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Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press

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1,953 rows where party = "Republican", state = "TX" and year = 2016 sorted by date descending

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  • 2016 · 1,953 ✖

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  • TX · 1,953 ✖

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  • Republican · 1,953 ✖

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  • House 1,953
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://hurd.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/hurd-statement-administration-s-response-russian-hacking Hurd Statement on Administrations Response to Russian Hacking 2016-12-29 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Will Hurd H001073 hurd.house.gov     legacy San Antonio, TX – Texas Congressman Will Hurd issued the following statement regarding the new sanctions against Russia announced by the Obama administration: “Months ago I called for this administration to respond to Russia's malicious cyber-attacks on American organizations by showing their ambassador to the door. While these sanctions took too long to be put into place, they are an important step in showing Russia and other adversaries that we will not allow these kinds of attacks to go unanswered. There is more we can do to keep American organizations and agencies safe from these cyber-attacks and I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress and the new administration to ensure that our cyber domain is fortified." ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/mccaul-statement-on-obama-administration-russia-sanctions McCaul Statement on Obama Administration Russia Sanctions 2016-12-29 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Michael McCaul M001157 mccaul.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) issued the following statement regarding the Obama Administration's response to Russia's cyber interference and harassment: Chairman McCaul: I am pleased to see the Obama Administration is finally responding to Russian meddling, including by sanctioning key operatives and expelling Russian spies from the United States. But these actions are long overdue. For many months I have urged the Administration to respond to the election-related hacks, and for years I have pressed them to stand up to Russia and other cyber intruders. Instead, President Obama's look-the-other-way' foreign policy has emboldened Moscow time and again and opened us up to attack. I look forward to working with the incoming Trump Administration to make sure thatin the futureour response to such aggression is timely, decisive, and forceful enough to convince our adversaries not to do it again. See Chairman McCaul's recent op-ed on the issue, here. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://burgess.house.gov/blog/?postid=398229 Burgess Releases 2016 Year-End Report 2016-12-28 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Michael Burgess B001248 burgess.house.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. – Today Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade, released his 2016 Year-End Annual Report, a comprehensive review of a year’s work that showcases his legislative accomplishments, media presence, and constituent services and correspondence throughout 2016. Dr. Burgess notes that the annual report is part of his commitment to transparency with his constituents and a means of reflecting on and quantifying every function of both his Washington, D.C. and Lake Dallas district offices. “My top priority is to serve my constituents to the utmost of my ability. The people of the 26th District have entrusted me with the responsibility of this office  and I am honored to have that trust. An important part of this role is accountability. Six years of divided government have made it difficult, but still 2016 saw some successes and a significant number of priorities were achieved. This report acts as a vehicle to track my progress and identify areas of improvement as we look ahead to the 115th Congress.” Additionally, Dr. Burgess released an infographic that summarizes all his work during both sessions of the 114th Congress.Click here to view the 2016 report. Click here to view Dr. Burgess’ 114th Congress in review.  ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/114th-congress-promoting-energy-growth-and-securing-our-environment 114th Congress: Promoting Energy Growth and Securing Our Environment 2016-12-28 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX John Cornyn C001056 www.cornyn.senate.gov     legacy AUSTIN—During the 114th Congress, major pieces of legislation were enacted to help speed up a plan to protect the Texas Gulf Coast, end the outdated ban on exporting crude oil, and reform the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Texas Coastal Protection in the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) (Passed House 12/8/16, passed Senate 12/10/16, became law 12/16/16) Includes a major provision from Senator Cornyn’s COAST Act to help streamline the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ coastal surge protection study along Texas’ upper Gulf Coast. Requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to take into consideration certain studies already developed by the Gulf Coast Community Protection and Recovery District (GCCPRD) while completing its Coastal Texas Protection & Restoration Study. Ending of the Crude Oil Export Ban (Passed the Senate as part of the 2015 Omnibus Appropriations Bill 12/16/15, passed the House 6/8/16, became law 6/22/16) Lifts the 40-year ban on the export of crude oil, put in place during the 1973 Arab oil embargo. Will reduce global reliance on countries like Russia and Iran for energy needs. Toxic Substances Control Act (Passed House 6/23/15, passed Senate 12/17/15, became law 6/22/16) Provides the EPA with direct tools to obtain testing information on chemical substances, improving the former lengthy process Restructures the way existing chemicals are evaluated and regulated by prioritizing scientific evaluations. Encourages transparency at the EPA regarding trade secrets and scientific decision making. Energy Improvement Act of 2015 (Passed Senate 3/27/15, passed House 4/21/15, became law 4/30/15) Establishes a voluntary, market-driven approach to aligning the interests of commercial building owners and their tenants to reduce energy consumption. Exempts certain electrical resistance water heaters used for demand response from pending Department of Energy regulation. Requires federal agencies to coordinate with OMB, DOE, and EPA to develop and implantation strategy for the m… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2936 Sen. Cruz: History Will Record Obama and Kerry As Relentless Enemies of Israel 2016-12-28 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Ted Cruz C001098 www.cruz.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) issued the following statement in response to Secretary of State John Kerry's speech concerning Israel today:  "Like bitter clingers, President Obama and Secretary Kerry are spending every last minute of this administration wreaking havoc domestically and abroad. With their last breath in office, they have struck at Israel, through the United Nations and through today's disgraceful speech. "These acts are shameful. They are designed to secure a legacy, and indeed they have: history will record and the world will fully understand Obama and Kerry as relentless enemies of Israel. Their actions were designed to weaken and marginalize Israel, and to embolden its enemies.  "Today's speech -- like Kerry's 2014 remarks likening Israel to an apartheid state -- will enflame rising anti-Semitism in Europe. It will encourage the mullahs who hate Israel and hate America. And it will facilitate 'law-fare,' growing legal assaults on Israel through transnational legal fora.  "Kerry's speech drew a stunning moral equivalence between our great ally Israel and the Palestinian Authority, currently formed in a 'unity' government with the vicious terrorists of Hamas. Secretary Kerry declared the Hamas regime in Gaza ‘radical,’ in the same way he declared the duly-elected government of Israel ‘extreme.’ He declared vicious terrorism sponsored by Hamas equal to Israeli settlements in West Bank. And he equated Israel's celebration of its birth with the Palestinian description of this event as the ‘disaster.’ His speech attempted to lay out an historic and seismic shift towards the delegitimization of our ally, Israel, and the further empowerment of the Palestinian Authority.  "Kerry's central conclusion, that 'Israel can either be Jewish or democratic, it cannot be both' is an inanity that passes as profound only in Ivory Tower faculty lounges. There are roughly 50 majority-Muslim countries in the world. There is one -- only one -- Jewish state. And yet, for Kerry and Obama, that is too mu… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://kaygranger.house.gov/press-release/granger-statement-administrations-refusal-veto-one-sided-un-resolution-against-israel Granger Statement on Administration's Refusal to Veto One-Sided U.N. Resolution Against Israel 2016-12-24 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Kay Granger G000377 kaygranger.house.gov     legacy Fort Worth, TX – Congresswoman Kay Granger (TX-12), Chairwoman of the House Appropriations State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee, issued the following statement after the Administration did not veto the one-sided United Nations anti-Israel resolution. “I never thought I would see the day when the United States of America would not stand with our longtime ally Israel. President Obama could have and should have stopped this from happening. This hurts the efforts toward peace in the region. I agree with Donald Trump that we should seriously reexamine our financial support of the U.N. and the countries that supported this treacherous action.” 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://culberson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398617 Culberson Statement on Texas Receiving $177 Million in Disaster Relief Funding 2016-12-23 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX John Culberson C001048 culberson.house.gov     legacy Culberson Statement on Texas Receiving $177 Million in Disaster Relief Funding f t # e Houston, December 23, 2016 Congressman John Culberson (TX-07) released the following statement regarding the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s announcement that Texas will receive an additional $177 million in disaster relief funding. “Texas, specifically Houston, has experienced several extreme weather events resulting in millions of dollars of damage to homes and businesses. I am pleased that the State will receive $177 million of the funding allocated in the continuing resolution to assist in the rebuilding efforts. “The State will decide where to allocate this money, and I will continue to advocate that Harris County receive their fair share to help Houstonians repair after the Memorial Day and Tax Day floods.”   f t # e 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://culberson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398618 Culberson Statement on President Obama’s Betrayal of Israel 2016-12-23 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX John Culberson C001048 culberson.house.gov     legacy Culberson Statement on President Obama’s Betrayal of Israel f t # e Washington, DC, December 23, 2016 Congressman John Culberson (TX-07) released the following statement after the Obama Administration allowed the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution condemning Israeli settlement construction. "President Barack Obama shamefully and brazenly betrayed Israel today in the United Nations.  Without any warning, and in a complete reversal of unwavering American support, President Obama has unilaterally and seriously damaged Israel's negotiating position in the ongoing peace talks.   "Israel is a beacon of freedom and democracy in the Middle East and America has a profound moral, legal and spiritual obligation to be the sword and shield of Israel.  No other nation can say they have been a more loyal friend to America throughout their existence than the State of Israel.   "I stand ready to help President Trump immediately begin to undo the immense damage that President Obama has done to American and Israeli strength and security.”   f t # e 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/mccaul-nominates-texas-students-for-acceptance-to-us-service-academies McCaul Nominates Texas Students for Acceptance to U.S. Service Academies 2016-12-23 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Michael McCaul M001157 mccaul.house.gov     legacy AUSTIN, TX — Congressman Michael McCaul (TX-10) announced today that he has nominated 25 Texas students for acceptance to the esteemed United States service academies.  The students are recommended based on their academic performance, leadership skills, extracurricular involvement, and character. “One of the most rewarding parts of my job is to nominate such outstanding young Texans to our nation’s service academies,” McCaul said.  “Competing with the best and brightest of America’s youth, this nomination signifies years of hard work and dedication.  Their decision to serve our country in uniform is admirable, and I am confident the future of our nation is in good hands.” The service academies include the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO.; the Military Academy at West Point, NY; the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD.; and the Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY.   Final selection for admission to the service academies will be selected by the officials at each respective academy this spring.  Students who are interested in learning more about service academy nominations can visit McCaul’s website: https://mccaul.house.gov/services/military-academy-nominations. Nomination to a service academy by Congressman McCaul does not ensure a student will be accepted.  Students who were nominated to multiple academies will choose which to attend should they be admitted to more than one institution. The nominees are as follows: Harris County Tyler Fausset 2017 graduate of Waller High School U.S. Air Force Academy Cameron Goulden 2017 graduate of Klein Oak High School U.S. Military Academy Montana Grosch  2017 graduate of Cy-Fair High School U.S. Naval Academy Jonathan Hardegree 2016 graduate of Cinco Ranch High School U.S. Military Academy Hannah Hirst 2017 graduate of Faith West Academy U.S. Naval Academy Brynna Johnson 2017 graduate of Cypress Ranch High School U.S. Military Academy Katy Klare 2017 graduate of Waller High School U.S. Air Force Academy Halee Lewis 2017 graduate of Cypress Ranch High S… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/mccaul-statement-following-the-us-abstaining-from-the-un-vote McCaul Statement following the U.S. abstaining from the UN vote 2016-12-23 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Michael McCaul M001157 mccaul.house.gov     legacy AUSTIN, TX Chairman Michael McCaul (TX-10) issued the following statement regarding the Administration's refusal to veto the anti-Israel UN resolution. Chairman McCaul:"Today's vote at the UN is deplorable and undermines efforts at lasting peace. President Obama's refusal to stand firm with our great ally Israel doesn't respect the strong, deep relationship our two countries have shared for decades. I look forward to working with President-elect Trump next year to let Israel know that we have their back and we will not waver in our support." ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://sessions.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/chairman-pete-sessions-leads-group-thank-troops-during-christmas-season Chairman Pete Sessions Leads Group to Thank Troops During the Christmas Season 2016-12-23 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Pete Sessions S000250 sessions.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. - This week Congressman Pete Sessions, Chairman of the House Committee on Rules, led a bipartisan congressional delegation featuring Congressman Bill Keating (D-MA), Congressman Pat Meehan (R-PA), Congressman Paul Cook (R-CA), Congressman David Cicilline (R-RI), and Congressman Dan Newhouse (R-WA) to visit men and women who serve in our nation’s armed forces during the Christmas season at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska, United States Forces Korea headquarters and Camp Humphreys in Seoul, Korea, Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan,  Yokota Airbase in Tokyo, Japan, and Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii.“From the 28,500 American soldiers in the Republic of Korea, to the thousands of men and women in uniform on the island of Okinawa, to the troops on the shores of Pearl Harbor, the brave servicemen and women who we have met over the last week have made a steadfast commitment to protecting our freedom both at home and abroad. It was an honor and a privilege to personally thank these men and women - especially at Christmastime - for putting their lives on the line day in and day out to defend our great nation. Our troops represent the very best of our country and I deeply appreciate their unwavering commitment to ensuring the United States of America remains the greatest country in the world,” said Chairman Pete Sessions.   