would provide physical and technological border improvements, manpower assistance to Border Patrol and ICE Enforcement Removal Operations, and protection to families seeking entry at the border as well as unaccompanied alien children. Additionally, Sen. Cruz\u2019s amendment punishes visa overstays, reforms immigration parole, asylum, and the legal immigration workforce issues, and prevents uncontrolled alien flows into the United States.\n\nThe companion bill, which passed the House of Representatives as H.R. 2, is the most comprehensive border security legislation in decades. The bill garnered a majority of Republican support in the House of Representatives and was voted out of the House with 219-2 Republican members voting in favor of its passage.\n\nUpon introducing the amendment Sen. Cruz said, \u201cUnder Joe Biden\u2019s leadership, we\u2019ve seen the largest illegal immigration crisis in our nation\u2019s history. Every single day, thousands of illegal aliens pour over our southern border and strain our communities. Women are being raped, children brutalized, and over 100,000 Americans are dying every year from narcotics and fentanyl flooding into our country. We cannot turn a blind eye to the perilous invitation the Biden White House continues to freely give out to break our immigration laws. Right now, we are at the greater risk for a major terrorist attack in the United States than we have been at any time since September 11. If we are going to provide aid to secure our allies abroad, we also have an obligation to secure our own border for the safety of our country.\u201d\n\nChad Wolf, former Acting DHS Secretary and Executive Director of the America First Policy Institute said: \u201cAddressing the Biden Administration\u2019s self-inflicted border crisis demands strategic policy changes, not more spending to process illegal aliens into American communities. The administration\u2019s intentional and ineffective border strategy has created chaos and lawlessness that makes America less safe. Congress must reject the White House supplemental and demand real policy changes that will secure the border. H.R. 2 is a good first step to fix the Biden border crisis, and I stand with Senator Cruz for introducing it in the upper chamber. Because the Biden Administration refuses to use the authority it already has, H.R. 2 is needed to restart the Migrant Protection Protocols, end asylum fraud, curb Mayorkas\u2019s abuse of parole, and discontinue the cruel policies that fuel human trafficking of migrant children. The American people reject open borders and are tired of the administration enabling the drug and human traffickers. America must come first, always.\u201d\n\nDan Stein, President of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) said: \u201cThe Secure the Border Act is critical to regaining control of our southern border. Without real reforms to our asylum policy, detention and removal of illegal aliens, and an end to the Biden Administration\u2019s wholesale abuse of parole, the chaos at our borders and in our cities, and threats to national security, will only grow more dire. Throwing more money at the border crisis won\u2019t solve it. We need real policy reforms and H.R. 2 is the solution. Now is the time to act -- the American people can't afford to wait any longer.\u201d\n\nKris Ullman, President of Eagle Forum said: \u201cFor far too long, illegal immigrants have exploited loopholes in the American immigration system. The Biden administration has been instrumental in causing the havoc we all see at our southern border by allowing historic numbers of illegal immigrants to not only enter the US but to drain resources and overwhelm cities and towns across the country. Republicans in the House united to pass H.R. 2, legislation that provides real solutions to the crisis at hand. It is imperative to support Senator Ted Cruz\u2019s amendment that will add H.R. 2 to the National Security Supplemental. Anything less than these strong provisions is unacceptable to grassroots Americans who are relying on Congress to provide real border security.\n\nGreg Sindelar, CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation said: \u201cIf senators are concerned with protecting innocent lives and communities from deadly terrorist activity, there\u2019s no need to look thousands of miles away, across the Atlantic Ocean. From Laredo to Manhattan, this national security crisis threatens the lives of every American. H.R 2 will bring about the policies that are proven to be successful in keeping our homeland safe.\u201d\n\nRyan Walker, Executive Vice President of Heritage Action said: \"Heritage Action, along with our partners in the strongest border coalition ever assembled, has been clear with our Hill allies throughout this process: H.R. 2 is the only viable solution to the border crisis. This legislation is the floor, not the ceiling, for the policy changes needed to repair the damage caused by the Biden administration.\"\n\nRead the full text of the amendment here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sens-cruz-rubio-colleagues-warn-dod-of-national-security-risks-for-installing-technology-produced-by-ccp-linked-companies-on-american-military-bases", "Sens. Cruz, Rubio, Colleagues Warn DOD of National Security Risks for Installing Technology Produced By CCP-Linked Companies on American Military Bases", "2023-12-12", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", "cruz", "https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee,sent a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin demanding accountability for the installation of Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL) batteries produced by companies under the influence and direction of the Chinese Communist Party at Camp Lejeune and other U.S. military installations.\n\nIn the letter the senators wrote, \u201cThe presence of CATL in U.S. energy infrastructure raises alarms about the known security risks associated with Chinese technology produced by companies operating under the direction or influence of Beijing. CATL could introduce malware into large-scale power storage stations, threatening the U.S. energy grid. Further, the significant known cyber risks to Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) systems more broadly, such as security limitations that prevent regular updates and gaps in reviewing vulnerabilities, raise several concerns that a malicious actor, or government, could seek to exploit.\u201d\n\nOther cosigners of the letter include, Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and Reps. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), Mike Waltz (R-Fla.), Rob Wittman (R-Va.), Jack Bergman (R-Mich.), Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), James Moylan (R-Guam), Brad Finstad (R-Minn.), Austin Scott (R-Ga.), Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), Gregory Murphy (R-N.C.), Cory Mills (R-Fla.), Mark Alford (R-Texas), Jen Kiggans (R-Va.), Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.), and Rich McCormick (R-Ga.).\n\nRead the full text of the letter here or below.\n\nDear Secretary Austin:\n\nWe write out of concern with regards to the installation of a battery and solar array by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-aligned Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL), at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina as part of a new Battery Energy Storage System(BESS). A CCP-funded and supported firm should have no role or presence on a U.S. military installation, especially one that trains U.S. Marines for a potential conflict with China. The presence of CATL\u2019s system at Camp Lejeune also raises the question of whether CATL, or other CCP-affiliated companies, operate similar energy projects on other U.S. military installations. We urge the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to immediately reverse the decision to install CATL batteries at Camp Lejeune, as well as conduct a full assessment on all installations.\n\nCATL, the world\u2019s largest manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries and a dominant actor in the global electric vehicle (EV) market, is closely linked to the highest levels of the CCP, including General Secretary Xi Jinping, who praised CATL\u2019s growth this March 2023. CATL is an important component of the CCP\u2019s military-civil fusion (MCF) strategy. Moreover, CCP industrial policies have steered business towards CATL, placing the company in a position to influence supply chains globally and increasingly in the United States, where CATL operates in several states. In turn, the CCP has benefitted from CATL\u2019s record revenues and immense growth. The People\u2019s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) may soon power its conventional submarine fleet with lithium-ion batteries provided by CATL and other Chinese companies. The CCP is well aware of how China\u2019s commercial EV industry, CATL included, benefits its military. Further, Beijing dropped a government safety test from its inspections after a CATL rival found that the test showed CATL battery cells exploding, demonstrating its insistence to bolster CATL as its battery champion.\n\nCATL has striking similarities to other Chinese firms that have been deemed serious national-security threats and banned from U.S. government use. A recent report by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) made clear that CATL\u2019s \u201cparallels to Huawei are not difficult to see.\u201d Huawei, like CATL, was built as a champion for the CCP, and Beijing acted to support its success. Like Huawei, the presence of CATL in U.S. energy infrastructure raises alarms about the known security risks associated with Chinese technology produced by companies operating under the direction or influence of Beijing. CATL could introduce malware into large-scale power storage stations, threatening the U.S. energy grid. Further, the significant known cyber risks to BESS systems more broadly, such as security limitations that prevent regular updates and gaps in reviewing vulnerabilities, raise several concerns that a malicious actor, or government, could seek to exploit.\n\nThe growing presence of CATL and other Chinese products in U.S. infrastructure is concerning, but it is inexcusable on U.S. military installations. On April 14, 2023, the U.S. Marine Corps held a ribbon cutting for its new BESS, featuring CATL batteries, at Camp Lejeune. Less than two weeks later, the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) held an exercise at Camp Lejeune to practice extracting noncombatants from conflict zones. Units such as the 26th MEU, which are trained to conduct amphibious operations in crisis response situation, will be vital in a potential conflict with China over Taiwan. Our military cannot afford to subsidize the PRC\u2019s national champions by installing them on bases. The CCP\u2019s pattern of espionage leaves little room for doubt that CATL products pose a threat to national security at any base where they are installed.\n\nWe therefore implore you to address the national-security concerns with CATL\u2019s presence at Camp Lejeune and potentially other U.S. military installations. We request a full accounting of CATL batteries and other products by CCP-aligned companies on U.S. military installations. In addition, we wish to know the following:\n\n1. When did DoD become aware that Duke Energy would be purchasing batteries manufactured in China by CATL for installation on the grounds of Camp Lejeune?\n\n2. At the time, were the contracting officers aware of CATL\u2019s close ties with the CCP?\n\n3. Did Duke Energy, or the DoD, consider utilizing batteries manufactured by an American company, or any allied or partner country of the United States, for this project?\n\n4. Has DoD conducted an analysis of vulnerabilities in this system that the PRC could exploit, especially during time of war?\n\n5. Will CATL employees perform maintenance on the batteries? Will maintenance require granting base access to CATL employees, who may be CCP members or Chinese nationals?\n\n6. Will CATL systems installed in Camp Lejeune require any data connections to CATL-operated servers in the People\u2019s Republic of China?\n\n7. Have CATL systems been installed on or at any joint DoD-National Security Agency facilities or locations?\n\nWe appreciate your prompt response and attention to this important matter.\n\n/x/\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1130", "Chairman Arrington Reacts to House Voting to Overturn Biden\u2019s Latest Student Loan Bailout Scheme", "2023-12-11", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Jodey C. Arrington", "A000375", "arrington.house.gov", "arrington", "https://arrington.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON D.C. - Today, House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-TX) released the following statement commending the House\u2019s 210-189 passage of H.J.Res.88, a Congressional Review Act resolution to overturn the Biden administration\u2019s newest student loan cancellation scheme, which experts say will cost taxpayers as much as $475 billion:\n\n\u201cI applaud the House\u2019s vote last week to short circuit President Biden\u2019s latest attempt at a massive student loan bailout. Make no mistake: Biden is not \u201ccancelling\u201d student debt; he\u2019s supercharging America\u2019s entitlement culture and shifting the financial burden of loans away from upper income students onto middle- and working-class families. Biden\u2019s student loan bailouts are regressive, inflationary, and totally unfair.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nIn late June, the Supreme Court found President Biden\u2019s initial $330 billion student loan \u201cforgiveness\u201d scheme to be unconstitutional.\n\nHours after the decision was announced, the Biden Administration unveiled their next attempt to pin student loan debt on the American taxpayer: the so-called \u201cSavings on a Valuable Education (SAVE)\u201d plan.\n\nBiden\u2019s so-called SAVE plan hijacks the originally targeted program to one in which 91 percent of new student debt would be eligible for reduced payments and eventual transfer to taxpayers.\n\nAccording to the Penn Wharton Budget Model, the plan stands to cost everyday Americans up to $475 billion over the next decade.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/mccaul-matsui-statement-key-milestone-chips-act-implementation", "McCaul, Matsui Statement on Key Milestone for CHIPS Act Implementation", "2023-12-11", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Michael T. McCaul", "M001157", "mccaul.house.gov", "mccaul", "https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) and Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), co-authors of the Creating Helpful Incentives for the Production of Semiconductors (CHIPS) for America Act, issued the following statement after the first CHIPS Act Preliminary Memorandum of Terms was issued by the Department of Commerce.\n\n\u201cWe introduced the original CHIPS Act three and a half years ago to solve an urgent national security threat,\u201d said the representatives. \u201cOur military depends on a secure and predictable supply of semiconductors to build its most vital and sensitive equipment. Today\u2019s announcement shows the CHIPS Act is working as intended \u2013 enhancing domestic manufacturing capacity and building a resilient, diversified supply chain; two national security imperatives. As co-authors of this groundbreaking legislation, we will continue working with urgency to implement the CHIPS Act quickly and reaffirm America\u2019s global innovation leadership.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nAt the recommendation of President Trump\u2019s national security team, Rep. McCaul first introduced the CHIPS for America Act in 2020, alongside Representative Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) and Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Mark Warner (D-Va.). The bill was signed into law in August of 2022.\n\nThe CHIPS Act is already spurring investments of hundreds of billions of private sector dollars in domestic chip manufacturing projects throughout Texas and the nation \u2014 bolstering the U.S. economy and reducing our reliance on foreign nations for this critical technology.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://babin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=11015", "Babin Unveils New Bill to End Birth Tourism, Combat Illegal Immigration", "2023-12-08", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Brian Babin", "B001291", "babin.house.gov", "babin", "https://babin.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 U.S. Congressman Brian Babin (TX-36) issued the following statement on his new bill, the Birthright Citizenship Act of 2023 (H.R. 6612). This legislation has 21 original cosponsors and will ensure America properly implements Section 1 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution \u2013 ending birth tourism.\n\n\u201cFor a period following its enactment, Section 1 of the 14th Amendment was properly applied as written and intended: to ensure all American citizens were afforded the sacred constitutional protections they deserve,\u201d said Congressman Brian Babin, House Border Security Caucus Co-chair. \u201cWhile these important protections remain, in recent decades, the misapplication of specific language in the amendment has led to the implementation of the practice of birthright citizenship by which children born to foreign nationals \u2013 from illegal migrants to tourists to refugees \u2013 are automatically granted United States citizenship. Birthright citizenship has long served as a powerful incentive for illegal immigration, and, over time, has become wrongly accepted as law, with supporters claiming it is guaranteed by our Constitution. Birthright citizenship is enabled by faulty legal application, and ending the practice by clarifying eligibility is a necessary step toward fixing our broken immigration system and stopping the continued exploitation of America\u2019s generosity. We must act to put an end to this misguided policy that has fueled the worsening border crisis and weakened our national sovereignty for far too long. I appreciate my colleagues\u2019 support of this important bill and hope to move it swiftly through the House of Representatives.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe must protect the integrity of our legal immigration system and not permit loopholes to be exploited,\u201d Congressman Bob Good (VA-05). \u201cI thank Rep. Babin for his leadership in introducing the Birthright Citizenship Act, which prevents birth tourism and safeguards the 14th amendment of the Constitution.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery year, thousands of migrants enter the country illegally and give birth knowing their children will reap the benefits of their parents\u2019 lawbreaking \u2014 the rights, privileges, and immunities of U.S. citizenship,\u201d said Congressman Chip Roy (TX-21). \u201cIt\u2019s time to end this unfair, extraconstitutional practice that incentivizes illegal border crossings. The Birthright Citizenship Act \u2014 which I am proud to cosponsor with my friend and fellow Texan, Brian Babin \u2014 ensures children born in the U.S. to illegal alien parents do not automatically receive American citizenship.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe expressed distinction of United States citizenship is a gift that is too often taken for granted by the American people,\u201d said Congressman Byron Donalds (FL-19). \u201cAs a result of Joe Biden\u2019s disastrous mishandling of our nation\u2019s borders, the United States has descended into an unprecedented humanitarian and national security crisis, in which illegal aliens are systematically exploiting our legal immigration system through the explosion of birth tourism. Simply put, birthright citizenship should only be reserved for United States citizens, legal permanent residents of the United States, and legal immigrants serving in the United States military.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis bill closes the citizenship loophole that has incentivized millions of illegal migrants to flood our southern border,\u201d said Congressman Bill Posey (FL-08).\n\n\u201cThe United States is one of the only countries in the world to allow an immigrant to enter the country illegally, including tourists, have a baby, and then deem that child an American citizen,\u201d said Congressman Glenn Grothman (WI-06). \"At a time when our Southern border is overrun with over 200,000 illegal immigrants every month, this flawed interpretation of the 14th Amendment has been exploited to drive even more illegal immigrants to the country and take unfair advantage of essential services that are meant for legal citizens. It is time for the U.S. Congress to work together to strengthen and encourage legal migration rather than continuing to turn a blind eye to the lawlessness that is destroying America from within.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Fourteenth Amendment is a critical protection that is being abused by illegal immigrants,\u201d said Congressman Buddy Carter (GA-01). \u201cThis bill preserves the intent of the constitution and ensures that those who want to be U.S. citizens go through the legal process.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis legislation keeps our immigration law consistent with the Framers\u2019 original intent by closing an outrageous loophole that incentivizes and rewards illegal immigration,\u201d said Congressman Eli Crane (AZ-02). \u201cThis past year, illegal immigration cost American taxpayers $150 billion \u2013 an inexcusable burden that\u2019s fueled, in part, by the current birthright citizenship scheme. I\u2019m glad to see this bill introduced, which will fortify our immigration system and rectify a flawed interpretation of the 14th Amendment.\u201d\n\nTo read the bill text, please click here.\n\nTo read the Daily Caller\u2019s exclusive on the bill, please click here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://gonzales.house.gov/2023/12/reps-tony-gonzales-don-davis-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-provide-increased-support-for-rural-communities/8db01db0-b285-4ce0-a52b-e5b66ec873c0", "Reps. Tony Gonzales, Don Davis Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Provide Increased Support for Rural Communities", "2023-12-08", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Tony Gonzales", "G000594", "gonzales.house.gov", "gonzales", "https://gonzales.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congressmen Tony Gonzales (TX-23) and Don Davis (NC-01) introduced bipartisan legislation to provide increased technical assistance for rural communities. The Rural Uplift and Revitalization Assistance Act allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide technical assistance to strengthen local capacity and improve access to rural development programs for rural areas directly or through cooperative agreements.