press: releases: 3,100 rows where party = "Republican", state = "TX" and year = 2015 sorted by date descending

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3,100 rows where party = "Republican", state = "TX" and year = 2015 sorted by date descending

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url	title	date ▲	year	month	party	chamber	state	member_name	bioguide_id	domain	scraper	source	date_source	text	has_text	collected_at	updated_at
https://marchant.house.gov/2015/12/30/congress-to-send-obamacare-repeal-planned-parenthood-defunding-to-the-presidents-desk/	Congress to send Obamacare repeal, Planned Parenthood defunding to the presidents desk	2015-12-30	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Kenny Marchant	M001158	marchant.house.gov			legacy	Congress to send Obamacare repeal, Planned Parenthood defunding to the presidents desk December 30, 2015 Congress to send Obamacare repeal, Planned Parenthood defunding to the presidents desk Information from Speaker Ryan Press Office December 30, 2015 View Online \| http://spkrryan.us/1MH9eWs Next week, for the first time, Congress will send the president a billrepealing Obamacareanddefunding Planned Parenthood. That bill is called theRestoring Americans Healthcare Freedom ReconciliationAct, and you canread it here. Here are three reasons why this bill is so important: Repeals Obamacare.With each passing day, it becomes more apparent that Obamacare is an unmitigated disaster for hardworking families and our economy. Millions of Americans have already been kicked off plans the presidentrepeatedly promisedthey could keep, while countless others face the sticker shock ofdouble-digit premium increases. This bill effectively repeals the mandates and taxes at the heart of the law.This will be the first Obamacare repeal bill that Congress sends to President Obama since the laws enactment in 2010. This, of course, is a critical step in replacing this law with a patient-centered plan as a part of abold, pro-growth agenda. Defunds Planned Parenthood.The horrific videos released earlier this year depicting Planned Parenthood affiliates harvesting and selling fetal body parts should offend everyone regardless of political persuasion. The House has already responded byestablishing a panelfocused on investigating this practice. In the meantime, Americans should not be forced to fund this organization. Thats whyCongress will act to defund Planned Parenthood, and shift those resources to community health centers. Forces President Obamas Hand.Weve worked tirelessly to dismantle Obamacare and protect Americans from this law. All told, weve forced President Obama to signat least 10 billsthat chip away at parts of Obamacare. The recent year-end funding legisla…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2567	Sen. Cruz Tours Tornado Wreckage in Rowlett	2015-12-30	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Ted Cruz	C001098	www.cruz.senate.gov			legacy	WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today joined U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas), Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, State Sen. Bob Hall (R-Canton), State Rep. Cindy Burkett (R-Sunnyvale), Rowlett Mayor Todd Gottel, and Rockwall County Judge David Sweet to tour the areas ravaged by tornadoes last Saturday. After witnessing the wreckage, Sen. Cruz said, It is heartbreaking to see these homes that have been utterly destroyed, and yet, it is miraculous that in the face of all of this devastation, there was not more loss of life. Weve seen homes that have been reduced to piles of rubble, and yet miraculously, the families that were there survived. That is something for which we are all thankful. It is also remarkable seeing how Texans respond in the face of tragedy. Over and over again, when faced with natural disasters, Texans come together. We had the opportunity to visit with volunteers from neighboring areas that have come together to help clean up the wreckage, to help patch up the roofs, to help people put together their lives. That sense of community, that sense of love, that sense of togetherness is one of the things that really defines Texas. I commend the mayor, the city officials, the county officials, and the local and state governments for stepping up and helping their citizens rebuild their lives. The cleanup operation is incredible. And over and over again, as we visited with people, families who had lost their homes were simply saying, Thank God we survivedphysical possessions can be replaced. People are hurting. People are grieving. And we are coming together as one to pray for and stand with our friends and neighbors in the face of this natural disaster. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://gohmert.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398291	Gohmert Reflects on 2015 Battles in the U.S. House of Representatives	2015-12-29	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Louie Gohmert	G000552	gohmert.house.gov			legacy	Sen. Bill Ratliff once told me the old adage, Its amazing what you can get done if you dont care who gets the credit. He was so right. Knowing that I had evoked Speaker Boehners wrath, I would tell him I did not care whose name was on a bill that needed to come to the floor for a vote and I have gotten a number of bills passed and others should pass this next year. Since my first term in office, I have been pushing to end the automatic increase in every federal department and agency. That would make it a Zero Baseline Budget. Four years ago, Boehner agreed to bring it to the floor under the name of the stellar young House member who managed it in committee. It passed the House, but the Senate did not take it up. About two years later, it was again passed out of the House as the Woodall-Gohmert bill, though I told Paul Ryan not to put my name on it because it might prevent it coming to the floor for a vote. Paul said, Ive already told Boehner everybody knows you are the one who has been pushing this since youve been here, so he said ok. The Senate did not take it up, but I am told in this Congress, we should pass it this year and demand the Senate vote on it. Since Speaker Ryan strongly supports it, it may get a vote in the Senate. THE KARI'S LAW ACT OF 2015 We have worked with various aspects of the lodging industry, phone system providers, and concerned individuals including Hank Hunt, to draft Karis Law that will require phone systems be provided with the default allowing anyone dialing 911 to reach emergency help without dialing any prefix. We expect to get it passed this year. OBAMACARE ORIGINATION CLAUSE Previously, I drafted a bill that would state that it is the sense of the House that the ObamaCare bill did not originate in the House as the Constitution requires for bills that raise revenue or have taxes in them. There are attorneys who have filed suit and gotten different judgments in different Circuit Courts, so there is a good chance that the Supreme Court will take it up. …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.cornyn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=NewsReleases&ContentRecord_id=fe0df18f-629b-4ac5-9a86-f07f6cc5c5d1	Cornyn Op-Ed: In 2015, New Senate Majority Delivered For The Nation	2015-12-29	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	John Cornyn	C001056	www.cornyn.senate.gov			legacy	Washington, DC Office 517 Hart Senate Office Bldg. Washington, DC 20510 Main: 202-224-2934 Get Directions Southeast Texas: 5300 Memorial Drive Suite 980 Houston, TX 77007 Main: 713-572-3337 Fax: 713-572-3777 Get Directions South Texas: 222 East Van Buren Suite 404 Harlingen, TX 78550 Main: 956-423-0162 Fax: 956-423-0193 Get Directions West Texas: Wells Fargo Center 1500 Broadway, Suite 1230 Lubbock, TX 79401 Main: 806-472-7533 Fax: 806-472-7536 Get Directions South Central Texas: 600 Navarro Suite 210 San Antonio, TX 78205 Main: 210-224-7485 Fax: 210-224-8569 Get Directions …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/hurd-hill/hurd-hill-representing-you	Hurd on the Hill: Representing You	2015-12-29	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Will Hurd	H001073	hurd.house.gov			legacy	Almost 12 months ago, I started a new job representing you in Washington. Being an effective leader in D.C. is not easy, especially when you are battling a bureaucracy that is slow and inefficient. But when you work smarter and harder, and surround yourself with a dedicated team, it is amazing what can be accomplished. The last time a representative from the 23rd Congressional District of Texas had legislation signed into law was 2007 -- a bill that renamed a post office. In 2015, sixty-seven bills became law and two of those are mine. Two additional bills that I introduced were also signed into law when they were added to other pieces of legislation. That means four of my bills have been signed into law, and my fifth one, The State and Local Cyber Protection Act, is on track to be sent to the Presidents desk in the New Year. My bills have a direct impact on the 23rd Congressional District by protecting the paychecks of our brave Border Patrol Agents, giving small businesses and local governments greater access to resources for cyber protection, allowing Texas to invest in border infrastructure for trade and commerce, and keeping hackers out of our governments digital infrastructure. However, not everything can be accomplished through introducing legislation. Sometimes working with my colleagues, state and federal agency heads, and local leaders is what makes something happen in our district. Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, received funding for a much-need security gate update and is on track to finally be able to fix their airfield runways so that a couple of inches of rain no longer brings pilot training to a halt. Socorro Road, stretching from Ysleta to San Elizario and Highway 132 & 173 in Devine are seeing more regular maintenance because of a call to the Texas Department of Transportation. The City of Alpine is moving forward to remediate wastewater infrastructure because of a call to TCEQ. The City of Hondo broke ground on a new vocational training facility due to a grant they received from t…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/cornyn-op-ed-2015-new-senate-majority-delivered-nation	Cornyn Op-Ed: In 2015, New Senate Majority Delivered For The Nation	2015-12-29	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	John Cornyn	C001056	www.cornyn.senate.gov			legacy	WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) published the following op-ed on FoxNews.com recapping the Senate’s accomplishments in the first year of the new Republican Majority: In 2015, New Senate Majority Delivered For The Nation FoxNews.com U.S. Senator John Cornyn December 29, 2015 http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2015/12/28/sen-john-cornyn-in-2015-new-senate-majority-delivered-for-nation.html Congress is often characterized as a place of partisan bickering and gridlock—where debate and partisan rancor is widespread, but little is actually accomplished. Too often, this assessment has proven accurate. But last fall, the American people decided to change that, sending a Republican majority to the U.S. Senate. Since January, and under Republican leadership, the Senate has delivered on our promise to pass legislation to help American families, grow our economy, and keep us safe. At the beginning of the 114th Congress, I introduced the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act—legislation aimed at defeating the scourge of human trafficking in this country. Human trafficking is a horrendous practice that, tragically, can be found in every state. Fortunately, members in both parties, and in both Chambers, understood the great need to urgently fight this reprehensible practice. Legislators from across the political spectrum united under a common cause: to help victims of modern-day slavery recover and rebuild their lives. In the spring, the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act passed with 99 votes in the Senate, and paved the way for these brave survivors—some young children—to find a path to healing. It’s now the law of the land. Congress also tackled major issues concerning our national security. This fall, both Chambers overwhelmingly passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA is integral to ensuring that our military is resourced, trained and ready for action when called upon. And in the wake of several serious security breaches of federal government computer servers over the summer—and the braz…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2566	Sen. Cruz: Prayers for Victims of Severe Weather in Texas	2015-12-27	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Ted Cruz	C001098	www.cruz.senate.gov			legacy	WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today released the following statement on the devastating storms and tornadoes in North Texas yesterday that killed at least 11 people and damaged more than 600 buildings: Yesterday evening, horrific storms and tornadoes hit the state of Texas. Tragically, lives were lost, many were injured, and still many more left homeless. While the damage is great, our perseverance is greater. At times like these, we all come together to help one another. The Red Cross and first responders in the area have acted swiftly to tend to those in need. Heidi and I ask that you join us in keeping the victims of this tragedy in your hearts and prayers, and we encourage you to lend a hand to those affected as storms continue throughout the day. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://flores.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398743	Waco Tribune: Flores honors Army vet with commendation	2015-12-25	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Bill Flores	F000461	flores.house.gov			legacy	Retired U.S. Army Col. Jon Ker, of Valley Mills, received a 2015 Congressional Veterans Commendation from U.S. Rep. Bill Flores. He was one of several veterans honored who live in the 17th Congressional District served by Flores. Ker served in the U.S. Army for nearly 40 years. He served with the 5th Special Forces Group in Vietnam in 1969 at the Dak Seang and Ben Het Special Forces camps in the Tri-border area where Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos converge. He fought throughout the siege at Ben Het, which at the time was the second-longest battle of the war. He earned a Bronze Star, among other commendations, during his combat duty in Vietnam. In 2003, he volunteered to deploy to Iraq with the 5th Special Forces Group, and part of his job was to work on the capture of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. After his capture, one of the men in Kers group drove Saddams car to the U.S. safe house. To read full article click here	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://hensarling.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/wsj-consumer-watchdog-pushed-discrimination-case-on-vulnerable-firm-report	WSJ: Consumer Watchdog Pushed Discrimination Case on Vulnerable Firm: Report	2015-12-24	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Jeb Hensarling	H001036	hensarling.house.gov			legacy	Republicans say Consumer Financial Protection Bureau targeted Ally on likelihood of settlement to gain restructuring approval WASHINGTONWhen federal regulators launched a crackdown on alleged discrimination in auto lending two years ago, they knew their methodology would be questioned. But they calculated they could secure a market-shaping settlement by going after a company unlikely to fight the charges because it needed to avoid a complaint to clinch government approval for a broader restructuring. That is the conclusion of a report, based on internal documents and emails written by the staff of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, releasedTuesdayby congressional Republicans who have long criticized the discrimination probe. Some of the claims being made in this case present issuesthat would pose litigation risks, CFPB staff members wrote in one 2013 memo addressed tothe bureaus director, Richard Cordray,which was included in the report. But such concerns, the officials said in the same 23-page document, would be offset by the likelihood of a settlement by the target company,Ally FinancialInc.Ally may have a powerful incentive to settle the entire matter quickly without engaging in protracted litigation, the agencys lawyers wrote, noting that the companys failure to secure approval to become a holdingcompany would force it to divest itself of key businesses, primarily its insurance subsidiaries. The document showed Mr. Cordray approved the staffs report by signing his initials. Samuel Gilford, a CFPB spokesman, said the bureau wasnt able to comment immediately, adding that it hadnt had the time to review the report or verify the authenticity of the accompanying documents. The CFPBs goal has been, and continues to be, the elimination of illegal discrimination, he said, adding that the bureau will fairly and consistently enforce the related law to ensure borrowers harmed by discrimination receive the relief they deserve. The $98 million settlementwith Ally was the governments biggest case involving alleged …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://williams.house.gov/media-center/columns/looking-back-with-thanks-and-ahead-with-hope	Looking Back with Thanks and Ahead with Hope	2015-12-23	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Roger Williams	W000816	williams.house.gov			legacy	As we approach the new year, it is a great time to reflect on 2015. While the past year has brought much frustration and disappointment from Washington, it is the Texas spirit of resolve, determination and willingness to confront challenges head-on that give me hope for the future. November marked six years since the unspeakable tragedy that occurred at Fort Hood. This year we were finally able to get the Obama Administration to admit the events that transpired on that fateful day were an act of terrorism and not workplace violence. In April, I attended an emotional ceremony at the Great Place where soldiers and their civilian counterparts received their Purple Hearts and Defense of Freedom medals that were so rightfully deserved. Although we will mourn this day every year, we can go forth knowing that these brave men and women were at last appropriately honored after making the ultimate sacrifice. But the spirit of resolve and determination neither starts nor ends at Fort Hood. Earlier this year, Texas was in the midst of the most extreme drought in recent memory. But in a cruel twist of fate, we got too much of what we so desperately needed. While many communities statewide were severely impacted by the flooding, some of the worst damage occurred in the southern portion of the 25th district. In what should have been another kickoff to summer marked by barbeques and baseball, many will instead remember this past Memorial Day weekend as the time when the rising waters of the Blanco River ripped through properties and devastated families. As I said at the time, the strong Texas spirit of resolve proved more powerful than Mother Natures fury. Sure enough, the people of Wimberley took care of each other, looked out for their own and pushed forward. Remarkably, one month later, local news stations declared Wimberley was open for business. Today, flattened foundations along the river bring back painful memories, but open signs in restaurants and shops remind us that our willpower ros…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2565	The News with Sen. Cruz - December 23, 2015	2015-12-23	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Ted Cruz	C001098	www.cruz.senate.gov			legacy	December 23, 2015 Greetings, Christmas is upon us again, a time not only to cherish the company of loved ones, but also to celebrate and heed the Lord to remember that Holy Night in Bethlehem when Christ was born. During this season of giving, Texas has once again come alive with an unparalleled spirit of love and fellowship. From the McAllen Police Departments and Walgreens toy drive serving roughly 3,000 kids, to Fair Parks annual Christmas in the Park event in Dallas helping families in need; from Houstons Star of Hope Mission facilitating at least 48 homes for homeless families, to the Harlien family in Georgetown who hung 70,000 lights this year to raise money for the Make-A-Wish foundation. Indeed, in South Texas, my office helped a veteran receive retroactive disability pay that was owed to him so that his four children would not have to go without Christmas presents. This remarkable generosity and goodwill demonstrated across the Lone Star State reflects the true meaning of Christmas and spreads the Lords promise of enduring love, hope, and redemption. I pray your Christmas season is filled with joy and peace. May God bless you, and may He continue to bless the great state of Texas and the United States of America. Ted Cruz Sen. Cruz Recaps 2015: A Year Fighting For Freedom On Tuesday, Sen. Cruz released a powerful video and comprehensive review, highlighting his efforts to break the Washington Cartel and address critical issues facing the American people in the 114th Congress. The video can be watched here, and an inclusive list of Sen. Cruzs year fighting for freedom is available here. Sen. Cruz: Prayers for the American Troops Killed in the Recent Afghanistan Suicide Bombing Sen. Cruz on Tuesday released the following statement on Mondays terrorist attack in Afghanistan that killed six U.S. service members, including Michael Anthony Cinco, an airman from the Rio Grande Valley: Today, Heidi and I are lifting up in prayer the Cinco family and all those affected by this horrific act of terrorism an ac…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://williams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-williams-and-zinke-make-friendly-wager-on-alamo-bowl	Reps. Williams and Zinke make friendly wager on Alamo Bowl	2015-12-22	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Roger Williams	W000816	williams.house.gov			legacy	WASHINGTON, D.C. Congressmen Roger Williams (R Texas) and Ryan Zinke (R Mont.), former college athletes, today announced the terms of a friendly and delicious bet surrounding this years Alamo Bowl between the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs and the Oregon Ducks. Williams was an All-Southwest Conference center fielder at TCU, and Zinke was an All PAC-10 center with the Oregon Ducks. If TCU prevails, Zinke has agreed to treat Williams to a bison burger, a native fare of his home state of Montana. Should the Ducks win, Williams will deliver Texas-style BBQ to Zinke. My Horned-Frogs had an incredible season, and I have no doubt they will once again bring home a victory, and lets remember they also have the advantage playing in their home state, said Williams. The Ducks may put up a fight, but Im already looking forward to that bison burger. This years Alamo Bowl will be a crowd pleaser with big offenses colliding to put big points on the board. But too bad for TCU fans, Oregon is hot right now, finishing the season winning the past six games, said Zinke. Im confident my Ducks will take home the trophy, and Ill take home some delicious Austin, Texas-style BBQ. # # #	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/lawmaker-encryption-going-be-big-issue-2016	LAWMAKER: 'ENCRYPTION IS GOING TO BE A BIG ISSUE IN 2016	2015-12-22	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Will Hurd	H001073	hurd.house.gov			legacy	The thorny debates around encryption, national security and privacy likely arent going anywhere and will probably heat up next year. Thats according to Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas, who chairs the House Oversight and Government Reforms technology subcommittee. One of the biggest issues were going to be dealing with in 2016 is the issue of encryption and this is intimately tied to privacy, said Hurd, a former agent for the Central Intelligence Agency. Hurd, speaking on information technology at an