Chairman Pete Sessions, Congressman Bill Keating, Congressman Pat Meehan, Congressman Paul Cook, Congressman David Cicilline, and Congressman Dan Newhouse with service members at Camp Humphreys in KoreaCongressman Dan Newhouse, Congressman Paul Cook (USMC, Ret.), and Congressman Pat Meehan eating lunch with service members at Camp Humphreys in Korea Congressman Pat Meehan thanking an airman in Okinawa after an aerial tour of the island Chairman Pete Sessions thanking a soldier from Dallas, Texas in Okinawa Chairman Pete Sessions, Congressman Bill Keating, Congressman Pat Meehan, and Congressman David Cicilline applauding service members at Yokota Airbase in Tokyo… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2932 Sen. Cruz: Happy Chanukah 2016-12-23 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Ted Cruz C001098 www.cruz.senate.gov     legacy HOUSTON, Texas – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) released the following statement on the eve of Chanukah: “Heidi and I wish a very Happy Chanukah to the Jewish people. This holiday is a time to commemorate the heroic revolt that triumphed over repression, restoring religious freedom and leading to the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem. During the Festival of Lights, we are particularly grateful for our close ally Israel, who protects the right to freely worship, stands as a beacon of liberty, and brings light to one of the darkest regions in the world. As the celebration begins tomorrow evening and the menorah is lit for eight nights, we join all those in observance, particularly the Jewish community in Texas whom I'm proud to represent, in remembering the great miracle that happened there.” ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2933 Sen. Cruz: At Christmas, We Celebrate the Birth of Our Savior 2016-12-23 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Ted Cruz C001098 www.cruz.senate.gov     legacy HOUSTON, Texas – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) issued the following statement in advance of Christmas Day:                        “At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of our Savior. Two thousand years ago, in a manger on the outskirts of Bethlehem in the land of Judea, Christ came to save the world.            “The season of hope that touches every corner of the world also extends to every corner of our great state. From Mission Arlington’s annual Christmas Store helping thousands of families find toys and gifts for their children, to Lubbock’s U Can Share food drive raising $187,000 and more than 351,000 pounds of food and counting; from the Houston Children’s Charity’s Adopt-A-Family blessing needy families with Christmas joy, to the Austin Police Department’s Operation Blue Santa providing meals and toys delivered by Santa’s Helpers, Texans are coming together to help those in need with Texas-sized hearts and Texas-sized generosity. “They serve in the spirit of the true grace of Jesus Christ that asks not for repayment or reward. Theirs is the gift of hope; their work the work of humble servants. “I pray that each and every one you find joy and peace this Christmas, and enjoy a happy, healthy, and restful New Year with your family and friends. May God bless you, and may He continue to bless our nation and the great state of Texas.”  ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2934 Cruz News: The Season of Hope 2016-12-23 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Ted Cruz C001098 www.cruz.senate.gov     legacy December 23, 2016            Greetings, At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of our Savior. Two thousand years ago, in a manger on the outskirts of Bethlehem in the land of Judea, Christ came to save the world.             The season of hope that touches every corner of the world also extends to every corner of our great state. From Mission Arlington’s annual Christmas Store helping thousands of families find toys and gifts for their children, to Lubbock’s U Can Share food drive raising $187,000 and more than 351,000 pounds of food and counting; from the Houston Children’s Charity’s Adopt-A-Family blessing needy families with Christmas joy, to the Austin Police Department’s Operation Blue Santa providing meals and toys delivered by Santa’s Helpers, Texans are coming together to help those in need with Texas-sized hearts and Texas-sized generosity. They serve in the spirit of the true grace of Jesus Christ that asks not for repayment or reward. Theirs is the gift of hope; their work the work of humble servants. I pray that each and every one you find joy and peace this Christmas, and enjoy a happy, healthy, and restful New Year with your family and friends. May God bless you, and may He continue to bless our nation and the great state of Texas. Keep Texas Strong,  Ted Cruz Sen. Cruz: The UNSC Has No Authority Over Israel's Sovereignty Sen. Cruz released the following statement rebuking the United Nations Security Council for its latest attempt to delegitimize the nation of Israel: "With hundreds of thousands dead in Syria, jihadist refugees mowing down Christmas shoppers in Berlin and the People's Republic of China weaponizing its artificial islands in the South China Sea, it is ridiculous that the United Nations Security Council would even consider wasting its time condemning Israel for building on its own sovereign territory," Senator Cruz said. "The UNSC, which over and over has pursued avenues to delegitimize the nation of Israel, has no authority on this matter. The Obama Administration should be ashamed for … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2935 Sen. Cruz Statement on Obama Administration's Betrayal of Israel at the U.N. Security Council 2016-12-23 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Ted Cruz C001098 www.cruz.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) issued the following statement after the Obama administration today failed to exercise its veto to defeat a discriminatory anti-Israel resolution at the United Nations Security Council: "For eight long years, the Obama administration has worked systematically to undermine the nation of Israel.  They actively worked to defeat Prime Minister Netanyahu, and illegally used U.S. taxpayer funds to do so.  Never has there been a more anti-Israel Administration, and today's United Nations vote is the culmination of their systemic agenda to weaken Israel and strengthen its enemies.   "I agree with the senior Israeli government official who said today: 'President Obama and Secretary Kerry are behind this shameful move against Israel at the UN....The U.S. administration secretly cooked up with the Palestinians an extreme anti-Israeli resolution behind Israel’s back which would be a tailwind for terror and boycotts.' "Every Obama foreign policy official should be ashamed of today's UN resolution, and any official who disagrees with or hopes to avoid the anti-Israel legacy of this Administration should resign on principle today. "I also emphatically second the call of my colleague Sen. Lindsey Graham that the consequences of this disgraceful UN resolution should be severe.  I look forward to working with Sen. Graham, and with the incoming Administration of President-elect Trump, to significantly reduce or even eliminate U.S. funding of the United Nations, and also to seriously reconsider financial support for the nations that supported this resolution.  For those who have put your name to this despicable attack on Israel, you did so with full knowledge of the consequences of your actions. "And for those who acquiesced or facilitated the UN resolution--especially President Obama, Secretary Kerry, and Ambassador Power--history will record your abiding and shameful legacy undermining our friend and ally Israel.  I am hopeful at least some Senate Democrats will choose to repudiate y… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://kaygranger.house.gov/press-release/granger-calls-administration-veto-one-sided-un-resolution-against-israel Granger Calls on Administration to Veto One-Sided U.N. Resolution Against Israel 2016-12-22 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Kay Granger G000377 kaygranger.house.gov     legacy Fort Worth, TX – Congresswoman Kay Granger (TX-12), Chairwoman of the House Appropriations State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee, issued the following statement in advance of the vote on the one-sided United Nations anti-Israel resolution. “This resolution highlights the U.N.’s warped priorities and hostility toward Israel.  Passing this resolution will accomplish only one thing – undermining the prospect of direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.  The U.N. is not and will never be a legitimate venue for this matter.  The Administration must stand with Israel and veto this resolution.” 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://marchant.house.gov/?p=24421 Marchant Statement on UN Israel Resolution 2016-12-22 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Kenny Marchant M001158 marchant.house.gov     legacy Marchant Statement on UN Israel Resolution WASHINGTON, DC – December 22, 2016: U.S. Congressman Kenny Marchant (TX-24) issued the following statement on the United Nations Security Council vote on an anti-Israel resolution: “This posturing at the UN is nothing but an attempt to delegitimize the democratic State of Israel,” said Marchant. “The Administration must veto this resolution – before it further strains the cooperation by both parties to engage in direct negotiations. President-Elect Trump correctly stated that long maintained peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians will only come through direct negotiations between the parties. The United Nations must not interfere through harmful resolutions in those negotiations.” ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2931 Sen. Cruz: The UNSC Has No Authority Over Israel's Sovereignty 2016-12-22 2016 2016-12 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 rebuking the United Nations Security Council for its latest attempt to delegitimize the nation of Israel:                        "With hundreds of thousands dead in Syria, jihadist refugees mowing down Christmas shoppers in Berlin and the People's Republic of China weaponizing its artificial islands in the South China Sea, it is ridiculous that the United Nations Security Council would even consider wasting its time condemning Israel for building on its own sovereign territory," Senator Cruz said. "The UNSC, which over and over has pursued avenues to delegitimize the nation of Israel, has no authority on this matter. The Obama Administration should be ashamed for not immediately signaling our intent to veto this resolution and any others like it, which should be emphatically and unconditionally opposed by all member states who value our alliance with Israel." ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://flores.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398897 Flores Statement on Obamas Drilling Ban in Arctic and Atlantic 2016-12-21 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Bill Flores F000461 flores.house.gov     legacy U.S. Representative Bill Flores (R-Texas) released the following statement regarding President Obama’s ban on offshore drilling in parts of the Arctic and Atlantic:“President Obama’s continuing efforts to appease radical special interest groups in the waning days of his administration is beyond the pale.  His recent actions to restrict access to energy exploration in the Arctic and Atlantic will impede energy development, economic growth and job growth, while putting our national security at risk.  This overreaching midnight action will be reversed.  As House Speaker Paul Ryan clearly stated yesterday, ‘Presidents don’t write laws. Congress does.’ I will work with my fellow colleagues and President-elect Trump to overturn President Obama’s ‘energy-denier’ agenda.  I remain committed to advancing a 21st century energy strategy to lower energy costs, improve economic opportunity, reduce geopolitical instability around the world and achieve American energy security."To learn more about Congressman Flores' ideas regarding energy, check out the plan he coauthored with former Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal entitled: ”Organizing Around Abundance:  Making America An Energy Superpower”.  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
https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2930 ICYMI: News Coverage of Cruz Letter to Smithsonian Institution 2016-12-21 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Ted Cruz C001098 www.cruz.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Numerous news outlets have taken note of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz's (R- Texas) letter to the Smithsonian Institution yesterday. In it, he urged museum leaders to include an accurate legacy and biography of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas in the National Museum of African American History and Culture. “As much as I am grateful for the museum and its efforts to preserve and promote the indispensable, yet oft-neglected, contributions of African Americans to the collective history of our nation, I believe the museum has made a mistake by omitting the enormous legacy and impact of Justice Thomas, as well as his compelling background,” Cruz wrote. Read the letter in its entirety here. Following is a summary of news coverage: AP: GOP senator: Museum ignores Clarence Thomas’ accomplishments “Republican Sen. Ted Cruz says the Smithsonian has made a mistake by not including the "extraordinary accomplishments" of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas in the new National Museum of African American History and Culture… In the letter, Cruz says the first and only other African-American Supreme Court justice, Thurgood Marshall, is briefly praised in the museum. He suggests an exhibit on Marshall and Thomas and their different judicial approaches.”  The Blaze: Ted Cruz writes letter demanding that Clarence Thomas be added to African-American History Museum “Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz wrote a letter Monday urging the Smithsonian museum of African-American History and Culture add Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to its museum…Thomas has not been included in the museum, which opened earlier this year, despite being one of the most influential black lawyers in American history, and one of only two black judges to ever grace the Supreme Court.”  Breitbart: Ted Cruz: African American Museum Should Include Clarence Thomas Exhibit “Cruz, along with six other GOP senators, introduced a resolution that said Thomas should have a “prominent place” in the museum, the Hill reported… ‘In a quarter century, … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://olson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/olson-statement-on-obama-offshore-drilling-action OLSON STATEMENT ON OBAMA OFFSHORE DRILLING ACTION 2016-12-20 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Pete Olson O000168 olson.house.gov     legacy Rep. Pete Olson (TX-22) this evening issued the following statement in response to President Obama's last ditch effort to halt offshore oil and gas drilling as he leaves office:   “After working tirelessly to shut down the coal industry on his watch, Obama is now leaving the offshore drilling industry with a parting 'gift'. It's disappointing that the Obama Administration continues to say no to domestic energy development. America needs a comprehensive energy plan for our Outer Continental Shelf exploration. This Administration’s actions are counterproductive and do nothing to help our nation to realize its energy potential. I'm confident President-elect Trump will act swiftly to undo this short-sighted action and strengthen our nation’s energy security and job creation." ### Media Contact: Melissa Kelly 202-225-5951 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/114th-congress-encouraging-trade-benefit-texans The 114th Congress: Encouraging Trade to Benefit Texans 2016-12-20 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX John Cornyn C001056 www.cornyn.senate.gov     legacy AUSTIN – During the 114th Congress, several pieces of legislation became law to help Texas farmers, ranchers and small businesses sell their goods to international customers and improve the flow of commerce across our borders: Trade Promotion Authority (Passed House 6/18/15, passed Senate 6/24/15, became law 6/29/15) Reduces barriers for American products to be sold to the 96 percent of the world’s consumers that live outside the United States. Enables Texas farmers, ranchers and small businesses to sell their goods and services in new markets around the world and to compete in the global economy. Cross Border Trade Enhancement Act (Passed Senate 11/29/16, passed House 12/6/16, passed Senate again 12/10/16, became law 12/16/16) Promotes public-private partnerships to boost staffing and make infrastructure improvements at U.S. ports of entry without adding to the national deficit. Developed with input from border community leaders and transportation industry stakeholders following successful pilot program agreements, including at the Paso Del Norte Bridge in El Paso. Starr-Camargo Bridge Charter Extension (Passed Senate 3/17/16, passed House 5/16/16, became law 5/20/16) Grants the Starr-Camargo International Bridge in Rio Grande City, TX permanent operating authority, allowing the bridge to continue connecting communities across the Rio Grande. American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act (Passed House 4/27/16, passed Senate 5/10/16, became law 5/20/16) Reforms the process for local businesses to petition the federal government for tariff relief to temporarily reduce or eliminate tariffs on imported products that are not made in the United States but are vital for production and manufacturing in states like Texas. Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act (Passed House 2/12/15, passed Senate 5/14/15, passed House again 12/11/15, passed Senate again 2/11/16, became law 2/24/16) Reauthorizes the Customs and Border Patrol Agency, strengthens trade enforcement laws, and adds new protections for intellectual … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/114th-congress-protecting-american-interests-home-and-abroad The 114th Congress: Protecting American Interests At Home and Abroad 2016-12-20 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX John Cornyn C001056 www.cornyn.senate.gov     legacy AUSTIN – The 114th Congress passed several bills that are now law to protect American interests at home and abroad, including legislation to help boost our nation’s defenses against cyberattacks, ensure the men and women in our military have access to the most up-to-date equipment, and to override a Presidential veto to ensure families of victims of terrorist attacks are able to pursue justice: Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (Passed Senate 10/27/15 and became law as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 12/18/15) Provides for greater sharing of information to address the rampant and growing cyberattacks facing our country. Improves ability for federal government to deter future cyberattacks, and helps both public and private sectors act more nimbly to respond to attacks when detected. National Defense Authorization Act (Passed House 12/2/16, passed Senate 12/8/16, became law 12/14/16) Includes a pay raise for the men and women in our military, and ensures the armed forces will have access to the most up-to-date equipment. Authorizes needed improvements at our Texas military facilities, including projects at Fort Hood, Joint Base San Antonio, Red River Army Depot, and Ellington Field. Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (Passed Senate 5/17/16, passed House 9/9/16, vetoed 9/23/16, passed Senate over veto 9/28/16, passed House over veto 9/28/16, became law 9/28/16) Allows families of victims of terror attacks on U.S. soil to sue the foreign states that fund terrorism and permit them to hold accountable those who aid and abet terrorism. Passed the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate unanimously, and became law after Congress overrode a Presidential veto. Iran Sanctions Extension Act (Passed House 11/15/16, passed Senate 12/1/16, became law 12/15/16) Provides Congress and future administrations the tools necessary to re-impose sanctions lifted as part of the President’s Iran nuclear deal, and push back against Iranian hostile actions. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2929 Sen. Cruz: We Must Redouble Our Resolve to Partner With Our Allies, Prevent a Broader Outbreak of Violence 2016-12-20 2016 2016-12 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 in the wake of radical Islamic terror attacks across the globe: “Heidi’s and my prayers are with the victims and families impacted by the recent, vicious rash of attacks in Jordan, Turkey, and Germany. They are a grim reminder that ISIS, al Qaeda, and other radical Islamic terrorist groups are not confined to the so-called caliphate in Syria and Iraq. Both by infiltrating the streams of refugees pouring into Europe and through an aggressive campaign of online radicalization, terrorists have been seeded throughout the west, waiting for the signal to strike. These are not lone wolves with mysterious personal motivations for their attacks--they are a coordinated pack attempting to undermine our civilization, which is by its nature anathema to their jihad.  We must redouble our resolve to partner closely with our allies to prevent a broader outbreak of violence that might very well hit us here at home.”   ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/hurd-hill/hurd-hill-bringing-computer-science-middle-school-students Hurd on the Hill: Bringing Computer Science to Middle School Students 2016-12-19 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Will Hurd H001073 hurd.house.gov     legacy Coding is the language of the 21st Century economy. If our students can’t speak it, they will be left behind. We must do a better job preparing our students for the jobs that don’t exist yet—and we’ve got to start at an earlier age.  Over 42,000 computer jobs go unfilled in Texas each year because we do not produce enough computer scientists—and these jobs pay over twice the average salary in Texas. As a former computer science major at Texas A&M, this problem is close to my heart. There is no reason we should be missing the opportunity to prepare students for these high paying jobs. The majority of students do not have access to computer science courses until high school. What is more interesting, is that according to a recent State law, most 8th graders must now select one of five “endorsement” tracks, which influences their course curriculum throughout high school.  Students interested in computer science would theoretically choose the STEM endorsement track. But how are they supposed to know that they are interested in computer science if they have never been exposed to it? Therein lies the problem: the vast majority of our middle schools do not offer computer science at all. Right now, the pipeline that produces Computer Science professionals starts at the high school level. That is why I have been working with several members of the public, private, and non-profit sectors, to develop a plan that provides earlier access to quality computer science education for our kids. In partnership with the University of Texas Center for STEM Education and non-profit organization Bootstrap, my curriculum initiative will train middle school teachers to integrate computer science into State-approved mathematics curriculums. Intel, Dell, Facebook, Brocade, and Toyota of Texas have agreed to generously fund the training, and the first training workshop will be held March 23 – 25 in San Antonio. Because the curriculum is taught through existing math classes, schools do not need additional teachers or classes. Forty middle… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://marchant.house.gov/?p=24419 Marchant Announces Priorities for 115th Congress 2016-12-19 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Kenny Marchant M001158 marchant.house.gov     legacy Marchant Announces Priorities for 115th Congress WASHINGTON, DC – December 19, 2016: U.S. Congressman Kenny Marchant (TX-24) issued this statement outlining his top priorities for the 115th Congress: President Obama’s disastrous healthcare law, “Obamacare,” must be fully repealed. Every year since this law passed, Americans woke up to another broken promise by the Obama administration. The President’s un-affordable and disastrous health care law has collapsed on itself, and hardworking North Texans have suffered the consequences. Families are stuck paying higher premiums, with fewer choices and less access to their doctors. Conservatives have consistently offered plans to repeal and replace Obamacare, with real, patient-centered solutions. The false promise that was Obamacare must be fully repealed at the start of the new year. Our country’s broken immigration system fell victim to the current administration’s unwillingness to enforce our nation’s immigrations laws. Our focus in the new year should be to secure our border, enforce the immigration laws that are already on the books that are the law of the land. We must get to work on simplifying our tax code. In the new year, Congress should work to provide Americans with a simpler, flatter, and fairer tax code. Both the tax code and the IRS are broken. It is Congress’ responsibility to develop policies that deliver job growth, simplify the tax code, and restructure the broken IRS. We cannot continue to live with a tax code that is doomed to punish hard work, savings and entrepreneurship. Lowering rates and putting more hard-earned wages back into the pockets of workers will greatly benefit all of us in North Texas. Our debt exploded under President Obama. Meaningful action needs to be taken to get spending and our debt under control. That includes adopting a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. We must explore fiscally conservative approaches that build a healthier economy and reduce deficits in both the short and long-term. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://ratcliffe.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ratcliffe-langevin-us-israel-cybersecurity-legislation-signed-law Ratcliffe, Langevin U.S.-Israel cybersecurity legislation signed into law 2016-12-19 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX John Ratcliffe R000601 ratcliffe.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON – Legislation introduced by Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) and Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.) was signed into law Friday to strengthen collaborative cybersecurity research and development efforts between the United States and Israel. The pair of lawmakers introduced the United States-Israel Advanced Research Partnership Act of 2016 (H.R. 5877) in July after returning from a congressional delegation trip to Israel that focused on addressing key cybersecurity issues facing both countries.   “My work as a cybersecurity subcommittee chairman over the past two years has focused on ensuring American citizens are protected from the growing national security threats posed by malicious cyber actors who intend to do our nation harm. I’m glad I was able to work closely with Rep. Langevin to craft legislation to advance this important fight that is now the law of the land,” Ratcliffe said. “Cybersecurity is the national and economic security challenge of our time, and we must use every resource at our disposal to support research, foster innovation, and fortify our cyber defenses. This must include a collaborative approach that allows us to work with our leading partners, like Israel, to develop new technologies for our cyber incident responders,” Langevin said. “Passage of this law will enhance cybersecurity for the United States and Israel, putting us on a shared path toward innovative solutions to the threats we face. I look forward to continuing to work with Chairman Ratcliffe to strengthen our relationship with Israel, including by passage of the United States-Israel Cybersecurity Cooperation Enhancement Act next Congress.” The lawmakers said their meetings with top Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Defense Moshe Ya’alon, laid a critical foundation for their U.S.-Israel cybersecurity legislation. “When Rep. Langevin and I traveled to Israel earlier this year, our discussions with Israeli national security and cybersecurity leaders revealed the immense wealth of untapped… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/114th-congress-advancing-smart-healthcare-reforms The 114th Congress: Advancing Smart Healthcare Reforms 2016-12-19 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX John Cornyn C001056 www.cornyn.senate.gov     legacy AUSTIN—During the 114th Congress, several pieces of legislation were enacted into law that help will modernize and improve our health care system as Congress prepares to replace Obamacare with more affordable and effective access to medical care. 21st Century Cures Act (Passed House 11/30/16, passed Senate 12/7/16, became law 12/13/16) Removes barriers to sharing and analyzing the growing amount of health data generated in research and clinical studies, increasing research collaboration. Incorporates the patient perspective into the drug development and regulatory review process by modernizing clinical trials and strengthening the FDA’s ability to consider direct experiences. Supports young emerging scientists through the “Next Generation of Researches Initiatives” and loan repayment programs. Requires the Director of the NIH to develop a six-year coordinated strategy for biomedical research investments, collaboration and research, and biomedicine. Major Provisions of the Mental Health and Safe Communities Act (Passed as part of the 21st Century Cures Act and became law 12/13/16) Allows law enforcement to use existing funding to create pre-trial screening and assessment programs to identify mentally ill offenders, provide need-based treatment, and develop post-release supervision plans, including judicially-administered Assisted Outpatient Treatment programs. Uses federal grant funding to expand the use of Crisis Intervention Teams, who are trained to respond to mental health crises and prevent acts of violence. Enables existing federal funding to be used to provide treatment, mentoring, and other transitional services to mentally-ill offenders leaving custody. Ensuring Proper Payments for Dedicated Cancer Centers (Passed as part of the 21st Century Cures Act and became law 12/13/16) Protects patient access to Dedicated Cancer Centers, like MD Anderson in Houston, by exempting qualifying cancer centers from Medicare payment reductions that are set to go into effect on January 1, 2017. Medicare Long-Term Car… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/114th-congress-empowering-crime-victims 114th Congress: Empowering Crime Victims 2016-12-19 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX John Cornyn C001056 www.cornyn.senate.gov     legacy AUSTIN—During the 114th Congress several major pieces of legislation were enacted empowering victims of crime, including bills to help reduce the rape kit backlog and strengthen resources for law enforcement to arrest human traffickers. Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 (Passed Senate 4/22/15, passed House 5/19/15, became law 5/29/15) Strengthens law enforcement tools to help authorities rescue victims and take down human traffickers and the organized criminal networks who support them. Provides victims of sexual exploitation, slavery, and human trafficking with resources to heal and restore their lives. Targets predators who purchase trafficked women and encourages partnerships at the federal, state and local level. Justice for All Reauthorization Act of 2016 (Passed Senate 6/16/16, passed House 11/29/16, became law 12/16/16) Gives our law enforcement the resources to arrest violent offenders and reauthorizes grant funding for local and state law enforcement to help reduce the nationwide rape kit backlog. Provides resources for forensic labs while protecting the innocent by improving access to post-conviction DNA testing. Strengthens crime victims’ rights in the courtroom, increases access to restitution and restorative services like housing, and reauthorizes important law enforcement investigative programs. Survivors’ Bill of Rights Act (Passed House 9/6/16, passed Senate 9/28/16, became law 10/7/16) Ensures sexual assault survivors in federal criminal cases are notified before an evidence collection kit is destroyed, can request preservation of the kit, and are informed of important results. Requires the Attorney General and the United States Department of Health and Human Services to convene a joint working group on best practices regarding the care and treatment of sexual assault survivors. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/114th-congress-funding-our-highways-and-boosting-infrastructure The 114th Congress: Funding Our Highways and Boosting Infrastructure 2016-12-19 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX John Cornyn C001056 www.cornyn.senate.gov     legacy AUSTIN – During the 114th Congress, a number of measures to improve Texas and the nation’s infrastructure became law, including a long-term highway funding bill, legislation to streamline legitimate commerce at our ports of entry, and a measure to help speed up the Army Corps of Engineers’ effort to protect Texas’ Gulf Coast region from a major natural disaster. Key transportation developments during the 114th Congress include: The FAST Act (Passed Senate 7/30/15, passed House 12/3/15, passed Senate again 12/3/15, became law 12/4/15) A five-year highway and transit funding bill, the first of its kind in over a decade. Provides certainty to implement much-needed, economy-boosting projects that strengthen our nation's infrastructure and make our transportation systems safer. Includes language that gives Texas flexibility to invest in infrastructure along the border. Designates new high priority interstate corridors in Texas. Cross Border Trade Enhancement Act (Passed Senate 11/29/16, passed House 12/6/16, passed Senate again 12/10/16, became law 12/16/16) Promotes public-private partnerships to boost staffing and make infrastructure improvements at U.S. ports of entry without adding to the national deficit. Developed with input from border community leaders and transportation industry stakeholders following successful pilot program agreements, including at the Paso Del Norte Bridge in El Paso. Starr-Camargo Bridge Charter Extension (Passed Senate 3/17/16, passed House 5/16/16, became law 5/20/16) Grants the Starr-Camargo International Bridge in Rio Grande City, TX permanent operating authority, allowing the bridge to continue connecting communities across the Rio Grande. Texas Coastal Protection (Included in the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act, which Passed House 12/8/16, Passed Senate 12/10/16, became law 12/16/16) Includes a major provision from Senator Cornyn’s COAST Act to help streamline the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Coastal Texas Protection & Restoration Study along Texas’ … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/114th-congress-reforming-education-future-generations The 114th Congress: Reforming Education for Future Generations 2016-12-19 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX John Cornyn C001056 www.cornyn.senate.gov     legacy AUSTIN – During the 114th Congress, key laws were enacted to help return education decisions to parents and local communities, including the first major reforms to the education system in more than a decade, and reauthorizing and expanding a program to encourage innovative approaches to teaching students: Every Student Succeeds Act (Passed Senate 12/2/15, passed House 12/10/15, became law 12/10/15) First major reforms to our education system in more than a decade. Prevents Washington from imposing Common Core standards and puts educational decision-making back where it belongs: in the hands of Texas school districts, teachers, and parents. Reauthorization of the Education Flexibility Partnership Act (Passed Senate 12/2/15, passed House 12/10/15, became law 12/10/15) Reauthorized and expanded as part of an amendment to the Every Student Succeeds Act authored by Senator Cornyn. Allows districts and schools flexibility in the implementation of federal education programs in exchange for enhanced accountability for students’ performance. Ensures that states have the freedom to leverage federal funds to increase efficiency and encourage innovation. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/114th-congress-supporting-our-law-enforcement The 114th Congress: Supporting Our Law Enforcement 2016-12-19 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX John Cornyn C001056 www.cornyn.senate.gov     legacy AUSTIN—During the 114th Congress several important pieces of legislation were passed into law that will help support those who protect our communities, including bills to expand active shooter training, increase resources for mentally ill offenders, and help reduce the nationwide rape kit backlog. POLICE Act of 2016 (Passed Senate 5/18/16, passed House 7/12/16, became law 7/22/16) Expands access to existing federal funding for law enforcement and first responders to receive active shooter response training. Endorsed by the National Fraternal Order of Police, the National District Attorneys Association, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Major County Sheriffs Association, and the Sergeants Benevolent Association. Major Provisions of the Mental Health and Safe Communities Act (Passed as part of the 21st Century Cures Act and became law 12/13/16) Allows law enforcement to use existing funding to create pre-trial screening and assessment programs to identify mentally ill offenders, provide need-based treatment, and develop post-release supervision plans, including judicially-administered Assisted Outpatient Treatment programs. Uses federal grant funding to expand the use of Crisis Intervention Teams, who are trained to respond to mental health crises and prevent acts of violence. Enables existing federal funding to be used to provide treatment, mentoring, and other transitional services to mentally-ill offenders leaving custody. Justice for All Reauthorization Act of 2016 (Passed Senate 6/16/16, passed House 11/29/16, became law 12/16/16) Gives our law enforcement the resources to arrest violent offenders and reauthorizes grant funding for local and state law enforcement to help reduce the nationwide rape kit backlog. Provides resources for forensic labs while protecting the innocent by improving access to post-conviction DNA testing. Strengthens crime victims’ rights in the courtroom, increases access to restitution and restorative services like housing, and reauthorizes important law enforc… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/president-signs-cornyn-measure-help-speed-texas-coastal-protection-study President Signs Cornyn Measure to Help Speed Up Texas Coastal Protection Study 2016-12-19 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX John Cornyn C001056 www.cornyn.senate.gov     legacy Provision Included in Bipartisan Water Infrastructure Bill AUSTIN – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act, bipartisan legislation that includes a major provision from his COAST Act to help streamline the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Coastal Texas Protection & Restoration Study along Texas’ upper Gulf Coast, was signed into law by the President: “The folks who live along Texas’ upper gulf coast are seeking certainty in the face of natural disasters, and this law takes a big step toward that,” said Sen. Cornyn.  “I’m thankful the President has signed this bill into law so we can help streamline the Army Corps’ study as we continue working to protect Texans living along our coast.” The provision authored by Sen. Cornyn requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to take into consideration certain studies already developed by the Gulf Coast Community Protection and Recovery District (GCCPRD) while completing its Storm Surge Suppression Study. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2928 Sen. Cruz Calls On the Smithsonian to Include A Fair and Accurate Portrayal of the Incredible Life of Justice Clarence Thomas 2016-12-19 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Ted Cruz C001098 www.cruz.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R- Texas) today sent a letter to leaders of the Smithsonian Institution urging them to include an accurate legacy and biography of Clarence Thomas in the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Justice Thomas rose through segregation and discrimination to become a leading voice for originalism on the Supreme Court of the United States, but the recently opened museum fails to recognize his extraordinary accomplishments in any exhibit.  “As much as I am grateful for the museum and its efforts to preserve and promote the indispensable, yet oft-neglected, contributions of African Americans to the collective history of our nation, I believe the museum has made a mistake by omitting the enormous legacy and impact of Justice Thomas, as well as his compelling background,” Cruz wrote. “In summary, Justice Thomas climbed from Pin Point, Georgia, prejudice, and poverty to the pinnacle of the legal profession, to where he is now an intellectual leader on a Supreme Court that is more influential than ever in the most powerful nation on earth.” Read the letter in its entirety here and below.  December 19, 2016  Mr. David J. Skorton Secretary of the Smithsonian Smithsonian Institution Post Office Box 37012 Washington, DC 20013-7012 Mr. Richard Kurin Acting Provost / Under Secretary for Museums and Research Smithsonian Institution Post Office Box 37012 Washington, DC 20013-7012 Mr. Lonnie G. Bunch III Founding Director National Museum of African American History and Culture Post Office Box 37012 Washington, DC 20013-7012 Dear Dr. Skorton, Mr. Kurin, and Mr. Bunch, Many congratulations are in order for the immensely successful opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture.  The new museum has been rightly praised for its detailed, complex, and powerful portrayal of the African-American experience in the United States.  As the Wall Street Journal and New York Times have observed, the museum is simultaneously uplifting and upsetting—and it s… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://flores.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398898 Daily Caller: EXCLUSIVE: GOP Lawmaker Confident Americans Will Quickly See Health Care Improvements In 2017 2016-12-18 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Bill Flores F000461 flores.house.gov     legacy By: Juliegrace BrufkeGOP lawmakers are gearing up to overturn a number of President Barack Obama’s policies in 2017, and Republican Study Committee Chairman Bill Flores is confident Americans will quickly see improvements in their health care options after GOP leaders repeal Obamacare early next year. Congress is slated to move on repealing Obamacare within its first week back, with the intention of getting a bill to President-elect Donald Trump’s desk as soon as he takes office. While Republicans are still determining what its replacement should look like, Flores said he anticipates the repeal to have an almost immediate impact. “I think the replacement will take a few more weeks to figure out what that looks like — the good news is the Republican Study Committee already has an Obamacare replacement that has more cosponsors than anybody else in the House,” he told The Daily Caller News Foundation. “So, we can use our model, Tom Price has a great bill, also if you look at the ‘A Better Way’ agenda there’s the outline of a replacement in there — so among those sort of three of the more noteworthy plans we’ll find a solution in there.” The timing of the replacement remains up in the air, with a number of Senate Republicans calling for a three-year window while some House conservatives would like to see it completed during the 115th Congress. “What I would say is ‘the end date for today’s Obamacare needs to be about three years post repeal, so let’s say we do the repeal vote early in January and the president signs in on Jan. 20,” he told TheDCNF, noting that’s what he would advise leadership to do. “It ought to end January of 2019. Now, over the next three-to-six months ought to come up with a replacement, and the replacement ought to be fully implemented as of the end date of Obamacare, so Jan. 1 of 2020 would be the full implementation date.” Flores said if Republicans are doing their jobs right, their plan will both increase access and bring down costs. “If we actually do those things, then we will cover m… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://carter.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=40&itemid=2181 Congressman Carter, Bell County Officials, Salado Leaders Push Texas Sunset Commission about I-35 2016-12-16 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX John Carter C001051 carter.house.gov     legacy (ROUND ROCK, TEXAS) – Last Friday, Rep. John R. Carter, secured time in front of the Texas Sunset Commission for leaders from the Village of Salado, to address the Commission regarding the need for productive solutions for the negative impact on the Village during major Texas Department of Transportation projects over the past few years. Congressman Carter requested time of the Commission in order to allow leaders from Salado, to address the detrimental impact the construction and its many delays had on the overall economic well being of the area. Representing the Village of Salado was Skip Blancett, Mayor of Salado; Melanie Kirchmeirer, Member of the Village of Salado Council; and Dave Swarthout, representative of the Village of Salado Chamber of Commerce.   “Our Texas Department of Transportation, along with other State and Local leaders must be empowered to impose penalties on contractors who grossly violate their commitments, as we saw during the Interstate 35 project impacting Salado,” said Rep. Carter. “Salado is a small community that relies heavily on tourism. What happened to Salado must not be allowed to happen again in Texas. Our Central Texas economy cannot afford another construction disaster as Salado experienced and expect to survive. Central Texas is booming, and due in part to good mobility. Across the Federal, State and Local entities, we must stand strong together as we undergo more transportation improvement project, and not allow them to hinder our growth.”   The Village of Salado relies heavily on tourism to survive. Over the past few years during the major I-35 improvement project, tourism dropped dramatically, forcing many businesses to close. This had a very negative impact on the economy of Salado, and the region. Newly elected State officials representing Bell County, Dawn Buckingham, Scott Cosper and Hugh Shine, are also calling on the State to address this issue.    "Infrastructure development is critical to Texas' future, but communities must be protected when contractor delays… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://carter.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1257 Congressman Carter, Bell County Officials, Salado Leaders Push Texas Sunset Commission about I-35 2016-12-16 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX John R. Carter C001051 carter.house.gov carter https://carter.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27 scraper (ROUND ROCK, TEXAS) – Last Friday, Rep. John R. Carter, secured time in front of the Texas Sunset Commission for leaders from the Village of Salado, to address the Commission regarding the need for productive solutions for the negative impact on the Village during major Texas Department of Transportation projects over the past few years. Congressman Carter requested time of the Commission in order to allow leaders from Salado, to address the detrimental impact the construction and its many delays had on the overall economic well being of the area. Representing the Village of Salado was Skip Blancett, Mayor of Salado; Melanie Kirchmeirer, Member of the Village of Salado Council; and Dave Swarthout, representative of the Village of Salado Chamber of Commerce. “Our Texas Department of Transportation, along with other State and Local leaders must be empowered to impose penalties on contractors who grossly violate their commitments, as we saw during the Interstate 35 project impacting Salado,” said Rep. Carter. “Salado is a small community that relies heavily on tourism. What happened to Salado must not be allowed to happen again in Texas. Our Central Texas economy cannot afford another construction disaster as Salado experienced and expect to survive. Central Texas is booming, and due in part to good mobility. Across the Federal, State and Local entities, we must stand strong together as we undergo more transportation improvement project, and not allow them to hinder our growth.” The Village of Salado relies heavily on tourism to survive. Over the past few years during the major I-35 improvement project, tourism dropped dramatically, forcing many businesses to close. This had a very negative impact on the economy of Salado, and the region. Newly elected State officials representing Bell County, Dawn Buckingham, Scott Cosper and Hugh Shine, are also calling on the State to address this issue. "Infrastructure development is critical to Texas' future, but communities must be protected when contractor delays negativel… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-08T21:09:43Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/lawmakers-push-include-digital-infrastructure-plans Lawmakers Push to Include Digital in Infrastructure Plans 2016-12-16 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Will Hurd H001073 hurd.house.gov     legacy As rebuilding the country’s infrastructure looks to be an area President-elect Donald Trump and Democrats can agree on, lawmakers from both parties are trying to make sure the conversation includes digital infrastructure.  California Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu said digital infrastructure is as vital to the country as roads and bridges. “From hardening our electric grid to making sure we put broadband out in all communities in the U.S., we need to invest in digital capacity as much as in concrete,” Lieu said. Texas Republican Rep. Will Hurd said increased access to broadband can help improve health care. “When we want to talk about telemedicine, if you don’t have cell phone service or broadband, you are going to have some problems,” Hurd said. Hurd, whose district encompasses nearly half of the U.S.-Mexico border, also said fiber optic cables could improve homeland security. “There’s some real opportunities to use that on the border. Using that tech on fiber tech is more effective than building a physical wall,” he said. Lieu has a similar take: “To secure America we don’t need physical walls, we need firewalls.” Accusations by the intelligence community that Russia was responsible for interfering in the U.S. elections highlight the need for hardening security systems. Lieu pointed to the 2013 hacking of a dam in New York by Iranians as an example of vulnerabilities. Trump has proposed an “America’s Infrastructure First” policy that would be funded by public money and private investment to rebuild and modernize the country’s transportation, water, electricity, telecommunications and security systems, and Democrats have signaled that they would be willing to work with him on a package. Hurd said he has not yet spoken with Trump’s incoming administration about their plans, but the House Homeland Security Committee, on which he and Lieu serve, is working on legislation. Modernizing the country’s infrastructure will have a big price tag. Lieu points to the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Report Card for America’s I… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/public-private-partnership Public-private partnership 2016-12-16 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Will Hurd H001073 hurd.house.gov     legacy U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, Texan and second-highest ranking Republican in the Senate, toured the World Trade Bridge on Thursday — the latest official to make an example of Laredo as an important hub for international trade. His visit served to highlight the Cross-Border Trade Enhancement Act, which he co-authored with U.S. Rep Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo. The bill passed through Congress Dec. 6 and is now awaiting President Obama’s signature. Cuellar said this was the fastest bill he has ever worked on. The legislation will enable private companies and local governments to donate money or resources to Customs and Border Protection’s ports of entry. This generally means that CBP will be able to facilitate trade more quickly through infrastructure improvements and increased staffing. For Laredo, the passage of this bill would allow a public-private partnership to fund fast lanes at the World Trade Bridge that would connect directly to Interstate 35. City Manager Jesus Olivares said in November that the city is applying for a federal grant with the Department of Transportation to fund this project. He also said it would cost $6-$8 million out of the city’s pocket, “right off the bat.” The goal is simply to get more trucks crossing through Laredo. “The more traffic, the more tolls we collect,” Olivares said. The grand tour Cornyn was joined Thursday by Cuellar, Olivares, U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Helotes, Mayor Pete Saenz, Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina and other city and county officials for a tour of the World Trade Bridge. The officials met privately with local stakeholders such as customs brokers and forwarding agents before the tour. Yvette Limon, acting bridge director for the city, led Cornyn and the representatives across the road lanes as she explained the daily process at the port. After she informed the group of toll prices, Cornyn quipped, “That’s pretty cheap!” The senator also spent a few minutes inside a toll booth to get a lay of the land as trucks breezed by. In a news conference, Cornyn alluded to President-e… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/cornyn-leahy-bill-strengthen-victims%E2%80%99-rights-signed-law Cornyn, Leahy Bill to Strengthen Victims’ Rights Signed Into Law 2016-12-16 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX John Cornyn C001056 www.cornyn.