\n\n\u201cFar too often, rural communities are left out of the picture when it comes to access to federal development programs and grants. One of my top priorities in Congress is to get funding out of Washington and back into South and West Texas communities,\u201d said Congressman Tony Gonzales. \u201cThe Rural Uplift and Revitalization Assistance Act will provide technical assistance for applicants and improve access to rural development programs to help deliver funding back to Texas and rural communities across the country.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://sessions.house.gov/2023/12/congressman-sessions-leads-call-for-urgent-gao-update-on-surging-illegal-immigration-crime-statistics", "Congressman Sessions Leads Call for Urgent GAO Update on Surging Illegal Immigration & Crime Statistics", "2023-12-08", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Pete Sessions", "S000250", "sessions.house.gov", "sessions", "https://sessions.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington D.C. \u2013 On Friday, December 8, 2023, Congressman Pete Sessions led 22 fellow House Republicans in sending a letter to Gene Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States and head of the Government Accountability Office (GAO), requesting an updated version of a 2018 report on criminal alien statistics. This request comes amid escalating illegal immigration, rising violent crime, and drug overdose deaths across the United States since January 2021.\n\nFive years prior, the GAO released a report titled \"Criminal Alien Statistics: Information on Incarcerations, Arrests, Convictions, Costs, and Removals.\" This comprehensive report detailed the number and nationalities of noncitizens in United States penitentiaries, including extensive data on arrests, convictions, types of offenses, and the estimated taxpayer costs of incarcerating each noncitizen. Additionally, it provided information on the removal process for noncitizens from the United States following their federal prison terms.\n\nThe updated report, as requested by Congressman Sessions and his colleagues, aims to equip Congress and the public with crucial information regarding the current state of illegal immigration, its financial impact on taxpayers, and strategies for reducing the number of noncitizens in U.S.-based penitentiaries.\n\n\u201cThe crisis on our southern border is reverberating into cities and towns across the United States,\u201d said Congressman Sessions. \u201cViolent crime, drug trafficking, and human trafficking are now a daily reality in communities where such illicit activity was once rare. While we cannot directly attribute rising crime to illegal immigration, Congress needs data to fully understand the effect President Biden\u2019s open border has in enabling illicit activity. This update to the 2018 Government Accountability Office report will provide this necessary information.\u201d\n\n\u201cPete Sessions\u2019 leadership, on this GAO study, regarding illegal migration, rising crime rates and incarceration is an important part of fixing our broken border using statistics and facts,\u201d said Jonathan Thompson, CEO of the National Sheriffs Association. \u201cWe need to see the real costs associated with the Administrations open border policies.\u201d\n\nCongressman Sessions was joined by Congresspersons Granger (TX-12), McCaul (TX-10), Rogers (AL-03), Biggs (AZ-05), Roy (TX-21), Crenshaw (TX-02), Ellzey (TX-06), Self (TX-03), Fallon (TX-04), Nehls (TX-22), Lamborn (CO-05), Higgins (LA-03), Tiffany (WI-07), Weber (TX-14), De La Cruz (TX-15), Gooden (TX-05), Ogles (TN-05), Brecheen (OK-02), Williams (TX-25), Cloud (TX-27), Rouzer (NC-07), and Moran (TX-01).\n\nRead the full letter to Gene Dodaro, U.S. Comptroller General, here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/blogs/e-newsletter-week-of-december-8th", "e-Newsletter: Week of December 8th", "2023-12-08", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", "cruz", "https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Good Evening,\n\nUnder Joe Biden\u2019s watch, the Department of Justice has become the most partisan we\u2019ve ever seen, acting as the political strong-arm of the DNC. I am appalled by the actions of this administration to weaponize the DOJ and strip the power away from the American people. As a result, the FBI has become the Democrat\u2019s vigilant attack dog, promoting their political ambitions and silencing dissenters. I am regularly approached by FBI agents, honorable men and women who stand up for the rule of law, who are frustrated about the weakening of the integrity of this institution because it\u2019s being used as a political weapon. This week, I confronted FBI Director Christopher Wray on his negligent and partisan decisions to cover up the Biden family\u2019s ongoing corruption allegations from the American people. This is a disgusting abuse of power that must be thoroughly checked by Congress.\n\n\u201cI think the Department of Justice [and the FBI] has been profoundly politicized. \u2026 In particular, the investigation into multiple allegations of corruption concerning Hunter Biden, and Joe Biden. \u2026 Now, Democrats and those in the media trying to defend the White House, repeatedly say there is no direct evidence of Joe Biden's involvement in his son's corruption. \u2026 Nobody answers these questions, and it's why people are furious with a cover up because you don't believe the FBI is accountable to Congress or to the American people.\u201d\n\nOn Tuesday, I also met with the Sameh Shoukry, Foreign Minister of Egypt and Motaz Zahran, Ambassador of Egypt to the United States to discuss the crisis unfolding in the Middle East.\n\nLater Tuesday evening, as the ranking member on the Senate Commerce Committee, I spoke on the Senate floor to stop big auto from killing life-saving AM radio.\n\n\u201cAM radio is a haven for free speech. [It] is a haven for people to speak even if their views are disfavored by the political ruling class. Talk radio is an oasis for conservatives. \u2026 I believe these automakers stood up to remove AM radio as a part of a border pattern we see of censoring views that are disfavored by big business.\u201d\n\nOn Wednesday, I joined Sean Hannity on Fox News to discuss the severity of the political weaponization of the FBI and DOJ because they believe they are not held accountable to the American people.\n\n\u201cThis Department of Justice, this FBI, is the most political, the most partisan, [and] the most weaponized we have ever seen. \u2026 I asked Chris Wray, \u2018Did the FBI try to determine if [Hunter and Joe Biden were engaged in] bribery shakedown?\u2019 \u2026 It is the biggest lie. It is the biggest shell game. They claim it is an open investigation, but they aren\u2019t investigating anything.\u201d\n\nOn Thursday morning, I joined Stuart Varney on Fox Business to address the condescending motives of Democrats to not do anything to secure our southern border.\n\n\u201cTwo days ago, we were having a classified briefing in the Capitol on Ukraine, all the senators were in the briefing, and it erupted into a screaming match. \u2026 The reason was, Chuck Schumer [had] prompted it all, because he sat there smugly [and] condescendingly saying, \u2018We're going to do nothing on border security.\u2019 They don't care about border security. They're not going to do it.\u201d\n\nRest assured, I will continue to defend the integrity of our democracy. God Bless!\n\nKeep Texas Strong,\n\nMORE FROM SEN. CRUZ:\n\nREAD: Cruz, Cornyn join Senate Republicans in demanding border overhaul for Ukraine aid\n\nICYMI: Sen. Cruz\u2019s Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Name Ports-to-plains Corridor \"Interstate 27\" Passes House\n\nREAD: Cruz: Biden admin funneled taxpayer cash to universities for \u2018misinformation\u2019 research to 'censor' Americans\n\nICYMI: \u2018A MAJOR WIN FOR ALL OF TEXAS\u2019 - Cruz Provision Advancing New Texas-Mexico Bridges Set to Become Law\n\nState Spotlight\n\nChildren's Hospital Association of Texas\n\nCommerce Corner\n\nCity of Floresville", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://keithself.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-keith-self-sends-letter-secretary-blinken-urging-action-qatar", "Congressman Keith Self Sends Letter to Secretary Blinken Urging Action on Qatar Harboring Hamas Terrorists", "2023-12-07", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Keith Self", "S001224", "keithself.house.gov", "keithself", "https://keithself.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Congressman Keith Self sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken regarding Qatar\u2019s provision of safe harbor to Hamas terrorists.\n\nQatar is a Major Non-NATO Ally of the United States, yet it continues to permanently host senior Hamas leadership. After the October 7 terror attack against Israel that claimed the lives of approximately 1,200 innocent people, including over 30 Americans, this arrangement must end. Hamas\u2019 ability to operate freely within Qatar\u2014raising funds, liaising with Iranian regime officials, broadcasting propaganda, and planning its next terror attack\u2014directly harms American interests. The Congressman\u2019s letter asks the State Department to determine if Qatar meets the statutory definition of a \u201cterrorist sanctuary.\u201d\n\n\u201cHamas\u2019 crimes were unconscionable. We cannot forget the mass murder, rape, burning, and kidnapping of innocents on 10/7,\u201d said Congressman Self. \u201cHamas terrorists must be denied refuge. I urge Secretary Blinken to use all the tools at his disposal to pressure our ally to give up Hamas.\u201d\n\nOn October 13th, Secretary Blinken said, \u201cThere can be no more business as usual with Hamas.\u201d Recent reporting indicates that Israel has already begun plans to hunt down senior Hamas leadership around the world. This moment calls for strategic and moral clarity: the U.S. must no longer tolerate Qatar\u2019s hosting of Hamas.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-roy-and-sen-grassley-call-congressional-leadership-pass-improved-farm-bill", "Rep. Roy and Sen. Grassley call on congressional leadership to pass an improved farm bill", "2023-12-07", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Chip Roy", "R000614", "roy.house.gov", "roy", "https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Representative Chip Roy (R-TX-21) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) called on Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker Mike Johnson, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to pass a comprehensive and improved farm bill that makes conservative reforms, while maintaining a responsible safety net for our nation\u2019s farmers and ranchers.\n\nThe legislators wrote,\u201cThe Biden administration and its reckless spending have led us to this place of record inflation. By making conservative reforms to key programs we will be able to tame inflation while also keeping in place a responsible safety net for families and farmers.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers outlined key areas of improvement including reducing spending in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to pre-pandemic levels, and stopping the abuse of the U.S. Department of Agriculture fund known as the Commodity Credit Corporation.\n\nThe two also point out that protecting our food supply is critical to our national security, which means that the farm bill should prohibit our adversaries like China, Iran, Russia and North Korea from buying American farmland.\n\n\u201cWe implore you to recognize the urgent need to pass a farm bill that addresses the record inflation that our constituents have seen and foreign threats to our food supply. While there are other reforms we should consider, by passing these common-sense reforms, we can lower inflation, reduce our deficit, maintain a farm and family safety net, and promote our national security,\u201dRepresentative Roy and Senator Grassley said.\n\nRead the full text of the letter here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-roy-rep-rogers-and-sen-lee-lead-fight-defund-united-nations", "Rep. Roy, Rep. Rogers, and Sen. Lee lead fight to defund the United Nations", "2023-12-07", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Chip Roy", "R000614", "roy.house.gov", "roy", "https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 On Wednesday, Representative Chip Roy (R-TX-21) alongside Representative Mike Rogers (R-AL-3) and Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Disengaging Entirely From the United Nations Debacle (DEFUND) Act of 2023.\n\nThis legislation would defund the United Nations and remove the United States from its membership.\n\nRepresentative Roy said, \u201cThis year, the United Nations' corruption, and its despicable, brazen political agenda have been on full display.\n\nFrom UNRWA actively protecting Hamas and acting against our ally Israel, the delayed condemning of Hamas, to China being elected to the \u201cHuman Rights Council,\" to the propagation of climate hysteria, and covering for China's forced abortion and sterilization programs, the UN's decades-old, internal rot once again raises the questions of why the United States is even still a member or why we're wasting billions \u2014 indeed, $12.5 billion in 2021 \u2014 every year on it.\n\nThe UN doesn\u2019t deserve one single dime of American taxpayer money or one bit of our support; we should defund it and leave immediately. I am proud to lead this critical effort alongside Mike Lee and Mike Rogers,\u201d Congressman Roy concluded.\n\n\u201cNo more blank checks for the United Nations. Americans' hard-earned dollars have been funneled into initiatives that fly in the face of our values \u2013enabling tyrants, betraying allies, and spreading bigotry,\" said Senator Lee. \"With the DEFUND Act, we're stepping away from this debacle. If we engage with the UN in the future, it will be on our terms, with the full backing of the Senate and an iron-clad escape clause.\"\n\nRepresentative Rogers said, \u201cThe United Nations routinely proves themselves to be an organization with the lone purpose of legitimizing the propaganda of terrorist organizations and the Chinese Communist Party. Their recent behavior following the October 7th terrorist attack on Israel is shameful and indicative of widespread antisemitism within the organization. For years, I have called on the United States to leave the UN, and I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing legislation that would ensure US taxpayer dollars no longer fund this sham establishment.\u201d\n\nRead full text of the House bill here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://williams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-williams-gives-remarks-lab-grown-and-plant-based-meats", "Rep. Williams Gives Remarks on Lab Grown and Plant-Based Meats", "2023-12-07", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Roger Williams", "W000816", "williams.house.gov", "williams", "https://williams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013Congressman Roger Williams (TX-25) gave remarks in front of the House Committee on Agriculture during the Committee\u2019s Member Day Hearing on the need for fair labeling guidelines on cell-cultivated and plant \u2013 based imitation meats. See his remarks below as prepared for delivery:\n\n\u201cThank you, Chairman Thompson and Ranking Member Scott, for the opportunity to speak today, and thank you to all the members of the Committee on Agriculture for the work you do to support our farmers and ranchers.\n\nAs the Representative for Texas\u2019 25th District, I am honored to represent many farms and ranches. Many of whom reach out to me regularly about the issues important to them. Today, I join you to discuss what we can all agree is an important problem facing not just the agriculture industry but the entire country.\n\nMembers of this Committee and many Americans are likely familiar with plant-based imitation meats such as chicken, and ground beef, all of which appear impressively similar to traditional meat products but are made with ingredients like soy and wheat. While plant-based products have grown in popularity over the last decade, there has been a concerning lack of oversight on the labeling of such products, causing confusion among consumers.\n\nTo add to this confusion, earlier this year the FDA and USDA approved the sale of cell-cultivated chicken, better known as \u201clab grown poultry\u201d. While this process is still new and is time intensive and expensive, Congress should learn from its lack of oversight on plant-based imitation meat products and consider forward thinking protections for consumers from those who wish to manipulate them through misleading labeling.\n\nAs Chairman of the House Committee on Small Business and owner and operator of a car dealership and calf cow operation in Texas for over 52 years, I understand the need to ensure that consumers are given all the information needed to make informed decisions while not interfering with the free market.\n\nWe are a country of competition - of risk and reward - and the federal government should not be in the business of picking winners and losers. We must let competition drive innovation and allow individuals and businesses to choose the product that best suits their needs.\n\nThere are extensive guidelines and regulations surrounding the labeling and marketing of traditional meat-based products by the FDA and USDA. Through the requirement of accurate and honest labeling of imitation and lab-grown products, we create a level playing field and support a free market in the agricultural industry.\n\nI am working diligently alongside your Committee member, Congressman Alford, who also serves on the House Committee on Small Business, to ensure that as the imitation and lab grown product industry grows, the American people and our ranching and farming communities are not taken advantage of.\n\nChairman Thompson, Ranking Member Scott, and members of the esteemed Committee on Agriculture, thank you again for allowing me to join you today. I look forward to working with each of you to support our farmers and ranchers and tackling this important issue.\n\nIn God we trust.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nEarlier this year, the Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the sale of cell-cultivated \u201cLab Grown\u201d poultry products by two U.S. companies.\n\nWatch Congressman Williams\u2019 remarks here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cruz-lummis-demand-end-to-bidens-electric-vehicle-mandate", "Cruz, Lummis Demand End to Biden\u2019s Electric Vehicle Mandate", "2023-12-07", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", "cruz", "https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), along with several of their Senate Western Caucus colleagues, sent a letter to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) urging Congressional leadership to defund the Biden administration\u2019s electric vehicle (EV) rule, which requires vehicles to be fully electric by 2032. This rule will affect more than two-thirds of vehicles sold in the U.S. Defunding the EV mandate would protect the freedom of Americans in Texas, the west, and across the country to choose the cars or trucks they drive and remove excessive costs.\n\nIn the letter the senators wrote, \u201cNot only would the EPA\u2019s proposed regulation hurt America\u2019s national security, but it would severely limit consumer choice for affordable vehicles that fit the needs of the average American. At a time of inflation, high interest rates, and rising costs, the last thing Americans need is to find both new and used vehicles unaffordable because of an EPA mandate.\u201d\n\nCosigners of the letter include Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), John Boozman (A-Ark.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) James Lankford (R-Kan.) and Mitt Romney (R-Utah).\n\nRead the full text of the letter here.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nThe EPA\u2019s mandate would require 67.5% of vehicles sold to be an EV in less than nine years, which is a steep increase from 2022 where less than 6% of all vehicles sold were EVs.\n\nThe mandate comes at a very high cost for hardworking people across the west:\n\no The average cost of an EV is $53,469, just $663 less than the median American income which is $54,132 according to estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.\n\no A study found the cost of charging an EV is equivalent to $17 a gallon for traditional internal combustion vehicles.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/icymi-a-major-win-for-all-of-texas", "ICYMI: \u2018A Major Win for All of Texas\u2019", "2023-12-07", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", "cruz", "https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Texas and Mexico are one step closer to better transportation connections thanks to bipartisan legislation championed by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).\n\nLast night, House and Senate lawmakers announced an agreement on an annual defense authorization bill that includes language authored by Cruz, and pushed by a bipartisan and bicameral coalition of Texas legislators, to streamline a presidential permitting process for new and expanded bridges across the Rio Grande in Brownsville, Laredo, and Eagle Pass, Texas. This provision, which Cruz inserted into the Senate\u2019s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and battled to keep in the final bill, is an important victory that will help alleviate border crossing bottlenecks, expand trade, and create jobs.\n\nSen. Cruz\u2019s amendment gives the State Department 60 days to issue a recommendation to the president about whether the president should issue a permit to allow four international Texas bridge projects. The president would then have 60 days to grant or deny the permits. The amendment adheres to the practice used by the prior administration where presidential permits could be issued contingent on successful completion of environmental reviews.\n\nUpon the announcement, Sen. Cruz said, \u201cThis is a huge win for South Texas. For months, I've worked hand in hand with my Democrat and Republican colleagues to ensure that this critical provision for Texas was included in legislation that could pass Congress and be signed into law. Construction of these four new and expanded cross-border bridges are vital for our state's economy. These Rio Grande bridges will help farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, and small businesses throughout Texas. They will support international trade, fix supply chain bottlenecks, and support economic development and security for Texas border communities. And given the $800 billion in trade that Texas has with Mexico each year, shortening lengthy delays in crossings will help lower the cost of goods for American families, onshore manufacturing from China, enable economic growth in the Lone Star State, and create good jobs across Texas.