event hosted by Nextgov last week, said he favors strengthened encryption. That effectively puts Hurd in opposition to some law enforcement leaders like CIA Director John Brennan and FBI Director James Comey, whove advocated for the installation of back doors into devices that would give the government the opportunity to skirt encryption. A multitude of tech companies and privacy experts, however, believe any encryption-weakening legislation would do more harm than good. What we do know is that strong encryption is crucial to allow political organizers, government officials, and ordinary people around the world to protect their security, privacy and safety from criminals and terrorists alike, Electronic Frontier Foundation executive director Cindy Cohn recently told Defense Ones Patrick Tucker. Any back door into our communications will inevitably (and perhaps primarily) be used for illegal and repressive purposes rather than lawful ones. President Barack Obama hasnt firmly committed to choosing a side in the encryption debate but has offered hints he might favor law enforcements arguments. To Hurd, who formerly carried out offensive cyber operations in the Middle East before being elected to Congress in 2014, building back doors into U.S. industry products and platforms has the potential to harm national security and weaken the economy. My fundamental belief is that encryption is important for our national security and important for our economy and we need to do everything we can to strengthen it, Hurd said. We also need to …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2563	Sen. Cruz Recaps 2015: A Year Fighting For Freedom	2015-12-22	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Ted Cruz	C001098	www.cruz.senate.gov			legacy	WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today released a powerful video and comprehensive review, highlighting his efforts to break the Washington Cartel and address critical issues facing the American people in the 114th Congress. Below is a brief outline of the video, which can be watched here, and Sen. Cruzs efforts included therein. An inclusive list of Sen. Cruzs year fighting for freedom is available here. Breaking the Washington Cartel Delivered a speech at The Heritage Foundation revealing the cronyism that runs deep in Washington,powered by the Washington Cartel of establishment politicians and corporate lobbyists who continue to benefit big government and big business at the expense of millions of Americans. Delivered a powerful speech on the Senate floor shining a light on the corrupt deal struck by Senate Republican leadership to allow the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank. Issued a statement highlighting Republican leaderships tendencies to side with Democrats. Penned an op-ed for POLITICO, describing the Republican Partys surrender politics. Protecting Americans from IRS Abuse Introduced two bills to protect Americans from partisan abuses and political targeting by the IRS. Sent a letter to IRS Commissioner John Koskinen, asking for information regarding the tax-exempt status of The PeaceWorks Network Foundation, most commonly known by the name "OneVoice," after several media reports indicated OneVoice, a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, had been using its resources to influence the outcome of the Israeli elections. Sent a letter to IRS Commissioner John Koskinen asking him to confirm that his agency will respect Americas longstanding principle of religious liberty in light of the Supreme Courts recent decision in Obergefell v. Hodges requiring a nationwide redefinition of marriage. Held a hearing on the IRS targeting of conservative groups. Stopping Illegal Immigration Questioned U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Sarah Saldaa in the Senate Committee on the …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2564	Sen. Cruz: Prayers for the American Troops Killed in the Recent Afghanistan Suicide Bombing	2015-12-22	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Ted Cruz	C001098	www.cruz.senate.gov			legacy	WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) released the following statement on Mondays terrorist attack in Afghanistan that killed six U.S. service members, including Michael Anthony Cinco, an airman from the Rio Grande Valley. Cinco and five other service members died. Two service members and a contractor were also injured in the attack. Today, Heidi and I are lifting up in prayer the Cinco family and all those affected by this horrific act of terrorism an act of pure and unadulterated evil. The victims of this attack are patriots who have given their utmost for liberty so that we may remain safe and free. As details continue to unfold surrounding this suicide bombing, a signature tactic of radical Islamic terrorism, lets pause to remember the selflessness and bravery of Americas fallen servicemen and women. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://flores.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398742	KBTX: Local Firefighters Applaud Passing of 9/11 HealthCare Act	2015-12-21	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Bill Flores	F000461	flores.house.gov			legacy	By: Whitney MillerFirefighters in College Station are rejoicing after Congress re-authorized the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. The extension allows first responders, residents and survivors of the September 11th terrorist attacks to continue receiving federally backed healthcare. Jeff Keffaver, spokesperson for the College Station Firefighters Association, said the bill ensures that those who put their lives on the line are taken care of going forward. "We want to say, 'hey, we've got your back. We support you and we care about you.' This isn't just about firefighter in one particular area. This is about firefighters everywhere," said Keffaver. Congressman Bill Flores, who voted to extend the fund said in a statement: "Our nation's first responders put themselves in harm's way for the good of their families, their neighbors, and their communities. Their service to our country cannot ever be overlooked, taken for granted or forgotten, especially when they are in need of care...By reauthorizing the World Trade Center Health Fund, we not only honor our heroes but do so in a fiscally responsible way that ensures that they have the resources they need on a permanent basis." Initially, the act expired back in September. Friday's re-authorization will allow the fund to continue for 75 years. To read full article click here	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://sessions.house.gov/index.cfm/weekly-newsletters?ContentRecord_id=1694FC8B-045C-42CC-B003-59D8F38AD043	The Hill Report: Week of December 14 - 18, 2015	2015-12-21	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Pete Sessions	S000250	sessions.house.gov			legacy	Yesterday Chairman Kevin Brady oftheWays and Means Committee introduced HR 1,theTax Cuts and Jobs Act, which representedthefirst public unveiling of legislation that could lead to tax reform this Congress. According totheWall Street Journal, this bill is, on net, about a $1.5 trillion tax	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/benefits-hybrid-networking	The benefits of hybrid networking	2015-12-21	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Will Hurd	H001073	hurd.house.gov			legacy	Under the Cross-Agency Prioritization goals set by the current administration, the federal government has made significant progress in modernizing outdated legacy technologies. Initiatives like the Federal Cloud Computing Strategy and the Federal IT Acquisition Reform Act have enabled easier access to more capable technologies, but they have also put a heavier burden on federal networks. Current technology trends, which range from the connected devices of the Internet of Things to bring-your-own-device initiatives and high-performance applications, are demanding more and more bandwidth. Unfortunately, the one aspect of federal technology modernization that has been overlooked is also the most important: the network backbone on which all the new technologies rely to operate. Although the concern over inadequate bandwidth is widespread among federal IT professionals, these pressing needs are not reflected in agency budgets. Too often, agencies do not have the funding they think is needed to increase their bandwidth to levels that would support optimized and increasingly automated day-to-day operations. This situation leads to patchwork solutions that are limited in scalability and highly inefficient, both technologically and financially. What is needed is a new federal network standard. Thankfully a model for such a standard is available, and already being adopted by private sector enterprises. Hybrid networks -- systems that blend traditional Multiprotocol Label Switching (MLPS) networks with managed broadband -- address the weak points that currently limit federal networks: a lack of bandwidth, budget, capacity and availability, particularly at the agencys field offices. Hybrid networks provide additional bandwidth by either supplementing or replacing the traditional dedicated access circuits of MPLS networks with the bandwidth of a managed broadband network. For agency networks that must support a growing number of connected devices and new applications, especially at distributed locations, hybrid networks preve…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/mississippi-one-three-states-host-cyber-protection-teams	Mississippi One of Three States to Host Cyber Protection Teams	2015-12-21	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Will Hurd	H001073	hurd.house.gov			legacy	The federal government is stepping up to further its protection against cyber terrorism. Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi have been chosen host a Cyber Protection Team consisting of 39 National Guardsmen across the three states. National Guard units in the three states will be laying down their arms and breaking out their laptops to protect the U.S. against an emerging cyber terrorism threat. The capabilities that these teams bring in defending our digital infrastructure is second to none, said Congressman Will Hurd (R-TX). Congressman Hurd studied computer science in college and says he understands the severity of this evolving threat. Congressman Gregg Harper (R-MS) says this will add another workload to the already heavy plate in front of the Mississippi National Guard. This is something that, you know, we wouldnt even have dreamed about ten years ago. And now the attacks take place everyday, said Harper. Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) says not taking these precautions could lead to widespread and disastrous consequences. It makes perfect sense that this group thats done such a good job and stood in the gap to protect us from military attacks are now being called on to protect us against this more modern type of attack, said Wicker. Congressman Hurd says this shows off the versatility of the men and women in the U.S. National Guard. This is one more tool in our tool kit in order to keep us safe from those that want to do us harm, said Hurd. The Army National Guard expects to have 10 cyber units to be activated in 23 states by the end of 2019. They have not yet selected locations for the cyber units in Mississippi or Texas, but Senator Wicker says the announcement of the locations is coming soon.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2560	Sen. Cruz Announces New Staff Roles	2015-12-21	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Ted Cruz	C001098	www.cruz.senate.gov			legacy	WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today announced new staff roles in his Senate D.C. office, effective immediately. He has named Steve Chartan legislative director and promoted Alec Aramanda to deputy legislative director. Following is brief background: Steve Chartan, Legislative Director: Chartan most recently served as executive director of the House Freedom Caucus (HFC). Under the chairmanship of Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), he led the organization as its top strategist. Previously, Chartan served as policy advisor for the Senate Steering Committee under Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and prior to that Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.). His policy portfolio included judiciary, finance, banking, budget, foreign relations, and defense. Before joining the Steering Committee, he was a legislative staffer for Sen. Toomey. Chartan is a graduate of Duke University. Alec Aramanda, Deputy Legislative Director: Prior to joining Sen. Cruzs office as a legislative assistant in January 2013, Aramanda served as legislative assistant in the office of then-Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) from 2010-2012. There he handled health, tax, welfare and Social Security issues. Before working in the Senate, Aramanda spent three years at The Heritage Foundation as strategic operations coordinator, among other roles. Aramanda received a bachelors degree in political science from Haverford College. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2561	Cruz, Meadows to Secretary Kerry: Close the Palestinian Liberation Organization's Office in Washington, D.C.	2015-12-21	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Ted Cruz	C001098	www.cruz.senate.gov			legacy	WASHINGTON, D.C. Last week, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry, requesting that the State Department revoke the Palestinian Liberation Organizations (PLO) waiver to maintain an office in Washington, D.C. The letter, signed by 32 members of Congress, cites Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) reports that the PLO funds terrorism by paying salaries to Palestinians who are put in Israeli jails as a way of rewarding and incentivizing terror attacks. Our close ally Israel is enduring another wave of Palestinian terrorism in the form of car-ramming, rock-throwing, and brutal knife attacks, Sen. Cruz said. These horrific acts of terrorism are due to the continued incitement and glorification of violence by Palestinian leadership. Just last week, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called the recent attacks a justified popular uprising following his remarks in September, in which he said, We welcome every drop of blood spilled in Jerusalem. It is long past time for the United States to hold the PLO and its leaders accountable for engaging in such rampant incitement, for celebrating the murder of Jews, and for providing payment to Palestinian terrorists jailed in Israel and their families. We must make it clear such actions are blatantly unacceptable and close the PLO office in Washington, D.C. For too long the PLO has not just tolerated acts of terrorism against the Israeli people-but incited others to commit acts of violence in the name of jihad, Rep. Meadows said. It goes against everything we stand for as an American people to allow the PLO to retain an office in our nations capital, considering its long and well-documented history of encouraging violence and terror against our Israeli allies. Its time we send a clear signal that the United States does not tolerate extremism and demonstrate our unwavering support for our allies in Israel by revoking this waiver. The full text of the letter can be read here or below: The Honorable John F. Kerry Secretar…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://kaygranger.house.gov/weekly-e-newsletter-momentous-appropriations-bill	Weekly E-Newsletter: A Momentous Appropriations Bill	2015-12-19	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Kay Granger	G000377	kaygranger.house.gov			legacy	Dear Friend, The Congress passed a momentous Appropriations bill this week that is good for the nation and very good for Texas. Here is what Texans did: The most important part of the bill was authored by Texan Joe Barton. Joe has tried to get this done for decades, and with the help of Speaker Paul Ryan, he was successful in allowing our domestic oil to be sold internationally, creatingthousands of jobs and predicted to have a $17 billion benefit to Texas in its first year. Texan Kevin Brady, who has just been named to chair the powerful Ways and Means committee, was able to get a provision to allow Texans to deduct their sales taxes permanently. Texans have fought for this each year and now will not have to do that. NASA, once so powerful in science for the world, was finally funded at levels it has not seen for decades. That came about by John Culberson from Houston. He has worked on this issue since coming to Congress. My focus has always been our military and defense funding. I got 68 Joint Strike Fighters in the bill. The JSF is, of course, made by Lockheed Martin Corp. in Fort Worth and their fine, skilled workers. The helmets the pilots wear to fly those fighters are made by another Fort Worth defense firm, Elbit Systems. Terrorists are on our minds daily, and John Carter chairs Homeland Security Appropriations. He and Michael McCaul put in the security provisions we needed. The visa issue you keep seeing in the news was a hole in our security. It was covered in this bill by Carter, McCaul and Armed Services Chair Mac Thornberry. Others played a big part with Michael Conaway in the agriculture provisions that will help our farmers. You should be proud of your Texans, and we are proud to represent you. Sincerely, Kay Granger Member of Congress	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://babin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=562	Babin Opposes Funding Bill that Fails to Address Refugee Concerns	2015-12-18	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Brian Babin	B001291	babin.house.gov			legacy	Washington, DC U.S. Representative Brian Babin (TX-36), who is leading the charge in Congress to stop President Obamas plans to bring in tens of thousands of Syrian refugees into the U.S., voted against the year-end government omnibus spending bill (H.R. 2029) because it failed to include much-needed provisions that he has fought so hard for to protect American citizens and stop President Obamas dangerous refugee policies. While there is one really good, but unrelated, provision in this bill the lifting of the ban on exporting crude oil it is not enough to offset thedanger to our national security, which far outweighs anything else, said Rep. Babin. Since JulyIhave been leading the effort to address the national security vulnerabilities we face in our dangerous and reckless U.N.-led refugee program. Unfortunately, this legislation fails to take the necessary steps to protect American citizens from ISIS sympathizers who have begun to infiltrate the refugee population. Whats worse is the fact that it provides a$100 million increase to the refugee resettlement program. At a time when the Presidents own DHS, DNI and FBI directors say we cannot properly screen these folks, the failure to stop this dangerous Obama Administration initiative is a huge mistake that leaves the American people vulnerable.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://burgess.house.gov/blog/?postid=397863	Burgess Votes to Protect National Security & Support U.S. Troops	2015-12-18	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Michael Burgess	B001248	burgess.house.gov			legacy	Burgess Votes to Protect National Security & Support U.S. Troops Washington, D.C. Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade, issued the following statement on the passage of the FY 2016 Omnibus funding legislation by the House of Representatives: It is the constitutional responsibility of Congress to protect the Americans who are selflessly serving and who have heroically served our country. My vote was founded in my strong sense of duty to protect our national security and ensure that our troops overseas, who put their lives on the line every day, continue to have the resources required to carry out their missions around the world and here at home. Especially at a time when radical extremists are waging war on the United States of America and her people, the passage of this funding bill is critical to maintaining and strengthening our armed forces.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://carter.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=40&itemid=2080	Carter Fights to Protect the Nation, Secure the Border, Support Military, Veterans	2015-12-18	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	John Carter	C001051	carter.house.gov			legacy	(WASHINGTON, DC) Representative John R. Carter (R-TX-31) is fighting for Central Texas values, protecting our nation against increasing threats, securing our border, and supporting our military and veterans. This past year in Congress, Rep. Carter and House Republicans have led the fight against President Obama and his liberal policies, including his unlawful executive amnesty. As Rep. Carter and Congress wrap up the first session of the 114th Congress, highlights of Rep. Carter fighting for Central Texans include: strengthening our national and border security, supporting our military and veterans, standing up for parents and educators by lessening the federal footprint on our education system and returning to more local control, avoiding a government shutdown, reducing the burden on American tax payers by extending important tax regulations, some that had expired in 2014, and investing in Americas infrastructure. I am committed to keeping Texans safe, and securing our borders, said Rep. Carter. Much of the legislation we passed, and the President signed into law this past year is focused on protecting the homeland. Our nation is facing increased global threats from radical Islamic terrorists and I will not sit by and allow these murderous thugs to infiltrate our nation. We must take the fight to them, to their home base, and destroy their operations. What we have done this past year will strengthen our national security, provide for our military men and women, and bolster our border security. We did not ask for this fight, but we must win this war on terror. In order for us to win this war on terror, we must retain the most powerful and best trained military force. While I would like to see a greater share of funding directed to the support of our military, I believe we have put into the place the tools necessary to maintain and build upon the best armed services in the world. It is imperative to the future of our freedoms that we do all we can to support the men and women who proudly serve to prote…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://conaway.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398072	Conaway Votes to Lift Oil Export Ban, Repeal COOL, Fund Military	2015-12-18	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	K. Conaway	C001062	conaway.house.gov			legacy	Conaway Votes to Lift Oil Export Ban, Repeal COOL, Fund Military f t # e Washington, December 18, 2015 Washington–Today, Congressman Mike Conaway voted to lift the decades old oil export ban, repeal the harmful Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) regulation, provide for our national defense, and block Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) overreach. These provisions, and the many others in the 2016 Omnibus Appropriations bill, passed the House of Representatives with overwhelming Republican support. The Senate passed this bill shortly after the House of Representatives did. “The House of Representatives has voted multiple times to lift the antiquated oil export ban, and with each vote, we’ve gained more support and momentum for this critical issue. The 11th Congressional District of Texas will benefit immensely from the economic growth and job creation that will stem from allowing crude oil exports. Thanks to the hard work of my colleagues and all those who made their voice heard on this important matter, we finally saw the Senate vote to lift the oil export ban and the President is expected sign this bill into law, improving our nation’s economy and increasing our national security,” said Rep. Conaway. “With this legislation, we helped negate the drastic cuts President Obama has made to the military. It is vital that we provide for our national defense by ensuring that our men and women in uniform have the resources they need to be successful, and rolling back the damaging cuts from this President was an important first step. “In addition, this bill repeals COOL for beef and pork products, helping the United States avoid over $1 billion in annual retaliatory fees. The COOL re…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://flores.