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON –U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) released the following statement after President Obama signed the Justice for All Reauthorization Act into law: “Signing the Justice for All Reauthorization Act into law is a tremendous step forward for victims across the country and those who protect them, and I’m thankful for Senator Leahy’s role in getting this to the President’s desk,” said Sen. Cornyn. “By providing law enforcement with the resources necessary to put criminals behind bars and reducing the backlog of untested rape kits, we can help restore the lives of victims across the nation. This is how Congress is supposed to work—in a bipartisan way, on behalf of the most vulnerable in our society.” "Although there is more to be done, the Justice for All Reauthorization Act takes important steps to even the scales of our justice system.  This criminal justice reform law will improve our indigent defense system, ensure access to post-conviction DNA testing, and make sure that the rights of crime victims, including survivors of sexual assault, are protected,” Sen. Leahy said.  “I will continue to fight alongside leaders like Kirk Bloodsworth, the first person exonerated by DNA evidence after being sentenced to die, and Debbie Smith, who fought for years to have her rape kit tested, to ensure our criminal justice system has integrity and inspires confidence.  I thank Senator Cornyn for working with me and bipartisan leaders in the House for supporting our legislation.  As we consider legislation next Congress, we must remember that we have a continuing obligation to look out for all victims and to create fairness in our criminal justice system.” The Justice for all Reauthorization Act of 2016 passed the Senate unanimously last week. The legislation strengthens crime victims’ rights in the courtroom, increases access to restitution and restorative services, and reauthorizes important law enforcement investigative programs. The bill would help reduce the nationwide rape kit backlog and pro… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/president-signs-cornyn-cruz-bill-help-holocaust-victims-recover-nazi-confiscated-art President Signs Cornyn, Cruz Bill to Help Holocaust Victims Recover Nazi-Confiscated Art 2016-12-16 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX John Cornyn C001056 www.cornyn.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) issued the following statements after the Holocaust Expropriated Art Restoration Act (HEAR Act) was signed into law by the President: Senator Cornyn: “The systematic theft of property by the Nazis during the Holocaust robbed victims and their families of important parts of their heritage. Allowing them the opportunity to recover part of their history is a small but significant step that’s long overdue. I want to thank Senator Cruz for his partnership on this bill, and I’m glad the President has signed this into law so victims can seek the justice they deserve.” Senator Cruz: “Today, with the President’s signature, we delivered a long-overdue victory for the families of Holocaust victims. This bipartisan legislation rights a terrible injustice and sends a clear signal that America will continue to root out every noxious vestige of the Nazi regime. I’m proud to have worked closely with Senator Cornyn, who contributed mightily to this effort, and with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to empower the victims of the horrific atrocities that took place over 70 years ago. We will continue to fight to bring peace and justice to these families.” Background on the HEAR Act Senators Cruz and Cornyn, along with Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), introduced the HEAR Act in April to facilitate the return of artwork stolen by the Nazis during the Holocaust and ensure that the artwork’s rightful owners or heirs get their day in court . The HEAR Act ensures that American law encourages the resolution of claims on Nazi-confiscated art on the merits, in a fair and just manner, consistent with long-standing U.S. foreign policy. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/president-signs-cornyn-cuellar-bill-encourage-public-private-partnerships-ports-entry-law President Signs Cornyn, Cuellar Bill to Encourage Public-Private Partnerships at Ports of Entry into Law 2016-12-16 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX John Cornyn C001056 www.cornyn.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) and U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar (D-TX) issued the following statements after their Cross-Border Trade Enhancement Act, legislation promoting public-private partnerships to boost staffing and make infrastructure improvements at U.S. ports of entry without adding to the national deficit, was signed into law by President Obama: Senator Cornyn: “Pilot programs like these already underway in Texas have reduced wait times, increased efficiency and improved commerce at our ports of entry. I’m pleased President Obama signed this bill into law so more ports of entry can benefit, and I thank Congressman Cuellar for shepherding it through the House of Representatives.” Representative Cuellar: “I thank Sen. Cornyn for his bipartisan approach in working with me to pass this legislation. Every day, billions of dollars’ worth of goods cross the Texas-Mexico border, including $284 billion in trade at our nation’s largest customs district in my hometown of Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley. South Texas is a powerhouse for world trade, and this law will help increase the amount and efficiency of trade at our border ports of entry.” Background on the Cross-Border Trade Enhancement Act Developed with input from border community leaders and transportation industry stakeholders, the Cross-Border Trade Enhancement Act gives U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) the authority to enter into innovative partnerships with local governments and private sector entities. As federal resources remain scarce, port communities have sought alternate avenues to ensure essential needs are met in the face of growing demand. This authority allows CBP to better leverage limited resources to speed up the flow of traffic at international ports of entry. Partnerships with local governments and the private sector will support improvements to border infrastructure and enhance staffing levels across port environments. The legislation has been endorsed by: the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; th… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2927 Cruz News: December 16, 2016 2016-12-16 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Ted Cruz C001098 www.cruz.senate.gov     legacy December 16, 2016 Greetings, Last week, we saw the 114th Congress come to a close, and I’m glad to report, it was not without an important success that gives us strong footing for the next Congress to make even further advances that will strengthen jobs and opportunity in Texas. Late last Friday, our bipartisan NASA Transition Act passed the Senate with unanimous consent, which provides NASA with the stability it needs as the agency transitions to a new administration. It also lays an important marker as we continue working to enact this important legislation as soon as possible. I look forward to working with my colleagues again next year to ensure that our nation’s new era of pioneers can innovate and explore with clarity and purpose.  This week, I have been back in Texas, enjoying time with my family and fellow Texans, and anticipating the upcoming Christmas and New Year celebrations. As families navigate this busy season of shopping and preparing for the holidays, Texans across the state are still finding the time to give back to their communities and support those in need of holiday cheer. In recent days, I have had the privilege to see a few of our state’s foremost non-profits and charities in action, working with members of their communities to serve those in need. The work of organizations like the Houston Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, the Fisher House, and the North Texas Food Bank are an embodiment of the Texas spirit of generosity and friendship. We are blessed to have their operations, and so many like them, working in our state and making our communities a better place. Please keep reading for an update on the latest in the Senate. Keep Texas Strong,  Ted Cruz Sen. Cruz: Democrats and Republicans Stood Together to Reassert American Leadership in Space Last Friday, Sen. Ted Cruz released the following statement praising the Senate passage of the bipartisan National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Transition Authorization Act of 2016, which was first introduced in September by Sen. Cruz, al… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://farenthold.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399842 Congressman Farentholds statement on Corpus Christi water issue 2016-12-15 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Blake Farenthold F000460 farenthold.house.gov     legacy Corpus Christi, TX - Congressman Blake Farenthold (R-Texas) released the following statement today as he works with local, state and federal officials to find a resolution to the water issue in Corpus Christi. “As a result of the most recent water advisory, I've spoken with officials at TCEQ, Governor Abbott's office and the city of Corpus Christi,” said Congressman Farenthold. “TCEQ is working with the EPA to first solve the problem and then to make sure this doesn't happen again. I've offered the full assistance of my office. TCEQ assures me it is receiving the utmost assistance from the federal government, and the Governor's office has told me the National Guard is working with the city to provide water distribution. As we have more information, we'll release it to the public.” ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://flores.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398899 KBTX: Eight local veterans honored for dedication to their communities 2016-12-15 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Bill Flores F000461 flores.house.gov     legacy By Noelle Bellow Eight local veterans were honored Thursday morning, after their friends and family nominated them for a special award. The District 17 Congressional Veteran Commendation ceremony was held at American Legion Post 159. The honorees were a mix of veterans who served in the Army, Marines and Air Force, who fought during World War Two, the Vietnam and Iraq wars. But they weren't just being honored for their service to our country. As Congressman Bill Flores noted, its their post military work in their local communities that continues to make a difference. "They've already served our country in such a meaningful way, that community service is such a natural bolt on it if you will," said Flores. "I unload the truck down at the church pantry on Thursday morning, I unload the food bank truck on Tuesday morning," explained honoree David P. Marion. "As soon as we get through with our deliveries to the nursing home, I'm back up on the bell ringing for the Salvation Army." Congressman Flores has been giving out these awards since 2012.Here is a list of the award winners: Sergeant First Class Rudy G. Cortez of Bryan  Sergeant Franklin Joe Karasek, Jr. of Caldwell  Chief Master Sergeant Frank J. Kocman, Jr. of Bryan  Captain J.D. Langley of College Station Master Sergeant James D. McDonald of Bryan  Captain David P. Marion of College Station Captain Rodulphe L. Peltier of College Station  Specialist Jason Paul Rhodes To read full article click here 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://flores.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398900 KAGS: Bill Flores honors local veterans 2016-12-15 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Bill Flores F000461 flores.house.gov     legacy By: Kerrie Hall Brazos Valley, Texas - Eight veterans were honored with the Congressional Veteran Commendation award. The ceremony which started in 2012, honors veterans who have not only served our country admirably while in the military, but who have also served in the Brazos Valley community. Recipients are nominated by local constituents and represents various branches of the military. Each award was presented by District-17 US Congressman Bill Flores, who believes a true military hero knows that service does not end when you take off the uniform. The recipients of this award have served in conflicts spanning over three generations. From World War II, to Vietnam, to Gulf War. The recipients of this year’s awards were: Rudy G. Cortez of Bryan Franklin Joe Karasek, Jr. of Caldwell Frank J. Kocman, Jr. of Bryan J.D. Langley of College Station James D. McDonald of Bryan David P. Marion of College Station Rodulphe L. Peltier of College Station Jason Paul Rhodes of Milano To read full article click here 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://flores.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398901 The Daily Caller: RSC Chair Bill Flores Says Border Security Should Be A Top Priority In 2017 2016-12-15 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Bill Flores F000461 flores.house.gov     legacy By: Juliegrace BrufkeSecuring the border was one of President-elect Donald Trump’s top campaign platforms, and outgoing Republican Study Committee Chairman Bill Flores is ready to make that goal a reality. While the Republican Party has an ambitious agenda laid out for 2017, Flores said there are four policy areas he hopes they can tackle early on — repealing and replacing Obamacare, tax reform, fixing the regulatory environment and restoring the country’s national security. Flores said he’s excited to get things moving in Washington, especially after hearing Vice President-elect Mike Pence lay out the administration’s priorities in a speech last week, adding he’s confident Trump’s selection to head the Department of Homeland Security, former Marine Corps Gen. John Kelly, is more than qualified for the position. “What I’d like to see, first of all, is the commitment, and Donald Trump has been absolutely clear that we are going to have a renewed sense of border security,” he told The Daily Caller News Foundation. “And if you look at his cabinet appointees, we’ve got a former general that’s going to run Homeland Security, so that’s good.” Trump has been vocal about his plans to construct a wall along on the southern border, which has been met with some pushback from proponents of taking a more lax immigration approach. But Flores said once the commitment is made, Republicans envision a defense system along the border strong enough to keep bad actors, such as drug cartels and terrorist, out. “We need a commitment, number one, and the other pieces will come together as we move forward — in some areas we are going to have a wall, in other areas where it’s less feasible to have a wall, then you’ll have a virtual wall that consists of airborne observation resources, censors, boots on the ground everywhere — whether there’s a physical wall or a virtual wall — then you’ll need to have intelligence assets to control the border,” he said. “So, that’s what I see, a holistic approach to border security.” A number of top … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/editorials/nafta-20 NAFTA 2.0 2016-12-15 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Will Hurd H001073 hurd.house.gov     legacy During these last twenty-three months of my first term in Congress, I crisscrossed 820 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border between El Paso and Eagle Pass, Texas, many times talking about international trade. Despite the campaign rhetoric, I believe that under a Trump Administration we have a real opportunity to improve North American Competitiveness in the rest of the world through an upgrade of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). This belief was confirmed during several days of discussions on energy, commerce and rule of law in Mexico with business and political leaders. Our recently concluded election cycle has almost made NAFTA a new four-letter word. Supporters of NAFTA have probably inflated the economic gains of the accord and detractors have likely overestimated the resultant job losses. While the economies of the United States, Canada and Mexico have grown, there have been both winners and losers. It is undeniable that U.S. trade with Mexico and Canada has more than tripled since the signing of the agreement and, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, goods exported to Mexico and Canada last year supported almost 3 million U.S. jobs — that's over a quarter of the total jobs supported by U.S. exports. According to the International Trade Commission, Canada was the leading market for U.S. exports last year and Mexico ranked second. Canada and Mexico were second and third, respectively, as suppliers of U.S. imports. My home state of Texas exported more than any other state in the Union and Mexico is our number one trading partner, surpassing the next four largest — Canada, Brazil, China, and South Korea — combined. The 29 counties I represent contain more U.S.