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nIn July 2023, the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee adopted Sen. Cruz\u2019s amendment to streamline the presidential permitting process for building key bridges across the Rio Grande. The amendment, which was included in a bill authorizing funding for the State Department, was ultimately passed by the entire Senate as part of the annual defense policy bill, or National Defense Authorization Act, on July 27, 2023. Sen. Cruz vowed to keep working to see that his amendment is part of the final defense bill that is signed into law.\n\nIn June 2023, Sen. Cruz led the entire south Texas congressional delegation, both Democrats and Republicans, in sending a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging the Biden administration to resolve delays in providing permits for the four international Texas bridge projects. Joining Sen. Cruz in sending the letter were Sen. Cornyn, and U.S. Reps. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas), Monica De La Cruz (R-Texas), and Tony Gonzales (R-Texas). Read the full text of the letter here.\n\nIn October, Sen. Cruz again led a letter, this time to President Biden, expressing frustration, \u201cover the delayed issuance of presidential permits for key bridge projects between the United States and Mexico,\u201d and urging the president to, \u201cswiftly approve these four critical Texas-Mexico bridge projects that will create jobs, improve supply chain resiliency, and promote economic growth.\u201d Joining Sen. Cruz in sending this letter were Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), and U.S. Representatives Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas), Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), and Monica De La Cruz (R-Texas).\n\nSen. Cruz\u2019s bipartisan effort to streamline the presidential permitting process for Texas-Mexico bridge projects are supported by a diverse group of stakeholders, including:\n\nTexas Association of Business\n\nU.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce\n\nLaredo Motor Carriers Association\n\nBorder Trade Alliance\n\nAmerican Trucking Associations\n\nTexas Trucking Association\n\nTexas International Produce Association\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1127", "Chairman Arrington Statement on H.R. 4468 The CAR Act", "2023-12-06", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Jodey C. Arrington", "A000375", "arrington.house.gov", "arrington", "https://arrington.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "\u201cThe Biden EPA\u2019s emissions mandates on manufacturers are another example of this Administration\u2019s whole-of-government assault on domestic oil and gas, and undermines economic freedom by forcing consumers to buy products they don\u2019t need at prices they can\u2019t afford.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1128", "Chairman Arrington Statement on H.R. 5933 The DETERRENT Act", "2023-12-06", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Jodey C. Arrington", "A000375", "arrington.house.gov", "arrington", "https://arrington.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "\u201cFor too long, we\u2019ve let foreign adversaries infiltrate and adversely influence our country through our wide-open border, the purchase US farmland and property near military bases, and the flow of foreign money to American universities. Rep. Steel\u2019s DETERRENT Act will significantly increase the level of scrutiny on foreign contributions to American universities, especially from nations of concern like North Korea, China, Russia, and Iran.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1129", "Chairman Arrington Statement on Voting to Withdrawal the Biden Administration's Income-Driven Replacement (IDR) Rule", "2023-12-06", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Jodey C. Arrington", "A000375", "arrington.house.gov", "arrington", "https://arrington.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "\u201cPresident Biden has shown he has zero respect for the rule of law by thumbing his nose at the Supreme Court after they ruled his student loan bailout as unconstitutional and instead, is using an administrative end-run to do it anyway.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://crenshaw.house.gov/2023/12/crenshaw-letter-to-epa", "Crenshaw Sends Letter to EPA Regarding TSCA Concerns", "2023-12-06", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Dan Crenshaw", "C001120", "crenshaw.house.gov", "crenshaw", "https://crenshaw.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Congressman Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), joined by nearly 60 of his colleagues, sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) raising concerns about the worsening output of the New Chemicals Division, and the EPA\u2019s unscientific risk evaluations of existing chemicals on the market.\n\nCurrently, the EPA has a backlog of nearly 400 pre-manufacturing applications still awaiting a risk determination, with the vast majority of them well past the statutory deadline. These delays are having significant negative effects on the chemical industry\u2019s ability to introduce innovative chemicals to the market that may be safer, cleaner, or more efficient.\n\nAdditionally, the EPA is mismanaging its evaluations of existing chemicals by dramatically overestimating the risks associated with these chemicals, while ignoring the real world impacts of its determinations.\n\nThis letter builds on concerns raised before the House Energy and Commerce Committee\u2019s Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials subcommittee held by Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers and subcommittee Chairman Bill Johnson.\n\nPresident and CEO, Chris Jahn, of The American Chemistry Council, a major trade association representing many chemical companies, voiced his support for the letter saying:\n\n\u201cThe American Chemistry Council is grateful to Rep. Crenshaw and the co-signers of the letter for their leadership and commitment to ensuring the regulatory process supports and strengthens American manufacturing and innovation. America\u2019s chemistry industry appreciates the Members\u2019 understanding of this issue's importance and willingness to conduct needed oversight while working with the Biden Administration to ensure effective chemical management policy.\u201d\n\nThe signers of the letter urgently call upon EPA Administrator Regan to address these concerns and questions in a timely manner.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://delacruz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=497", "Bills to Fight Terrorism Introduced by Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz", "2023-12-06", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Monica De La Cruz", "D000594", "delacruz.house.gov", "delacruz", "https://delacruz.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Bills that target the financing of terrorism were introduced by Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) on Tuesday, December 5th.\n\nThe Prevent the Financing of Terrorism Through the Drug Trade Act requires the Secretary of the Treasury to submit a report to Congress within 180 days outlining the sources and scope of terrorist financing done by Hamas and Hezbollah in Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Further, it would also add Hamas as a primary threat on the Treasury\u2019s National Terrorist Financing Risk Assessment report, which will provide critical additional data on this terrorist group.\n\n\u201cAs we have seen the terrorist activities of Hamas and Hezbollah increasing following the October 7th terrorist attacks in Israel, it is necessary to understand the sources and scope of their activities in Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean to best protect our National security and Southern Border,\u201d De La Cruz said.\n\nThe International Financial Institution Counter Terrorism Accountability Act requires the Secretary of the Treasury to submit a report to Congress within 180 days with countries supported by the World Bank and IMF; a list of the programs and activities provided by the World Bank and IMF to combat terrorist financing; how much is spent on these programs and how much US funding goes towards them; and an evaluation of the effectiveness of these programs and activities.\n\n\u201cThis bill aims to ensure international banking organizations, including the World Bank and IMF, are appropriately analyzing their anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism financial programs in the wake of the Hamas attack on Israel,\u201d De La Cruz said. \u201cTo do so, my legislation requires a report to Congress evaluating the effectiveness of these programs and activities. After the submission of this report, Treasury is tasked with developing recommendations for the World Bank and IMF to improve their counter terrorist financing and anti-money laundering programs to ensure American tax dollars are being effectively used to hinder money laundering and terrorism activities in the global market.\n\n\u201cThe fight against terrorism doesn\u2019t end because a war ends or one terrorist network is destroyed. It is an ongoing battle to prevent the rise of the next terrorist group and protect innocent men, women, and children around the world from the evil inflicted by these monsters. That is why I introduced these bills that target the financing of terror with the goal of stopping terrorism in its tracks.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://gonzales.house.gov/2023/12/congressional-latino-jewish-caucus-leaders-meet-with-families-of-remaining-hostages-held-by-hamas/a442d736-908c-48d8-98d4-1b7aa316fd59", "Congressional Latino-Jewish Caucus Leaders Meet with Families of Remaining Hostages held by Hamas", "2023-12-06", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Tony Gonzales", "G000594", "gonzales.house.gov", "gonzales", "https://gonzales.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Co-Chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Latino-Jewish Caucus Representatives Tony Gonzales (R-TX), Debbie Wasserman Shultz (D-FL), Mario D\u00edaz-Balart (R-FL), and Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) issued the following statement after meeting with families and friends of hostages who remain held captive by Hamas:\n\n\u201cAs co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Latino-Jewish Caucus, we had the solemn opportunity to meet with families and friends of hostages held in Gaza, many who are dual citizens from Argentina, Colombia, and other Latin American countries, and who are still being held by Hamas terrorists,\" said the Members. \"We were appalled by the horrific stories of October 7 that we heard from the group and the mistreatment suffered by those kidnapped. As Members of Congress, we stand in bipartisan and unwavering solidarity with the hostages and call for their immediate release. With the rise of antisemitism and hate crimes globally, terrorism, sexual violence against women, and over a hundred hostages still held in Gaza, the work to combat these evils is even more urgent. We remain resolved in our commitment to continue our collective efforts to work toward the return and reunification of the hostages with their families.\"\n\nBelow is the list of the hostages whose families and friends attended the meeting:\n\nOmri Miran (46), Israeli-Hungarian dual citizen\n\nElkana Bohbot (34), Israeli-Colombian dual citizen\n\nTal Shoham (30), Israeli-Austrian dual citizen\n\nAlexander (Sasha) Troponov (27), Israeli-Russian dual citizen\n\nSagui Dekel-Chen (35), Israeli-American dual citizen\n\nEitan Horan (37) and Yair Horan (45), Israeli Argentinian dual citizens", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://gonzales.house.gov/2023/12/l-deres-del-comit-parlamentario-latino-jud-o-del-congreso-se-re-nen-con-familias-de-los-rehenes-que-permanecen-en-custodia-de-hamas", "L\u00edderes del Comit\u00e9 Parlamentario Latino-Jud\u00edo del Congreso se Re\u00fanen con Familias de los Rehenes que Permanecen en Custodia de Hamas", "2023-12-06", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Tony Gonzales", "G000594", "gonzales.house.gov", "gonzales", "https://gonzales.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2013 Los Copresidentes del Comit\u00e9 Parlamentario Latino-Jud\u00edo del Congreso Tony Gonzales (R-TX), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Mario D\u00edaz-Balart (R-FL), y Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) emitieron la siguiente declaraci\u00f3n despu\u00e9s de reunirse con las familias y amigos de los rehenes que siguen siendo cautivos de Hamas:\n\n\"Como copresidentes del Caucus Latino-Judio de la C\u00e1mara de Representantes bipartidista, tuvimos la solemne oportunidad de reunirnos con familias y amigos de rehenes detenidos en Gaza, muchos de los cuales son ciudadanos duales de Argentina, Colombia, y otros pa\u00edses latinoamericanos, y que a\u00fan son retenidos por terroristas de Hamas\", dijeron los miembros. \"Nos horrorizaron las historias horrendas de 7 de octubre que escuchamos del grupo y el maltrato sufrido por quienes fueron secuestrados. Como miembros del Congreso, nos mantenemos en solidaridad bipartidista e inquebrantable con los rehenes y exigimos su liberaci\u00f3n inmediata. Con el aumento del antisemitismo y los cr\u00edmenes de odio a nivel mundial, el terrorismo, la violencia sexual contra las mujeres y m\u00e1s de cien rehenes a\u00fan detenidos en Gaza, el trabajo para combatir estos males es a\u00fan mas urgente. Permanecemos firmes en nuestro compromiso de continuar nuestro trabajo colectivo para lograr el retorno y la reunificaci\u00f3n de los rehenes con sus familias.\"\n\nA continuaci\u00f3n se presenta la lista de los rehenes cuyas familias y amigos asistieron a la reuni\u00f3n:\n\nOmri Miran (46), ciudadano de doble ciudadania israel\u00ed-h\u00fangaro\n\nElkana Bohbot (34), ciudadano de doble ciudadania israel\u00ed-colombiano\n\nTal Shoham (30), ciudadano de doble ciudadania israel\u00ed-austriaco\n\nAlexander (Sasha) Troponov (27), ciudadano de doble ciudadania israel\u00ed-russo\n\nSagui Dekel-Chen (35), ciudadano de doble ciudadania israel\u00ed-americano\n\nEitan Horan (37) and Yair Horan (45), ciudadanos de doble ciudadania israel\u00ed-argentinos", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://jackson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=798", "Rep. Jackson Sends Letter Demanding Answers from USDA on Failed Emergency Relief Program", "2023-12-06", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ronny Jackson", "J000304", "jackson.house.gov", "jackson", "https://jackson.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 On Wednesday, Congressmen Ronny Jackson (TX-13), Jodey Arrington (TX-19), and August Pfluger (TX-11), along with Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS), led a letter to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack addressing his failure to properly administer much needed disaster assistance payments to agricultural producers for crop losses in the 2022 crop year. The letter follows the USDA announcing misguided changes to the Emergency Relief Program (ERP), a program meant to provide financial assistance to America\u2019s farmers and ranchers for agriculture losses due to natural disasters. This announcement came less than one month after Congressman Jackson called on USDA to release information on their plan to distribute disaster assistance nearly a year after funds were appropriated.\n\nJackson said: \u201cWhen hard times fell on farmers and ranchers, Congress made a conscience decision to support the men and women who dedicate their lives to feed and clothe the world. Farmers have struggled to deal with the Biden administration's radical economic policies, causing a steep rise in input costs and major labor shortages, all on top of catastrophic natural disasters. Instead of distributing disaster relief assistance quickly and efficiently to mitigate weather challenges in 2022, the USDA has radically changed the Emergency Relief Program to prioritize DEI initiatives and make deeper payment cuts that punish full time farmers. I will not sit idly by as the agriculture community is dismantled by this administration. As a member of the House Committee on Agriculture and the Representative for one of the largest agricultural producing districts in the country, I will always be a leader in Congress to ensure our farmers and ranchers get the support they deserve.\u201d\n\nArrington said: \u201cDisasters don\u2019t discriminate against farmers based on their race or gender and neither should our government programs. The USDA's 2022 Emergency Relief Program (ERP) gives higher disaster payments to producers based on the color of their skin and biological sex - rather than targeting farmers with the greatest need. This is just another example of the Biden Administration using identity politics to drive public policy. These discriminatory and divisive practices have no place in America.\u201d\n\nMarshall said: \"Joe Biden's war on American agriculture continues. It seems like every program put forward by this administration comes with arbitrary restrictions that hurt farmers and ranchers in an effort to advance their political agenda. The Emergency Relief Program was once workable and effective but has now fallen into total disrepair. There is no sound logic to scuttling a good program that received near-universal praise from Congress and farmers for a proposal this bad. I'm glad the department paused the program; however, as long as the ERP remains in this broken condition, there is little reason to support its further extension or to fine-tune this failure. Farmers need assistance now, and USDA needs to return to their old program to get these dollars out the door.\"\n\nPfluger said: \"As a representative for prolific farming and ranching communities, I am deeply concerned about the methodology being used in the implementation of the USDA's Emergency Relief Program for 2022. Especially amid economic turmoil, the Biden Administration must have our agriculture producers' backs by swiftly adopting a system that fulfills the intended purpose of assisting our farm families in need without unwarranted limitations.\"\n\nThe full letter can be found here. Co-signers include Majority Leader Steve Scalise (LA-01), Frank Lucas (OK-03), Rick Crawford (AR-01), David Rouzer (NC-07), Don Bacon (NE-02), Dusty Johnson (SD-at-Large), Jim Baird (IN-04), Tracey Mann (KS-01), Barry Moore (AL-02), Brad Finstad (MN-01), Monica De La Cruz (TX-15), Mark Alford (MO-04), Troy Nehls (TX-22), Mike Flood (NE-01), Scott Franklin (FL-18), Julia Letlow (LA-05), Keith Self (TX-03), Roger Williams (TX-25), Kay Granger (TX-12), Jake Ellzey (TX-06), Pete Sessions (TX-17), Byron Donalds (FL-19), Lauren Boebert (CO-03), Jake LaTurner (KS-02), Dan Crenshaw (TX-02), Lance Gooden (TX-05), Wesley Hunt (TX-38), Mike Ezell (MS-4), Ralph Norman (SC-5), Stephanie Bice (OK-05), Nathanial Moran (TX-01), Michael Guest (MS-03), Dan Newhouse (WA-04), John Rose (TN-06), Adrian Smith (NE-03), Morgan Luttrell (TX-08), Brian Babin (TX-36), Rick Allen (GA-12), Cliff Bentz (OR-02), Michael McCaul (TX-10), Russell Fry (SC-07), Kate Cammack (FL-03), Randy Weber (TX-14), Michelle Fischbach (MN-07), John Moolenaar (MI-02), Michael Cloud (TX-27), John Carter (TX-31), Greg Steube (FL-17), Mike Kelly (PA-16), Ron Estes (KS-04), Virginia Foxx (NC-05), Michael Burgess (TX-26), Chip Roy (TX-21), Beth Van Duyne (TX-24), Pat Fallon (TX-04), and Tony Gonzales (TX-23), and Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Deb Fischer (R-NE), James Lankford (R-OK), and Pete Ricketts (R-NE).\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://weber.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1849", "Rep. Weber Preserves American\u2019s Vehicle Choice", "2023-12-06", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Randy K. Weber, Sr.", "W000814", "weber.house.gov", "weber", "https://weber.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Weber (TX-14) voted in favor of H.R. 4468, the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales (CARS) Act, which protects consumer choice by prohibiting Biden's Environmental Protection Agency from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing any proposed rule with regards to emissions from vehicles. Rep. Weber is an original co-sponsor of the CARS Act.\n\n\"The EPA's electric vehicles proposal serves as a de facto ban that will eliminate choice, distort the market, and restrict consumer choice while costing taxpayers more,\u201d said Rep. Weber. \u201cNot to mention, the push to make E.V.s the only choice for U.S. car buyers without first building out our domestic supply chains for critical minerals is a recipe for dependence on China and, by extension, defaulting to their filthy environmental practices. China is not our friend, and unlike China's treatment of its own citizens, we should not dictate to Americans what they can or cannot drive. In America, we let consumers choose the car they drive.\"\n\nRep. Weber spoke on the House floor in support of the CARS Act.\n\nBackground:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-cruzs-bipartisan-bicameral-legislation-to-name-ports-to-plains-corridor-interstate-27-passes-house", "Sen. Cruz\u2019s Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Name Ports-to-Plains Corridor \"Interstate 27\" Passes House", "2023-12-06", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", "cruz", "https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, John Cornyn (R-Texas), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D- N.M.), along with U.S. Reps. Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) and Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) introduced legislation to rename the Ports-to-Plains corridor as \u201cInterstate 27\u201d that passed the House yesterday. The amended legislation will now head back to the Senate to be considered again.\n\nAbout the victory, Sen. Cruz said, \u201cIn Texas, we are leading the country in economic prosperity. The passage of this critical legislation to name the Ports-to-Plains corridor as Interstate 27 is an incredible step to greater economic growth in Texas. I am proud to have spearheaded the fight in the Senate, alongside Reps. Jodey Arrington and Henry Cuellar in the House, to advance the development of the I-27 corridor and create jobs across the Lone Star State.