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398738	Flores Statement on Passage of Omnibus Appropriations Bill	2015-12-18	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Bill Flores	F000461	flores.house.gov			legacy	The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY2016. Congressman Bill Flores (R-Texas) issued the following statement regarding its passage: The most essential constitutional function of our government is to provide for our national security. For this critical reason, I voted for todays bill. This plan funds our national defense and homeland security at increased levels necessary to confront the growing threats posed by an increasingly dangerous world. This bill addresses one of the biggest, single internal threats that our nation faces - the weakness of our visa waiver program. Currently, anyone with a passport from one of the 38 participating visa waiver countries can come to the United States without applying for a visa and without a basic background check.By tighteningcontrol of our nations visa waiver program,we can eliminate the possibility of someone entering one of the waiver countries, such as France, obtaining a passport, boarding a flight into the United States and entering our country unchecked. While the administration has failed to stop this possible threat, House Republicans saw its importance and acted to have provisions to strengthen security of the program included in the omnibus bill. Enacting this provision along with the veto proof House-passed SAFE Act, which bans Syrian refugees from entering America until more stringent vetting processes are put in place, will stop the Obama Administrations negligence towards our homeland security. This bill also lifts the four decade old ban on crude oil exports. This action creates an estimated one million new American jobs and adds $170 billion a year to our GDP. Lifting the ban will expand economic growth, lower consumer energy costs, move the United States closer to energy security, improve national security and reduce the trade deficit. This issue, along with national security, is so important to Texas that over 75 percent of its Congressional delegation voted for passage of the bill. Closer to home, this bil…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://gohmert.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398289	Conservatives angry at 'no limits' spending bill	2015-12-18	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Louie Gohmert	G000552	gohmert.house.gov			legacy	Critics of the massive spending bill currently before Congress aren't hard to find. One of those a Christian pro-family pundit is upset the bill completely funds President Obama's resettlement plan for Muslim refugees. "There's absolutely nothing to block the president from bringing in as many Muslims from war-torn, dangerous areas as he chooses without the proper vetting and signing up for benefits, bringing in their children and relatives," says Sandy Rios, director of governmental affairs at the American Family Association. "There are absolutely no limits in this bill." On Tuesday night, House Speaker Paul Ryan unveiled the $1.1 trillion omnibus funding bill, giving Congress and the public just two days to review it before debate begins. "Paul Ryan thinks it's a great bill," notes Rios, who laments the measure should have no trouble passing and being signed by the president. "[Ryan] made a statement that this was a bill that advanced Republican priorities, when quite the opposite is the case." Speaking on Fox News, Ryan admitted Republicans didn't get everything they wanted but neither did the Democrats. "So that's the nature of compromises in divided government," he added. Rios isn't alone in her criticism of the omnibus bill. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama), chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Immigration and the National Interest, released a statement warning that the bill would also fund sanctuary cities and quadruple a controversial foreign worker program replacing Americans all during a time of increasing concerns about threats to U.S. security and finances. Gohmert 'frustrated' at missed opportunity Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert said during television interviews that while there are good parts of the bill, he has grave concerns over funding included in the thousands of pages of text. "We didn't get the defunding of the president's efforts to bring in refugees from Syria or wherever they would be from because we can't really know where they would be from if they claim theyre from Syr…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://gohmert.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398290	Gohmerts Statement on End of the Year Spending Bill	2015-12-18	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Louie Gohmert	G000552	gohmert.house.gov			legacy	Rep. Louie Gohmert (TX-01) released the following statement regarding his vote against the year-end spending bill in the U.S. House of Representatives: The Omnibus included some good initiatives such as ending the ban on oil exports, which will help relieve political blackmail by OPEC and Russia; however, the Presidents war against people with jobs involving coal is funded as are federal programs that allow millions more acres to be put off limits for oil, gas, or other mineral production. Sadly, this bill continues to fund Planned Parenthood, whose videotaped abortion abuses shock most consciences. Tragically, Democrats demanded and got full funding of President Obamas plan for bringing alleged Syrian refugees into the United States alleged because there is no way to be sure where they are actually from or who they really are. The provision on visa waivers has a hole big enough to drive truckloads of radical jihadists through. Unfortunately, the Omnibus bill that passed today also failed to stop President Obamas illegal amnesties. I really wanted to vote for this bill because of some of the good things in it; but, when Americas number one concern is not addressed nor were so many current abuses of the Constitution, it is a bridge too far and I could not vote for it. Congressman Gohmert is the Chairman of the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations and the Vice Chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security. Prior to being elected to serve in Congress, he was elected to three terms as District Judge in Smith County, Texas and was appointed by then Texas Governor Rick Perry to complete a term as Chief Justice of the 12th Court of Appeals. # # #	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://hensarling.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/hensarling-statement-on-funding-tax-legislation	Hensarling Statement on Funding, Tax Legislation	2015-12-18	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Jeb Hensarling	H001036	hensarling.house.gov			legacy	WASHINGTON U.S. Congressman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, issued the following statement upon House passage of a legislative package to fund the government and make permanent several temporary tax provisions. The American people expect and deserve better than last minute, omnibus spending legislation that lumps almost all government programs, both good and bad, into one massive bill. While Speaker Ryan and the members of this House had to play the bad hand that was dealt to us months ago before he became speaker I am encouraged by the speakers commitment to move away from this irresponsible practice. The president wont admit it, but we are a nation at war. At a time when the threat from ISIS and radical Islam is increasing at an alarming rate, funding our national defense and ensuring our fighting men and women have the tools necessary to carry out their mission and defend their homeland not reducing their ranks, as President Obama has done must be our top priority. This legislation represents billions more in our national defense than if Congress had not taken any action. Earlier in the year, Defense officials told Congress that operating under scheduled cut levels would lead to decreased readiness, more casualties of American troops and a lack of confidence among allies around the world. These dire warnings were made before ISIS began its new offensive against the West. Ultimately, I voted for this bill because victory against radical Islam is the only acceptable outcome and time is of the essence. Like all omnibus spending bills, this bill spends way too muchand much of what it spends is on bad programs. While I am disappointed by many aspects of the bill, there are several notable provisions worthy of supportincluding lifting the 40 year ban on crude oil exports that can help make the world less depending on OPEC and Russian oil; strengthening the Visa Waiver Program to protect against terrorists exploiting Western passports; and prohibiting any taxpayer fund…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://kaygranger.house.gov/press-release/congresswoman-kay-granger-releases-statement-support-protecting-americans-tax-hikes	Congresswoman Kay Granger releases statement in support of the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015	2015-12-18	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Kay Granger	G000377	kaygranger.house.gov			legacy	WASHINGTON, DC Congresswoman Kay Granger issued the following statement on the passage of the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015, which extends many of the most popular federal tax deductions: Americans will save billions of dollars on their federal taxes with the passage of this tax extender bill. This legislation makes many important tax deductions and provisions permanent, including the ability to deduct state and local sales taxes on your IRS return, which is especially important for Texans. Additionally, the research & development tax credit is made permanent, which will encourage our innovators to invest and develop cutting edge technologies here in the US. Finally, the bill supports American businesses by making permanent the increased small-business expensing deduction on equipment and property, allowing them to plan ahead and grow their businesses and the economy. More information on the legislation is available at https://waysandmeans.house.gov/brady-highlights-how-the-path-act-helps-american-taxpayers/	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://kaygranger.house.gov/press-release/ending-crude-oil-export-ban-supports-our-economy-and-national-security	Ending Crude Oil Export Ban Supports Our Economy and National Security	2015-12-18	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Kay Granger	G000377	kaygranger.house.gov			legacy	WASHINGTON, DC The U.S. energy industry will be able to create thousands of new jobs in America and provide a stable oil market to our allies around the world once it is freed from the outdated federal prohibition against exporting crude oil, Congresswoman Kay Granger said Friday. Granger said she was proud to cast a vote to end the 40-year-old crude oil export prohibition, which was included in the Fiscal Year 2016 omnibus Appropriations bill. Getting rid of the policy blocking U.S. crude oil exports is one of the most important decisions Congress has made this year, Granger said. We need to take away control of the world oil policy from the OPEC oil ministers and put it in the hands of American innovators and workers. Granger co-sponsored legislation passed by the House which was authored by Congressman Joe Barton of Texas to eliminate the prohibition. The provisions in the omnibus Appropriations bill were based on that legislation. Ukraine and many of the nations of Europe receive much of their energy supply from Russia, and other nations are dependent on supplies from unstable nations in the Middle East like Libya. U.S. oil producers can provide a stable supply that will reduce the possibility of blackmail policies, Granger said. Creating global security is more than just providing military support giving our allies an energy supply they can depend on is extremely important, Granger said. We have the best energy technology, the most creative business minds and the most reliable source of crude oil. Releasing Americas crude exports into the global oil market will bring rewards to us and our allies. Providing US oil producers access to the global market will have tremendous benefits for the U.S. economy, Granger said. The added business will bring as many as 300,000 new jobs nationwide 35,000 just in Texas, where the energy industry has suffered recent job losses. The Brookings Institute estimates that allowing crude oil exports could increase U.S. gross domestic product by as much as $1.9 trillion by 2039. …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://lamarsmith.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/smith-statement-on-omnibus-appropriations	Smith Statement on Omnibus Appropriations	2015-12-18	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Lamar Smith	S000583	lamarsmith.house.gov			legacy	Washington, DC -Congressman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today released the following statement after voting against a year-end omnibus appropriations bill. Congressman Lamar Smith: This bill includes priorities such as funding for the dilapidated San Antonio courthouse and a repeal of the outdated oil export ban. Overall, I could not support this $1.1 trillion bill. It lacks serious reforms of our refugee policy and fully funds plans to admit tens of thousands of Syrian refugees into our country. It does nothing to prohibit the White House from funding its Green Climate Fund and serves as an endorsement of the presidents extreme agenda he committed to in Paris. Similarly, it omits congressionally-passed restrictions on controversial EPA regulations. It admits 264,000 unskilled guestworkers to compete in the job market against unemployed Americans for scarce jobs. Finally, it does nothing to defund Planned Parenthood despite the fact that it appears the organization engaged in the sale of unborn baby body parts.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://olson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/olson-applauds-lifting-40-year-old-oil-export-ban	Olson Applauds Lifting 40 Year Old Oil Export Ban	2015-12-18	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Pete Olson	O000168	olson.house.gov			legacy	Rep. Pete Olson (R-TX) today voted to lift the antiquated, 40 year old ban on the export of US crude oil as part of the year-end spending bill that also includes many provisions that ensure no new funding for Obamacare and prohibits funds for Obamacare Risk Corridors. It also delays the so called Cadillac tax, includes theVisa Waiver Program reforms bill the House passed and provides a one-year extension of the Internet Tax Freedom Act. It also maintains all critical existing pro-life policy and funding provisions and includes Second Amendment rights protections. The FY2016 Omnibus Appropriations Bill passed by a vote of 316-113. Lifting the 40 year ban on oil exports is a game changer for American national security and will directly help our largest employer in Houston, the energy industry that has been losing jobs Rep. Pete Olson said. While not perfect, this bill blocks any new funding for Obamacare and continues to prevent a taxpayer bailout of Obamacares risk corridor program. It strengthens the Visa Waiver Program to protect the homeland and prevents the transfer of Guantanamo detainees to American soil. As a strong advocate for American energy independence, Im thrilled we finally lifted the oil ban. This action means up to a million new American jobs will be created and we can help our allies across the globe reduce their energy reliance on hostile regimes like Russia and Iran. Highlights include: Repeals the antiquated oil export ban. Increases resources for our military. Strengthens the Visa Waiver Program to protect the homeland. Prohibits new funding forObamacare. Prevents the transfer of Guantanamo detainees to American soil. Blocks EPA overreach. Reins in the IRS. Maintains strong protections for life. Honors our commitment to our veterans. The full bill textis here. ### Media Contact: Melissa Kelly (202) 225-5951	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://poe.house.gov/press-releases?ID=8847386A-7AB0-4FE7-ADC8-8D5F3F14B4B2	The Omnibus Explained	2015-12-18	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Ted Poe	P000592	poe.house.gov			legacy	WASHINGTON, DC. This week, Congressman Ted Poe (TX-2) voted on legislation to end the 40-year old ban on crude oil exports, permanently allow Texans to deduct their state and local sales taxes, increase defense spending to combat ISIS and radical Islamic terror and provide care for our veterans and 9/11 first responders. The legislation also guts many of the Administrations unconstitutional actions and political priorities (detailed list below). Ending the ban on crude oil exports is a huge win for Texas and Houston, the energy capital of the world, said Poe. The impact cannot be understated: it will change the global dynamic of our worlds energy. Here at home, it will create thousands of jobs, bring in billions in new tax revenue, and boost our nations energy security. Around the world, it helps to end the economic stranglehold that Russia and the Middle East have on our allies. Now the United States can compete on the world market with OPEC. In addition, the legislation makes the deduction for sales tax in Texas permanent. The tax code currently favors states that have a state income tax, but that now changes. Making the sales tax deduction permanent means more money in every taxpaying Texans wallet, said Poe. These two provisions were included in separate amendments that will pass the Senate and be signed into law. Overall, the legislation includes a number of conservative victories and will help grow the Texas economy. Previously, the House acted to defund Planned Parenthood and halt the Presidents refugee resettlement program. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has committed in writing to take up the refugee resettlement issue in early January, and I have joined Senator Ted Cruz to empower State Governors to refuse refugees until they are thoroughly vetted. A large appropriations package was necessary because the Senate failed to take up a single appropriations bill that passed the House. Provisions in the Amendment to the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropri…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://samjohnson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398064	Sam Johnson Opposes Omnibus Spending Bill	2015-12-18	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Sam Johnson	J000174	samjohnson.house.gov			legacy	Sam Johnson Opposes Omnibus Spending Bill f t # e Washington, December 18, 2015 Washington, D.C. In keeping with his conservative record, today U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (TX-03) voted against the Consolidated Appropriations Act, also known as the Omnibus. The bill passed 316-113. Johnson was one of 95 Republicans to oppose the bill. After casting his vote against the Omnibus, Johnson made the following statement: As a staunch social and fiscal conservative, there is a laundry list of reasons I oppose this Omnibus spending bill not the least of which is the fact that a vast majority of my constituents oppose it! Besides the fact that it spends too much, this bill also 1) funds Obamas executive amnesty, 2) funds Obamacare, 3) funds Planned Parenthood, 4) funds the Syrian refugee resettlement program, and 5) dramatically increases the numbers of visas available to foreign workers at a time of economic and national security uncertainty. This bill is simply not responsible, and its certainly not conservative. Despite the fact that this bill passed, my constituents can rest assured that I will continue to stand should-to-shoulder with them as we fight together against Obamas liberal agenda. f t # e	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://sessions.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=81C2D93B-43A8-4A90-9BAF-B1A56A89CAC7	Sessions Praises Passage of Spending Bill, Tax Extenders	2015-12-18	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Pete Sessions	S000250	sessions.house.gov			legacy	WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S Congressman Pete Sessions, Chairman of the House Committee on Rules, joined Co-Chairs of the Job Corps Caucus Congressman Lou Barletta and Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr., in addition to 118 Members of Congress in sending a letter to the Department of Labor requesting a reevaluation of their proposed cuts to the Job Corps Program.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://thornberry.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398081	House passes budget and tax bills	2015-12-18	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	William Thornberry	T000238	thornberry.house.gov			legacy	U.S. Congressman Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) voted this week in support of the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015 that passed the House by vote of 318-109 and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 that passed by a vote of 316-113.There are a number of good and important provisions for the country and for our area in these bills, said Thornberry. While there are also a number of provisions that I support and have voted for that did not survive negotiations, many did. Some of the chief provisions include: Providing essential funding for our military; Repealing the 40-year-old ban on exporting crude oil; Limiting EPA funding to its lowest level since 2008; Repealing the Country-of Origin-Labeling (COOL) law that threatened to harm the beef and other livestock industries; Extending and then phasing out the wind production tax credit; Delaying implementation of several provisions and taxes associated with Obamacare; and Strengthening security of the Visa Waiver Program. The PATH bill also made permanent over 20 tax provisions that Congress has been extending one year at a time, making it difficult for businesses and individuals to plan. These permanent deductions include: State and local sales tax deduction, which is important in states like Texas that do not have a state income tax; Section 179 expensing for small businesses; The Research and Development Tax Credit; Charitable deduction for contributions of food inventory; and Many other tax provisions were extended for two or five years. Finally, attached to the measure is a cybersecurity bill, similar to that recommended by the Cyber Security Task Force, which Thornberry chaired in 2011 and 2012. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://babin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=562	Babin Opposes Funding Bill that Fails to Address Refugee Concerns	2015-12-18	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Brian Babin	B001291	babin.house.gov	babin	https://babin.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27	scraper	Washington, DC – U.S. Representative Brian Babin (TX-36), who is leading the charge in Congress to stop President Obama’s plans to bring in tens of thousands of Syrian refugees into the U.S., voted against the year-end government omnibus spending bill (H.R. 2029) because it failed to include much-needed provisions that he has fought so hard for to protect American citizens and stop President Obama’s dangerous refugee policies. “While there is one really good, but unrelated, provision in this bill – the lifting of the ban on exporting crude oil – it is not enough to offset the danger to our national security, which far outweighs anything else,” said Rep. Babin. “Since July I have been leading the effort to address the national security vulnerabilities we face in our dangerous and reckless U.N.-led refugee program. “Unfortunately, this legislation fails to take the necessary steps to protect American citizens from ISIS sympathizers who have begun to infiltrate the refugee population. What’s worse is the fact that it provides a $100 million increase to the refugee resettlement program. At a time when the President’s own DHS, DNI and FBI directors say we cannot properly screen these folks, the failure to stop this dangerous Obama Administration initiative is a huge mistake that leaves the American people vulnerable.”	1	2026-03-30T01:40:41Z	2026-04-08T20:33:33Z