-Mexico border than any other district in Congress. Being home to nine out of the top 50 busiest land ports of entry in our country, I have learned something very simple — the U.S., Mexico and Canada are not competitors, but partners who build things together. We do not just sell goods to each other, but we jointly produce them. In … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/congressman-hispanic-chamber-team-defend-nafta Congressman, Hispanic Chamber team up to defend NAFTA 2016-12-15 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Will Hurd H001073 hurd.house.gov     legacy Donald Trump's presidential campaign promise to either renegotiate or scrap the North American Free Trade Agreement caught the attention of San Antonio business leaders. And with Trump set to take office in January, political and business leaders are scrambling and organizing to save NAFTA, which they say has benefited San Antonio. During a Wednesday afternoon roundtable discussion at the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Congressman Will Hurd, R-Helotes, met with local business leaders to discuss the trilateral trade deal between the United States, Canada and Mexico. Hurd said South Texas business leaders are concerned about NAFTA's future but believe that Trump's plan to renegotiate the trade deal is an opportunity, particularly when it comes to the digital economy, cybersecurity, shale oil and gas, and renewables, which did not exist when it was originally signed in San Antonio back in 1992. "This is an opportunity," Hurd said. "San Antonio should be leading when we talk about taking advantage of this opportunity. NAFTA was signed here. San Antonio is an important cog between the three countries, and we should leading the way on how to make it stronger." Many of the business leaders in the room were working in San Antonio when NAFTA was originally negotiated, signed into law and went into effect. Hurd said parts of the discussion centered on what the trade deal was supposed to deliver to San Antonio and what has not been achieved. "This was supposed to be a step in improving the competitiveness of North America, and we can do more there," Hurd said. Calling the meeting the first of many, San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce CEO Ramiro Cavazos said Hurd reached out to the Chamber to meet with local business leaders about NAFTA. Cavazos said the Chamber and several other local organizations are participating in the "SA to DC" lobbying trip in February, during which NAFTA will be a top priority. "We'll have more than 100 people to fight for the thing we want," Cavazos said in Spanish. "We'll have the … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/new-partnership-enhances-computer-science-education-middle-schoolers New Partnership Enhances Computer Science Education for Middle Schoolers 2016-12-15 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Will Hurd H001073 hurd.house.gov     legacy What was once a niche area of interest for computer “geeks” is now the lingua franca of the global economy. At a press conference at BiblioTech South, U.S. Rep. Will Hurd (R-23) announced a multi-faceted partnership between his office, Bexar County, the University of Texas, school districts within his congressional district, and private partners. The initiative will provide computer science certification and training to middle school educators. “Coding is the language of the 21st century. If you can’t speak it, you’re going to be left behind,” Hurd said.   A pilot program at BiblioTech South will take place March 23-25, 2017. Teachers can apply through Hurd’s website through Jan. 31.  Private partners Dell, Brocade, Facebook, and Intel, are already committed to the initiative. For them, homegrown talent is a vital resource. At the press conference, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas indicated that it too wanted to sign on to help scale the initiative throughout the 23rd Congressional district. Hurd himself has a long background at the intersection of technology and security. From his seat as Chairman of the Information Technology Subcommittee on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, he says he “sees the gaps” in the tech sector’s human capital. Last year 42,000 tech jobs went unfilled in Texas. These jobs average $89,000 per year, according to Hurd. Only 2,100 students graduated with computer science degrees from Texas universities. Only 5,000 high school students took the computer science AP exam, and of those students 24% were female, less than 900 were Latino, and less than 200 were African-American. Those numbers are bad enough, Hurd said, and it’s not enough just to focus on the jobs that exist. Technology is changing the world in such a way that kids will enter a radically different job market than their parents. “We’ve got to do a better job preparing our kids for the jobs that don’t exist yet,” Hurd said. With HB 5, high school students are able to choose an “endorsement,” which is comparable to a … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/senator-john-cornyn-visits-laredo Senator John Cornyn Visits Laredo 2016-12-15 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Will Hurd H001073 hurd.house.gov     legacy In a few days, President Obama will sign into law a bill that will give the city of Laredo the power to fix problems at the ports of entry.  On Thursday afternoon, city and state officials met at the World Trade Bridge to celebrate the passing of the Cross Border Trade Enhancement Act. The bill's main purpose is to help ease congestion for trucks coming in from Mexico and avoid traffic. The bill's approval was announced at the World Trade Bridge with U.S. representatives Henry Cuellar and Will Hurd, along with U.S. senator John Cornyn. Up until now, cities like Laredo had to turn to the federal government for help in fixing this issues at ports of entries. The Cross Border Trade Enhancement Act will give Laredo the opportunity to search for alternate methods to improve commercial flow. Congressman Cuellar says the bill is good news for Laredoans, as the city's commerce is expected to grow by 40 percent in the next five years. Cuellar also adds that bringing in more jobs and trade to the city can lead to more revenue to the city, giving the mayor more money to city issues. Congressman Cuellar says that the bill was passed in just five days, a record he says for bills at the nations capital. Additional agricultural, border security and, inspection related immigration services will be available at ports for a fee. The new bill will also make it easier for donations to be accepted for the construction and maintenance of facilities. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/south-texans-are-worried-about-naftas-future South Texans Are Worried About NAFTA's Future 2016-12-15 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Will Hurd H001073 hurd.house.gov     legacy President-elect Donald Trump knocked the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) during his first U.S. presidential debate with Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton back in September. “NAFTA is the worst trade deal maybe ever signed anywhere,” he said.   Now that he's just over a month away from moving into the White House, many are wondering about not just the trade deal's future, but their own. In 1992, President George H. W. Bush and Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney signed the treaty in San Antonio. Now, Republican U.S. Rep. Will Hurd from Texas and his constituents are worried. His district spans San Antonio and runs west along the majority of state's border with Mexico. Hurd says he met Wednesday with the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. "They were telling me that there is some uncertainty that is impacting markets and their industries, but that there is a number of ways that we can improve upon NAFTA,” he says. “A lot of things have happened since this was signed almost 20 years ago. Energy revolutions in south Texas and in central Mexico. The Mexican government changing their constitution to deal with energy. The internet didn't exist when NAFTA was signed. So there really is an opportunity to improve upon or to upgrade. And the question we should be asking ourselves is what does NAFTA 2.0 look like?” Hurd says Trump’s more recent remarks say he will not pull out of NAFTA, but instead restructure the trade deal. "I think what we're going to see – once the new administration gets in – there's going to be a lot of talk around what is that framework on how you improve upon NAFTA," Hurd says. "The U.S., Canada and Mexico – we should be talking about being partners in energy. It's important to remember that when it comes to the U.S., Mexico and Canada, we build things together." But his constituents still have a feeling of uncertainty around the agreement’s future, Hurd says. "People are concerned. They're taking comments out of context,” he says. “And that's why it's important for those of us … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/texas-representative-introduces-cs-curriculum-initiative Texas Representative Introduces CS Curriculum Initiative 2016-12-15 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Will Hurd H001073 hurd.house.gov     legacy In an effort to increase access to computer science (CS) education, Congressman Will Hurd (R-Texas) yesterday announced an initiative to train middle school math teachers on how to implement coding concepts into their math classes. The initiative aims to build a strong pipeline of qualified STEM workers for future generations by introducing students to CS prior to high school. “Every chance I get, I tell young people about the opportunities that a computer science education can provide,” Hurd wrote in the announcement. “Many are shocked to learn that although an estimated 42,000 computing jobs are waiting to be filled in Texas, only 2,100 computer scientists graduated from Texas schools last year. Students are even more interested to learn that the average salary of a computer science professional is more than $85,000 …. Offering tech education early on not only serves as the foundation for continued education in high school and beyond, but it also exposes students to the jobs we will need to fill in the future.” The curriculum initiative was designed in partnership with The University of Texas at Austin’s Center for STEM Education and Bootstrap, and sponsored by several tech companies, including Dell, Facebook and Brocade. The partners will instruct eighth grade math teachers to use “easily adoptable curriculum consistent with national and state math standards,” according to the initiative  web page. Using Bootstrap, teachers will receive training on the following: Word problems; Planes and graphing; Functions and variables; Function composition; Inequalities in the plane; and The Pythagorean theorem. Middle school teachers located in the 23rd Congressional District of Texas, or schools that serve a considerable amount of students in the 23rd district, are eligible to apply for the next three-day training workshop taking place March 23-25 in San Antonio, TX. The event is limited to 40 participants and registration costs $75. The deadline to apply is Jan. 31. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/trade-mexico-matters-here-s-why Trade with Mexico Matters. Heres Why 2016-12-15 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Will Hurd H001073 hurd.house.gov     legacy Miguel Perez is feeling anxious. As the owner of a leasing company operating along the U.S.-Mexico border, Perez is keenly aware that trade and Mexico emerged among this year’s boogeymen, with President-elect Donald Trump at times sounding highly critical of both. But now that the contentious election is over, Perez hopes the president-elect and those closest to him will understand what Americans living along the border have known for generations: trading with our neighbor to the south is a good thing. The good news for Perez is that many in Congress agree. Among those include a bipartisan group of senators and congressman that fought hard to send to the president’s desk a bill that would significantly ease border trading by reducing commercial wait times. First term Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas) was among those leading the fight, working alongside Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), to make permanent a series of successful public-private partnerships that have sprung up along the southern border for some time now. Had Congress fully funded the agencies with jurisdiction over border and trade in recent years, the public-private partnerships may never have happened. And as a result, the outcome of the legislation may prove a useful template for other public-private partnerships down the lines especially in transportation, infrastructure and trade. The details of the bill are mundane and full of Washington-speak, but vital for the local communities it impacts most. When signed by President Obama, the bill would give the U.S. Custom and Border Protection (CBP) the ability to provide custom agricultural and inspection-related services for a fee while sharing construction and maintenance fees with another government agency. The bill would also allow the CBP to accept donations from individuals in the form of money, facility construction and maintenance, as well as infrastructure investments. This form of innovative thinking makes a lot of sense to international trade attorney Scott Lincicome, who considers custom and border disp… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/us-official-blames-russia-yahoo-hack-security-experts-blame-yahoo-s U.S. official blames Russia for Yahoo hack, security experts blame Yahoos negligence 2016-12-15 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Will Hurd H001073 hurd.house.gov     legacy An unnamed American official is pointing to Russian responsibility for the recently revealed hack on Yahoo that exposed data from more than 1 billion accounts. The official blamed a “‘state actor’ believed to be tied to Russia,” CBS News reported. No evidence or further explanation was offered about how the attribution was made. The massive three-year-old breach is being described as a disaster impacting the entire internet. The latest U.S. government finger-pointing toward Moscow comes as the U.S. intelligence community and political establishment debate the role Russia and its President Vladimir Putin played in influencing the 2016 American election with cyberattacks. President Barack Obama recently ordered a full intelligence community review of foreign efforts to influence recent presidential elections, a process Director of National Intelligence James Clapper is currently leading. Coming just months after a separate hack exposed 500 million accounts, the latest news is bringing on a torrent criticism from security experts who are pointing to huge problems in how sensitive data including passwords were stored and catastrophic organizational clashes that had already has led to high profile departures of Yahoo security executives. Alex Stamos, Yahoo’s former chief information security officer, resigned after reportedly being being ordered to build a backdoor for the U.S. government. Less than a day after the hack was announced, Yahoo is already a target of a class action lawsuit. “Yahoo failed, and continues to fail, to provide adequate protection of its users’ personal and confidential information,’’ New York consumer Amy Vail said in the complaint filed on Thursday. “Yahoo users’ personal and private information has been repeatedly compromised and remains vulnerable.’’ Security experts agree. “They’re not taking security seriously enough,” former Yahoo information security officer Jeremiah Grossman told CyberScoop. “Without a mandate from executives, they’re not going to make up much ground.” But the future o… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://sessions.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/sessions-statement-aleppo Sessions Statement on Aleppo 2016-12-15 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Pete Sessions S000250 sessions.