\u201d\n\nRead the bill text here.\n\nRead the Ports-to-Plains legislation here and the press release here.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nThe Ports-to-Plains Corridor aims to facilitate an additional key North-South route to bolster the transportation of goods and people. The Department of Transportation\u2019s (DOT\u2019s) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) has projected nationwide freight moved by trucks could increase by 44% from 2015 levels by 2045.\n\nThe Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), in conjunction with the Ports-to-Plains Advisory Committee, conducted a comprehensive study of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor. The study found significant economic benefits to upgrading the Ports-to-Plains Corridor. For example, the study found that the upgrades would result in a 76% return on investment, $4.1 billion in annual travel cost savings, 22,110 new jobs, and a $2.8 billion annual increase in state GDP.\n\nThe Ports-to-Plains Corridor was designated as a High Priority Corridor on the National Highway System. The Cruz-Lujan legislation was passed into law in late 2022.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1119", "Arrington Leads Bicameral Letter Calling Out USDA Discriminatory Disaster Relief Payment Model", "2023-12-05", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Jodey C. Arrington", "A000375", "arrington.house.gov", "arrington", "https://arrington.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Yesterday, House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) and U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), led 65 members of the United States House and Senate in sending a letter to the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Tom Vilsack, expressing their concerns about the implementation of new changes to Emergency Relief Program (ERP) payments for losses incurred in 2022. The letter urges the USDA to appropriately follow the law and immediately return the ERP back to 2021 guidelines that were aligned with Congressional intent.\n\nChairman Arrington said, \u201cDisasters don\u2019t discriminate against farmers based on their race or gender and neither should our government programs. The USDA's 2022 Emergency Relief Program (ERP) gives higher disaster payments to producers based on the color of their skin and biological sex - rather than targeting farmers with the greatest need. This is just another example of the Biden Administration using identity politics to drive public policy. These discriminatory and divisive practices have no place in America.\u201d\n\n\"Joe Biden's war on American agriculture continues. It seems like every program put forward by this administration comes with arbitrary restrictions that hurt farmers and ranchers in an effort to advance their political agenda,\" Senator Marshall said. \"The Emergency Relief Program was once workable and effective but has now fallen into total disrepair. There is no sound logic to scuttling a good program that received near-universal praise from Congress and farmers for a proposal this bad. I'm glad the department paused the program; however, as long as the ERP remains in this broken condition, there is little reason to support its further extension or to fine-tune this failure. Farmers need assistance now, and USDA needs to return to their old program to get these dollars out the door.\"\n\nRep. August Pfluger (TX-11) said, \"As a representative for prolific farming and ranching communities, I am deeply concerned about the methodology being used in the implementation of the USDA's Emergency Relief Program for 2022. Especially amid economic turmoil, the Biden Administration must have our agriculture producers' backs by swiftly adopting a system that fulfills the intended purpose of assisting our farm families in need without unwarranted limitations.\"\n\nRep. Ronny Jackson (TX-13) said, \u201cWhen hard times fell on farmers and ranchers, Congress made a conscience decision to support the men and women who dedicate their lives to feed and clothe the world. Farmers have struggled to deal with the Biden administration's radical economic policies, causing a steep rise in input costs and major labor shortages, all on top of catastrophic natural disasters. Instead of distributing disaster relief assistance quickly and efficiently to mitigate weather challenges in 2022, the USDA has radically changed the Emergency Relief Program to prioritize DEI initiatives and make deeper payment cuts that punish full time farmers. As a member of the House Committee on Agriculture and the Representative for one of the largest agricultural producing districts in the country, I will always be a leader in Congress to ensure our farmers and ranchers get the support they deserve.\u201d\n\n\u201cFarm and ranch families have experienced drought and extreme weather events over the past few years making it extremely difficult to continue operating,\u201d said Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening. \u201cAs they face these challenges, it is critical disaster assistance is delivered in a timely, equitable and effective manner. Sadly, the 2022 Emergency Relief Program (ERP) does just the opposite. After waiting for almost a year for assistance, the program simply picks winners and losers based on criteria outside of the farmer\u2019s control. It is extremely important for USDA to reconsider the methodology used to deliver this assistance and for Congress to hold the agency accountable. TFB thanks Chairman Jodey Arrington for leading a letter to express our concerns to USDA. We also appreciate Sens. Cornyn and Cruz and other leaders of the Texas delegation for their support in this effort. TFB stands ready to work with USDA and Congressional leaders to address the inadequacies that exist in this program and deliver proper assistance to the farm and ranch families who need it most.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe commend House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington for leading the charge in working to correct a fundamentally flawed disaster aid program that harms Texas farm and ranch families. In leading a bicameral letter to Secretary Vilsack with Senator Roger Marshall, Chairman Arrington made it clear that the Administration broke the law on a number of fronts in developing its regulations and this comes at the direct expense of Texas producers and farm and ranch families across the country. We thank Chairman Arrington for taking a major first step to rectify this matter so producers suffering losses due to drought and other natural disasters receive the help that Congress intended.\u201d Jim Sugarek, President, Southwest Council of Agribusiness said.\n\n\u201cPlains Cotton Growers Inc., strongly supports efforts led by the House, Senate and agriculture industry to rectify the recent disparities created by USDA in the implementation of the Emergency Relief Program for the 2022 crop year,\u201d said Kody Bessent, CEO of Plains Cotton Growers Inc. \u201cUSDA is operating on their own accord and against congressional intent in the application of this program, specifically in the newly developed progressive payment factor used to prorate payments inequitably and the biased method used to incorporate producer-paid insurance premiums and fees. Cotton farmers across Texas and the U.S. have been vastly impacted by concurrent events in 2022 brought on by mother nature \u2014 this is especially true in the Texas High Plains region. A correctly implemented program by USDA as Congress intended will greatly help the agriculture industry in such times of financial strain and loss. We look forward to continuing the work with Congress to swiftly correct the disparities and inadequacies created by USDA in administrating the ERP for the 2022 crop year.\u201d\n\n\u201cLast year, natural disasters took an enormous toll on our nation\u2019s farmers, many of whom are still struggling to make themselves whole. Yet, instead of meeting their needs, USDA developed an Emergency Relief Program for 2022 that unnecessarily deviates from past practice and will end up penalizing many of the hardest-hit farm families. The National Cotton Council applauds Representative Arrington, Senator Marshall, and the dozens of other Members of Congress who are urging Secretary Vilsack to go back to the drawing board.\u201dNational Cotton Council Chairman Shawn Holladay said.\n\nBackground:\n\nThe ERP announcement comes almost one year after Congress appropriated over $3 billion in funding to address natural disasters that occurred during the 2022 crop year.\n\nThe new changes include a higher crop insurance premium reimbursement for \u201csocially disadvantaged\u201d farmers defined as female or of a certain ethnicity, and applied a progressive payment model that prevents farm families that suffered the deepest losses from receiving adequate assistance. Both changes usurp the Congressional intent of such disaster relief programs.\n\nAdditionally, the new methodology will negatively impact many farmers\u2019 ability to receive financing from lenders and plan for the next crop year.\n\nUSDA needs to follow the law and Congressional intent to address the crop losses of our farm families without the pay limits and without preferences that are not authorized by law.\n\nEarlier this year, Rep. Arrington and Sen. Marshall sent a letter urging the USDA to reconsider ERP Phase II implementation and utilize the Phase I methodology for the crop year 2022 crop disaster assistance.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1136", "Arrington Passes Bipartisan Bill to Name Ports-to-Plains Corridor \u201cI-27\u201d", "2023-12-05", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Jodey C. Arrington", "A000375", "arrington.house.gov", "arrington", "https://arrington.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Yesterday, House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) and Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) celebrated the passage of their bipartisan legislation renaming the interstate-designated segments of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor to \u201cI-27\u201d. The passage of this bill marks an important step in the project that connects the ports of South Texas to the plains of West Texas and beyond, stimulating substantial economic growth and providing a competitive edge to producers and manufacturers throughout the region. Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.\n\nPrior to the bill\u2019s passage, Chairman Arrington delivered a speech on the floor of the United States House of Representatives in support of the measure. You can watch his speech HERE:\n\n\u201cTransportation infrastructure is critical to the future prosperity of Rural America.\u201d Chairman Arrington said. \u201cNow that we\u2019ve created a federal four-lane highway, we passed legislation to officially name it \u2018I-27.\u2019 The Ports to Plains Corridor is going to create thousands of jobs for West Texas and deliver a $50 billion economic impact over the next 20 years. I\u2019m proud to have had my bipartisan bill passed out of the House, with the help of my friend Henry Cuellar. This project is a game-changer for West Texas and all Americans who rely on our nation\u2019s energy independence and food security.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019d like to express my appreciation to Congressman Arrington for his continued support of the Ports-to-Plains initiatives including the I-27 Numbering Act of 2023 that passed unanimously in the House this week,\u201d said John Osborne, chairman of the Ports-to-Plains Alliance. \u201cIt is through his leadership and shared vision for the development of the corridor that we are not only one step closer to fruition but continue to pave the way to a prosperous and transformative future.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn Texas, we are leading the country in economic prosperity. The passage of this critical legislation to name the Ports-to-Plains corridor as Interstate 27 is an incredible step to greater economic growth in Texas. I am proud to have spearheaded the fight in the Senate, alongside Reps. Jodey Arrington and Henry Cuellar in the House, to advance the development of the I-27 corridor and create jobs across the Lone Star State.\u201d Senator Ted Cruz said.\n\n\u201cLast Congress, I secured language in the FY22 omnibus appropriations bill designating the Ports to Plains Corridor as a future federal interstate route, unlocking funding for an expansion project for a four-lane federal highway from Laredo to New Mexico. Today, the House officially designated the corridor as Interstate 27,\u201d said Congressman Cuellar, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee. \u201cThe Ports to Plains Corridor will spur economic development and create good-paying jobs across multiple sectors of our state\u2019s economy, including trade, energy, and agriculture. Thank you to Rep. Jodey Arrington, Sen. Ted Cruz, and Sen. John Cornyn for working with me across party lines to strengthen our state\u2019s infrastructure, and I look forward to seeing this bill signed into law.\u201d\n\nBackground:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-justice-blind-and-we-must-follow-facts-wherever-they-may-take-us", "ICYMI: \u201cJustice is blind and we must follow the facts wherever they may take us.\u201d", "2023-12-05", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Chip Roy", "R000614", "roy.house.gov", "roy", "https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "December 5, 2023\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2014 On Tuesday morning, Representative Chip Roy (TX-21) chaired the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government.\n\nKey quotes from the subcommittee are below.\n\n\u201cLike all components of the Justice Department, the Civil Rights Division is expected to\u2026equally enforce the law. Unfortunately, under the Biden administration, this has not always been the case.\u201d\n\n\u201cCivil Rights Division has fixated sight, for example, on those charged with protecting us \u2013 police departments. Often harassing these departments to the point that they cannot do their jobs.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe division must return to the nonpartisan work of protecting the rights of all Americans.\u201d\n\n\u201cMark Houck who was targeted, had a raid of his home, prosecuted under [the FACE Act] was acquitted by a jury. Have you apologized to him on behalf of the DOJ for that grave violation of his civil rights \u2013 having his family have to watch him being raided at his home?\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-roy-issues-statement-hr-542-and-hr-3848", "Rep. Roy issues statement on H.R. 542 and H.R. 3848", "2023-12-05", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Chip Roy", "R000614", "roy.house.gov", "roy", "https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Representative Chip Roy (TX-21) issued the following statement after voting on H.R. 542 and H.R. 3848:\n\nThis week, I voted against H.R. 542 and H.R. 3848.\n\nBoth these bills were \"paid for\" by effectively the exact same gimmick - raising the rate on VA home loan fees years into the future, instead of doing the hard but necessary work of finding the money to pay for each individual bill right now.\n\nWith almost $34 trillion in debt and skyrocketing inflation, we as a country do not have the have the luxury of writing checks for even the most laudable programs \u2014 such as those to assist veterans \u2014 without first figuring out how to actually pay for them. How we do things matters just as much as what we do in this regard.\n\nThis body, as a rule, has to stop kicking the can down the road with budget gimmicks. That's how this country got into our current fiscal disaster in the first place.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/house-passes-cruz-welch-bipartisan-bill-targeting-deadly-street-drug-tranq", "House Passes Cruz-Welch Bipartisan Bill Targeting Deadly Street Drug Tranq", "2023-12-05", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", "cruz", "https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 A bipartisan bill combatting a deadly street drug from U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) is headed to the President\u2019s desk.\n\nThe senators praised yesterday\u2019s House passage of the Testing, Rapid Analysis, and Narcotic Quality (TRANQ) Research Act. The Cruz-Welch legislation directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to take steps to enhance understanding of the dangerous animal tranquilizer xylazine, or tranq, and other novel synthetic drugs; develop new tests for detection; and establish partnerships with front-line entities that are often the first points of contact with new street drugs. This legislation previously passed the Senate with unanimous support in June.\n\nFollowing passage of the TRANQ Research Act, Sen. Cruz said:\n\n\u201cOur common sense, bipartisan legislation will help law enforcement better detect a deadly drug that is destroying lives in my home state of Texas. I am grateful to Senator Welch for working with me to help give the frontlines of the Tranq drug crisis access to reliable data and research, and I look forward to our Cruz-Welch legislation being swiftly signed into law.\u201d\n\nSen. Welch added:\n\n\u201cIn my first week as Vermont\u2019s new Senator, I came home to talk about the opioid and drug epidemic, and it couldn\u2019t have been more clear: the drug supply in Vermont has changed and it\u2019s making an already brutal overdose crisis even more challenging to combat. Our communities needed federal resources to deal with Xylazine, and they needed it now. So, we got to work\u2013and we did it in a bipartisan way. I look forward to President Biden signing the TRANQ Research Act into law, and I thank Senator Cruz and Representatives Collins and Caraveo for their partnership. This bill is a step in the right direction, and it will help us get the resources where they\u2019re needed most\u2013to those on the frontlines and the folks who need testing and detection tools.\u201d\n\nThe Texas Municipal Police Association has previously said about the bill:\n\n\u201cThe drug epidemic is not just a Texas problem \u2013 it\u2019s a national problem. As new drugs find their way onto the street, law enforcement must have the tools at their disposal to address the latest crisis. Senator Ted Cruz\u2019s TRANQ Act would provide us with the resources we need to combat the distribution of tranq, and save the lives of vulnerable Texans.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nXylazine, which has been nicknamed \u201ctranq,\u201d is a powerful sedative used by veterinarians. Although the tranquilizer is often combined with other drugs like fentanyl and Xanax, it is not an opioid, and so it cannot be reversed with Narcan. Its use has spread across the country, including in Texas and Vermont.\n\nThe Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reports skyrocketing detections of xylazine, with growth between 2020 and 2021 of 198% in the South, 112% in the West, 61% in the Northeast, and 7% in the Midwest. According to the DEA, \u201cthe presence of xylazine in illicit drug combinations and its detection in fatal overdoses may be more widespread than reported as a number of jurisdictions across the country may not include xylazine in forensic laboratory or toxicology testing.\u201d Tranq, also known as the \u201czombie drug\u201d has gruesome side effects, causing large wounds that will not heal, and is resistant to standard opioid overdose treatments.\n\nTexas law enforcement officials have recently detected this drug in illicit fentanyl supplies, and it has led to several deaths in the state.\n\nRep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) and Rep. Yadira Caraveo (D-Colo.) introduced the bipartisan companion legislation (H.R. 1734) to the TRANQ Research Act in the House of Representatives.\n\nOn April 12, the Office of National Drug Control Policy declared fentanyl-adulterated or -associated xylazine an \u201cemerging threat\u201d to the country, the first time in history a substance formally received this declaration.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sens-cruz-cassidy-colleagues-send-letter-urging-the-biden-administration-to-address-antisemitism-in-k-12-schools", "Sens. Cruz, Cassidy, Colleagues Send Letter Urging the Biden Administration to Address Antisemitism in K-12 Schools", "2023-12-05", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", "cruz", "https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Bill Cassidy (R-L.A.), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, sent a letter along with several of their Senate Republican colleagues to Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, urging the Biden administration to address the growing rates of antisemitism in K-12 schools following Hamas\u2019s war against Israel. The Senators urged the administration to use their Title VI enforcement power to ensure a safe learning environment for Jewish students.\n\nIn the letter, the Senators write, \u201cWe are deeply concerned that the Department of Education is not ensuring American K-12 schools are fostering a safe learning environment for all students following the terrorist organization Hamas\u2019 violent attack on civilians, including Americans and Israeli citizens.\u201d\n\nCosigners of the letter include U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), John Thune (R-S.D.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nSince the Hamas-led massacre against Israel on October 7th, there has been a disturbing rise in antisemitic incidents, including targeted harassment, directed at Jewish children in K-12 schools.\n\nShortly after the October 7th attacks, an 11-year-old in Manhattan Beach told four Jewish girls at his school that \u201call Israelis and Jews should be killed.\u201d\n\nOn October 9th, the Superintendent of Revere Public Schools in Massachusetts sent an email to school staff promoting resources that claimed, \u201cIsraeli terrorism has been significantly worse than that of the Palestinians.\u201d\n\nOn October 17th, a New York City middle school teacher and United Federation of Teachers\u2019 (UFT) school representative sent an email to teachers\u2019 union members deriding the UFT\u2019s official statement denouncing the October 7th attack and calling on the unions\u2019 retirement system to \u201cdivest from weapons and other companies that are complicit in violations of Palestinians\u2019 civil and land rights.\u201d\n\nOn October 18th, students in San Francisco marched through the hallways of their high school chanting antisemitic slogans.