https://carter.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1195	Carter Fights to Protect the Nation, Secure the Border, Support Military, Veterans	2015-12-18	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	John R. Carter	C001051	carter.house.gov	carter	https://carter.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27	scraper	Representative John R. Carter (R-TX-31) is fighting for Central Texas values, protecting our nation against increasing threats, securing our border, and supporting our military and veterans. This past year in Congress, Rep. Carter and House Republicans have led the fight against President Obama and his liberal policies, including his unlawful executive amnesty. As Rep. Carter and Congress wrap up the first session of the 114th Congress, highlights of Rep. Carter fighting for Central Texans include: strengthening our national and border security, supporting our military and veterans, standing up for parents and educators by lessening the federal footprint on our education system and returning to more local control, avoiding a government shutdown, reducing the burden on American tax payers by extending important tax regulations, some that had expired in 2014, and investing in America’s infrastructure. “I am committed to keeping Texans safe, and securing our borders,” said Rep. Carter. “Much of the legislation we passed, and the President signed into law this past year is focused on protecting the homeland. Our nation is facing increased global threats from radical Islamic terrorists and I will not sit by and allow these murderous thugs to infiltrate our nation. We must take the fight to them, to their home base, and destroy their operations. What we have done this past year will strengthen our national security, provide for our military men and women, and bolster our border security. We did not ask for this fight, but we must win this war on terror.” “In order for us to win this war on terror, we must retain the most powerful and best trained military force. While I would like to see a greater share of funding directed to the support of our military, I believe we have put into the place the tools necessary to maintain and build upon the best armed services in the world. It is imperative to the future of our freedoms that we do all we can to support the men and women who proudly serve to protect this great nation…	1	2026-03-30T01:40:41Z	2026-04-08T20:33:33Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/hurd-language-included-cyber-information-sharing-legislation	Hurd Language Included in Cyber Information Sharing Legislation	2015-12-18	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Will Hurd	H001073	hurd.house.gov			legacy	Washington, DC -Included in the Fiscal Year 2016 Consolidated Appropriations Act, which passed House of Representatives today by a vote of 316-113, was an important cybersecurityagreement that creates a voluntary information sharing processbetween the public and private sectors. The bill also included provisions authored by U.S. Representative Will Hurd that will authorize the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to deploy the EINSTEIN 3A (E3A) program, which is an advanced tool that the U.S. government can use to respond to and mitigate cyber threats. E3A provides a perimeter defense snapshot and acts as a first line of defense against cyber espionage. DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson has explicitly called for EINSTEINs authorization by Congress. Every day and every hour, hacktivists and foreign adversaries are attempting to breach U.S. government systems, said Congressman Hurd. High-profile breaches such as OPM and Anthem have only illustrated how much of an issue this is today. I believe that the EINSTEIN program is a valuable tool that the U.S. Government can deploy to respond to and mitigate cyber threats, and I am thrilled that this provision was included in final passage of this landmark information sharing legislation." Congressman Hurds knowledge on this issue was extremely beneficial during our negotiations.His leadership on the EINSTEIN authorization language was also key, as this program will play a large role in giving DHS the tools necessary to protect our digital infrastructure. I want to thank Will for his efforts and look forward to working with him to protect our digital landscape moving forward,saidChairman of the House Homeland Security CommitteeRep. Michael McCaul. Congressman Hurd played a vital role in negotiations on the cyber bill and in building support for its passage," said Congressman Devin Nunes (R-CA), Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence."He understands that its critical for our economy and for our national security to strengthen defenses of our digital infras…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/important-transportation-announcement-schleicher-crockett-and-pecos	Important Transportation Announcement for Schleicher, Crockett and Pecos County Residents	2015-12-18	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Will Hurd	H001073	hurd.house.gov			legacy	Washington, DC The long-term highway funding bill, or FAST Act, thatwas signed into law on December 4, 2015, created a designated highway corridor that will become Interstate 14. The proposed TX-23 portion of thecorridor will be built on the existing infrastructure of Highway 190 and run from Interstate 10 just west of Iraan, through Eldorado and all the way to Augusta, Georgia. This is exciting news for the residents of Schleicher, Crockett and Pecos Counties, said U.S. Representative Will Hurd who represents these counties. Transportation infrastructure is a proven driver of jobs and economic development. Hurd supported the legislation and helped negotiate the compromise legislation between House and Senate versions. This is an exciting win for the communities of Iraan and Eldorado, who are sure to see an uptick in business and commerce with the development of this new interstate. Ilook forward to one daytraveling downI-14 in the 23rd Congressional District of Texas." The timeline for the completion of thecorridor will be dependent upon numerous factors, including state and local funding and environmental and route studies. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/measures-strengthen-national-security-energy-security-economy-pass-house	Measures to Strengthen National Security, Energy Security, Economy Pass the House	2015-12-18	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Will Hurd	H001073	hurd.house.gov			legacy	Washington, DC The 23rd Congressional District of Texas notched several wins today with the passage of the FY 2016 Consolidated Appropriations Act by the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill provides full funding for defense and national security initiatives, tightens the Visa Waiver Program to prevent terrorist travel into the US and repeals the outdated oil export ban. The economy and security are the two most important issues to my constituents, said U.S. Representative Will Hurd. We are strengthening national security so we can confidently confront radical terror threats. Were also including several game-changing measures that will recharge our nations economy and protect small businesses from over-burdensome taxes. Lifting the oil ban alone will generate billions for our nations economy, enhance National Energy Security, and provide jobs for thousands of Texans. The FY 2016 Consolidated Appropriations Act passed with a final vote of 316-113 and has been sent to the Senate. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://kevinbrady.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399445	Brady Fights Terrorism, Backs Texas Energy Workers	2015-12-18	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Kevin Brady	B000755	kevinbrady.house.gov			legacy	Washington, DC Today U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady (R-TX) voted to fund the federal government in 2016, including critical national defense funding, adding 1,000 new border agents and protecting America against foreign terrorist travelers. Brady also played a crucial role in lifting the federal ban on selling crude oil to the world a change that will create an estimated 300,000 energy jobs in Texas. I refuse to surrender to terrorists by crippling our military. I refuse to let dangerous Islamic jihadists travel to America. And I refuse to turn my back on Texas energy workers who are on the verge of losing their jobs. Im voting yes to fully fund our national defense in the war on terror, secure our border and set up the historic House vote in early January to send to the Presidents desk our law to defund Planned Parenthood and dismantle ObamaCare. Background: The House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 2029 would provide funding for appropriated programs for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2016.It contains critical national defense funding, it adds 1,000 new border patrol agents, and it protects America against foreign terrorist travelers. The bill also lifts the outdated ban on selling crude oil around the world which will add 300,000 jobs in Texas. The full text of the bill can be found here.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://ratcliffe.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ratcliffe-votes-no-fy-2016-funding-package	Ratcliffe Votes NO on FY 2016 Funding Package	2015-12-18	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	John Ratcliffe	R000601	ratcliffe.house.gov			legacy	WASHINGTON In response to the FY 2016government fundingpackage voted on Friday by the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) issuedthe following statement: I just voted against the FY 2016 omnibus funding deal. I simply could not support a measure which funded many of President Obamas policies that Ive spent the last year actively fighting against.Specifically, this funding package failed to prohibit the presidents executive amnesty policies, failed to establish new restrictions on refugees from Syria and Iraq and failed to defund Planned Parenthood all the while, it increasedgovernment spending over the caps that I voted not to lift in the first place. "While there were some policy wins for conservatives included in the bill, now is the time for wholesale reform, not minor tweaks around the edges. Ive said it before, and Ill say it again. We cannot solve problems by passing more legislation that kicks the can even farther down the road. We need legislation that addresses the issues head on and puts an end to the reckless cycle of borrowing and spending. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://weber.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=194	Weber Votes to Lift Decades-Old Oil Export Ban	2015-12-18	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Randy Weber	W000814	weber.house.gov			legacy	Congressman Randy Weber (TX-14) released the following statement on House passage of H.R. 2029, the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2016: In Congress, I often spend many hours reviewing complex legislation before deciding how to vote, and ultimately this decision comes down to what is best for my constituents. While I don't agree with everything in this bill, it does contain major provisions that increase support for America's border and immigration enforcement, and boosts funding for critical functions at NASA and the Army Corps of Engineers. Most significantly, this legislation contains a provision that permanently lifts the decades-old oil export ban, which will have huge long-term positive economic benefits to Texas, including the potential creation of up to 40,000 jobs in the energy industry supply chain. The legislation also includes language authored by myself and Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-22) that would allow the State Department to hire embassy security based on best value versus lowest price. Some of the other positive provisions in the bill would: Stop the IRS from interfering with 501(c)(4) organization's public participation and protect their 1st Amendment right of free speech. Strengthen our national security by closing loopholes and making other reforms in the Visa Waiver Program. Prevent a taxpayer bailout of insurance companies in Obamacare's risk corridors program and reduces Obamacare's tax burdens on hard working Americans. Reduce EPA's budget by $452 million below the President's request, a 20 percent cut since FY10 and the lowest staffing levels since 1989. Another win for hard-working Americans was the passage of the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act. This legislation contains provisions that make several tax benefits permanent, which will create certainty for our economy and allow taxpayers and small businesses to keep more of their hard-earned dollars. While the Omnibus does not include everything I would like to see addressed this year, this legisla…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2557	Sen. Cruz Votes Against Spending Bill Funding President Obama's Agenda	2015-12-18	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Ted Cruz	C001098	www.cruz.senate.gov			legacy	WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today voted against the $1.1 trillion, 2,000-plus page spending bill that was passed by the U.S. House at approximately 9:30 a.m. today and subsequently rammed through the Senate after being hastily merged with tax extender provisions. Following the bills passage in the Senate, Sen. Cruz said, What weve seen in Congress today is profoundly disappointing. This spending bill does not honor the promises we made to the men and women who elected us. It funds Obamacare. It funds Planned Parenthood. It funds executive amnesty. It fails to protect our national security and stop Syrian refugees from coming to this country. It fails to do anything to stop the Iranian Nuclear Deal. And what does it do? It jacks up yet more low-skilled immigration, which will only drag down wages, kill American jobs, and hurt working men and women. This bill is the big-government agenda of Democrats that effectively forfeits our massive Republican victories of 2014 and cements Obamas priorities for nearly the full remainder of his term. This is the Washington Cartel in action, and its precisely why the American people from coast-to-coast are so volcanically frustrated. Sen. Cruz penned an op-ed for Politico on Thursday detailing his opposition to the spending bill. Read Sen. Cruzs op-ed here. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2559	The News with Sen. Cruz - December 18, 2015	2015-12-18	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Ted Cruz	C001098	www.cruz.senate.gov			legacy	December 18, 2015 Greetings, This week, we witnessed the Washington Cartel in action yet again working for big businesses and lobbyists, rather than the American people this time in the form of a $1.1 trillion, 2,000-plus page spending bill. This big-government bill demonstrates that we have a government of the lobbyist, by the lobbyist, and for the lobbyist. There is profound disappointment among the American people because we keep winning elections, and then we keep getting leaders who dont do anything they promised. This institution should not operate at the beck and call of lobbyists in Washington. This institution, the majority and minority leader, arm-in-arm again, should not team up against the American taxpayers. I voted against the bill today in the Senate, and, although it ultimately passed Congress, I will continue to oppose this sort of cronyism that is bankrupting our kids. Please keep reading for an update on the latest in the Senate. Keep Texas Strong, Ted Cruz Sen. Cruz Votes Against Spending Bill Funding President Obamas Agenda Today, Sen. Cruz voted against the $1.1 trillion, 2,000-plus page spending bill that was passed by the U.S. House at approximately 9:30 a.m. today and subsequently rammed through the Senate after being hastily merged with tax extender provisions. Following the bills passage in the Senate, Sen. Cruz said, What weve seen in Congress today is profoundly disappointing. This spending bill does not honor the promises we made to the men and women who elected us. It funds Obamacare. It funds Planned Parenthood. It funds executive amnesty. It fails to protect our national security and stop Syrian refugees from coming to this country. It fails to do anything to stop the Iranian Nuclear Deal. And what does it do? It jacks up yet more low-skilled immigration, which will only drag down wages, kill American jobs, and hurt working men and women This is the Washington Cartel in action, and its precisely why the American people from coast to coast are so volcanically frustrated. Read t…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://carter.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=40&itemid=2076	Carter Tells Obama "No" to Housing Illegal Immigrants at Fort Hood	2015-12-17	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	John Carter	C001051	carter.house.gov			legacy	(WASHINGTON, DC) Representatives John R. Carter (R-TX-31) sent a letter to President Obama, and the Secretaries of Defense, Health and Human Services and Homeland Security urging the Obama Administration not to provide temporary housing for unaccompanied alien children (UACs) at any U.S. military installation, including Fort Hood. It is outrageous that this Administration would even consider usingourmilitary installations to shelter illegal immigrants that have crossed our southern border, said Rep. Carter. President Obama needs toenforceour immigration lawsandsecureour border, notundermine our military at a time when our country is facing increased threats from radical Islamic terrorists. I urge him not to furtherburdenour militaryby forcingthem to babysithundreds of illegal immigrants ontheir bases, especially when their solefocus should be fighting the war on terrorand keeping America safe. The letter was sent in response to a notification from the Office of the Secretary of Defense that a survey team will assess the possibility of using military bases, including Fort Hood, to house unaccompanied minors who have crossed our border illegally. A copy of the letter is below: The President The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President, The Department of Defense (DOD) has received a formal request for assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide temporary housing for unaccompanied alien children. We have been informed that a survey team will soon be investigating Fort Hood as a possible location for housing these illegal immigrants. We strongly urge your Administration not to house illegal immigrants on any military base. Furthermore, your Administration should commit to securing the border and focus your efforts on reuniting these children with their families in their native countries. While housing these unaccompanied minors may be a challenge for you, seeking support from military bases when th…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://carter.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=40&itemid=2077	Carter Votes to Support our Military	2015-12-17	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	John Carter	C001051	carter.house.gov			legacy	(WASHINGTON, DC) Today, Rep. John R. Carter (R-TX-31) voted to support our military and boost our national security by helping pass the amended National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in the House of Representatives. The President vetoed the original version of the NDAA passed in October. I am proud to support this very important, bipartisan legislation that supports our military, strengthens our national security and keeps GITMO prisoners out of the United States, said Rep. Carter. At a time when we are facing growing global threats to our national security, and Russia is filling the void in global leadership once proudly held by the United States, we must stand on the side of our brave military men and women, and to stand up for our great nations security. I was also pleased that my amendment to allow members of our armed services to carry personal firearms at military installations, reserve centers and recruiting centers, remains in the NDAA bill. After the tragedies at Ft. Hood, and this year in Chattanooga, I saw the need to empower installation commanders to decide what policy is best and who should be allowed to carry a concealed weapon for their personal or force protection. I have the utmost confidence in our senior military leadership and the Soldiers who serve and I trust they will use this new authority to improve security and prevent future tragedies. Key points of the NDAA include: Rep. Carters Military Firearms Amendment. o Allows military post commanders to permit a member of the Armed Forces to carry appropriate firearms, including personal firearms, at Department of Defense installations, reserve centers, and recruiting centers. The Secretary of Defense must implement a policy to empower post commanders no later than December 31, 2015. Expands Military Retirement. o Agreed on changes that provide additional retirement options to individuals who serve the nation for a period of less than 20 years. For the first time, this plan would allow the 83 percent of se…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://conaway.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398071	Critical Tax Relief Passes House	2015-12-17	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	K. Conaway	C001062	conaway.house.gov			legacy	Critical Tax Relief Passes House f t # e Washington, December 17, 2015 Washington–Today, Congressman Mike Conaway (TX-11) voted with the majority of House Republicans to pass H.R. 2029, legislation that includes several critical tax relief provisions. This bill permanently extends and expands the small business expensing limitation for Section 179 property, permanently extends the option to deduct State and local sales taxes, and renews a number of charitable giving provisions. “A permanent expansion of Section 179 provisions ensures that small businesses have the certainty they need to make capital purchases and better plan for the future,” said Rep. Conaway. “It is critical that our government supports economic growth and job creation by allowing small businesses to invest in their surrounding communities, rather than get in their way. “Other critical provisions in this bill include the option to deduct State and local sales taxes instead of State and local income taxes. This allows Texans, who do not pay State income taxes, the opportunity to take advantage of a deduction not previously available to them. This legislation also encourages charitable giving by renewing a number of tax relief provisions. These extensions will, among other things, incentivize food donations and land preservation, and make it easier for non-profits to provide a helping hand to those in need.” ### f t # e	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://flores.