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions, Chairman of the House Committee on Rules, today released the following statement in regard to the ongoing conflict in Aleppo: "Over the last five years, more than 400,000 people have died in a ruthless and complex civil war in Syria. While the President and his Cabinet have the authority and responsibility to conduct foreign policy on behalf of the United States, the policy approach taken by President Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and current Secretary of State John Kerry over the last four years has been largely incoherent and unclear. Furthermore, this humanitarian crisis has cost far too many innocent lives and forced millions from their homes. Simply put, the only constant has been this Administration’s failure to come up with a plan that has any chance of defeating our enemies, protecting the innocent, and ending this conflict. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the new Congress to combat terrorism in the region and bring an end to this conflict."   ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2924 Sen. Cruz Serves Texans in Dallas 2016-12-15 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Ted Cruz C001098 www.cruz.senate.gov     legacy DALLAS, Texas – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today volunteered at VNA Meals on Wheels and the North Texas Food Bank in Dallas, where he delivered hot food to Dallas County residents in need and helped package food for local families. Sen. Cruz also toured the facilities and learned more about the organizations’ operations. “Many people are hurting both across our state and across our country,” said Sen. Cruz. “Organizations like the North Texas Food Bank and VNA Meals on Wheels represent the big hearts we have in Texas and our commitment to make it a better place. Particularly during this holiday season, I encourage Texans to make a difference volunteering in your community, helping someone who may be struggling, and demonstrating the can-do spirit of our state to give others a hand up."  Organizations like @NTFB & @VNATexas @_MealsonWheels represent the big hearts we have in #Texas. https://t.co/IbFspzUCbk pic.twitter.com/if9V7vt1vy — Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) December 15, 2016 ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2925 ICYMI: Forbes.com: The Audacity of Silence On Possible Iran-North Korea Nuclear Ties 2016-12-15 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Ted Cruz C001098 www.cruz.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today released a statement in the wake of the Obama Administration’s silence regarding potential collusion between Iran and North Korea on nuclear proliferation and China’s apparent complicity in enabling such cooperation. He also reiterated his commitment to working with President-elect Trump and the incoming administration to dismantle the Iran deal and rebuild a strong, effective national security for the United States. In October, Sen. Cruz wrote a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry, Secretary of Treasury Jack Lew, and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, asking a series of questions to each to get more information about reports of cooperation between Iran and North Korea on building their nuclear programs and reports of China’s actions that have enabled their cooperation: Questions for Secretary Lew: 1. Did the rocket engine that North Korea tested in September of this year obtain the same capability as the engine the Treasury Department referenced in January when it designated eleven Iranian persons for sanctions violations? Questions for Director Clapper: 2. Does the U.S. Intelligence Community possess the tools it needs to track Iranian and North Korean illicit activity? If not, what additional resources are needed? 3. Has the U.S. intelligence community observed any possible nuclear collaboration between Iran and North Korea following Implementation Day of the JCPOA? Have any of these observations been verified? 4. Does the intelligence community have an adequate understanding of these Chinese linked procurement networks?  If not, please explain any gaps in understanding and what can be done to close these gaps.    Questions for Secretary Kerry: 5. What penalties do you plan to announce against Iran in light of its JCPOA violations? How do you intend to pursue enactment of such penalties? 6. What is the United States doing to ensure that the $1.7 billion paid to Iran in cash earlier this year is not used to finance nuclear weapons research … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2926 Sen. Cruz Statement on President-Elect Trump's Choice of Scott Pruitt for EPA Administrator 2016-12-15 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Ted Cruz C001098 www.cruz.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today issued the following statement regarding President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt as his nominee for Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): “Under Obama, the EPA has run amok. Attorney General Pruitt has helped lead the fight against many of the Obama administration’s most egregious cases of lawless federal overreach on behalf of his home state of Oklahoma. I believe he will bring back common sense and a healthy respect for rule of law to the EPA.  And I am confident he will work to restore the focus on EPA’s core mission of ensuring clean air and water -- being good stewards of our environment for the next generations -- rather than empowering bureaucratic zealots simply to kill jobs and hurt American workers.” ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://lamarsmith.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/smith-statement-on-appointment-of-rick-perry-to-secretary-of-energy Smith Statement on Appointment of Rick Perry to Secretary of Energy 2016-12-14 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Lamar Smith S000583 lamarsmith.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON – House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) released the following statement today after President-elect Donald J. Trump announced former Texas Governor Rick Perry will lead the Department of Energy. Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas): “Rick Perry is an excellent choice to lead our nation’s Energy Department. He is a champion of energy development. As a former governor of Texas, Rick Perry has in-depth experience running a state with an economy that ranks 11th in the world.  Texas is an ‘all of the above’ energy state and is the largest producer of oil and gas in the country as well as the largest producer of wind energy.  The Science Committee that I chair has jurisdiction over the Energy Department’s research and development budget of $10 billion. I look forward to working with the former governor and the Trump administration to develop less costly energy for the American people and to advance the Department’s core scientific missions.” ### Statement is also viewable on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee website here. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/editorials/educating-next-generation-computer-scientists Educating the Next Generation of Computer Scientists 2016-12-14 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Will Hurd H001073 hurd.house.gov     legacy One of the best parts of my job is visiting schools and talking with students. Every chance I get, I tell young people about the opportunities that a computer science education can provide. Many are shocked to learn that although an estimated 42,000 computing jobs are waiting to be filled in Texas, only 2,100 computer scientists graduated from Texas schools last year. Students are even more interested to learn that the average salary of a computer science professional is more than $85,000 – almost twice the average salary in Texas. Outside of the Washington, D.C. area, San Antonio has the highest concentration of cybersecurity professionals, placing the city at the forefront of tech development. Unfortunately, we are far behind when it comes to producing enough computer science professionals to meet demand. Currently, the pipeline that educates future computer science professionals begins for some at the high school level, but the drive to teach these skills must begin earlier, ideally in our middle schools. Our world is transforming into a place where coding and technological literacy is comparable to typing proficiency in the 1990s. The incredible medical advancements we see today are products of early exposure to science courses that inspire young people to pursue further education in the field. We need to follow suit with computer science. Offering tech education early on not only serves as the foundation for continued education in high school and beyond, but also exposes students to the jobs we will need to fill in the future. It could have a dramatic impact on closing the employment gap in the tech industry. read the full article at THE RIVARD REPORT 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/congressman-hurd-announces-middle-school-computer-science-initiative Congressman Hurd announces middle school computer science initiative 2016-12-14 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Will Hurd H001073 hurd.house.gov     legacy There are more computer science jobs in Texas waiting to be filled than there are graduates to fill them each year. The statistics, according to U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, helped launch a new middle school computer science initiative announced Wednesday. "It's a great program partnering with the STEM education center at University of Texas Austin and a number of corporate sponsors like Facebook, Brocade, Dell and Intel to train 40 middle school math teachers on how to introduce coding into their curriculum," Hurd said. "We're going to have 5,000 kids in the fall exposed to computer science and coding." The congressman for District 23 said over 40,000 computing vacancies exist in Texas, but state colleges only graduate 2,000 computer scientists each year. Hurd studied computer science at Texas A&M University. "UT's working with a group called Bootstrap, which is a nonprofit that does this training, and then you have these corporate sponsors that are willing to fund the program and you have a number of amazing superintendents that are interested in introducing this to their curriculum," Hurd said. The learning materials reinforce core concepts from algebra, making the curriculum compatible with the state standards set by the Texas Education Agency, according to a news release. Since the curriculum is taught through existing math classes schools do not need additional teachers or classes. Northeast Independent School District superintendent Brian Gottardy accompanied seventh grade students at a press conference who are expected to benefit from the program next fall. "I'm just excited about the coding and like actually being able to learn how to do it and then like being able to get a job using the coding, something I love," Andrea Conner, 12, said. Today's kids are growing up with technology much different than past generations. However, some seem to understand they'll need computer science training and skills for a variety of professions. "We have to prepare our kids for jobs that don't exist and coding is the langua… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/hurd-lawmakers-russian-hacking-intel-we-need-be-really-careful Hurd to lawmakers on Russian hacking intel: We need to be really careful 2016-12-14 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Will Hurd H001073 hurd.house.gov     legacy The only sitting member in the House of Representatives to have served in the CIA is advising fellow lawmakers to tread carefully with the information they collect during ongoing investigations focused on Russian hacking related to the recent presidential campaign. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas, worked in the CIA for 9 years, spending time as an undercover intelligence officer in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. He recently told CyberScoop that human intelligence — agents on the ground — would likely be necessary to make an accurate assessment concerning the motivation and intention of those individuals who ordered a digital break in at the Democratic National Committee. “Having some of this evidence declassified, I think we need to be really careful because we’re talking about people’s lives. Whatever we decide, whatever we declassify, Russian intelligence will be studying it very closely,” Hurd said. Evidence uncovered by the New York Times backs Hurd’s assumption, noting that “human and technical” sources in Russia aided the intelligence community’s conclusion that Russian intelligence forces were involved in the DNC data breach. Hurd’s outreach comes as Congress is pressuring the White House to declassify additional material related to data breaches at multiple U.S. political organizations. The intelligence community’s analysis will be laden with information concerning the tactics, sources, tools and procedures used by U.S. spies to attribute cyberattacks, Hurd says. And that material must be handled with extreme caution. On Friday, The White House revealed that President Barack Obama had recently commissioned U.S. intelligence agencies to compile a comprehensive report containing information about malicious cyber activity aimed at past presidential elections. Deputy press secretary Eric Schultz told journalists that that this report would be completed before inauguration day and shared with congress and potentially, in a redacted form, with the public. In the scope of uncovering new evidence and having a more open d… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/new-program-teach-middle-school-teachers-computer-coding New Program To Teach Middle School Teachers Computer Coding 2016-12-14 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Will Hurd H001073 hurd.house.gov     legacy Since research shows that young people make up their minds on what career field they want to enter when they are in Middle School, U.S. Rep. Will Hurd and several local school districts are starting an innovative program to make sure 11 and 12 year olds are turned on to tech, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.  "Coding is the language of the 21st Century economy," said Hurd, who is a computer science graduate of Texas A&M and one of the leaders in Congress on tech issues.  "If our kids can't speak it, they're going to be left behind."  The problem, Hurd says, is that few middle school teachers know enough about coding to be able to get their kids fired up about it, and school districts can't afford to hire specialty instructors on that one field.  So his solution--a special course, specifically for middle school teachers, to give them the basics of coding so they can get their kids excited about computers as a career.  Hurd says kids won't get excited to become a part of a field they have never had any expereince in.  "There are 42,000 computing jobs in Texas alone that went unfilled," Hurd said.  "Texas only produced 2100 computer scientists."  And the numbers are bleaker for Hispanic and African American kids getting into technology.  He says this doesn't necessarily mean jobs in tech firms.  He says companies from Target to Walmart are actively hiring tech professionals, at salaries significantly higher than the statewide average, to deal with everything from 'on time inventory' to fighting hacking.  The program is being underwritten by Toyota, as well as tech giants Dell and Facebook.  "We've got to do a better job preparing our students for the jobs that don't exist yet," Hurd said. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/partnership-announced-train-teachers-computer-science Partnership announced to train teachers in computer science 2016-12-14 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Will Hurd H001073 hurd.house.gov     legacy U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Helotes, announced Wednesday that 40 middle school math teachers in his vast congressional district will receive low-cost training in March to integrate computer science into their curriculum. “Coding is the language of the 21st century economy,” Hurd said at a press conference at the BiblioTech South branch on Pleasanton Road. “If our students can’t speak it, they’re going to be left behind.”   The training will be provided by the nonprofit Bootstrap, through the University of Texas Center for STEM Education. Four tech companies — Dell, Intel, Facebook and Brocade — donated a total of $35,000 to fund the training, said Carol Fletcher, deputy director of the Center for STEM Education. The Texas Education Agency will provide a smaller amount of matching funds, Fletcher added. The teachers can apply on Hurd’s website by the end of January to receive the three-day training at the end of March. Breakfast, lunch and transportation will be included, as will lodging for teachers coming from more than 60 miles away. Hurd was re-elected last month to the 23rd Congressional District, which stretches west from San Antonio’s suburbs to the Mexican border. The superintendents of North East and Southwest Independent School Districts — both in Hurd’s district, which curls around inner-city San Antonio — praised his effort Wednesday. North East will pilot the program at Lopez Middle School, said Superintendent Brian Gottardy. Andrea Connor, a seventh-grader at Lopez, remembered using computers in kindergarten to learn her vowels and consonants. “I’m not really sure what I want to become when I’m older, but I do know I want it to be technology-based, because our future lies in computer science,” she said. Training 40 teachers will expose an additional 5,000 middle school students to computer science in the fall, Hurd said. Hurd was inspired to focus on computer science in high school, while interning at the Southwest Research Institute. He became a Central Intelligence Agency operative and joined a cybersec… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/hurd-announces-middle-school-computer-science-initiative Hurd Announces Middle School Computer Science Initiative 2016-12-14 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Will Hurd H001073 hurd.house.gov     legacy Click here to learn more about the TX23 Computer Science Curriculum Initiative and how to sign up. San Antonio, TX –Surrounded by school district superintendents and city leaders at BiblioTech South, U.S. Representative Will Hurd announced a new STEM initiative for schools in the 23rd Congressional District of Texas. In partnership with the University of Texas Center for STEM Education and non-profit organization Bootstrap, this curriculum initiative will train middle school teachers to integrate computer science into State-approved mathematics curriculums.  