\n\nAccording to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Department of Education has a duty to ensure that schools receiving federal funds maintain a safe learning environment for all children.\n\nRead the full text of the letter here or below.\n\nDear Secretary Cardona:\n\nWe are deeply concerned that the Department of Education (Department) is not ensuring American K-12 schools are fostering a safe learning environment for all students following the terrorist organization Hamas\u2019 violent attack on civilians, including Americans and Israeli citizens. We write to urgently inquire what your Department is doing to enforce Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and to ensure students are not subjected to discrimination based on race, color, or national origin.\n\nOn October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists murdered over 1,200 civilians and took over 240 civilians hostage, including Americans. As children continue to grapple with the aftermath of this violence, incidents of antisemitic violence are picking up in our K-12 schools. Antisemitism in high schools is uniquely concerning as teenagers are particularly impressionable, deeply affected by the social dynamics of their peers and by the authority of their teachers.[1]Young students are still developing emotionally and are less equipped to handle and process incidents of antisemitism, making recent reports all the more concerning.\n\nOn October 18, 2023, students in San Francisco marched through the hallways of their high school chanting antisemitic slogans.[2] Shortly after the October 7th attack, an 11-year-old in Manhattan Beach told four Jewish girls at his school that \u201call Israelis and Jews should be killed.\u201d[3]\n\nImagine a parent of a Jewish student learning of such incidents. Parents should feel confident that their children\u2019s school will be safe and the focus will be on education. Instead, parents are beginning to fear that not only is school not safe for their students, but school officials are actively working to undermine the safety of their children. Parents cannot trust their students are safe if they fear school officials are key perpetrators in spreading antisemitic rhetoric. On October 9, 2023, the Superintendent of Revere Public Schools in Massachusetts sent an email to school staff promoting resources that claimed, \u201cIsraeli terrorism has been significantly worse than that of the Palestinians.\u201d[4] On October 17, 2023, a New York City middle school teacher and a United Federation of Teachers\u2019 (UFT) school representative sent an email to union members deriding the UFT\u2019s official statement denouncing the October 7th attack and calling on the unions\u2019 retirement system to \"divest from weapons and other companies that are complicit in violations of Palestinians' civil and land rights.\"[5] The email also promoted the pro-Palestine protest in Washington Square Park later that day where protestors burned Israeli flags and chanted \u201cAllahu Akbar.\u201d[6]\n\nThis type of harassment and intimidation is unacceptable and particularly troubling in K-12 schools. Younger students often have little choice in where they attend traditional public school, meaning there are ultimately fewer avenues for recourse. The difficult decision to switch schools due to an unsafe environment can be traumatic for a child and could involve moving to a different neighborhood or a lengthy battle with school district officials to be given a waiver to leave their assigned school. The process of switching schools is difficult for parents and could take years, all while their student could be in an unsafe environment.\n\nUnfortunately, these incidents are not a new phenomenon as antisemitic incidents have surged in K-12 schools long before the October 7th attack. In 2022, 494 incidents of antisemitism were reported in non-Jewish K-12 schools, a 49 percent increase compared to 2021.[7] In fact, the growing rate of antisemitic incidents in educational facilities outpaced that of such incidents in the country at large.\n\nThe rise in antisemitic incidents is a symptom of growing antisemitism amongst our nation\u2019s young people who are a product of our K-12 education system. Less than half of Gen Z and millennials believe the U.S. should publicly voice support of Israel compared with 63 percent of Gen X, 83 percent of baby boomers, and 86 percent of members of the Silent Generation.[8] Over half of voters under the age of 35 do not support sending weapons and military equipment to Israel in response to the Hamas terrorist attacked, compared with 77 percent of those 50 and over.[9] A Generation Lab poll of two- and four-year college students found that 48 percent of college students who say they are aware of the October 7 attack do not blame that attack on Hamas.[10]\n\nWe must understand what role public K-12 schools are playing in furthering these sentiments. Since October 7, dozens of targeted attacks have occurred on college campuses, including reported vandalism, arson, and even professors taking discriminatory actions in their classroom based on a student\u2019s status as a member of a protected class. While these polls focus on young people ages 18 and over, it is hard to believe these antisemitic tendencies began when they arrived at college. This prompts concerns that these tendencies might be taking root in K-12 schools.\n\nExamples are continuing to surface of K-12 teachers using materials that perpetuate antisemitism. There is a trend of school districts establishing courses under the guise of \u201cethnic studies\u201d that are aimed to force a political agenda on students and that uniquely target Jews, alleging that all Jews are white or \u201cwhite adjacent\u201d and illegally occupy Israel.[11]The Zinn Education Project, whose history curriculum is used by 155,000 teachers, declared that the October 7th attack was \u201cthe direct result of decades of Israeli occupation.\u201d[12]\n\nAmerica\u2019s K-12 schools must be a safe learning environment for all students. School officials are supposed to be the adults in the school building. They should be setting an example for our students and ensuring a safe learning environment rather than undermining it.\n\nAs you are aware, any harassment or the creation of a hostile environment for students is unacceptable and invokes the responsibility of the Department to uphold Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VI states, \u201cNo person in the United States shall, on the basis of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.\u201d[13]\n\nIn May 2023, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine Lhamon wrote that \u201cthe protection offered by Title VI \u2026 extends to students who experience discrimination, including harassment, based on \u2026 (i) shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics; or (ii) citizenship or residency in a country with a dominant religion or distinct religious identity.\u201d[14]\n\nAdditionally, on November 7, 2023, your office released a Dear Colleague letter in which you state, \u201cThe Department of Education\u2019s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) stands ready to support schools in fulfilling this promise and to ensure every student\u2019s right to learn without discrimination.\u201d[15] While we are pleased to see your renewed attention to this issue, listening sessions and working groups are not in alignment with the appropriate actions outlined in Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It is time to live up to those obligations.\n\nSome schools seem unwilling or unable to uphold their legal obligations under Title VI. Therefore, the Department should use its full resources to enforce the law. To assist us in our oversight and legislative duties, we request a briefing to be scheduled no later than December 14, 2023 to discuss:\n\nThe Department\u2019s plan to promptly move the Antisemitism Awareness Campaign forward in the face of increased, brazen antisemitism at educational institutions across the country;\n\nTechnical assistance or guidance provided to states and school districts on how to maintain safe learning environments;\n\nData about antisemitic-related or other subgroup complaints specifically at the K-12 school-level into the Office for Civil Rights (OCR);\n\nWhether OCR has begun any compliance reviews based on harassment or violence complaints in K-12 schools; and\n\nWhether OCR has undertaken any directed investigations based on news reports of harassment or violence in K-12 schools.\n\nWe look forward to an update regarding your efforts on the Antisemitism Awareness Campaign and broader enforcement of Title VI to ensure the Department and K-12 schools receiving Federal funds protect Jewish students in the same capacity as other legally-protected classes.\n\n###\n\n[1] Adam Milstein, What about antisemitism in our high schools?, The Jerusalem Post (September 13, 2022), https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-717053.\n\n[2] Julianna Frieman, Video Of San Francisco High Schoolers Chanting Antisemitic Slogan Goes Viral Amid Israel-Hamas Firestorm, Daily Caller (October 20, 2023), https://dailycaller.com/2023/10/20/san-francisco-high-schoolers-antisemitic-slogans/.\n\n[3] Hal Eisner, Mahattan Beach student allegedly told Jewish classmates \u2018all Israelis and Jews should be killed\u2019, Fox 11 (October 23, 2023), https://www.foxla.com/news/manhattan-beach-student-allegedly-told-jewish-classmates-all-israelis-and-jews-should-be-killed.\n\n[4] Incidents, Immediately after attack on Israel, Revere Public Schools superintendent sends email to staff promoting resource that claims \u201cIsraeli terrorism has been significantly worse than that of the Palestinians,\u201dParents Defending Education (October 11, 2023), https://defendinged.org/incidents/revere-public-schools-superintendent-sends-email-to-staff-promoting-resource-that-claims-israeli-terrorism-has-been-significantly-worse-than-that-of-the-palestinians/.\n\n[5] Gabe Kaminsky, Israel War: NYC School Union Head Justifies Hamas Attack in \u2018Private\u2019 Email to Teachers, Washington Examiner (October 25, 2023), https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/education/israel-war-nyc-school-union-email-judi-cheng.\n\n[6] Stephen M. Lepore, Pro-Palestine and Israel Protestors Clash in NYC\u2019s Washington Square Park as Flags Are Lit on Fire and Chants of \u2018Allahu Akbar\u2019 Emerge, Daily Mail (October 17, 2023),https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12642847/NYC-Washington-Square-Park-protest-Israel-Palestine-Hamas-war-flags-fire-cops.html.\n\n[7] Press Release, U.S. Antisemitic Incidents Hit Highest Level Ever Recorded, ADL Audit Finds, ADL (March 23, 2023), https://www.adl.org/resources/press-release/us-antisemitic-incidents-hit-highest-level-ever-recorded-adl-audit-finds.\n\n[8] Domenico Montanaro, Americans Strongly Support Israel, but There Are Generational and Racial Divides, NPR (October 13, 2023), https://www.npr.org/2023/10/13/1205627092/american-support-israel-biden-middle-east-hamas-poll.\n\n[9] Poll Release, 85% Of Voters Concerned Israel - Hamas War Will Escalate into A Wider War in The Middle East, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Approval For Building Border Wall With Mexico Reaches Record High, Quinnipiac University (October 17, 2023), https://poll.qu.edu/poll-release?releaseid=3880.\n\n[10] Mark Murray, Poll of U.S. College Students Finds Most Blame Hamas for attack on Israel, NBC News (October 17, 2023), https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/meetthepressblog/poll-us-college-students-finds-blame-hamas-attack-israel-rcna120833.\n\n[11] Resources, 5 Things to Know About Ethnic Studies, Parents Defending Education (n.d.), https://defendinged.org/resources/5-things-to-know-about-ethnic-studies/.\n\n[12] Tweet Message, Zinn Education Project (October 10, 2023), https://twitter.com/ZinnEdProject/status/1711789447333745023.\n\n[13] 42 USC 2000d\n\n[14] Dear Colleague Letter from Assistant Sec\u2019y for C.R., Catherine Lahmon (May 25, 2023), https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/antisemitism-dcl.pdf.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T22:34:08Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sens-cruz-mullin-introduce-legislation-to-protect-ranchers-from-federal-government-overreach", "Sens. Cruz, Mullin Introduce Legislation to Protect Ranchers from Federal Government Overreach", "2023-12-05", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", "cruz", "https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) joined Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) in introducing the Black Vulture Relief Act, which would alleviate burdensome government regulations allowing farmers to protect their newborn livestock from black vultures without a depredation permit whenever their livestock is threatened.\n\nUpon introducing the bill Sen. Cruz said, \u201cTexas has long been a stronghold in American agriculture. Our ranchers already face headwinds like drought, high input costs, and inflation.The last thing they need is to get a permit from the federal government to protect their own livestock. Livestock producers must possess the autonomy and authority to defend their livelihood from black vultures that are killing nearly 2.1 million cattle each year. The federal government has no place to stand in their way.\u201d\n\nCosponsors of the bill include Sens. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).\n\nRead the full text of the bill here.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\n\u2022 Black vultures are known to attack livestock, especially calves. These attacks are gruesome, often lasting hours, and cost ranchers an average of $2,000 per calf killed.\n\n\u2022 The black vulture population has increased by 468% since 1990.\n\n\u2022 Despite being listed as a species of lowest conservation concern, black vultures are still protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, making it illegal to take one without a depredation permit from U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS).\n\n\u2022 FWS currently operates a pilot program that allows state entities to register for a master permit and disburse sub-permits to ranchers. However, these sub-permits limit ranchers to 3-5 black vulture takes per year, even though attacks normally involve 20+ black vultures at a time.\n\n\u2022 This bill maintains protections for the species by requiring annual reporting of takes to ensure FWS receives accurate data to monitor the population and prohibiting the use of poison as a method of take.\n\n\u2022 The legislation is endorsed by the National Cattlemen\u2019s Beef Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, U.S. Cattlemen\u2019s Association, Texas Farm Bureau, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife & Conservation, 19 state cattlemen\u2019s associations, and 5 additional state farm bureaus.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sens-cruz-scott-demand-answers-on-the-biden-administrations-latest-iran-sanctions-waiver", "Sens. Cruz, Scott Demand Answers on the Biden Administration\u2019s Latest Iran Sanctions Waiver", "2023-12-05", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", "cruz", "https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Tim Scott (R-S.C), members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, as well as other colleagues sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin calling for the administration to clarify and re-evaluate its policy granting Iran access to tens of billions of dollars through sanctions waivers.\n\nIn the letter, the senators said, \u201cA strong signal of deterrence\u2014utilizing military, economic, and diplomatic tools\u2014is needed if we want to stop the attacks against U.S. personnel and prevent the war in Gaza from expanding into a protracted regional conflict. Unfortunately, the administration\u2019s military and economic responses to Iran and its proxies have not only been disproportionate, they appear to be completely disjointed. We therefore request that your departments provide us with a classified assessment on the administration\u2019s plan to deter Iranian aggression and prevent the escalation of conflict in the Middle East. This assessment should include an estimation of how Iran has already leveraged\u2014and could in the future leverage\u2014against U.S. persons and interests the tens of billions in assets it now has access to due to your administration\u2019s use of U.S. sanctions waivers and is to be provided in a member or staff-level briefing no later than December 7, 2023.\u201d\n\nRead the full letter here and below:\n\nDear Secretaries Blinken, Yellen, and Austin:\n\nOn August 18, 2023, we wrote to express our concern over the administration\u2019s decision to release $6 billion worth of frozen Iranian assets in exchange for the return of American detainees. This decision reinforced an incredibly dangerous precedent of providing ransom payments to the world\u2019s greatest state sponsor of terrorism and put a price on the life of every American overseas. Understanding the grave error of the unfreezing of Iranian assets and the danger this action poses to U.S. lives and interests, it is therefore alarming to hear that the administration is doubling down on its appeasement strategy by actively working to provide Iran with access to billions more in funding.\n\nOn October 7, 2023, Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists attacked Israel, brutally killing an estimated 1,200 civilians and taking over 200 hostages. In response, the administration reached an agreement with Qatar on October 12 to temporarily prevent the unfrozen assets\u2014now held at Qatari financial institutions\u2014from being expended. Based on information from your administration, it is our belief that with the current lack of safeguards, Iran will soon access this $6 billion and use the funds to continue to expand its malign proxy activities.\n\nSince October 7, Hamas and fellow Iranian proxy, Hezbollah, have continued to launch attacks against Israel as it fights to defend its sovereignty and protect its people. As we continue to stand with our greatest ally in the Middle East, other Iranian proxies have increased their attacks against U.S. personnel in the region. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria have launched sixty-one attacks against U.S. personnel since October 7. United States forces have responded only three times. However, at the same time, your administration has inadvisably taken steps to unlock tens of billions of dollars for Iran to fund additional terrorist activities that directly threaten American lives.\n\nOn November 13, 2023, the U.S. Department of State extended a sanctions waiver pursuant to Section 1245(d)(5) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 and Section 1244(i) and 1247(f) of the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act of 2012, finding that a sanctions waiver to allow Iraq to pay Iran for electricity was in the national security interest of the United States. Public reports have held that there is roughly $10 billion in Iraqi payments for Iranian electricity currently being held in escrow accounts in Iraq.[1] The decision to extend this waiver and allow Iran to convert Iraqi Dinars to Euros was signed the day after U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) carried out its latest strike against facilities used by Iran\u2019s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and other Iranian proxy groups in Eastern Syria, in response to their attacks against U.S. personnel. Such timing signals to Iran that despite attacks on U.S. servicemembers and our allies, it is business as normal on the economic front.\n\nAs we said in August, money is fungible. Combined with the $10 billion waiver extension, the administration has provided Iran with access to roughly $16 billion in assets over the past four months; assets that can be used\u2014now or in the future\u2014to offset the cost of the Iranian regime\u2019s increase in destabilizing activities across the region.\n\nA strong signal of deterrence\u2014utilizing military, economic, and diplomatic tools\u2014is needed if we want to stop the attacks against U.S. personnel and prevent the war in Gaza from expanding into a protracted regional conflict. Unfortunately, the administration\u2019s military and economic responses to Iran and its proxies have not only been disproportionate, they appear to be completely disjointed.\n\nWe therefore request that your departments provide us with a classified assessment on the administration\u2019s plan to deter Iranian aggression and prevent the escalation of conflict in the Middle East. This assessment should include an estimation of how Iran has already leveraged\u2014and could in the future leverage\u2014against U.S. persons and interests the tens of billions in assets it now has access to due to your administration\u2019s use of U.S. sanctions waivers and is to be provided in a member or staff-level briefing no later than December 7, 2023.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://gonzales.house.gov/2023/12/rep-tony-gonzales-statement-on-rep-george-santos-expulsion-bote", "Rep. Tony Gonzales Statement on Rep. George Santos Expulsion Vote", "2023-12-01", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Tony Gonzales", "G000594", "gonzales.house.gov", "gonzales", "https://gonzales.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) released the following statement:\n\n\u201cThe people of New York\u2019s 3rd Congressional District were deceived by Representative George Santos. Between the bipartisan House Ethics Committee report and the charges and allegations already brought forth against Rep. Santos, it\u2019s clear that Rep. Santos is grossly unfit to continue serving in Congress. We have a duty as Members of Congress to put aside our political stripes and uphold the integrity of our institutions first. The U.S. House of Representatives made the right call to expel Rep. Santos today,\u201d said Congressman Tony Gonzales.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-chip-roy-issues-statement-h-res-878", "Rep. Chip Roy issues statement on H. Res. 878", "2023-12-01", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Chip Roy", "R000614", "roy.house.gov", "roy", "https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Representative Chip Roy (TX-21) issued the following statement after voting against H. Res. 878 on Friday.\n\nToday, I voted against H. Res. 878 to expel George Santos from Congress. While the allegations \u2014 and evidence of those allegations \u2014 regarding Representative Santos are certainly concerning, his guilt has yet to be determined in a court of law.\n\nJumping to our own conclusions, ahead of the branch of government to which this matter rightly belongs at this time, could have serious consequences. Indeed, the only two Members of the House that have been expelled for criminal activity were expelled only after they were convicted. The ascertainment of guilt or innocence is a serious and deliberative matter and should remain as such.