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398737	Flores Votes for Tax Extenders Package	2015-12-17	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Bill Flores	F000461	flores.house.gov			legacy	Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act. Congressman Bill Flores (R-Texas) released the following statement regarding its passage: Improving our tax code and providing economic opportunity are important steps to creating more jobs and better paychecks for hardworking Americans. The PATH Act sets the stage for meaningful, pro-growth tax reform next year and gives us the opportunity to deliver the bold, conservative vision America needs. While this tax extenders package is not perfect, it delivers many significant, conservative provisions that will improve economic opportunity. By making key pro-growth tax provisions permanent, this bill allows our nations businesses and families to better plan for the future. It makes permanent tax extensions that foster research and development, driving long-term economic growth and innovation. It reforms fraud-ridden tax programs, saving billions of taxpayer dollars. It also includes measures that will help Americas small businesses thrive, will ensure fairness for taxpayers and will support charitable Americans who give to those in need. The PATH Act also permanently extends the state and local tax deduction. This is a big win for Texas and other states that do not have an income tax. By making this deduction permanent, Texans will be assured that they will be able to keep more of their hard earned paychecks. Another solid win from this package is that it omits a provision to open up more taxpayer funds to support Obamacares risk corridor program. We achieved this protection despite an aggressive push from the White House and Democrats. The program, which has been called a taxpayer bailout for insurance companies, will be prohibited from using taxpayer funds for this purpose. Congressman Bill Flores represents the 17th District of Texas and is an entrepreneur, former energy executive, Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chairman of the Republican Study Committee (RSC) and member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://kaygranger.house.gov/press-release/congresswoman-kay-granger-delivers-statement-house-floor-national-security-provisions	Congresswoman Kay Granger delivers statement on House floor on national security provisions of 2016 federal funding bill	2015-12-17	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Kay Granger	G000377	kaygranger.house.gov			legacy	WASHINGTON, DC Congresswoman Kay Granger (TX-12), the chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations and vice-chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, made the following statement on the floor of the House of Representatives Thursday highlighting the national security provisions in the Fiscal Year 2016 omnibus federal funding bill: Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this omnibus Appropriations bill. My top priority is to ensure we provide for our national security. This omnibus does precisely that. This is one of the most dangerous times in history. We must ensure that the United States remains not only the greatest country in the world, but also the strongest. The United States and our allies face threats from countries such as Iran, Russia, China, and North Korea. Additionally, radical Islamic terrorists, such as ISIS, continue to threaten everything we stand for. As chair of state and foreign operations appropriations and vice chair of defense appropriations, I am very proud of what this bill does to ensure resources are available to counter all of these threats. We have worked hard to ensure that our military has the tools it needs. We fund the equipment required to confront our enemies head on, and we take care of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and their loved ones. Not only does the bill provide funds needed for training and readiness, it also funds critical family services. Assistance is provided for our allies, including Israel, Jordan, Egypt, and Ukraine, who are our vital partners in this fight. To address security issues closer to home, we prioritize funds for counter-narcotics and law enforcement assistance in Mexico, Colombia, the Caribbean and Central America, including funds to stem the flow of unaccompanied children to our borders. There are increased funds in the bill for embassy security and to prevent and protect against future terrorist attacks, unrest, and other acts of violence at home and abroad. The bill also includes provisi…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://kaygranger.house.gov/press-release/congresswoman-kay-granger-supports-federal-spending-bill-provides-vital-support	Congresswoman Kay Granger supports federal spending bill that provides vital support to national defense	2015-12-17	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Kay Granger	G000377	kaygranger.house.gov			legacy	WASHINGTON, DC A federal spending bill set for a Congressional vote Friday includes important support for our troops and the nations defense, Congresswoman Kay Granger said Wednesday. The bill includes major support for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the keystone to air superiority for the United States and its allies. The Fiscal Year 2016 omnibus Appropriations bill allocates $514.1 billion for national defense, as well as $58.6 billion to continue funding of operations against terrorists around the world. It increases defense spending by $23 billion over Fiscal Year 2015. As the vice chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, Granger was a lead supporter of the increase in defense spending. One of the top priorities of my time in Congress has been to ensure we provide support for our troops as they defend our nation around the world, Granger said. We are facing a terrible new enemy in the Middle East, and we must ensure our defenders have the resources to defeat ISIS at its roots. Granger praised the bills inclusion of funding for 68 new F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, which are manufactured at the Lockheed-Martin Corp. plant in Fort Worth. This is the top fighter in the world, which is why I have fought so hard to get as many as possible in the hands of our Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force pilots, as well as our allies around the world, Granger said. The Fort Worth workers who manufacture the F-35 with such excellence can be proud of their contribution to our national security. The project is estimated to provide 129,000 jobs statewide in Texas. A summary breakdown of defense spending in the Fiscal Year 2016 omnibus bill is available at https://appropriations.house.gov/uploadedfiles/12.15.15_fy_2016_omnibus_-_defense_-_summary.pdf ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://lamarsmith.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/smith-it-s-time-to-impeach-irs-commissioner-koskinen	Smith: Its Time to Impeach IRS Commissioner Koskinen	2015-12-17	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Lamar Smith	S000583	lamarsmith.house.gov			legacy	Washington, DC Congressman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today joined fellow lawmakers in sponsoring a resolution to impeach Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner John Koskinen. Congressman Lamar Smith: The IRS Commissioner should have put the public interest ahead of this administrations political agenda. What the IRS did was a threat to democracy. Americans have lost confidence in IRS Commissioner Koskinens ability to lead what should be one of the most non-partisan agencies in the federal government. He has sought to cover up the agencys political harassment of conservative organizations. This is inexcusable. It is a shame that Congress has to file an impeachment resolution because this administration should have fired him over a year ago. The resolution specifically cites the following charges against Commissioner Koskinen: Failed to comply with a subpoena resulting in destruction of key evidence. Commissioner Koskinen failed to locate and preserve IRS records in accordance with a congressional subpoena and an internal preservation order. The IRS erased 422 backup tapes containing as many as 24,000 of Lois Lerners emails key pieces of evidence that were destroyed on Koskinens watch. Failed to testify truthfully and provided false and misleading information. Commissioner Koskinen testified the IRS turned over all emails relevant to the congressional investigation, including all of Ms. Lerners emails. When the agency determined Ms. Lerners emails were missing, Commissioner Koskinen testified the emails were unrecoverable. These statements were false. Failed to notify Congress that key evidence was missing. The IRS knew Lois Lerners emails were missing in February 2014. In fact, they were not missing; the IRS destroyed the emails on March 4, 2014. The IRS did not notify Congress the emails were missing until June 2014 four months later, and well after the White House and the Treasury Department were notified. In addition to sponsoring the impeachment resolution, Smith today voted for a tax extenders bill th…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://lamarsmith.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/smith-votes-to-extend-tax-relief-for-texas-families	Smith Votes to Extend Tax Relief for Texas Families	2015-12-17	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Lamar Smith	S000583	lamarsmith.house.gov			legacy	Washington, DC -Congressman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today released the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 2029, the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act. Congressman Lamar Smith: I will take every opportunity to ease the tax burden on Texas families. This package makes several positive reforms permanent, including crucial research and development tax credits, provisions to assist small businesses, state and local sales tax deductions, and deductions for charitable giving. It also extends mortgage debt forgiveness for another year, and delays harmful ObamaCare taxes such as the medical device tax and the cadillac tax that would result in even larger health insurance increases for many families across the country. It also includes provisions to curb illegal immigrants fraudulent collection of tax credits. Finally, the bill includes a series of reforms that the House has passed to rein in the IRS, fire employees who take politically-motivated actions against taxpayers, and prohibit IRS employees from using personal email accounts for official business.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://samjohnson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398063	Sam Johnson Scores Four Victories Against IRS	2015-12-17	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Sam Johnson	J000174	samjohnson.house.gov			legacy	Washington, DC Today U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (TX-03) voted in support of the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act (H.R. 2029), a bill that includes permanent extensions of tax provisions important to Texas such as the state and local sales tax deduction, the Research & Development (R&D) tax credit, and small business expensing. The bill passed the House by a vote of 318 to 109. Included in the bill was legislation spearheaded by Congressman Johnson cracking down on IRS tax refund handouts to illegal immigrants as well as ending the IRSs cruel and unjust taxation of restitution awards given to those wrongfully imprisoned. Time after time, the Obama Administration has used the IRS to advance President Obamas radical liberal agendafrom targeting conservatives for their beliefs, to giving away billions of taxpayer dollars to illegal immigrants, said Johnson. And while lawbreaking people who arent even from our country are collecting checks paid by American taxpayers, wrongfully convicted and imprisoned Americans are actually being forced to hand over part of their restitution awards to the IRS! NOTHING about this situation is right or fair and the American people deserve better. The tax bills I introduced this year are all about righting these wrongs and putting the IRS in its place. To learn more about Johnsons four legislative measures with respect to the PATH Act, please see below: #1: No Amnesty Tax Refunds for Illegals Act (H.R. 1298) At a February 11th, 2015 Ways and Means Oversight hearing with IRS Commissioner John Koskinen, Congressman Johnson exposed the Presidents bogus claim he made in November 2014 that, among the requirements for getting his executive amnesty, illegals must be willing to pay your fair share of taxes. In fact, the IRS Commissioner grudgingly confirmed that, as a result of the Presidents executive amnesty, illegals could actually get as much as $24,000 from the IRS by retroactively claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a refundable tax credit. To STOP…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://carter.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1193	Carter Tells Obama "No" to Housing Illegal Immigrants at Fort Hood	2015-12-17	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	John R. Carter	C001051	carter.house.gov	carter	https://carter.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27	scraper	Representatives John R. Carter (R-TX-31) sent a letter to President Obama, and the Secretaries of Defense, Health and Human Services and Homeland Security urging the Obama Administration not to provide temporary housing for unaccompanied alien children (UACs) at any U.S. military installation, including Fort Hood. “It is outrageous that this Administration would even consider using our military installations to shelter illegal immigrants that have crossed our southern border,” said Rep. Carter. “President Obama needs to enforce our immigration lawsand secure our border, not undermine our military at a time when our country is facing increased threats from radical Islamic terrorists. I urge him not to further burden our military by forcing them to babysit hundreds of illegal immigrants on their bases, especially when their sole focus should be fighting the war on terror and keeping America safe.” The letter was sent in response to a notification from the Office of the Secretary of Defense that a survey team will assess the possibility of using military bases, including Fort Hood, to house unaccompanied minors who have crossed our border illegally. A copy of the letter is below: The President The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President, The Department of Defense (DOD) has received a formal request for assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide temporary housing for unaccompanied alien children. We have been informed that a survey team will soon be investigating Fort Hood as a possible location for housing these illegal immigrants. We strongly urge your Administration not to house illegal immigrants on any military base. Furthermore, your Administration should commit to securing the border and focus your efforts on reuniting these children with their families in their native countries. While housing these unaccompanied minors may be a challenge for you, seeking support from military bases when their resources have already been stre…	1	2026-03-30T01:40:41Z	2026-04-08T20:33:33Z
https://carter.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1194	Carter Votes to Support our Military	2015-12-17	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	John R. Carter	C001051	carter.house.gov	carter	https://carter.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27	scraper	Today, Rep. John R. Carter (R-TX-31) voted to support our military and boost our national security by helping pass the amended National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in the House of Representatives. The President vetoed the original version of the NDAA passed in October. “I am proud to support this very important, bipartisan legislation that supports our military, strengthens our national security and keeps GITMO prisoners out of the United States,” said Rep. Carter. “At a time when we are facing growing global threats to our national security, and Russia is filling the void in global leadership once proudly held by the United States, we must stand on the side of our brave military men and women, and to stand up for our great nation’s security.” “I was also pleased that my amendment to allow members of our armed services to carry personal firearms at military installations, reserve centers and recruiting centers, remains in the NDAA bill. After the tragedies at Ft. Hood, and this year in Chattanooga, I saw the need to empower installation commanders to decide what policy is best and who should be allowed to carry a concealed weapon for their personal or force protection. I have the utmost confidence in our senior military leadership and the Soldiers who serve and I trust they will use this new authority to improve security and prevent future tragedies.” Key points of the NDAA include: · Rep. Carter’s Military Firearms Amendment. o Allows military post commanders to permit a member of the Armed Forces to carry appropriate firearms, including personal firearms, at Department of Defense installations, reserve centers, and recruiting centers. The Secretary of Defense must implement a policy to empower post commanders no later than December 31, 2015. · Expands Military Retirement. o Agreed on changes that provide additional retirement options to individuals who serve the nation for a period of less than 20 years. For the first time, this plan would allow the 83 percent of service members not eligible for mil…	1	2026-03-30T01:40:41Z	2026-04-08T20:33:33Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/carter-us-seeking-more-coalition-help-against-islamic-state	Carter: US Seeking More Coalition Help Against Islamic State	2015-12-17	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Will Hurd	H001073	hurd.house.gov			legacy	Thanking the men and women of the military for their service, Obama said: "Because of you, the America that we know and love and cherish is leading the world in this fight". Pope Francis' comments that human activity is mostly to blame for global warming top a list of the most notable quotes of 2015, as compiled by a Yale Law School librarian who also included several sound bites... Merriam-Webster has picked a small but powerful suffix as word of the year: ism. "Every day we destroy more of ISIL's forces, their fighting positions, bunkers and heavy weapons - their bomb-making factories, compounds and training camps", Obama said. Sounding a notably more strident tone, Obama said that the United States and its allies were taking the fight to Islamic State extremists in Iraq and Syria, but admitted that progress needed to come faster. "We are hitting ISIL harder than ever", said Mr Obama, in a second address following the seemingly ISIS-influenced attack in San Bernardino, California that has raised questions about his strategy. US President Barack Obama voiced fresh determination to destroy the Islamic State on Monday, vowing to kill the group's leaders and win back territory in the Middle East. Earlier this month, Carter announced that the USA would deploy up to 150 special operations forces to conduct ground combat raids againstISIStargets in both Syria and Iraq. Speaking at the Pentagon after meeting with his National Security Council, Obama cited this - in addition to intensified bombing of the oil infrastructure in Syria that provides much of the Islamic State's revenue - as an example of aggressive new action. Obama is also hoping to draw a contrast with Donald Trump and his inflammatory remarks about Muslims, which Obama's administration has warned emboldens extremists looking to pull the USA into a war with Islam. "The President will speak about the American tradition of being a welcoming society and the incredible contributions of immigrants and refugees to our nation", a White House official said preview…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/national-guard-cyber-unit-set-activate-cyber-city-usa	National Guard Cyber Unit Set to Activate in Cyber City, USA	2015-12-17	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Will Hurd	H001073	hurd.house.gov			legacy	The National Guard announced plans to activate new cyber units, known as Cyber Protection Teams, one of which will be based in San Antonio, Texas. In July, U.S. Representative Will Hurd was joined by San Antonio Congressmen Joaquin Castro, Henry Cuellar and Lamar Smith in sending a letter to General Frank Grass, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, advocating for the consideration of San Antonio when choosing cities for these new units to be based in. San Antonio is known as both Military City, USA, as well as Cyber City, USA, so there is no question that the National Guard has chosen the right city at the right time, said Hurd, a former undercover CIA officer who handled cyber offensive operations while serving overseas. When you consider the presence of the 24th and 25th Air Force, NSA-Texas, and the second-to-none cyber programs at the University of Texas at San Antonio, its clear that we have the resources and professional workforce necessary to support these kinds of operations. Protecting Texas and the United States in the cyber domain is a complex and multifaceted journey, said Maj. Gen. John F Nichols, the Adjutant General for Texas. We are excited to be given such a robust role in protecting the state and nations critical cyber infrastructure. We are honored the nation has recognized Texas as a center of robust knowledge and understanding in revolutionary technology, said Brig. Gen. Dawn Ferrell, Deputy Adjutant General-Air, Texas Military Department. If you want to be on the cutting-edge of cyber, come to San Antonio. Rep. Hurd has advocated for this decision since coming into office in January, meeting with stakeholders and decision makers to present a strong case for San Antonios readiness and capabilities. The cyber threats our nation faces are real and it makes me enormously proud to see my hometown at the forefront of this ongoing battle, Hurd concluded.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/tax-legislation-prevents-widespread-hikes-families-and-protects-small	Tax Legislation Prevents Widespread Hikes on Families and Protects Small Business	2015-12-17	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Will Hurd	H001073	hurd.house.gov			legacy	Washington, DCLegislation that will prevent significant tax hikes for millions of Americans and extend tax relief programs that empower job creators, was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives today. The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act makes permanent over 20 tax relief provisions and extends for 5 years or 2 years a number of other tax relief measures that expired in 2014. Less taxes to Washington means more money in the pockets of hard-working Americans, said U.S. Representative Will Hurd. This bill will drive economic growth by saving businesses money and empowering them to invest in future development. Highlights of the bill include: A permanent tax credit for research and development that is estimated to increase the amount of research American companies undertake by 10% A deduction for teachers who spend their own money on classroom expenses A 2-year moratorium on the medical device tax, the existing speedbump for inventors that develop breakthrough medical technologies Section 179 expensing for cyclical businesses, especially farms, so that they may invest in new property and equipment in more profitable years A 15-year recovery for leasehold and restaurant improvements, so the thousands of family-owned restaurants in TX-23 can invest in their facilities Charitable deduction allowed for contributions to agricultural research organizations A number of reforms designed to better protect taxpayers from IRS abuse including easier terminations for IRS employees and a streamlined process for political organizations seeking 501(c)4 status This is one of the most important tax initiatives for small business in the past decade and were very grateful to Rep. Hurd for having been a strong supporter, said NFIB President and CEO Dan Danner. Rep. Hurd clearly understands that small business is the largest employer, the biggest taxpayer and the most important part of the economy and his vote today makes a real difference. Tax policies should incentivize innovation and business development, not create…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://marchant.house.gov/2015/12/17/marchant-meets-with-army-corps-of-engineers-to-discuss-lewisville-dam/	Marchant Meets with Army Corps of Engineers to Discuss Lewisville Dam	2015-12-17	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Kenny Marchant	M001158	marchant.house.gov			legacy	Marchant Meets with Army Corps of Engineers to Discuss Lewisville Dam U.S. Congressman Kenny Marchant (TX-24) and a group of Texas delegation members met today with officials from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding efforts to address potential vulnerabilities in the Lewisville Dam. Marchant issued the following statement after the conclusion of the meeting: In a meeting today at the U.S. Capitol, I was personally told by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that work to fortify the Lewisville Dam will begin as soon as January 4, 2016. The people of North Texas are very concerned by reports of structural vulnerabilities in the Dam and the disastrous consequences that could result from its failure. Moving forward, I call on the Corps of Engineers to be completely open with the people of North Texas about the extent of the Dams structural deficiencies and the progress of repair efforts. This is a major public safety issue that must be addressed with the utmost care and transparency. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://marchant.house.gov/2015/12/17/marchant-votes-to-strengthen-tax-certainty-irs-accountability/	Marchant Votes to Strengthen Tax Certainty, IRS Accountability	2015-12-17	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Kenny Marchant	M001158	marchant.house.gov			legacy	Marchant Votes to Strengthen Tax Certainty, IRS Accountability The House today voted 318-109 to pass the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015, or the PATH Act. The legislation takes significant strides to promote tax certainty by making permanent a number of important tax credits for families and small businesses. Additionally, the bill contains a number of provisions to increase transparency and accountability in operations of the Internal Revenue Service. U.S. Congressman Kenny Marchant (TX-24) issued the following statement after voting to pass the PATH Act: This legislation is a big win for small businesses and working families in Texas. By making permanent a number of long-standing and important tax provisions, the PATH Act delivers exactly the kind of tax certainty that Americans need to plan for the future. Our entire economy will benefit as a result. Of particular note, this bill makes permanent the state and local sales tax deduction. I have long supported making this deduction permanent because it ensures tax fairness for Texas families and serves as a vital source of tax relief for millions across the state. In addition to the strides taken by this bill to simplify the tax code, the PATH Act contains several provisions to strengthen IRS transparency and accountability. That includes the legislative text of my IRS Email Transparency Act, which makes it against the law for the IRS to use a personal email account for official businesses. This bill, which passed the House in April, will help protect the American people from IRS abuse and Im pleased its now even closer to becoming law. Marchants IRS Email Transparency Act is a direct response to evidence uncovered by the Ways and Means Committee that Lois Lerner the ex-IRS official at the center of the agencys political targeting scandal routinely used a personal email account to transmit confidential taxpayer information. More information about the IRS Email Transparency Act can be found here. The tax legislation passed by the …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://olson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/olson-votes-to-protect-taxpayers	Olson Votes to Protect Taxpayers	2015-12-17	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Pete Olson	O000168	olson.house.gov			legacy	Rep. Pete Olson (R-TX) today acted to help Americans keep more of their hard earned money by voting to pass H.R.2029, the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act. This bill provides certainty to families and businesses by making more than 50 temporary tax deductions a permanent part of the tax code. Among its provisions, the PATH Act permanently extends deductions for charitable tax donations and state and local taxes, a critical provision for the State of Texas. The bill also includes several reforms to rein in the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and prevent tax fraud and abuse. The House passed H.R. 2029 by a vote of 318 to 109. Making many of these tax provisions permanent provides needed certainty for families and businesses, Rep. Pete Olson said. Since Texas has no state income tax, allowing Texans to deduct state and local sales taxes from their federal returns levels the playing field and keeps more money in their wallets. Making charitable donation deductions permanent also encourages community giving to our neighbors in need. This is an important step to protecting American taxpayers and strengthening our economy. Click here to view key provisions of H.R. 2029. ### Media Contact: Melissa Kelly (202) 225-5951	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/cornyn-government-funding-tax-relief-bills-include-key-texas-priorities	Cornyn: Government Funding, Tax Relief Bills Include Key Texas Priorities	2015-12-17	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	John Cornyn	C001056	www.cornyn.senate.gov			legacy	WASHINGTON U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) spoke on the Senate floor today about the FY2016 Omnibus Appropriations bill and theProtecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015,legislation the Senate will consider this week. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn's remarks are below, and video of his speech can be foundhere. On Lifting the Crude Export Ban: By doing away with thisantiquated policy and allowingour own domestic production toreach global markets, we cankick start the United Stateseconomy and provide a realopportunity for job creation inthe country. On Renewing a Public-Private Partnership Program at Land Ports of Entry: This bill also renews aninnovative port of entrypartnership program modeledafter the Cross-Border TradeEnhancement Act.This, too, is bipartisanlegislation Specifically, it provides new opportunities for border communities and businesses to improvestaffing levels and upgradeinfrastructure at ourinternational border crossingsto help move people and goodsacross our border more safelyand efficiently. On Repealing of Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) Regulations: This omnibus legislation alsoincludes a provision to fullyrepeal the Country of Originlabeling regulations, known asCOOL.This has been a real problem forour livestock producers in Texasand in the United States.By repealing these costly foodlabeling mandates, the U.S. willavoid a trade war with Canadaand Mexico, two of our largestexport and trading partners, andit will help Texas farmers andranchers and manufacturers. On Making State and Local Sales Tax Deduction Permanent: This legislation also includes apermanent extension of state andlocal sales tax deduction,something that amounts to morethan $1 billion in annual taxrelief for Texans.This will ensure that Texans areon a level playing field withthose who deduct their stateincome tax because we don't havean income tax and never will.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2558	ICYMI: Sen. Cruz Op-Ed in Politico: 'The Republicans in Congress Are Surrendering to Obama'	2015-12-17	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Ted Cruz	C001098	www.cruz.senate.gov			legacy	WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) penned the following op-ed for Politico, outlining the reasons he will not support the latest last-minute $1.1 trillion spending bill expected to be passed by Congress on Friday and signed into law by President Obama. An excerpt of the Senators op-ed is below. Full article may be viewed here. The Republicans in Congress Are Surrendering to Obama Why I wont support the latest last-minute $1.1 trillion spending bill Politico By Sen. Ted Cruz Dec. 17, 2015 Its Christmastime in Washington, D.C., and that can mean only one thing: Congress is once again playing Santa Claus. The names at the top of its list are the Washington Cartel: The big businesses and lobbyists who get in bed with career politicians to do nothing but grow government. And left off the list: the American taxpayer. Thanks to last years landslide elections, Republicans now control more seats in Congress, more governorships and more state legislative seats across the country than at any time since the 1920s. We retired Harry Reid and took control of the Senate. And yet today marks a milestone and an ignominious one. Before long, Republican leaders in the Senate and House intend to join hands with a majority of Congressional Democrats to pass a bill that funds President Barack Obamas disastrous agenda well into 2016. So how did the Republican leadership in Congress embrace its mandate for change? Let me count the ways: First, shortly after taking the reins of power in the Senate, the GOP-led Congress fully funded President Obamas illegal and unconstitutional amnesty. Then, the GOP-led Congress institutionalized and expanded Obamacare policies by permanently surrendering on the so-called doc fix. To accomplish this feat GOP leadership broke with the long-established bipartisan practice of paying for the doc fix and added half a trillion dollars to our nations debt over two decades. Then, GOP leadership confirmed Loretta Lynch, Obamas nominee for attorney general, who told us all ahead of time that she in…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://burgess.house.gov/blog/?postid=397861	Burgess Statement on Funding of Lewisville Dam	2015-12-16	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Michael Burgess	B001248	burgess.house.gov			legacy	Washington, D.C. Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade, today issued the following statement in response to concerns of the structural soundness of the Lewisville Dam located in the 26th District of Texas: My staff and I remain in regular contact with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Fort Worth District regarding the proper functionality of the Lewisville Dam and the timeline for upcoming construction projects. Just this week, I toured the dam to view the slide, and despite its physical appearance, the engineers have assured me that the core of the dam is not in eminent danger of failure and a contract has been put in place to resolve the problem. This past June, when the lake reached the pool of record following torrential rainfall, the dam performed as designed, further laying testament to its structural integrity. The Lewisville Dam is over 60 years old and as such with structures of this nature and age, constant supervision and maintenance are required. For as long as I have been in office, the safety and funding of the Lewisville Dam has been a top priority of mine. Every year that I have represented the 26th District of Texas, the Lewisville Dam maintenance project has received the requested level of fundingan average of $3.2 million appropriated each year with an increase to $4.2 million for fiscal year 2015. As always, I continue to have full confidence in the USACEs emergency preparedness plans and their dedication to taking whatever action necessary to keep North Texans safe.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://culberson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398349	Culberson Language Prevents Obama's Internet Giveaway	2015-12-16	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	John Culberson	C001048	culberson.house.gov			legacy	Washington, DC- Congressman John Culberson (TX-07) today issued the following statement regarding his language in the fiscal year 2016 omnibus bill that prevents the Department of Commerce from surrendering control over Internet domain registration to the international community. “The Internet is the freest form of communication there is,” Culberson explained. “The Obama Administration’s intent to relinquish control over the Internet domain name system with no American oversight could lead to broad censorship by the international community.“As the Chairman of the Commerce, Justice and Science Subcommittee on Appropriations, I included language to keep oversight of the Internet in the hands of the United States and stop President Obama’s plan in its tracks. The most effective tool to combat President Obama’s unconstitutional action is the power of the purse and it’s crucial that Congress continue to use the purse strings to combat dangerous policies coming from the White House.” # # # Congressman John Culberson represents the 7th District of Texas and serves as the Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS), which oversees the Department of Commerce, the Department of Justice, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Science Foundation, and other related agencies	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://culberson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398350	Culberson Keeps His Word To Restore NASA To The Glory Days of Apollo	2015-12-16	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	John Culberson	C001048	culberson.house.gov			legacy	Washington, DC- Representative John Culberson (TX-07) today issued the following statement regarding the funding appropriated to NASA in the fiscal year 2016 omnibus bill. “This is the largest vote of confidence that Congress has ever given to NASA. As CJS Chairman, my goal is to restore NASA to the glory days of Apollo. This funding is a down payment to ensure that NASA will always have the ability to preserve America’s undisputed role as a world leader in space. “Today’s CJS bill will speed up the return of American astronauts to low earth orbit and the International Space Station. It will also get the deep space SLS heavy lift rocket off the ground as quickly as possible. “Also, my bill will help revitalize Houston’s Johnson Space Center, because we have significantly increased funding for manned space programs and the Orion manned spacecraft.” # # # Congressman John Culberson represents the 7th District of Texas and Chairs the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS), which oversees the Department of Commerce, the Department of Justice, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Science Foundation, and other related agencies.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://lamarsmith.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/noaa-officials-finally-surrender-staff-emails-to-lawmakers	NOAA Officials FINALLY Surrender Staff Emails To Lawmakers	2015-12-16	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Lamar Smith	S000583	lamarsmith.house.gov			legacy	The battle between National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) officials and congressional investigators may be winding down as bureaucrats have finally handed over emails to lawmakers after months of refusing to do so. I am encouraged by NOAAs acknowledgment of its obligation to produce documents and communications in response to the Committees lawfully-issued subpoena, Texas Republican Rep. Lamar Smith said in a statement after NOAA handed over its initial batch of records to the HouseCommittee on Science, Space, and Technology. I am also glad to see that NOAA has committed to produce additional items as they are identified. We will carefully review these documents and expect additional productions from NOAA, Smith said. For months, Smith and NOAA have been locked in a battle over email records between agency officials regarding a June study by government scientists claiming toeliminate the hiatus in global warming from the temperature record. Smith quickly requested agency records related to the highly controversial study by NOAA scientist Tom Karl. NOAA gave Smith some of the records he asked for, like the methodology and data behind the agencys study, but officials refused to hand over email records from its staff. Smith eventually issued a subpoena in September, demanding the records NOAA was withholding from elected officials. NOAA refused and launched a vicious media push to make Smiths request about trying to force scientists to give up emails about their research. Smith slammed NOAA for spreading a false narrative about his committees investigation. NOAA told a reporter in October that [w]e stand behind our scientistswho conduct their work in an objective manner. It is the end product of exchanges between scientists that are key to understanding the conclusions reached. NOAA said it wanted to protect the confidentiality of deliberative scientific discussions. Smiths NOAA investigation sparked a massive media backlash. Liberal news outlets attacked Smith for demanding emails from taxpayer-fund…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://lamarsmith.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/smith-responds-to-noaa-delivery-of-documents-and-communications	Smith Responds to NOAA Delivery of Documents and Communications	2015-12-16	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Lamar Smith	S000583	lamarsmith.house.gov			legacy	Chairman Lamar Smith:I am encouraged by NOAAs acknowledgment of its obligation to produce documents and communications in response to the Committees lawfully-issued subpoena. I am also glad to see that NOAA has committed to produce additional items as they are identified. We will carefully review these documents and expectadditional productions from NOAA. In aletterto the Committee, NOAA asserted that it is continuing to search for additional documents that may be responsive to this request. In June, NOAA widely publicized a study as refuting the nearly two-decade pause in climate change. After three letters requesting all communications from the agency surrounding the role of political appointees in the agencys scientific process, Chairman Smith issued a subpoena for the information. Smith subsequently sent a letter on December 1st offering to accept documents and communications from NOAA political, policy and non-scientific staff as a first step in satisfying the subpoena requirements. Information provided to the Committee by whistleblowers appears to show that the study was rushed to publication despite the concerns and objections of a number of NOAA employees.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://poe.house.gov/press-releases?ID=5184DA02-8B9F-4BF4-A842-D822E62FDF37	POE ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF CUBA WORKING GROUP	2015-12-16	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Ted Poe	P000592	poe.house.gov			legacy	Washington, D.C. Today, Congressman Ted Poe (TX-2) announced that he has joined a bipartisan group of 10 Members of Congress to launch the Cuba Working Group, a group that will focus on crafting new policies and ways to appropriately restore U.S.-Cuba diplomatic relations. The group announced its formation in a letter sent to Speaker Paul Ryan and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. Its launch comes one year after President Obama announced that he would unilaterally try to normalize U.S. relations with Cuba. Fifty years after America placed its isolating embargo on Cuba, we know that this policy failed to accomplish its goals, said Poe. Its time for Congress to step up and its my hope that the Cuba Working Group can help pave the path forward for relations between our two nations, including pushing for advancements on human rights, economic development and political reforms. New opportunities exist in our own backyard that we should leverage. For example, restricting our agricultural trade has punished Texas and Texas farmers while Cuba has continued to trade with other countries around the world. Congressman Poe has championed opening up agricultural trade with Cuba. In October, he worked with Congressman Rick Crawford (R-AR) and the Committee on Agriculture Chairman Michael Conaway (R-TX) to introduce H.R. 3687, the Cuba Agricultural Exports Act, legislation that would repeal restrictions on exporting agricultural goods and allow producers access to the U.S. Department of Agricultures marketing programs. The Cuba Working Groups steering committee members are: Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Rick Crawford (R-AR), Tom Emmer (R-MN), Ted Poe (R-TX), Reid Ribble (R-WI), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Jim McGovern (D-MA), Sam Farr (D-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), and Rosa Delauro (D-CT).	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://samjohnson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398059	Sam Johnson Introduces K-1 Visa Program Suspension Act	2015-12-16	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Sam Johnson	J000174	samjohnson.house.gov			legacy	Washington, DC In response to the San Bernardino terrorist attack and increased national security concerns among the American people, today U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (TX-03) introduced The K-1 Visa Program Suspension Act. During his House Floor remarks about the legislation, Johnson stated: Mr. Speaker, the terrorist attack in San Bernardino the deadliest attack on U.S. soil since September 11th made it clear that our homeland is vulnerable to terrorism. This terrorist couples attack ALSO made it clear that there are serious screening problems associated with the K-1 fianc visa program. Thats exactly how the wife involved in these attacks came to the United States to begin with! Protecting our homeland is my most sacred duty, which is why I want the American people to know that right now I will be introducing legislation to put a halt on the K-1 visa program until Congress votes to resume it. In the meantime, my legislation would require the GAO to review the national security risks associated with this program and to submit the findings to Congress. This is the right and common-sense thing to do. We must protect our homeland. To watch Johnson deliver his Floor remarks on December 16, 2015, CLICK HERE.