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases/roy-and-salazar-reaffirm-monroe-doctrine", "Roy and Salazar reaffirm the Monroe Doctrine", "2023-12-01", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Chip Roy", "R000614", "roy.house.gov", "roy", "https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Representatives Chip Roy (TX-21) and Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27) introduced a resolution commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Monroe Doctrine.\n\nRepresentative Roy said, \u201cSaturday marks the 200th anniversary of the Monroe Doctrine, in which the United States sent an unequivocal message to the rest of the world that we would not tolerate the meddling of foreign powers in the Western Hemisphere.\n\nNow, just as then, we must stand resolute against outside forces that undercut our partnerships with our allies on this side of the globe.\n\nPresident Monroe\u2019s concern about foreign powers influencing the Americas now takes on new urgency as adversaries like China, Russia, Iran, and others seek to increase their footholds in the region and undermine our freedom, security, and way of life.\n\nI\u2019m proud to cosponsor this resolution with my friend Representative Maria Salazar.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Monroe Doctrine\u2019s promise of American independence in the Western Hemisphere has kept us safe for 200 years,\u201d said Representative Salazar. \u201cToday, threats to our security and liberty no longer come from England, France, or Spain, but from China, Russia, and Iran. By passing my resolution, Congress will send a clear message to the world that America is still in charge.\u201d\n\nRead the full text of the resolution here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://williams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-williams-applauds-house-passage-resolution-disapproving-final-cfpb", "Rep. Williams Applauds House Passage of Resolution Disapproving of Final CFPB 1071 Rule", "2023-12-01", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Roger Williams", "W000816", "williams.house.gov", "williams", "https://williams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Roger Williams (TX-25) released the following statement on Friday following the passage of S.J. Res. 32, Senate companion for H.J. Res. 66, a Congressional Review Act disapproving of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau\u2019s (CFPB) Dodd Frank Section 1071 Small Business Lending Data Collection Rule in the House by a vote count of 221 to 202:\n\n\u201cI applaud the House for passing S.J. Res. 32 condemning the CFPB\u2019s relentless attack on Main Street America,\u201d said Congressman Williams. \u201cSmall businesses are the backbone of the American economy, and it is crucial that they can access affordable credit to support and grow our communities. During a time where small businesses are facing crushing inflation and increasing borrowing costs, it is important that we put an end to the CFPB\u2019s broad, burdensome, and difficult to implement rulemaking. It is now Biden\u2019s turn to listen to the American people and sign this bill into law instead of bowing down to out of touch unelected bureaucrats.\u201d\n\n\u201cBy collecting and publishing personal demographic and other information, the CFPB is putting small business owners at risk of having their private financial affairs exposed to a watching world. Reporting these personal details is an invasion of privacy and a waste of resources in service of the CFPB\u2019s woke agenda. This rule could hamstring lending to Main Street. The House is protecting Americans\u2019 privacy and job creators by passing Congressman Williams\u2019s crucial resolution, and I hope President Biden signs this legislation quickly,\u201d said Kennedy.\n\n\u201cHouse passage of S.J. Res. 32 today is a victory for America\u2019s small business owners and, frankly, for common-sense. CFPB took three pages of Section 1071 legislation and turned into 888 pages of bureaucratic regulation that will only complicate small business lending. Congress authorized the collection of 13 data points under Section 1071, but CFPB grossly abused its power with 81 data points in the final rule. Chairman Roger Williams\u2019 leadership has been indispensable in fighting this regulatory behemoth and assault on Main Street small business lending. At a time when it is difficult to pass anything through a divided Congress, we urge President Biden not to veto this important bipartisan legislation for the good of small businesses and the community banks that serve them,\u201dsaid Chris Furlow, President and CEO of the Texas Bankers Association.\n\nBackground:\n\nS.J.Res.32 is a Congressional Review Act disapproving of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau\u2019s Dodd Frank Section 1071 Small Business Lending Data Collection Rule. This legislation would bar the CFPB from enforcing the 1071 rule.\n\nThe rule, published in the Federal Register on May 31, 2023, is more than 900 pages long and requires lenders to report 81 data fields, including race, sex, gender identity, and ethnicity of loan applicants. Section 1071 forces lenders to pass increased compliance costs onto small business owners through higher interest rates or fees and less credit availability. Among concerns on compliance costs, the February CFPB major data breach involving unauthorized use of sensitive personal and business data by a CFPB employee makes the risk of data leaks clear. Disapproval of the CFPB\u2019s 1071 rule ensures that this burdensome rule does not take effect, unnecessary costs and harms to consumers are avoided, and that small businesses can maintain access to affordable credit, including from community banks, to support and grow our economy.\n\nS.J. Res. 32, which passed the Senate with bipartisan support, is the Senate companion to H.J. Res. 66, which was introduced by Congressman Williams in the House on May 31, 2023.\n\nBiden has stated that he plans to veto this bipartisan legislation.\n\nRead the bill text here.\n\nWilliams\u2019 comments during floor debate prior to passage here.\n\nRead Williams\u2019 opening remarks as prepared from delivery here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/blogs/e-newsletter-week-of-december-1st", "e-Newsletter: Week of December 1st", "2023-12-01", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", "cruz", "https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Good Evening,\n\nTwo weeks ago, I joined several of my Republican colleagues in the Senate in pushing for a vote on the motion to proceed on a House-passed bill that would provide $14.3 billion in emergency aid to Israel. I am gravely disappointed that Senate Democrats voted party line on this issue, opposing critical aid to our Israeli allies and failing to protect American national security. This legislation should have passed 100-0. We must deliver this much-needed aid and support to Israel as they work to utterly eradicate Hamas, for as long as it takes. This week, I met with several American families of U.S. hostages facing the brutal terror of Hamas. I committed to standing with them, praying for the freedom of their loved ones, and working with colleagues to ensure that Israel has the support it needs to bring American hostages home.\n\nOn Monday, I joined Chris Salcedo on Newsmax to discuss how the Biden administration is putting our national security at risk by prioritizing their woke agenda over enforcing the law for drug traffickers and human smugglers crossing our southern border.\n\n\u201cCustoms and Border Patrol (CBP), under Joe Biden, recently [put out] a memo to border patrol agents saying, \u2018do not use pronouns to address illegal immigrants, human traffickers or drug traffickers as he, she, him or her.\u2019 It is utterly asinine. Right now [our country is at] the greatest risk of a terrorist attack since 9/11. CBP also knows Hamas and Hezbollah are trying to send terrorists across our southern border except these woke ideologues \u2026 are now trying to figure out what's your gender identity and your sexual orientation. \u2026 If you break the law, we ought to enforce the law.\u201d\n\nMonday evening, I also joined Sean Hannity on Fox News ahead of viewing nearly an hour\u2019s worth of footage released by the Israeli government on the unspeakable evil that took place on October 7th at the hands of Hamas.\n\n\"[This week in] the Senate I'm doing something I'm really not looking forward to. \u2026 I'm going to watch about an hour of footage \u2026 of the atrocities these terrorists have committed. I'm gonna see tragically terrorists raping young women, raping children and murdering children. \u2026 This is evil and we've got to stop it.\u201d\n\nOn Tuesday, as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I attended a hearing to discuss the issue of gun control and the radical left\u2019s soft-on-crime policies that would strip guns out of the hands of law-abiding citizens.\n\n\u201cThere are no moderate Democrats left in Congress. Today\u2019s Democrats, when it comes to guns, their objective is to disarm law-abiding citizens [and] simultaneously embrace policies that release violent criminals from jail. They\u2019re not interested in locking up murderers. \u2026 They\u2019re not interested in locking up violent criminals. Instead, they systematically support policies that release violent criminals.\u201d\n\nOn Thursday, I attended a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on a Biden nominee to the federal bench who signed a letter calling for the release of ALL prisoners during the pandemic. I challenged my Democrat colleagues to consider the severe gravity of this nominee\u2019s actions before voting party line on this judicial nominee.\n\n\u201cA judge who calls for releasing every violent criminal in the state of Connecticut who's on pretrial containment shouldn't be a judge. You all know it. The choice you're facing is, \u2018Well, if I vote no, the White House is gonna be really mad. If I vote no, Chuck Schumer's gonna be really mad.\u2019 \u2026 You're United States Senators \u2026 you don't represent the White House. You don't represent Chuck Schumer. \u2026 You were elected to represent the citizens of your own states [and] I promise you the citizens of your state would find this a simple question.\u201d\n\nRest assured, I will not stand idly by and let the radical left continue to destroy our great nation. God Bless!\n\nKeep Texas Strong,\n\nMORE FROM SEN. CRUZ:\n\nICYMI: Sen. Cruz Reintroduces Bill to Reimpose Terrorism Sanctions on Iran-controlled Houthis\n\nREAD: Disney's 'stunning' financial statements show company has risked profits for woke politics: Ted Cruz\n\nICYMI: Sen. Cruz Applauds Bipartisan House Vote in Support of Resolution to Secure Water for Texas Farmers\n\nState Spotlight\n\nTexas Bankers Association\n\nCommerce Corner\n\nSEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Big Ten Commissioner Tony Pettiti, and Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://luttrell.house.gov/media/press-releases/luttrell-introduces-mark-our-place-act", "Luttrell Introduces Mark Our Place Act", "2023-11-30", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Morgan Luttrell", "L000603", "luttrell.house.gov", "luttrell", "https://luttrell.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Morgan Luttrell (R-TX) introduced H.R. 6507, the Mark Our Place Act, which amends current law to allow family members, Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs), or cemetery administrators to request the VA provide a headstone for Medal of Honor recipients, regardless of their date of death. Currently, this is only available to Medal of Honor recipients that served after 1917. Senators Braun, Brown, and Tester recently introduced this legislation, S. 3126, in the Senate.\n\n\u201cWe should not put a limited time frame on recognizing Medal of Honor recipients. The Mark Our Place Act will remove unnecessary red tape prohibiting the VA from providing headstones with Medal of Honor markers to veterans buried in private cemeteries,\u201d said Congressman Luttrell. \u201cThese veterans have risked everything to protect our freedoms, and honoring their service and sacrifice should be timeless. I was proud to introduce this companion legislation in the House, as my colleagues in the Senate work to move this forward as well.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://luttrell.house.gov/media/press-releases/luttrell-leads-letter-addressing-antisemitism-within-department-veterans", "Luttrell Leads Letter Addressing Antisemitism Within in the Department of Veterans Affairs", "2023-11-30", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Morgan Luttrell", "L000603", "luttrell.house.gov", "luttrell", "https://luttrell.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Morgan Luttrell (R-TX) led 13 of his colleagues in a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Dennis McDonough following disturbing antisemitic comments posted online by Shakeba Morrad, a United States Attorney at the Office of General Counsel for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Specifically, lawmakers requested an immediate update on the investigation into Shakeba Morrad and any disciplinary actions taken.\n\n\u201cAntisemitism has no place in America, especially within the Department of Veterans Affairs,\u201d said Congressman Luttrell. \u201cVile comments, such as Ms. Morrad\u2019s, will not be tolerated, and there must be accountability. I will continue to unequivocally condemn all forms of antisemitism and look forward to hearing from Secretary McDonough on the actions being taken to address this.\u201d\n\nSee the letter here and below.\n\n\u201cWe write to share our strong concerns regarding Shakeba Morrad, a United States Attorney at the Office of General Counsel for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs who shared a video in which she displayed antisemitic behavior. We are requesting an immediate update on the investigation and any disciplinary actions taken.\n\n\u201cIn the video posted November 12, 2023, Ms. Morrad actively mocked the Israeli hostages being held captive by Hamas. As you are aware, on October 7th of this year Hamas committed one of the vilest terrorist attacks in recent world history. During this attack the men, women, and children Hamas did not kill were taken back to Gaza to be held as hostages. Ms. Morrad\u2019s mocking of these people and their families is unacceptable.\n\n\u201cThe core values of the Department of Veterans Affairs are Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence. It is clear to us that Ms. Morrad does not embody the values of the Department and therefore has no place within it.\n\n\u201cTherefore, we require an update on the investigation into Ms. Morrad for her reprehensible behavior and a clear outline of any disciplinary actions already taken no later than December 6, 2023.\u201d\n\nThe letter was signed by Representatives Eli Crane (R-AZ), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Ralph Norman (R-SC), August Pfluger (R-TX), Michael Waltz (R-FL), Cory Mills (R-FL), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), Keith Self (R-TX), Randy Weber (R-TX0), Derrick Van Orden (R-WI), Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), Matt Rosendale (R-MT), and Mike Carey (R-OH).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-roy-issues-statement-protecting-american-voters-act-h-r-3162", "Rep. Roy issues statement on the Protecting American Voters Act (H. R. 3162)", "2023-11-30", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Chip Roy", "R000614", "roy.house.gov", "roy", "https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Representative Chip Roy (TX-21) issued the following statement after his Protecting American Voters Act (H. R. 3162) passed out of the House Administration Committee on Thursday.\n\n\u201cPublic confidence in the electoral process is an unquestionable cornerstone of any representative government. We will not keep this Republic if we cannot provide our fellow citizens reason to believe their votes matter and our elections are secure.\n\nThat's why I introduced the Protecting American Voters Act, which ensures that States have access to the data needed to ensure that only U.S. citizens are voting in our elections. I\u2019m grateful for Chairman Bryan Steil and my colleagues for moving this bill through the House Administration Committee and look forward to its passage on the floor.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-cruz-applauds-bipartisan-house-vote-in-support-of-resolution-to-secure-water-for-texas-farmers", "Sen. Cruz Applauds Bipartisan House Vote in Support of Resolution to Secure Water for Texas Farmers", "2023-11-30", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", "cruz", "https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued a statement after the passage of Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz\u2019s (R-Texas) resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives highlighting that Texas farmers are experiencing acute water shortages and supporting diplomacy to ensure that Mexico fulfills its treaty obligations to provide annual deliveries of water.\n\nThe resolution is a companion resolution to one that Sen. Cruz authored and introduced in the Senate in September. Last month, Sen. Cruz secured a vote in the Senate for a related amendment he authored, requiring the Secretary of State to utilize the full range of American diplomacy to secure Mexican compliance with its treaty obligations. The amendment secured majority bipartisan support, but failed to clear a filibuster.\n\nUpon passage of the House resolution Sen. Cruz said, \u201cFarmers in Texas and across the Southwest deserve reliable and predictable water supplies, and Mexico\u2019s failure to adhere to its treaty obligations badly undermines those goals. I\u2019m proud to lead the fight in Congress with Rep. De La Cruz to secure those supplies and address the crisis farmers and ranchers are facing in the Lone Star State, and to have secured bipartisan majority support for language supporting U.S. officials and diplomats as they seek to secure Mexico\u2019s compliance. This week\u2019s vote in U.S. House of Representatives reaffirms that those officials and diplomats have the full support of the U.S. Congress as they advance their negotiations.\u201d\n\nSen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said, \u201cSouth Texas farmers and ranchers rely on consistent releases of water to the Amistad and Falcon Reservoirs for their livelihood and to maintain a healthy standard of living. I applaud Congresswoman De La Cruz\u2019s work on this issue in the House of Representatives, and I remain committed to ensuring Mexico fulfills its obligations to our border communities.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1118", "Chairman Arrington Delivers Opening Statement at Hearing on Fiscal Commission Legislative Proposals", "2023-11-29", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Jodey C. Arrington", "A000375", "arrington.house.gov", "arrington", "https://arrington.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-TX) delivered opening remarks at the House Budget Committee\u2019s hearing to examine several legislative proposals to create a bipartisan fiscal commission.\n\nWatch the full hearing here.\n\nChairman Arrington\u2019s remarks as prepared for delivery:\n\nI want to thank the Members testifying today for their leadership on what I believe is the most significant challenge facing our nation in the 21st Century \u2013 our runaway deficit spending and unsustainable national debt that threatens not only our economy, but our national security, our way of life, and America\u2019s leadership in the world.\n\nI think it\u2019s worth repeating some of the startling statistics regarding the magnitude and explosive growth of our nation\u2019s indebtedness.\n\n120% debt to GDP \u2013 200% 30-year outlook\n\nAnnual deficits have doubled just over the last year, reaching a record $2 trillion (borrowing $6 billion per day)\n\nAnd CBO projects this number to double in this budget window \u2013 adding almost $20 trillion to our national debt \u2013 half of which is interest expenses!\n\nInterest payments are the fastest growing expenditure in the federal budget, reaching almost 3/4 of a trillion dollars last year and projected to be $1 trillion next year.\n\nNo responsible leader can look at the rapid deterioration of our balance sheet, CBO\u2019s projections of unsustainable debt and deficit spending, and our long-term unfunded liabilities and not feel compelled to intervene, change course, and prevent a sovereign debt crisis before it\u2019s too late.\n\nAs I said from the outset, this is the 21st century challenge for our nation. I believe this is our generation\u2019s World War and the cost of losing this war will be catastrophic and irreparable.\n\nIf we don\u2019t have this sense of urgency, if we don\u2019t have a plan, and if we don\u2019t exercise the political courage to execute that plan \u2013 we will be the first generation of leaders to fail to leave this country better than we found it for our children.\n\nLet\u2019s be clear: this isn\u2019t a Republican problem or Democrat problem \u2013 it\u2019s America\u2019s problem, and it\u2019s a mathematic reality that will require real leadership from both sides of the aisle before it\u2019s too late.\n\nUnfortunately, over the years, too many Americans have become desensitized to trillions of dollars of accumulating debt, and too many lawmakers have been disengaged, with a false sense of security that we can continue down this treacherous fiscal path with no real consequence.\n\nHowever, the past two years have provided a wakeup call. Record spending resulting in our current cost-of-living crisis, along with a bleak economic outlook and looming recession have provided a rare, acute sensitivity for the American people regarding Washington\u2019s reckless fiscal and monetary policy and its direct impact on their pocketbooks.\n\nAs I\u2019ve said before, while our fiscal trajectory is unsustainable, it\u2019s not unfixable. But, both parties have to acknowledge they contributed in some way, and both parties need to come to the table to work on strategies to fix it.\n\nWhile a commission is not a panacea, it can offer a productive, depoliticized forum for educating the public and identifying consensus solutions for addressing our growing deficits and long-term unfunded liabilities.