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://williams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/roger-williams-to-white-house-do-not-house-illegal-immigrants-at-fort	Roger Williams to White House: Do not house illegal immigrants at Fort Hood	2015-12-16	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Roger Williams	W000816	williams.house.gov			legacy	WASHINGTON, DC Congressman Roger Williams (R-Texas) today announced that he has sent a letter to President Barack Obama, the Department of Defense, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Homeland Security urging the Obama Administration not to provide temporary housing for unaccompanied alien children at any U.S. military installation, including Fort Hood. While housing these unaccompanied minors may be a challenge for you, seeking support from military bases when their resources have already been stretched thin is unacceptable, wrote Williams. The letter was sent in response to a notification from the Office of the Secretary of Defense that a survey team will assess the possibility of using Fort Hood to house unaccompanied minors. A copy of the letter is below: The President The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President, The Department of Defense (DOD) has received a formal request for assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide temporary housing for unaccompanied alien children. We have been informed that a survey team will soon be investigating Fort Hood as a possible location for housing these illegal immigrants. We strongly urge your Administration not to house illegal immigrants on any military base. Furthermore, your Administration should commit to securing the border and focus your efforts on reuniting these children with their families in their native countries. While housing these unaccompanied minors may be a challenge for you, seeking support from military bases when their resources have already been stretched thin is unacceptable. Our country is at war with radical Islamic extremism at home and abroad, and our military assets must be used to train and prepare our troops, not house illegal aliens. Fort Hood has already suffered two shootings, including one terrorist attack. This military base is clearly a target and our country cannot afford to further burden it with th…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.cornyn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=NewsReleases&ContentRecord_id=104178cb-08a7-45ea-8d6e-c66f9fde2da7	Cornyn: Ending Crude Export Ban a Win-Win for U.S., Allies Abroad	2015-12-16	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	John Cornyn	C001056	www.cornyn.senate.gov			legacy	Washington, DC Office 517 Hart Senate Office Bldg. Washington, DC 20510 Main: 202-224-2934 Get Directions Southeast Texas: 5300 Memorial Drive Suite 980 Houston, TX 77007 Main: 713-572-3337 Fax: 713-572-3777 Get Directions South Texas: 222 East Van Buren Suite 404 Harlingen, TX 78550 Main: 956-423-0162 Fax: 956-423-0193 Get Directions West Texas: Wells Fargo Center 1500 Broadway, Suite 1230 Lubbock, TX 79401 Main: 806-472-7533 Fax: 806-472-7536 Get Directions South Central Texas: 600 Navarro Suite 210 San Antonio, TX 78205 Main: 210-224-7485 Fax: 210-224-8569 Get Directions …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/editorials/hurd-promoting-truth-distorted-reality	Hurd: Promoting Truth in a Distorted Reality	2015-12-16	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Will Hurd	H001073	hurd.house.gov			legacy	Walking into the lobby of the Old Headquarters Building of the CIA, a visitor is greeted with the biblical quote,And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.These words are etched into the wall across from the collection of stars that represent the individuals, many still anonymous to the world, who gave their lives serving this country as members of the CIA. Those brave men and women made the pursuit of truth their lifes mission, because they recognized exposing the truth was the way to liberate humanity. The members of the National Clandestine Service of the CIA are called the collectors of last resort.They are tasked to seek the truth when all other avenues of intelligence collection have failed.Despite unprecedented levels of technological advancement and the interconnectedness of the world, the pursuit of truth in the realms of foreign policy and national security remains a critical issue. This is because the level of noise that must be sifted through has also reached an unprecedented size and scope. Our adversaries like ISIS are significantly contributing to this noise. One of the scariest things about ISIS is their ability to leverage social media to inspire individuals who have never been to Syria and Iraq. If we are going to stop future cowardly attacks like those that happened in Paris, Beirut, or Garland, then we must understand how our enemies are relying more heavily on propagating disinformation to achieve their objectives than ever before. Disinformation is more than just lying:its the denial and twisting of reality in order to present some desired image to the rest of the world.The tools of the Internet have made disinformations creation and dissemination easier and more effective. Unless the U.S. government is more proactive in its efforts to expose disinformation where it is presented, our adversaries campaigns to warp reality will prevail. Their images will be strengthened and their messages will be propagated at the expense of U.S legitimacy. The Disinformation Kings An analy…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-continues-fight-against-isis	House Continues Fight Against ISIS	2015-12-16	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Will Hurd	H001073	hurd.house.gov			legacy	Washington, DC Bipartisan legislation that strengthens tracking capabilities for jihadist travelers seeking safe havens beyond Iraq and Syria was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives today. The Tracking Foreign Fighters in Terrorist Safe Havens Act was introduced by House members of the Foreign Fighter Task Force as a result of key findings which can be found in their September 2015 Final Report on Combating Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel. ISIS has explicitly encouraged fighters who cannot make it to Iraq and Syria to join their struggle in other locations, said U.S. Representative Will Hurd, a member of the Foreign Fighter Task Force and driving force for Congressional leadership in the fight against ISIS. Tracking foreign fighters who travel to Iraq and Syria alone is not enough to mitigate the threat they pose to our national security. These terrorist safe havens throughout the Middle East, Asia, and Africa can be used for bad guys planning attacks against the U.S. and migration trends can change on a dime. This legislation proactively supports our intelligence communitys efforts to stop terrorists in their tracks. The task force report expresses that in addition to Syria and Iraq, ISIS operatives are urging followers to travel to safe havens in 19 countries throughout the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. In order to keep diplomatic, intelligence, law enforcement, and policy resources ahead of evolving foreign fighter flows, the bill requires the intelligence community to provide Congress with regular updates on extremist migration and terrorist sanctuaries outside of Iraq and Syria. The Tracking Foreign Fighters in Terrorist Safe Havens Act passed in the House with a final vote of 423-0 and has been sent to the Senate. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/hurd-announces-approval-funds-build-new-san-antonio-federal-courthouse	Hurd Announces Approval of Funds to Build New San Antonio Federal Courthouse	2015-12-16	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Will Hurd	H001073	hurd.house.gov			legacy	Washington, DC Nearly $948M forFederal CourthouseConstruction was placed in the FY16 omnibus bill, including funds for theDistrict Court for the Western District of Texas in San Antonio.This bipartisan effort comes on the heels of legislation introduced by the San Antonio delegation to provide emergency funding back in September and ongoing efforts by Rep. Hurd and others to engage key stakeholders on an issue of criticalimportanceto San Antonio. A new federal courthouse is long overdue. The current building is a security liability, putting at risk the employees and citizens who work and visit there, says Hurd. Almost 50 years old, the John H. Wood Jr. U.S. Courthouse building was built to host the 1968 Worlds Fair and is poorly suited for its current use. This is an issue that we have worked across the aisle on, with a great deal of help from Senator John Cornyn, Rep. Henry Cuellar (R-TX), and Rep.Ander Crenshaw (R-FL), Chairman of the Financial Services Appropriations Subcommittee. This accomplishment is a real win for the people of San Antonio and has significant impacts on the citys immediate future including security, economic development, and tourism. Im glad I was able to help drive a big-picture initiative for my hometown, Hurd concluded. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://marchant.house.gov/2015/12/16/marchant-votes-to-cut-off-hizballah-financing-protect-u-s-and-israeli-security/	Marchant Votes to Cut Off Hizballah Financing, Protect U.S. and Israeli Security	2015-12-16	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Kenny Marchant	M001158	marchant.house.gov			legacy	Marchant Votes to Cut Off Hizballah Financing, Protect U.S. and Israeli Security The House today voted 425-0 to pass Senate-amended legislation placing sanctions on all banks and financial intuitions that do business with Hizballah, an Iran-backed terrorist group responsible for numerous attacks on Americas military personnel and international allies. With the exception of al-Qaeda, Hizballah has taken more American lives than any other terrorist group in history, said U.S. Congressman Kenny Marchant (TX-24). The group also serves as Irans main terrorist proxy in efforts to threaten Israel and undermine the stability of the Middle East. I am pleased the House voted unanimously to cut Hizballah off from the international financial system. This is an important step we can take to stifle the ability of these terrorist to bring further harm to America, Israel, and our allies around the world. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/mccaul-and-langevin-urge-administration-to-weigh-in-on-wassenaar	McCaul and Langevin Urge Administration to Weigh in on Wassenaar	2015-12-16	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Michael McCaul	M001157	mccaul.house.gov			legacy	Washington, D.C. Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus Co-chairs Congressmen Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Michael McCaul (R-TX) today sent a letter to National Security Advisor Susan Rice urging the Administration's involvement in revising the U.S. implementation of export controls on cybersecurity software. The letter, which is signed by 125 bipartisan Members of Congress, expresses concerns that, without careful tailoring, export controls could have both a chilling effect on research and a negative impact on the nation's overall cybersecurity posture. The underlying goal of the export controls, which were agreed to by the 41 member states of the Wassenaar Arrangement, is to restrict the export of hacking tools, or intrusion software, that could be used for cybercrime and illegal surveillance. Although well intended, the legislators argue such terminology is very broadly defined in the original language of the Arrangement and that the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) did not sufficiently tailor the definition when issuing its draft regulations. As a result, the original rule could have included a number of cybersecurity research products and defensive tools, thereby potentially hindering the ability of network operators to defend against cyber-attack. Langevin and McCaul, along with Congressmen Ted Lieu (D-CA) and David Schweikert (R-AZ), submitted public comments in July outlining flaws in the original draft. BIS has conducted an unprecedented degree of outreach on this issue, and I greatly appreciate their flexibility and transparency, said Langevin, a senior member of the House Committee on Homeland Security and its Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Security Technologies. However, I think it is incumbent upon the White House to weigh in and help deconflict the guidance BIS has been receiving from the various agencies, particularly the State Department. This proposed rule and perhaps the underlying agreement itself would have significant unintended consequences for security resear…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://olson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/olson-latta-kirkpatrick-cuellar-introduce-ozone-bill	Olson, Latta, Kirkpatrick, Cuellar Introduce Ozone Bill	2015-12-16	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Pete Olson	O000168	olson.house.gov			legacy	Reps. Pete Olson (R-TX), Bob Latta (R-OH), Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ), and Henry Cuellar (D-TX), today introduced bipartisan legislation that would update how the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) addresses ozone requirements in the Clean Air Act. EPA recently issued a new standard requiring a reduction in the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ozone, from the current level of 75 parts per billion (PPB) down to 70 PPB. This bill is intended to be the first in a series of legislative efforts on ozone, with upcoming legislation to focus on how local air authorities make the leap from an existing standard to a new one. In this first step in the wake of EPAs new standard, Olson and his colleagues introduced H.R. 4265, the Clean Air Implementation Act, which would require a brief pause while EPA studies the impacts of foreign pollution on non-attainment areas, review the current standard every eight years (to allow more time for implementation) instead of every five, and allow for limited consideration of feasibility when EPA moves to draft the next ozone rule. "As communities across America try to navigate an ever changing standard process, we must have better information on how foreign sources of pollution impact our air quality, Rep. Pete Olson said. Understanding how much ozone is under our control is a critical component of how states develop plans to improve air quality. Our bill provides a needed pause in implementing the current standard while we streamline the process with needed information. The EPA, when releasing new standards, must ensure that they are achievable, and do not cause significant harm to our economy, said Rep. Bob Latta. As we work to gain a full understanding of the impact of foreign pollution in areas of the country that go out of attainment, it is imperative we postpone the implementation of these standards to avoid unnecessary and burdensome costs on communities working towards compliance until further review is conducted. I represent several Arizona communities where energ…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/cornyn-ending-crude-export-ban-%E2%80%9Cwin-win%E2%80%9D-us-allies-abroad	Cornyn: Ending Crude Export Ban a Win-Win for U.S., Allies Abroad	2015-12-16	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	John Cornyn	C001056	www.cornyn.senate.gov			legacy	WASHINGTON U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement regarding the inclusion of a provision ending the ban on crude oil exports in the Omnibus Appropriations bill for FY2016: Ending the ban on crude oil exports will serve as a shot in the arm to a sluggish economy, and will open up new markets for job creators in Texas and across the country. By making American energy available to the world market, we also will help our allies abroad diversify their resources and enhance their security. Lifting the antiquated ban is a win-win, and I applaud the bipartisan support for this pro-growth policy.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2556	Cruz, Palazzo Pass the Emergency Information Improvement Act	2015-12-16	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Ted Cruz	C001098	www.cruz.senate.gov			legacy	WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo (R-Miss.) released a statement today after the House passed S. 1090, the Emergency Information Improvement Act, that works to increase and safeguard the availability of critical information during times of emergency and crisis. This bill amends the Stafford Act to make clear that local public radio and broadcasting stations are eligible recipients of disaster relief. It passed the Senate in September of this year under the co-sponsorship of Sen. Cruz and Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.). When disaster strikes, it is critical that the American people have access to real-time emergency information that can save lives. Texas understands the seriousness of these threats more than most states, as it has made 90 major disaster declarations since 1953 and routinely prepares for tornadoes, floods, wildfires, and hurricanes. Public radio and broadcast stations can play a significant role providing critical information during and after natural disasters and terrorist attacks. The Emergency Information Improvement Act will help eliminate any ambiguity in current law by allowing critical service communications facilities to quickly make necessary repairs and prepare for the next disaster, Sen. Cruz said. I commend my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and in both chambers for passing this legislation, and look forward to sending this bill to the Presidents desk. Rep. Palazzo, who introduced the House companion bill to S.1090, said, Disasters strike every year in every corner of America. When these disasters strike, our local public radio stations play a vital role in providing information about response efforts. This bill is a simple but very important step in helping to keep Americans safe by ensuring citizens and communities across our country have access to vital information during times of emergency and crisis. I also thank Sen. Cruz for his leadership on this bill and assuring its passage in the Senate. Current federal emergency response and relief …	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://gohmert.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398288	Rep. Gohmert: Weve Got to Take A Stand Here	2015-12-15	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Louie Gohmert	G000552	gohmert.house.gov			legacy	House Speaker Paul Ryan calls theomnibus spending bill a compromise that gives both sides of the aisle some of what it wants, but Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, says the bill is a non-starter because it doesnt take the steps necessary to keep terrorists from entering the country. We took an oath. Were supposed to protect this country, the Constitution. Were supposed to provide for the common defense. Weve got to take a stand here. Its worth taking a stand to save American lives, said Gohmert, a former judge and a current member of the House Judiciary Committee. Of greatest concern to Gohmert is what he sees as Congress continuing to fund the refugee program without meaningful changes or taking a pause to re-evaluate how best to keep Islamic radicals away from our shores. The negotiators from the Senate intend to allow the risk of dramatic harm, said Gohmert. The Senate is not agreeing to allowa pause in the visa waiver program that would wait until we can be sure that no terrorists are coming in with the refugees since ISIS says theyre sending in terrorists with the refugees, said Gohmert. He says keeping the status quo in the face of such a threat is unacceptable. We have no way of vetting any of the Syrian refugees. We can ask them questions but weve got no way to check their answers. Most Americans get that. Its only in Washington where were having a problem convincing people that are elected how important that is, said Gohmert. The legislation does reportedly contain language to significantly tighten the general visa waiver program, which is separate from the evaluation of refugees. Gohmert says on the surface thats a step in the right direction. That means that countries that are allowed to send people directly from their country into the United States without a visa, without us being able to check whether or not theyre actually a terrorist or a threat to us. That needed to be suspended, and apparently there is a provision that will suspend that, said Gohmert. However, the congressman says thats not as…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://poe.house.gov/press-releases?ID=CEECC21E-0017-4D8D-90A1-59FDB4C3E943	HOUSE PASSES POE BILL TO COMBAT TERRORIST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA	2015-12-15	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Ted Poe	P000592	poe.house.gov			legacy	WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, the House of Representatives unanimously passedH.R. 3654, the Combat Terrorist Use of Social Media Act of 2015, authored by Congressman Ted Poe (TX-2), Chairman of the Terrorism Subcommittee. This bipartisan legislation requires the President to produce an Administration-wide strategy to combat terrorists online. Today, terrorists use social media to recruit, fundraise, spread propaganda and teach future fighters, said Congressman Poe. Online weve seen recipes for bombs, instruction manuals for attacks, a Q&A forum for terrorists and even a livestream of an attack. Potential terrorists dont have to go to Syria or Iraq to train anymore. All they have to do is log-on. My legislation, H.R. 3654, the Combat Terrorist Use of Social Media Act of 2015, will help change this by requiring the President come up with a comprehensive strategy to combat terrorists online something that the Administration promised in 2011. Unfortunately, today there is no strategy and consequently, weve seen individual agencies making unilateral decisions and not coordinating with one another. For example, DHS unilaterally decided not to look at visa applicants social media postings; the FBI does not know how far it should push private social media companies to prohibit them from allowing terrorist content on their sites; the State Department does not know how to effectively counter terrorist messaging because it does not have the expertise of the intelligence community; and the intelligence community approaches social media as a capture everything because it has not been made clear what it should look for. We must first have a strategy before we can effectively defeat this enemy on every battlefield, including the cyber battlefield. H.R. 3654 requires just that.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://williams.house.gov/media-center/newsletters/the-real-threat-to-america	The Real Threat to America	2015-12-15	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Roger Williams	W000816	williams.house.gov			legacy	The Real Threat to America Obama refuses to recognize Islamic Extremism By Congressman Roger Williams The followingop-ed originally appeared in The Washington Times on Thursday, December 10, 2015 In his Oval Office address Sunday [December 6], President Obama made clear that he never misses an opportunity to advance his anti-gun agenda, the United States is still leading from behind, and he believes the American people are students in his lecture hall. Mr. Obama grouped together the July attack on the military center in Chattanooga, the most recent shooting in San Bernardino, and the 2009 attack in my district at Fort Hood. It doesnt take a constitutional scholar to realize all of the perpetrators of these horrific acts were Islamist extremists. But regardless of Californias arguably unconstitutional restrictions on gun purchases and gun ownership, our president tried to make us believe our nations supposed Wild West gun laws are responsible for these tragedies. It has been six years since Nidal Hasan murdered 13 of his fellow soldiers and injured 30 more on base in central Texas, and our president still refuses to acknowledge the real enemy that is threatening the safety of the homeland radical Islamist extremism. I can tell you firsthand the outrageous lengths I had to go through to get the Obama administration to change its classification of the attack on Fort Hood from workplace violence to an act of terrorism. We saw this common trend from the White House continue after the first reports out of San Bernardino last week. Two hours after the incident Mr. Obama responded, We have a pattern of mass shootings in this country that has no parallel anywhere else in the world. Two days later, he slowly walked back that line when it was discovered that shooter Tashfeen Malik pledged allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. If the president had it his way, he would never admit terrorist activity and attacks are happening in America under his watch because it would imply he and his administ…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://lamarsmith.