\n\nThe purpose of today\u2019s hearing is to evaluate:\n\nthe various bipartisan proposals for a debt commission,\n\nvarious desired outcomes,\n\nstructural designs,\n\nother provisions meant to address our deficits and long-term unfunded liabilities,\n\nand finally \u2013 identify common themes that can be woven together in a bipartisan, bicameral consensus commission framework that could pass both chambers, be signed by the President, and have a meaningful impact on our current debt trajectory and looming debt crisis.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://nehls.house.gov/media/in-the-news/social-media-policy", "Social Media Policy", "2023-11-29", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Troy E. Nehls", "N000026", "nehls.house.gov", "nehls", "https://nehls.house.gov/media", "scraper", "The purpose of this page is for Congressman Troy E. Nehls to communicate with his constituents living in the 22nd Congressional District of Texas regarding his work in Washington, DC, and TX-22.\n\nWe welcome your comments, but please note that this is a moderated online discussion site and not a public forum. Comments posted to this page will be monitored and must comply with the platform's policy and terms of use, or they may be hidden, removed, or blocked. Comments must not:\n\nBe unrelated to the purpose of this page or are not topically related to the specifics of the posting;\n\nContain fighting words, graphic or gratuitous violence, vulgar language, profanity, nudity, obscene or indecent language or sexual content;\n\nPromote or incite illegal or fraudulent transactions or activities;\n\nThreaten, intimidate, harass, or defame any person or organization;\n\nOtherwise violate the platforms\u2019 terms of use, such as hate speech;\n\nConstitute \u201cspam,\u201d such as content that appears to be from bots or repetitive, copy-past statements;\n\nAre commercial in nature, such as advertising, promotion, or endorsement of services or products;\n\nContain personally identifiable information about another individual;\n\nMisrepresent the commenter\u2019s identity or affiliation;\n\nContain links to any other website;\n\nCommenters should be on notice that comments that violate this policy may subject them to reasonable sanctions that are narrowly tailored to achieve the compelling interests in operating Congressman Nehls\u2019 official social media.\n\nRepeated violations of this policy may result in the inability of the author to comment on future posts.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://nehls.house.gov/media/press-releases/chairman-nehls-statement-hearing-future-intercity-passenger-rail-america", "Chairman Nehls Statement from Hearing on the Future of Intercity Passenger Rail in America", "2023-11-29", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Troy E. Nehls", "N000026", "nehls.house.gov", "nehls", "https://nehls.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - Opening remarks, as prepared, of Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee Chairman Troy Nehls (R-TX) from today\u2019s hearing, entitled \u201cGetting on the Right Track: Navigating the Future of Intercity Passenger Rail in America\u201d:\n\nChairman Nehls: \u201cToday\u2019s hearing will discuss the state of intercity passenger rail with a focus on how to develop this mode in a way that is safe, efficient, cost effective, and that meets the demands of consumers.\n\nInvestments and innovation in our rail infrastructure are essential to building a robust and competitive American transportation system.\n\nWe must ensure that federal policies and spending are balanced with a realistic analysis of consumer demand for passenger rail and best use of taxpayer dollars.\n\nThere is no better example of completely ignoring these important considerations than the disastrous California High-Speed Rail project originally proposed to run between Los Angeles and San Francisco.\n\nThe venture, once estimated to cost $33 billion and be completed in 2020, is now projected to cost over $128 billion and counting, with an estimated completion date still over a decade away and no solid path forward.\n\nThe project has been plagued by a failure to account for actual costs and work associated with obtaining land to build the track, eminent domain issues, environmental concerns, permitting red tape, and whether low consumer demand will require permanent and costly government subsidies to operate the line.\n\nWhile the California High-Speed Rail project shows the failures of poor planning and government incompetence, there are promising opportunities to promote intercity passenger rail responsibly.\n\nEncouraging competition, removing burdensome government obstacles, focusing on areas of high demand, and involving the private sector have proven effective ways of managing intercity passenger rail, and today we will hear from witnesses about those promising efforts.\n\nI look forward to discussing both the challenges and the opportunities for intercity passenger rail, as well as how Congress can provide robust oversight and safeguard taxpayer dollars that support these projects.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-chip-roy-leads-colleagues-congratulating-argentina-president-elect-milei", "Rep. Chip Roy leads colleagues in congratulating Argentina President-elect Milei", "2023-11-29", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Chip Roy", "R000614", "roy.house.gov", "roy", "https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 On Wednesday, Representative Chip Roy (TX-21) led a group of his colleagues in congratulating President-elect Javier Milei on his victory in Argentina\u2019s 2023 national election and expressing a desire to work with him to strengthen the Western Hemisphere.\n\nThe legislators wrote, \u201cYour message of freedom, liberty, and advancing economic prosperity through limited government and fiscal responsibility has united the Argentine people in a historic way. As Members of Congress, we look forward to partnering with you to advance these shared values for the remainder of the 118th Congress and beyond.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs Argentina pursues liberty, economic freedom, and the rule of law, we hope our two nations can revitalize our historic robust relationship centered on our shared commitment to these principles,\u201d the members of Congress said. \u201cIt is now more important than ever that we stand together to promote shared economic prosperity and counter the CCP or any other adversary that seeks to erode our values in the Western Hemisphere. We are eager to work together and welcome you back to the United States as the newly elected President of the Argentine Republic.\u201d\n\nCo-signers of the letter include Representatives Salazar (FL-27), Lamborn (CO-5), Biggs (AZ-5), Palmer (AL-6), Fleischmann (TN-3), Clyde (GA-9), Ogles (TN-5), Davidson (OH-8), Gooden (TX-5), and Rosendale (MT-02).\n\nRead the full text of the letter here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-cruz-reintroduces-bill-to-reimpose-terrorism-sanctions-on-iran-controlled-houthis", "Sen. Cruz Reintroduces Bill to Reimpose Terrorism Sanctions on Iran-Controlled Houthis", "2023-11-29", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", "cruz", "https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) reintroduced his legislation to impose terrorism sanctions on the Iran-controlled Houthis, as acts of terrorism continue to escalate in the Middle East. On February 5, 2021 the Biden State Department announced it would lift terrorism-related sanctions on the Houthis and three of their leaders: Abdul Malik al-Houthi, Abd al-Khaliq Badr al-Din al-Houthi, and Abdullah Yahya al-Hakim. Sen. Cruz repeatedly pushed language to reverse that decision, including filing this bill in 2022.\n\nUpon re-introducing the bill, Senator Cruz said, \u201cThe Biden administration made a day one politically-driven decision to dismantle terrorism sanctions against the Houthis and their leaders. That decision was an obvious and catastrophic mistake from the very beginning, and it has only become more obvious and more catastrophic as time has gone on. Now the Houthis and other Iranian-controlled terrorists are openly and routinely attacking the United States and our allies, but the Biden administration still refuses to reverse its decision, because they believe doing so would be politically costly. Politics should not be a consideration when American lives and national security interests are at stake. President Biden needs to put an end to enabling the Houthis and other Iran-backed terrorist groups through sanctions relief and sanctions non-enforcement. If he won\u2019t then Congress should mandate that he does so.\u201d\n\nThe bill is co-sponsored by Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://delacruz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=487", "House Passes Bipartisan Resolution Introduced by Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz Calling on Mexico to Honor Water Treaty", "2023-11-28", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Monica De La Cruz", "D000594", "delacruz.house.gov", "delacruz", "https://delacruz.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz\u2019s (TX-15) resolution, H.Res. 683, targeting the critical water scarcity issues in South Texas. This bipartisan measure, co-led by Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28), calls on Mexico to fulfill its obligations under the 1944 treaty with the United States, which governs the allocation of water from the Colorado, Tijuana, and Rio Grande Rivers. This is the second piece of legislation from Congresswoman De La Cruz that has successfully passed the U.S. House with robust support from both parties, underscoring her leadership as an effective advocate for Texans in the nation\u2019s capital.\n\nThe current water scarcity and drought conditions in South Texas are causing severe problems for farmers and residents across the Rio Grande Valley. The lack of consistent rainfall and water deliveries has led to devastating crop and cattle losses, and farmers are struggling to get the water they so desperately need.\n\nThe treaty requires Mexico to provide the United States with an average of 350,000 acre-feet of water per year over a five-year cycle. However, Mexico has repeatedly waited until the end of the five-year cycle to fulfill its water contribution.\n\n\u201cI want to extend my heartfelt thanks to my colleagues for joining me once again to support legislation that is critical to families in South Texas and across America,\u201d said De La Cruz. \"I also wish to thank Chairman McCaul for his leadership and assistance on this important resolution. The ongoing water delivery issues severely affect our farmers, risking significant yield reductions, and pose a threat to our national food security. This situation also leads to higher costs for American families and increased reliance on imported produce. Moreover, the lack of water is causing harsh restrictions in our communities, impacting both families and businesses. It is vital that the Mexican government adheres to its treaty obligations. Our families, farmers, and ranchers shouldn't bear the consequences of Mexico's non-compliance.\u201d\n\nThis resolution does the following:\n\nSupports the diplomatic relations required to encourage the Government of Mexico to fulfill its water deliveries in a timely manner to the United States as outlined in the Treaty;\n\nEncourages Mexico to fulfill such commitments on an annual basis;\n\nRecognizes the hardship and water shortages farmers in South Texas are experiencing;\n\nSupports negotiations that will guarantee more predictable and reliable water deliveries to users in the United States; and\n\nEncourages new commitments to ensure that the United States receives annual deliveries of at least 350,000 acre-feet of water under such a Treaty.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://hunt.house.gov/media/press-releases/immediate-release-debbie-smith-act-passed-us-house-representatives", "For Immediate Release: The Debbie Smith Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives", "2023-11-28", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Wesley Hunt", "H001095", "hunt.house.gov", "hunt", "https://hunt.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Contact: Matthew Topolski\n\nEmail: Matthew.topolski@mail.house.gov\n\nWashington, D.C. - Yesterday, the United States House of Representatives unanimously passed the Debbie Smith Act (2023). Congressman Wesley Hunt (TX-38) was an original Co-Lead on this bill.\n\nH.R. 1105, the Debbie Smith Act of 2023, would reauthorize the DNA Backlog Elimination Program from FY2024 through FY2029. This program provides support to law enforcement and crime labs in all 50 states to analyze untested rape and sexual assault kits, improve law enforcement\u2019s timely collection of DNA evidence, and enhance prosecutors' capacity to bring this evidence to trial.\n\nSince it was first enacted in 2004, this program has directly supported the analysis of over 1.79 million DNA cases, resulting in more than 308,000 hits in the federal DNA criminal database\u2014representing 56% of all DNA matches.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-republicans-must-meet-moment", "ICYMI: \u201cRepublicans must meet the moment\u201d", "2023-11-28", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Chip Roy", "R000614", "roy.house.gov", "roy", "https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "November 28, 2023\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2014 On Tuesday, Representative Chip Roy (TX-21) penned an op-ed on the Washington Examiner calling on Republicans to meet the moment and press in on spending accountability.\n\nThe full text of the op-ed is available at the link here; some key quotes are below.\n\n\u201cIf we are to defeat the Democrats, both politically and legislatively, we must fight harder than they do. Democrats have successfully navigated razor-thin majorities to enact their agenda before. Republicans must be willing to do the same, and more, to save America.\u201d\n\n\u201cSenate Republicans have already tried to water down the strong policies in H.R. 2 in pursuit of a \u2018deal\u2019 on Ukraine. The speaker should make clear such a bad \u2018deal\u2019 will be dead on arrival in the House.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur message should be clear: House Republicans will combat inflation and the woke and weaponized federal bureaucracy by securing gimmick-free spending cuts and conservative policy riders through the passage of individual appropriations bills.\u201d\n\n\u201cTo be certain, Republicans must oppose providing Ukraine another blank check, and if there is any spending, at all, it must be paid for.\u201d\n\n\u201cDemocrats expect us to capitulate to these \u2018[side] deals,\u2019 as evidenced by a recent exchange I had with Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee. Given Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is not party to these side deals, nor are they required in the text of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, he can and should reject them and at least force Democrats to stick to the true spending caps.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://williams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/chairman-williams-bill-hold-fraudsters-accountable-passes-house", "Chairman Williams\u2019 Bill to Hold Fraudsters Accountable Passes the House", "2023-11-28", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Roger Williams", "W000816", "williams.house.gov", "williams", "https://williams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Roger Williams (R-TX), Chairman of the House Committee on Small Business, released the following statement after his bill, H.R. 5427, passed the House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cI am extremely grateful for my colleagues\u2019 support for my legislation to implement a common sense requirement to protect the integrity of SBA lending programs,\u201d said Chairman Williams. \u201cNo one who has been convicted of defrauding the pandemic lending programs should ever be given the opportunity to access future financial assistance programs. There\u2019s much more work to be done to correct the issues that allowed these unacceptable levels of fraud to occur in the first place, but this legislation is an important step in rebuilding confidence in the agency.\u201d\n\nThe text of the bill can be found here.\n\n###\n\nCongressman Roger Williams is the Chairman of the House Small Business Committee and member of the House Financial Services Committee. He proudly represents the 25th Congressional District of Texas.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://weber.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1844", "Rep. Weber Introduces Legislation to Reinstate \u201cRemain in Mexico\u201d", "2023-11-21", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Randy K. Weber, Sr.", "W000814", "weber.house.gov", "weber", "https://weber.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Weber (TX-14) introduced legislation to reinstate the Migrant Protection Protocols. This legislation will require those seeking asylum at the Southern border or without proper documentation to return to Mexico to wait for their immigration proceedings. It also sets a robust standard for asylum eligibility, ensuring that the process is reserved for those with genuine humanitarian needs and preventing its misuse for ulterior motives.\n\n\u201cThe asylum process should be reserved for those who genuinely need it and not be used as a hamfisted workaround that allows the Biden Administration to sidestep our nation's sovereignty,\u201d said Rep. Weber. \u201cPresident Biden, Secretary Mayorkas, and the rest of the Biden Administration have profoundly neglected their duty to secure our nation\u2019s border. To put that in perspective, prior to Joe Biden taking office, the total estimated population of illegal aliens living in America was 10-12 million\u2014meaning that we have almost doubled the illegal population in less than three years. Implementing this bill is necessary and a commonsense measure to mitigate and decrease illegal border crossings, enabling our great Border Patrol to patrol and secure our border.\"\n\nRead the bill here.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nIn January 2019, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched the hugely successful Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), which ended the failed policies of catch and release and restored the orderly processing of illegal immigrants. Upon arriving at the border, migrants were given a Notice to Appear for an immigration court hearing at a later date and returned to Mexico. While migrants awaited their hearing, Mexico agreed to provide humanitarian aid under the U.S.-Mexico Joint Declaration and Supplementary Agreement. President Biden backtracked on these treaty obligations when he suspended the program on January 21, 2021. Biden's policy reversal quickly spiraled into the current border crisis.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://gonzales.house.gov/2023/11/rep-tony-gonzales-issues-statement-on-recent-illegal-crossings-in-eagle-pass", "Rep. Tony Gonzales Issues Statement on Recent Illegal Crossings in Eagle Pass", "2023-11-20", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Tony Gonzales", "G000594", "gonzales.house.gov", "gonzales", "https://gonzales.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) issued the below statement on the recent surge of illegal crossings in Eagle Pass.\n\n\u201cUnder Joe Biden, more than 8 million migrants have crossed illegally into the United States. Recently, hundreds more came in through Eagle Pass. The fact these caravans continue is an embarrassment to the rule of law and a reflection of Washington\u2019s dysfunction. For the sake of our national security, Congress and the White House must put politics aside and secure our border. We know the solutions\u2014close asylum loopholes and deport the vast majority of those who don\u2019t qualify as refugees. Only then will our laws be taken seriously,\u201d said Congressman Tony Gonzales.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://vanduyne.house.gov/2023/11/rep-van-duyne-introduces-bill-to-repeal-biden-s-15-billion-chemical-tax", "Rep. Van Duyne Introduces Bill to Repeal Biden\u2019s $15 Billion Chemical Tax", "2023-11-17", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Beth Van Duyne", "V000134", "vanduyne.house.gov", "vanduyne", "https://vanduyne.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne, a member of the House Committee on Ways and Means, introduced legislation to repeal the harmful Superfund tax imposed through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The 2021 infrastructure law doubled the Superfund Tax, targeting chemical manufacturers with approximately $15 billion in taxes on 42 different materials that are essential to produce ordinary household goods.\n\n\"I\u2019m introducing the Chemical Tax Repeal Act to help America\u2019s working families keep more of their hard-earned money and afford everyday goods like soap, lightbulbs, and electronics,\u201d said Rep. Van Duyne. \u201cPresident Biden\u2019s misguided Chemical Tax not only increases the price of these household goods, it also makes it harder for our domestic manufacturers to compete globally. I remain focused on finding common-sense solutions to ease the pain of inflation for North Texas families and keep American manufacturing globally competitive, especially with adversaries like China.\u201d\n\nCongresswoman Van Duyne was joined by her Ways and Means colleagues Representatives Mike Carey (OH-15) and Carol Miller (WV-01) in introducing the Chemical Tax Repeal Act. A similar bill was introduced in the Senate earlier this year.\n\nThe bill is also supported by the American Chemistry Council, which issued the following statement of support:\n\n\u201cAs a result of these misguided taxes, U.S. manufacturing competitiveness is further threatened by countries like China. The taxes single out the chemical industry at a time when supply chain challenges and new proposed restrictions from the Biden administration pose significant challenges for the business of chemistry and our industry\u2019s ability to create products that are important to national priorities.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/blogs/e-newsletter-week-of-november-17th", "e-Newsletter: Week of November 17th", "2023-11-17", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", "cruz", "https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Good Evening,\n\nSince Joe Biden took office, this administration has gifted nearly $100 billion dollars to the Ayatollah of Iran, who chants death and destruction to America and our allies. Iran has been deploying these funds to bolster Hamas\u2019s savage terrorist attacks on the Jewish people in Israel. The solution here is easy \u2013 don\u2019t give money to terrorists who want to kill us. Unfortunately, the Democrat Party could care less. This past weekend, I joined Real Time with Bill Maher and did a deep dive into why Joe Biden is responsible for fueling the war in Israel.