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/national-guard-cyber-unit-coming-to-sa	National Guard Cyber Unit coming to S.A.	2015-12-14	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Lamar Smith	S000583	lamarsmith.house.gov			legacy	San Antonio has been chosen for one of the National Guards 13 new cyber units. The decision was celebrated by U.S. Reps. Will Hurd, Joaqun Castro, Henry Cuellar and Lamar Smith, all of whom requested Cyber City, USA be considered for the new units. The cyber threats our nation faces are real and it makes me enormously proud to see my hometown at the forefront of this ongoing battle, Hurd said in a news release. Army Gen. Frank Grass, chief of the National Guard Bureau, announced the units last week, saying, the cyber squadrons and teams will provide trained and ready soldiers and airmen to support requirements established by the services and U.S. Cyber Command. Seven new Army Guard cyber protection teams will be activated across Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin; adding to the four previously announced teams spread across California, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan and Ohio. In partnership with the Air Force, the Air Guard will activate four new cyber operations squadrons in Idaho, Michigan, Texas and Virginia. There also will be a cyber Information Surveillance Reconnaissance squadron in California and a cyber intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, group in Massachusetts. Air Force Col. Kelly Hughes, chief of the Space and Cyber Warfare Operations Division at the Air National Guard Readiness Center, said the rollout was just the beginning. This is a massive amount of force structure the Guard has laid into the mission, but this is just the first layer, Hughes said. Hughes said that the focus of the current activation plan is to get that presence in as many states as possible and especially making sure we have all the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) regions covered. The FEMA tie-in fits the Guards mission to respond to large-scale emergencies and disasters at home and gives state governors another response asset to use as needed, saidAir F…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://sessions.house.gov/index.cfm/weekly-newsletters?ContentRecord_id=5CEC7682-1276-4F63-9016-0022087D7B70	The Hill Report: Week of December 7 - 11, 2015	2015-12-14	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Pete Sessions	S000250	sessions.house.gov			legacy	Yesterday Chairman Kevin Brady oftheWays and Means Committee introduced HR 1,theTax Cuts and Jobs Act, which representedthefirst public unveiling of legislation that could lead to tax reform this Congress. According totheWall Street Journal, this bill is, on net, about a $1.5 trillion tax	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://williams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/roger-williams-statement-on-passing-of-mayor-george-marti	Roger Williams Statement on Passing of Mayor George Marti	2015-12-14	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Roger Williams	W000816	williams.house.gov			legacy	CLEBURNE, TEXAS Congressman Roger Williams (R-Texas) today released the following statement after the death of inventor, businessman, philanthropist and former Mayor of Cleburne George Marti: Today, we lost a true Renaissance man whose immense talents made him a household name to many and whose devotion to helping others improved the lives of so many more. George honorably served his country and community and made it his lifes work to putting others before himself. I am proud that I was able to call him a friend. Marti served as Cleburne mayor from 1974-1986. # # #	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://williams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/roger-williams-statement-on-passing-of-mayor-george-marti-0	Roger Williams Statement on Passing of Mayor George Marti	2015-12-14	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Roger Williams	W000816	williams.house.gov			legacy	CLEBURNE, TEXAS Congressman Roger Williams (R-Texas) today released the following statement after the death of inventor, businessman, philanthropist and former Mayor of Cleburne George Marti: Today, we lost a true Renaissance man whose immense talents made him a household name to many and whose devotion to helping others improved the lives of so many more. George honorably served his country and community and made it his lifes work to putting others before himself. I am proud that I was able to call him a friend. Marti served as Cleburne mayor from 1974-1986. # # #	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/editorials/how-defeat-isis	How to defeat ISIS	2015-12-14	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Will Hurd	H001073	hurd.house.gov			legacy	On December 2, 14 people were murdered and 21 injured in San Bernardino, California, in the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil since Sept. 11, 2001. The investigation is ongoing, but it is clear the perpetrators were inspired by the Islamic State in Iraq andSyria(ISIS). This comes on the heels of a string of major ISIS operations. Indeed, the world witnessed three ISIS terrorist attacks on three continents in just three weeks, including the massacre on the streets of Paris, brutal attacks in Lebanon and the downing of a Russian jet in Egypt the first successful terrorist attack on an airline since 9/11. Each of us has fought violent Islamist extremism or worked to keep our country safe before coming to Congress at the Justice Department, CIA and in the military. We dealt with al Qaeda and became familiar with its hierarchical structure and desire to conduct large-scale attacks. ISIS is different. It has the same ideology and desire to destroy us and our way of life, but has metastasized into a new form, one that is effective, ubiquitous and dangerous. And when it comes to large versus small-scale attacks, ISIS is interested in all of the above. We say this not to invoke fear, but to instill vigilance. We are in a generational fight for our nation, interests, allies and freedoms. ISIS declared its caliphate in Iraq andSyria17 months ago. Since then, the Obama administrations anemic airstrikes have done little to eliminate their leadership, or destroy command and control, logistics, and flow of resources to fund their operations. As a result of our hesitation, ISIS has flourished. They now have a growing presence in 19 different countries. Over 30,000 foreign fighters from 100 different nations have traveled to Iraq andSyriato join the fight or receive training. 5,000 of these foreign fighters come from Western and visa waiver countries and 250 are Americans. This is just what we know. Intelligence officials have admitted that there are probably many more. ISIS takes advantage of social media to recr…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/hurd-hill/hurd-hill-fighting-radicalization	Hurd on the Hill: Fighting Radicalization	2015-12-14	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Will Hurd	H001073	hurd.house.gov			legacy	I was in the CIA when the 9/11 terrorist attacks shook America. Like most of you, I watched in horror as events unfolded, wondering if the friends I had in the area were safe. As the dust settled and it became clear who was behind the attacks, our military and intelligence agencies mobilized to hunt down those responsible and bring them to justice. And they have not stopped since. If you had told me on September 12 that we would go 14 years without another major terrorist attack on our own shores, I would not have believed you. The credit to this remarkable feat goes to our brave men and women who daily risk their lives for the safety of our nation. We owe a great debt for their remarkable sacrifice and courage. Recently, however, the attacks have hit closer to home. Garland, Texas and San Bernardino, California seem like unlikely targets for terrorists radicalized by ISIS, which means that no city or town can be presumed to be safely out of their crosshairs. According to the November Terror Threat Snapshot released by House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul: The vast majority of 900 active homegrown extremist investigations involve links to ISIS. Authorities have already arrested nearly 60 individuals this year in ISIS-related cases. From July through September this year, ISIS-affiliated groups launched around 12 attacks every daykilling more than 30 people worldwide. ISIS has directed or inspired62 plots to attack Western targets, including18 inside the United States. There have been more than twice as many ISIS-linked attack plots against Western targets in 2015 (42) than in 2014 (20). It is clear the threat is growing. ISIS isnt the JV squad as once claimed by President Obama. They are as serious a threat as al Qaeda and are a clear and present danger to the US. ISIS is unparalleled in their use of social media as a way of radicalizing young people thousands of miles away from their base of power. When I was fighting al Qaeda, they used something called night letters to get their messa…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/mccaul-introduces-bill-to-save-christmas-tree-farms	McCaul Introduces Bill to Save Christmas (Tree Farms)	2015-12-14	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Michael McCaul	M001157	mccaul.house.gov			legacy	WASHINGTON, DC Today, Representative Michael McCaul (R-TX) introduced the Christmas Tree Tax Exclusion Act which would allow choose- and-cut Christmas tree producers, like the Elgin CHRISTmas Tree Farm in Texas' 10th congressional district, the choice to opt out of the Christmas Tree Promotion and Research Program, a USDA administered commodity checkoff program that forces choose-and-cut growers to pay for a promotional campaign for the entire Christmas tree industry. McCaul: While I understand the importance of these checkoff programs to certain industries, said Representative McCaul, the choose-and-cut Christmas tree industry is a niche market that does not fit the mold of other commodities and therefore does not benefit from this promotional program. Instead this industry thrives off the local culture surrounding it, allowing for local customers to pick and cut their own Christmas tree and rewarding them with the unique experience of doing so. By federally mandating that choose-and-cut businesses take part in this national promotional program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is forcing the entire industry to pay for an advertising campaign that primarily benefits large, national Christmas tree producers selling to the wholesale market, not small tree farms like the Elgin CHRISTmas Tree Farm in my district. The Christmas Tree Tax Exclusion Act would continue to allow USDA to proceed with the check-off program, but would restrict the Federal government from forcing small businesses to take part and afford them the option to opt out if they so choose. The Christmas tree tax was first proposed in November 2010, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a regulation establishing a program for large-size Christmas tree producers to tax consumer for the purpose of marketing their trees. The Administration suspended the implementation of the regulation after a public backlash, only to see the regulation quietly revived in the 2014 Farm Bill. Last year an amendment offered in the House of Representativ…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/mccaul-statement-on-concerns-regarding-syrian-refugee-program	McCaul Statement on Concerns Regarding Syrian Refugee Program	2015-12-14	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Michael McCaul	M001157	mccaul.house.gov			legacy	WASHINGTON, D.C. Today in his inaugural State of Homeland Security Address, House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul brought to light new concerns regarding refugees with ties to terrorist groups in Syria who might try to enter the United States. This year, Chairman McCaul wrote to intelligence officials regarding possible terrorist exploitation of Syrian refugee flows, and today he released unclassified excerpts from a response letter provided by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence earlier this year, which informed the Chairman that: The National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) has identified individuals with ties to terrorist groups in Syria attempting to gain entry to the U.S. through the U.S. refugee program. In the same response letter, NCTC also offered that: The refugee system, like all immigration programs, is vulnerable to exploitation from extremist groups seeking to send operatives to the West. U.S. and Canadian authorities in 2011 arrested several refugees linked to what is now ISIL. Early in 2011, Canadian authorities arrested dual Iraqi-Canadian citizen Faruq Isa who is accused of vetting individuals on the internet for suicide operations in Iraq. The FBI, in May of the same year, arrested Kentucky-based Iraqi refugees Wa'ad Ramadan Alwan and Mohanad Shareef Hammadi for attempting to send weapons and explosives from Kentucky to Iraq and conspiring to commit terrorism while in Iraq. Alwan pled guilty to the charges against him in December 2011, and Hammadi pled guilty in August 2012. Chairman McCaul made the following statement in response to these revelations:ISIS has said in their own words that they want to exploit the refugee program to enter the West.They have already proven their ability to do so with the attacks in Paris, which were reportedly perpetrated by terrorists who infiltrated Europe through refugee flows.I have deep concerns with what I have heard from the intelligence community regarding the vulnerability of the U.S.-bound Syrian refugee pipeline,…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/cornyn-renews-call-president-pursue-additional-military-options-against-isis	Cornyn Renews Call on President to Pursue Additional Military Options Against ISIS	2015-12-14	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	John Cornyn	C001056	www.cornyn.senate.gov			legacy	WASHINGTONU.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) issued the following statement in response to President Obama's remarks regarding our fight against ISIS at the Pentagon today: The President again failed to acknowledge a harsh truth: his strategy against ISIS is simply not working, and we need to pursue additional military options in our fight against this terrorist army. While I am glad the President met with our military leaders, he needs to do more to give our armed services the resources and flexibility to accomplish their mission. Only with a dramatic change in strategy will our military be able to eliminate the threat posed by ISIS and keep the American people safe. Last week, Senator Cornyn wrote a letter co-signed by nine Senate Republicans calling on the President to consider additional military options to degrade and destroy ISIS abroad and protect the nation from further attacks against American citizens. Text of the letter can be foundhere.	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/cornyn-thornberry-op-ed-victory-all-american-private-property-owners	Cornyn, Thornberry Op-Ed: A Victory for All American Private Property Owners	2015-12-14	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	John Cornyn	C001056	www.cornyn.senate.gov			legacy	WASHINGTONU.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) and Congressman Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) published the following op-ed in theWichita Falls Times Record Newson theirRed River Private Property Protection Act, which passed the House of Representatives last week: A Victory for All American Private Property Owners U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and Rep. Mac Thornberry Wichita Falls Times Record News December 13, 2015 http://www.timesrecordnews.com/opinion/national/a-victory-for-all-american-private-property-owners-26a1fdc8-e081-3877-e053-0100007f6c98-361683461.html Imagine that you had worked hard to purchase a piece of property, pay your taxes on the land, and plan to pass it along to your children for their use and enjoyment. All seems well until an agency of the federal government decides that it really owns your land and swoops in to take it away. You try to fight the government in court but while you do, a cloud hangs over the title to the property for years. That is the nightmare facing more than 150 land owners along a 116-mile stretch of the Red River. However, stopping this land grab by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is important for more than just those directly affected. Property rights affect all of us, and we must stand together to protect them. As part of BLM's update to its Resource Management Plan two years ago, the agency originally claimed that it owned up to 90,000 more acres than it previously suggested along the Red River. It later reduced that estimate to approximately 30,000 acres. But the federal government has only surveyed about 6,400 acres of the land in question, and these spot surveys are highly contested. They appear to stray greatly from the survey method mandated by the Supreme Court in the 1920s. BLM has also stated that it does not plan to survey the rest of the land in question. Since 2013, our offices have held countless meetings, phone calls, and site visits with these landowners, as well as local and state officials, to coordinate action. As a result of these interactions, we introd…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://lamarsmith.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/gop-lawmakers-unveil-plan-to-defund-refugee-program-keep-terrorists-out	GOP Lawmakers Unveil Plan to Defund Refugee Program, Keep Terrorists Out	2015-12-11	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Lamar Smith	S000583	lamarsmith.house.gov			legacy	A group of Republican House members have introduces legislation that would temporarily suspend the refugee resettlement program by blocking its funding. Our bill is simple: no more refugee admittance until we can strengthen the system and better ensure the safety of Americans, Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX)one of the bills co-sponsors, said in a statement. For this administration to force foreign refugees on American communities at this time ignores the very real security threats we face. Despite the recent radical Islamic terrorist attacks in San Bernardino and Paris as well as vulnerabilities in the refugee vetting system voiced by top officials, the Obama administration has continued to move forward with plans to resettle at least 10,000 Syrian refugees in the U.S. this fiscal year. Thursday, Smith, Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Rep. Lou Barletta (R-PA), and Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-TN) introduced a bill that would stop the President's plan. The attack in California demonstrated once again that there are radical Islamic terrorists whose main goal in life is to kill Americans, Barletta said.While the United States has always been a nation that welcomes people seeking refuge, it is only prudent to suspend our refugee program until we know exactly who we are letting in. According to their offices, the foursomes bill would block funding for refugee resettlement until: Congress passes a joint resolution approving the Presidents refugee resettlement plan [Congressional Budget Office] provides a report to Congress scoring the long term cost of refugee resettlement operations [Department of Homeland Security] submits a report to Congress identifying terrorist and criminal activity of refugees admitted into the U.S. since 2001 The President submits a report to Congress of the prior years cost of admitting refugees and proposes offsetting spending cuts to pay for resettlement The House is expected tounveilits final year end spending bill early next week. In the midst of national security concerns conserv…	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/national-guard-cyber-unit-set-activate-cyber-city-usa	National Guard Cyber Unit Set to Activate in Cyber City, USA	2015-12-11	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Will Hurd	H001073	hurd.house.gov			legacy	Washington, DC The National Guardannounced plansto activate new cyber units, known as Cyber Protection Teams, one of which will be based in San Antonio, Texas. In July, U.S. Representative Will Hurd was joined by San Antonio Congressmen Joaquin Castro, Henry Cuellar and Lamar Smith in sending a letter to General Frank Grass, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, advocating for the consideration of San Antonio when choosing cities for these new units to be based in. San Antonio is known as both Military City, USA, as well as Cyber City, USA, so thereisno question that the National Guard has chosen the right city at the right time, said Hurd, a former undercover CIA officer who handled cyber offensive operations while servingoverseas.When you consider the presence of the 24thand 25thAir Force, NSA-Texas, and the second-to-none cyberprogramsat the University of Texas at San Antonio, its clear that we have the resources and professional workforce necessary to supportthese kindsof operations. "Protecting Texas and the United States in the cyber domain is a complexand multifaceted journey," said Maj. Gen. John F Nichols, the Adjutant General for Texas. "We are excited to be given such a robust role inprotecting the state and nation's critical cyber infrastructure." "We are honored the nation has recognized Texas as a center of robustknowledge and understanding in revolutionary technology," said Brig. Gen.Dawn Ferrell, Deputy Adjutant General-Air, Texas Military Department.Ifyou want to be on the cutting-edge of cyber, come to San Antonio." Rep. Hurd has advocated for this decision since coming into office in January, meeting with stakeholders and decision makers to present a strong case for San Antonios readiness and capabilities. The cyber threats our nation faces are real and it makes me enormously proud to see my hometown at the forefront of this ongoing battle, Hurd concluded. ### SADEL CPT Support Letter.pdf	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://marchant.house.gov/2015/12/11/house-passes-trade-enforcement-legislation-bill-includes-marchant-measure-to-streamline-trade/	House Passes Trade Enforcement Legislation, Bill Includes Marchant Measure to Streamline Trade	2015-12-11	2015	2015-12	Republican	House	TX	Kenny Marchant	M001158	marchant.house.gov			legacy	House Passes Trade Enforcement Legislation, Bill Includes Marchant Measure to Streamline Trade The House today voted 256-158 to pass the Conference Report to H.R. 644, the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015. This legislation provides tools to strengthen U.S. trade enforcement and enhance the flow of legitimate trade at Americas borders and ports of entry. Included in this bill is the legislative text of the REST Act, a bill by U.S. Congressman Kenny Marchant (TX-24) to remove an onerous Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requirement that would inhibit international trade and increase compliance costs for American businesses. Texas has led the nation in international commerce for 13 years running and that has created millions of well-paying jobs throughout the state, said Marchant. Supporting future job growth through trade requires innovative tools to strengthen and streamline our trade enforcement policies. Thats what the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act delivers. And with the inclusion of the REST Act, the bill helps harmonize trade practices at our borders and reduce unnecessary compliance costs on American businesses both of which are key to promoting a healthier U.S. economy. I am pleased that the House passed this trade enforcement legislation with broad support and I encourage the Senate to do the same. In addition to the trade enforcement and facilitation provisions of this Conference Report, the bill also includes a permanent ban on state taxation of internet access and other state taxes on internet commerce. These provisions are similar to those of H.R. 235, the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act, which Marchant cosponsored and voted to pass earlier this year. ###	1	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z	2026-03-30T12:14:52Z

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Press releases

3,100 rows where party = "Republican", state = "TX" and year = 2015 sorted by date descending

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