\n\n\u201cJoe Biden is responsible for 100 billion dollars going to the Ayatollah \u2013 he made a decision to do that and Iran funds Hamas. The Wall Street Journal reported in September, [Iran] brought Hamas terrorists to Iran, and trained them in Iran to carry out the attack. \u2026 Don't give money to terrorists who want to kill us, and unfortunately the Democrat party is on the other side of that.\u201d\n\nThis past Sunday, I joined Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo on Fox News to discuss the elaborate money laundering scheme that Joe Biden and Hunter Biden appear to be involved in.\n\n\u201cWe do have evidence on Ukraine, and in particular that Joe Biden demanded the firing of the prosecutor in Ukraine that was investigating the corrupt oligarch who owns Burisma. [Biden] threatened to and in fact did withhold over a billion dollars in American loan guarantees until they fired that prosecutor. When it comes to bribery, the essence of bribery is quid pro quo \u2013 this for that. We know that occurred.\u201d\n\nOn Tuesday, it was deeply inspiring to stand alongside nearly 300,000 people, on the National Mall, expressing our unified and unshakeable support for our friend and ally Israel to utterly destroy Hamas, for as long as it takes.\n\n\u201cIt is inspiring, seeing \u2026 people from every state in the Union coming together [to say] America stands \u2026 unequivocally with Israel. We stand against the monster and the horror that is Hamas. We support Israel's right to defend itself. \u2026 Our prayers are with the people of Israel.\u201d\n\nOn Wednesday, I joined Don\u2019t @ Me with Dan Dakich on OutKick to discuss the explosion ofcrime in Washington, D.C. and across the nation due to the radical left\u2019s policies.\n\n\u201cOne of the things we've seen over the last three years is crime rates skyrocketing across the country. \u2026 The reason we're seeing this rise in crime is very simple, there are radical leftist \u2026 elected officials [that] are letting violent criminals go.\u201d\n\nLater on Wednesday, I spoke with members of the Texas Farm Credit Union about ways to promote the interest of our rural communities, our agricultural industry, and our farmers across the Lone Star State.\n\nRest assured, I won\u2019t back down in my efforts to stand up for our friend and ally Israel. God Bless!\n\nKeep Texas Strong,\n\nMORE FROM SEN. CRUZ:\n\nREAD: Cruz and Ogles seek to block forced use of 'preferred pronouns' across federal agencies\n\nICYMI: Sen. Cruz Statement on Continuing Resolution Vote\n\nREAD: Cruz Slams Corporate Media For Promoting Hamas Propaganda: \u2018Lying On Behalf OfTerrorists\u2019\n\nICYMI: Sen. Cruz Statement on Senate Vote Over Support for Israel\n\nState Spotlight\n\nNorth Texas Commission\n\nSenator Cruz\u2019s 2023 Service Academy Nominations Board\n\nCommerce Corner\n\nTrueNorth CyberSecurity\n\nShell Deepwater Exploration", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-cruz-introduces-bill-blocking-the-federal-government-from-compelling-pronoun-use-that-contradicts-biology", "Sen. Cruz Introduces Bill Blocking the Federal Government from Compelling Pronoun Use that Contradicts Biology", "2023-11-17", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", "cruz", "https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Congressman Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) have introduced bicameral legislation \u2013 the Safeguarding Free Speech Act. The legislation would prohibit federal agencies from forcing an employee or contractor to use personal pronouns that contradict with an individual\u2019s biological sex.\n\nAbout the bill, Sen. Cruz said, \u201cI am proud to join Rep. Andy Ogles in introducing the Safeguarding Honest Speech Act. Forcing anyone to use pronouns that don\u2019t accord with a person\u2019s biological sex is an unconstitutional violation of the First Amendment. As the Supreme Court held, \u2018If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion.\u2019 The government has no business compelling anyone to use pronouns that contradict biological reality.\u201d\n\nRep. Ogles stated, \u201cCan you imagine getting reprimanded or fired from your job for not using an individual\u2019s \u2018preferred pronouns\u2019? Unfortunately, that is exactly what the Biden regime has imposed in its latest guidance from the Department of Health and Human Services. The radical Left is actively coercing the speech of individuals \u2013 all in service of a delusional woke agenda. The American people shouldn\u2019t be asked by their government to subsidize violations of the Constitution of the United States. I\u2019m grateful for Senator Cruz\u2019s efforts to lead the fight in the Senate, and look forward to considering this legislation in the 118th Congress.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nCatholicVote and Concerned Women for America support the Safeguarding Free Speech Act.\n\nOn October 11th, 2023, the Department of Health and Human Services issued a new \u201cGender Identity Non-Discrimination and Inclusion Policy for Employees and Applicants.\u201d Among many other harmful changes, this policy compelled speech by requiring employees and contractors with HHS to call other employees by their \u201cpreferred pronouns,\u201d even if those pronouns do not align with biological reality.\n\nThis speech mandate violates the First Amendment by compelling government employees and contracts to affirm the idea that a person\u2019s \u201cgender identity\u201d can be separated from their biological sex. Aside from being a violation of the Free Speech Clause, it is also a violation of the Free Exercise Clause, as anybody who has religious convictions that differ from HHS\u2019s view on human sexuality would be forced to publicly deny their faith.\n\nThe Safeguarding Free Speech Act protects the First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and free exercise of religion by prohibiting federal agencies from forcing government employees or contractors to use another person\u2019s preferred pronouns.\n\nThe full text of the Safeguarding Free Speech Act is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sens-cruz-cornyn-send-letter-demanding-dhs-immediately-address-the-influx-of-special-interest-aliens", "Sens. Cruz, Cornyn Send Letter Demanding DHS Immediately Address the Influx of \u2018Special Interest Aliens\u2019", "2023-11-17", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "Ted Cruz", "C001098", "www.cruz.senate.gov", "cruz", "https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and John Cornyn (R-Texas), members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas demanding that the Biden administration immediately address the influx of \u201cspecial interest aliens\u201d who have been arrested at the southern border. Considering the Israel-Hamas conflict overseas and the increasing number of encounters with Hamas-inspired terrorism suspects, our nation has become more vulnerable to terrorism which has prevented the enforcement of other priorities, most importantly enforcing expired visas. The Biden administration\u2019s failure to secure the southern border has jeopardized our national security, as terrorists from war-torn countries in the Middle East continue breach our southern border.\n\nIn the letter, the senators said, \u201cDespite the Israel-Hamas conflict taking place abroad, the unanticipated security breach of Israel\u2019s border by a known terrorist organization raises important questions about the security of our own southern border. Specifically, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data indicates that thousands of \u201cspecial interest aliens\u201d from countries including those in the Middle East have been arrested at the southern border just over the past twenty-four months. \u2026 Furthermore, this data reveals that FY 2023 broke the record for encounters on the FBI terror watchlist with 169 individuals encountered between ports of entry at the southern border. Concerningly, this year\u2019s figure alone is greater than the amount of FBI terror watchlist encounters over the previous six years combine. \u2026 And yet, our nation\u2019s increasing vulnerability to terrorism is more than mere conjecture. It is a tangible reality that that can no longer be ignored.\u201d\n\nRead the full text of the letter here.\n\nDear Secretary Mayorkas,\n\nOn October 19th of this year, Sohaib Abuayyash, a twenty-year-old Jordanian man unlawfully in the United States on an expired visa, was arrested in Houston, Texas for violating federal law by unlawfully possessing a firearm. Reports indicate that Mr. Abuayyash had been in direct contact with others who shared a radical mindset, and that he had trained with weapons in preparation for a possible attack. Further, a United States Magistrate Judge, in denying Mr. Abuayyash pretrial release, noted that Mr. Abuayyash \u201chas viewed specific and detailed content posted by radical organizations on the internet including lessons on how to construct bombs or other explosive devices,\u201d and that he supported the killing of individuals of particular religious faiths. The Magistrate Judge also described that \u201cin his communications with another individual about martyrdom, Mr. Abuayyash referenced an event in Houston for members of a particular religious group.\u201d While the specific target, time, and place for the gathering were not immediately clear in the court documents, a law enforcement source reported that this would-be offender was \u201cplotting to attack a Jewish gathering,\u201d after being inspired by the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict which claimed the lives of at least thirty-one innocent Americans, and an additional twenty American hostages who remain in captivity.\n\nDespite the Israel-Hamas conflict taking place abroad, the unanticipated security breach of Israel\u2019s border by a known terrorist organization raises important questions about the security of our own southern border. Specifically, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data indicates that thousands of \u201cspecial interest aliens\u201d from countries including those in the Middle East have been arrested at the southern border just over the past twenty-four months. As you well know, \u201cspecial interest aliens\u201d are illegal aliens from countries identified by the Department of Homeland Security as having conditions that promote or protect terrorism or potentially pose some sort of national security threat to the U.S. Between October 2021 and October 2023, CBP encountered a total of 6,386 nationals from Afghanistan, 3,153 from Egypt, 659 from Iran, and 538 from Syria. Additionally, CBP encountered 13,624 individuals from Uzbekistan, 30,830 from Turkey, 1,613 from Pakistan, 164 from Lebanon, 185 from Jordan, 123 from Iraq, and 15,594 from Mauritania during the same period.\n\nFurthermore, this data reveals that FY 2023 broke the record for encounters on the FBI terror watchlist with 169 individuals encountered between ports of entry at the southern border. Concerningly, this year\u2019s figure alone is greater than the amount of FBI terror watchlist encounters over the previous six years combined. Your agency, the Department of Homeland Security, even acknowledged the reality of this risk in a recently published threat assessment, warning that \u201cterrorists and criminal actors may exploit the elevated flow and increasingly complex security environment to enter the United States.\u201d The assessment even went as far as conceding that \u201c[i]ndividuals with terrorism connections are interested in using established travel routes and permissive environments to facilitate access to the United States.\u201d U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials in San Diego soon corroborated this assessment when they warned in an internal intelligence notice that militants associated with the Israel-Hamas war \u201cmay potentially be encountered at the southwest border\u2026 [and] individuals inspired by, or reacting to, the current Israel-Hamas conflict may attempt travel to or from the area of hostilities in the Middle East via circuitous transit across the Southwest border.\u201d And yet, our nation\u2019s increasing vulnerability to terrorism is more than mere conjecture. It is a tangible reality that that can no longer be ignored.\n\nConsider, for instance, that in September, Texas Border Patrol agents discovered a backpack containing what appeared to be improvised explosive devices (IEDs). This alarming discovery was not an isolated incident. In May, another makeshift explosive device was uncovered in Arizona, further underscoring the persistent threat at our borders. Equally unsettling is the recent apprehension of a terrorism suspect who managed to evade ICE apprehension in New York City for two weeks after illegally crossing the border in Arizona and subsequently being released into the U.S. Regrettably, it was not until a week after his release that federal authorities discovered his former association with \u201cterroristic activities\u201d in Senegal.\n\nWorse yet, 1.7 million \u201cgotaways\u201d have illegally entered the United States during the Biden administration. This figure demonstrates that cartels have learned that they can \u201cflood\u201d the\n\nborder with illegal aliens and, while those aliens are processed by Border Patrol agents, cross into our country uninhibited. Further, because your Department essentially turned our border security system into a public turnstile, the only persons who would seek to evade border law enforcement are those with serious criminal records, those actively engaged in criminal activity (such as smuggling fentanyl), or terror agents seeking to surreptitiously enter the United States. Importantly, these 1.7 million \u201cgotaways\u201d are only those that the Border Patrol knows to have\n\ncrossed our borders, and does not include the potentially millions more that have slipped into our country unnoticed while Border Patrol was occupied processing illegal aliens. As evidenced by the IEDs and the increasing frequency of encounters with special interest aliens at the border, the present situation is obviously untenable and represents a grave security risk to our nation.\n\nFBI Director Wray admitted as much when he stated, \u201cthe terrorism threat has been elevated throughout 2023, but the ongoing war in the Middle East has raised the threat of an attack against Americans in the United States to a whole other level.\u201d In light of this unequivocal statement, IEDs found at the border, and increasing encounters with Hamas-inspired terrorism suspects, we ask that you reply to the following questions by December 7, 2023:\n\nHow many of the 172 illegal aliens encountered in FY2023, and confirmed to be on the FBI terror watchlist, are known to be affiliated with Hamas, Hezbollah, or ISIS?\n\nHow is DHS planning to address the concerning trend of \u201cgotaways\u201d at the southern border, and what measures are being put in place to enhance detection and apprehension of individuals who may have evaded Border Patrol agents?\n\nHow many of the 1.7 million \u201cgotaways\u201d that entered the United States since President Biden took office are estimated to be terrorists?\n\nIn light of the potential threat of terrorist \u201csleeper agents,\u201d what measures are being taken to enhance the vetting process for illegal aliens seeking entry into the United States, especially those originating from regions of concern such as war-torn countries in the Middle East?\n\nWhat specific efforts are DHS making to identify and dismantle any existing sleeper cells currently residing on U.S. soil, and what proactive measures are being taken to prevent their establishment in the first place?\n\nWhat measures are DHS considering to enhance information-sharing and cooperation with foreign governments to obtain necessary background data and records for effective screening at the border?\n\nWhat steps are DHS taking to develop a more robust screening process that accounts for potential gaps in data, ensuring that individuals from special interest countries are\n\nthoroughly vetted before entering the United States?\n\nGiven the limitations in identifying individuals from these countries through traditional fingerprint checks, are there any plans to implement alternative biometric verification\n\nmethods to fingerprinting that could provide more accurate and reliable information about their identities and backgrounds?\n\nYour failure to secure the southern border undoubtedly makes our nation less safe. It is imperative that you reverse this reckless course and ramp up interior enforcement of federal immigration law.\n\nWe urgently await your response.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/mccaul-joins-texas-delegation-bill-prohibit-remain-texas-policy", "McCaul Joins Texas Delegation on Bill To Prohibit A \u201cRemain In Texas\u201d Policy", "2023-11-16", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Michael T. McCaul", "M001157", "mccaul.house.gov", "mccaul", "https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 This week, U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (Texas-10) joined Representatives Ronny Jackson (Texas-13) and August Pfluger (Texas-11) in introducing legislation to prohibit a \u201cRemain in Texas\u201d policy for immigrants who cross the border illegally. The Biden administration is reportedly considering such a policy, which would require some immigrants to remain in Texas while awaiting asylum eligibility determinations. All House Republican members of the Texas delegation cosponsored the bill.\n\nRep. McCaul said: \"President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas\u2019 failed border policies have opened the floodgates to illegal immigration, human trafficking, and cartel crime. Now that even Democrats in sanctuary cities are calling out for help, the administration wants to dump the consequences of its actions onto Texas \u2014 the state already bearing the brunt of the crisis. With this bill, my Texan colleagues and I are making one thing clear: Our state is not responsible for this administration\u2019s deliberate and fully preventable failures.\u201d\n\nRep. Jackson said: \"Democrat mayors that once relished in providing sanctuary cities for illegal aliens are now seeing the pain and destruction open border policies cause, pain Texas has felt for years. Our country is being invaded by invitation due to the open border policies of the Biden administration. Since taking office, Biden has welcomed over 3.8 million illegal immigrants into the United States, with at least 169 from the terrorist watchlist, that we know of, and millions more \"gotaways,\" and we have no idea who they are or where they are. Texas should not have to bear the burden of liberal border policies that hurt Americans and destroy our way of life. I will not stand for the hypocrisy of liberal politicians who advocated for sanctuary cities and now want to force illegal immigrants to stay in Texas. They now want someone else to deal with the consequences of their radical agenda and will do anything as long as it doesn't impose real border solutions. Enough is enough! This stops now.\"\n\nRep. Pfluger said: \"Texans will not stand for any Remain-in-Texas plan from the Biden Administration to force our state to bear the brunt of the President\u2019s self-made border crisis. Liberal sanctuary cities like New York that openly obstruct federal immigration laws and have policies in place to shield criminals from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should not be immune to the crisis at our border. Biden\u2019s Remain-in-Texas policy must remain in the trash can.\"\n\nGreg Sindelar, Texas Public Policy Foundation CEO said: \"Biden is deliberately trying to shield sanctuary cities from having to live with the reality of their open-border lunacy. The President can't be bothered to fix this national security crisis, which is completely of his doing, but he's more than willing to throw a lifeline to supposedly \"pro migrant\" liberal cities as he tramples on state sovereignty in the process. Texas has been abandoned by the federal government and we must do whatever is necessary in our fight against this coordinated assault on our state and country.\"\n\nAlso cosponsoring the legislation are Reps. Jake Ellzey (Texas-6), Brian Babin (Texas-36), Pat Fallon (Texas-4), Morgan Luttrell (Texas-8), Dan Crenshaw (Texas-2), Randy Weber (Texas-14), Beth Van Duyne (Texas-24), Jodey Arrington (Texas-19), Lance Gooden (Texas-5), Troy Nehls (Texas-22), Keith Self (Texas-3), Pete Sessions (Texas-17), Michael Burgess (Texas-26), Roger Williams (Texas-25), Nathaniel Moran (Texas-1), Kay Granger (Texas-12), Tony Gonzales (Texas-23), Chip Roy (Texas-21), Michael Cloud (Texas-27), John Carter (Texas-31), Monica De La Cruz (Texas-15), Wesley Hunt (Texas-38), Andy Biggs (Ariz.-5), Jeff Duncan (S.C.-3), Ralph Norman (S.C.-5), and Michael Guest (Miss.-3).\n\nFull text of the bill can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 1233, "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": "2023"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=TX&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 1233, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=TX&year=2023", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=TX&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 906, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=TX&year=2023&chamber=House", "selected": false}, {"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 327, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=TX&year=2023&chamber=Senate", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=TX&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "TX", "label": "TX", "count": 1233, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&year=2023", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=TX&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "2023", "label": "2023", "count": 1233, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=TX", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2023-11-16,https~3A~2F~2Fmccaul~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia-center~2Fpress-releases~2Fmccaul-joins-texas-delegation-bill-prohibit-remain-texas-policy", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=TX&year=2023&_next=2023-11-16%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fmccaul~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia-center~2Fpress-releases~2Fmccaul-joins-texas-delegation-bill-prohibit-remain-texas-policy&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 526.8598159309477, "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"}