Currently, only a handful of Texas middle schools offer coding classes. “In Texas, over 40,000 computing jobs are waiting to be filled, but we only graduate 2,000 computer scientists each year,” said Hurd, who studied Computer Science at Texas A&M University. “Right now the pipeline that produces Computer Science professionals starts at the high school level. We’ve got to do a better job preparing our students for the jobs that don’t exist yet—and we’ve got to start at an earlier age. Coding is the language of the 21st Century economy. If our students can’t speak it, they will be left behind.” The University of Texas Center for STEM Education partners with Bootstrap to host the training, which will train teachers how to teach computer science using math. The learning materials reinforce core concepts from algebra, making the curriculum compatible with the state standards set by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). Because the curriculum is taught through existing math classes, schools do not need additional teachers or classes. Forty middle school teachers may participate in the March 23 – 25 training at BiblioTech South in San Antonio, in order to implement the program in the classroom in Fall 2017. This training has been generously sponsored by Intel, Dell, Facebook, and Brocade. Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff: “Since the doors of the first branch opened on September 14, 2013, BiblioTech has actively worked to bridge literacy and technology gaps in San An… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://sessions.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/sessions-statement-nomination-rick-perry-secretary-energy Sessions Statement on the Nomination of Rick Perry for Secretary of Energy 2016-12-14 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Pete Sessions S000250 sessions.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions released the following statement in response to President-elect Donald J. Trump's nomination of Governor Rick Perry for Secretary of Energy: “Texas is known for our thriving economy, robust job market, and booming energy resources. As Governor, Rick Perry welcomed  dozens of companies to the Lone Star State, which created thousands of jobs for Texans and made our state the most prosperous in the nation. He was also at the helm of a multi-billion dollar infrastructure program that created clean, renewable energy that was accessible to Texans ranging from the ranches in West Texas to the bustling Dallas metroplex. I am confident that as Secretary of Energy he will use his leadership skills and expertise to successfully unleash our nation’s energy capabilities, create American jobs, and put us on the path towards energy independence.”    ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://williams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-williams-statement-on-fed-rate-hike Rep. Williams Statement on Fed Rate Hike 2016-12-14 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Roger Williams W000816 williams.house.gov williams https://williams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases scraper FORT HOOD – Congressman Roger Williams (R-Austin), a member of the House Financial Services Committee, today released the following statement after the Federal Reserve announced it would raise the interest rate, making it the second rate hike since 2006. "While rate hikes have historically been an important tool to offset inflation, today's decision by the Fed to raise the interest rate is entirely premature and will be burdensome to a nation already struggling to pull itself out of this slow-growth Obama economy," said Williams. "Even at the current rates, we are paying an exorbitant amount of money to pay down interest on the national debt when that money could be spent paying down our actual debt or on our veterans and military. Young adults are struggling to pay back loans and homeownership is still out of reach for many. By making rates even higher, the Fed is effectively making our hardships even harder." # # # 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-08T21:09:43Z
https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/cornyn-statement-announcement-governor-perry-be-energy-secretary Cornyn Statement on Announcement of Governor Perry to be Energy Secretary 2016-12-14 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX John Cornyn C001056 www.cornyn.senate.gov     legacy DALLAS – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) issued the following statement on President-elect Donald Trump’s announcement that former Texas Governor Rick Perry will be nominated to be the next Secretary of Energy: “I’m thrilled with the President-elect’s decision to bring a proven Texas leader like Governor Perry into his Administration. For eight years the Obama Administration has kept a boot on the necks of our energy providers, stifling their ability to grow and innovate. Under Governor Perry’s leadership, Texas showed the country how lower taxes and sensible regulations can boost energy production and create jobs. As a Texan, Governor Perry understands the importance of empowering an all-of-the-above energy strategy that encourages innovation and spurs growth from the ground up. “A good friend, proud veteran, and dedicated public servant, I look forward to supporting Governor Perry’s nomination.” 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/senator-cornyn-114th-congress-review Senator Cornyn: 114th Congress in Review 2016-12-14 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX John Cornyn C001056 www.cornyn.senate.gov     legacy DALLAS – Five bills introduced by U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) have become law during the 114th Congress, with three more currently waiting on the President’s signature. These include landmark anti-human trafficking legislation, a bill reforming the Freedom of Information Act, a bill to allow local first responders to use grant funding for active shooter response training, and legislation to help reduce the rape kit backlog, among others. Awaiting the President’s Signature Cross Border Trade Enhancement Act (Passed Senate 11/29/16, passed House 12/6/16, passed Senate again 12/10/16, awaiting President’s signature) Promotes public-private partnerships (P3) to boost staffing and make infrastructure improvements at U.S. ports of entry without adding to the national deficit. Developed with input from border community leaders and transportation industry stakeholders following successful pilot program agreements, including at the Paso Del Norte Bridge in El Paso. Justice for All Reauthorization Act of 2016 (Passed Senate 6/16/16, passed House 11/29/16, passed Senate again 12/1/16, awaiting President’s signature) Strengthens crime victims’ rights in the courtroom, increases access to restitution and restorative services, and reauthorizes important law enforcement investigative programs. Helps reduce the nationwide rape kit backlog and provide resources for forensic labs while protecting the innocent by improving access to post-conviction DNA testing. HEAR Act (Passed House 12/7/16, passed Senate 12/10/16, awaiting President’s signature) Helps facilitate the return of artwork lost to Nazis during the Holocaust to their rightful owners or heirs. Ensures that American law encourages the resolution of claims on Nazi-confiscated art on the merits, in a fair and just manner, consistent with long-standing U.S. foreign policy. Signed Into Law Major Provisions of the Mental Health and Safe Communities Act (Passed as part of the 21st Century Cures Act and became law 12/13/16) Allows law enforcement to use existing fundi… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2922 Sen. Cruz Statement on Governor Rick Perry Being Named as President-Elect Trump's Choice for Secretary of Energy 2016-12-14 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Ted Cruz C001098 www.cruz.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today issued the following statement regarding President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of former Texas Governor Rick Perry as his nominee for U.S. Secretary of Energy. “Gov. Perry will make a terrific Secretary of Energy.  For 14 years, he led the State of Texas, and with low taxes, restrained spending, and limited regulation, Texas became one of the greatest economic powerhouses in the world. His executive experience across diverse policy areas makes him qualified to run just about any federal agency. Gov. Perry is an exceptional pick to head the Department of Energy, and after presiding over the nation's number one producer of oil and natural gas, and one of the nation's leaders in wind, solar, and nuclear energy, he understands the importance of our country's energy resources not only to our economy, but also to our national security.  I am confident that Gov. Perry will be an aggressive champion for opening more lands to exploration and working to reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources. I enthusiastically support his nomination as Secretary of Energy.” ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2923 Sen. Cruz Serves Texans in Houston 2016-12-14 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Ted Cruz C001098 www.cruz.senate.gov     legacy HOUSTON, Texas – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) yesterday and today participated in service projects in support of Houstonians during the holidays.    On Tuesday, Sen. Cruz visited Interfaith Ministries’ Meals on Wheels and the Fisher House in Houston, where he learned about the organizations’ operations and local needs. He delivered meals to homebound seniors and visited with veterans and their families staying at the Fisher House. Today, Sen. Cruz volunteered at the Houston Food Bank, where he joined local third graders who were there on a field trip, to help fill backpacks with food for children in need. He also toured the warehouse and met with food bank leaders to discuss their operations. “There are few better ways for children to get into the holiday spirit than working to make a difference in the lives of fellow Houstonians,” said Sen. Cruz. “This food bank is a tremendous operation, providing roughly 79 million meals a year and working with roughly 600 volunteer groups throughout Southeast Texas distributing the food. Meals on Wheels is one of the many organizations that works with the food bank and helps provide for people in a time of need. Their example is one we should replicate and look to all across our great state.” ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://babin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1035 House Unanimously Passes Congressman Babin’s TREAT Astronauts Act 2016-12-13 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Brian Babin B001291 babin.house.gov     legacy Washington, DC – The U.S. House of Representatives last week unanimously approved the To Research, Evaluate, Assess, and Treat Astronauts Act (H.R. 6076), or “TREAT” Astronauts Act. The bill, sponsored by Space Subcommittee Chairman Brian Babin (R-TX), establishes a spaceflight occupational healthcare program for former American astronauts. Chairman Babin’s full statement on the TREAT Act can be viewed here.  A summary of the bill can be found here. “I am proud to say that I represent a great number of these astronauts who call the Houston area home,” said Space Subcommittee Chairman Babin. “As a nation we have obligations to those we put in harm’s way.  As a Congress, we have a responsibility to provide for the treatment of conditions caused by federal service.  As a health care professional and as their representative, you could say it is my duty to make sure these folks are taken care of properly. This is why I have sponsored H.R. 6076, the “TREAT Astronauts Act,” a common sense, fiscally responsible, bipartisan bill that makes sure our brave men and woman that venture into space receive support for medical issues associated with their service.” The TREAT Astronauts Act authorizes NASA to provide former astronauts medical monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment of psychological and medical conditions associated with their space flight. It builds upon existing NASA research authorities and NASA’s Lifetime Surveillance of Astronaut Health program. “In an age when spaceflight has come to seem almost routine, it is easy to overlook how dangerous it is and how little we know about its long-term health effects. H.R. 6076, the “TREAT Astronauts Act,” ensures that our courageous men and women who venture into space receive support for medical issues associated with their service,” said House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX). “I thank Space Subcommittee Chairman Brian Babin for introducing this legislation and for his persistence in getting us to the point of passage.” Leaders in … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://burgess.house.gov/blog/?postid=398218 Burgess Statement on Nomination of Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State 2016-12-13 2016 2016-12 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, issued the following statement in response to President-Elect Trump’s nomination of Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State. “I commend President-Elect Trump on his nomination of Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State. This prominent position in the Administration is tasked with the delicate balance of working to ease tensions around the globe while also ensuring U.S. national security and a strong foreign policy agenda.“Mr. Tillerson, a constituent of mine in the 26th district of Texas, has worked extensively with foreign leaders cultivating relationships that will only prove to benefit U.S. interests around the world. From the pipelines to the platforms, his experience leading the global efforts of one of America’s most successful companies has equipped him with the understanding and insight to navigate the current world stage. Congratulations to Mr. Tillerson on this honorable nomination.”  ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://thornberry.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398215 Lake Kemp provision passes U.S. Congress 2016-12-13 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX William Thornberry T000238 thornberry.house.gov     legacy Congress has passed the “Water Resources Development Act of 2016,” H.R. 5303, which includes an amendment introduced by U.S. Congressman Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) that will prevent the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) from forcing the City of Wichita Falls to destroy nearly 150 Lake Kemp cabins before 2025. The issue stems from an agreement in the 1960s between the Corps, Wichita Falls, and other stakeholders when the Lake Kemp dam and spillway was reconstructed. That agreement required the city to demolish all of the privately owned cabins at Lake Kemp that were below 1,159-feet mean sea level (MSL) out of concern that they might flood. The agreement has been modified to prevent the demolition several times, most recently in 2007 when it was extended through January 1, 2020. “This five-year extension protects the rights of the cabin owners and the private property rights of the current owner of the Waggoner Estate, while allowing the city and those stakeholders more time to resolve this issue,” Thornberry said. To date, none of the cabins at the lake below the 1,159 MSL have flooded. The highest pool of record at Lake Kemp was 1,150-feet MSL in August of 1995. Lake Kemp functions as a recreational and flood control facility that also supplies municipal water. The land surrounding Lake Kemp is part of the historic privately owned Waggoner Estate Ranch that was recently purchased by Mr. Stan Kroenke of Kroenke Sports Enterprises. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://babin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1035 House Unanimously Passes Congressman Babin’s TREAT Astronauts Act 2016-12-13 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Brian Babin B001291 babin.house.gov babin https://babin.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27 scraper Washington, DC – The U.S. House of Representatives last week unanimously approved the To Research, Evaluate, Assess, and Treat Astronauts Act (H.R. 6076), or “TREAT” Astronauts Act. The bill, sponsored by Space Subcommittee Chairman Brian Babin (R-TX), establishes a spaceflight occupational healthcare program for former American astronauts. Chairman Babin’s full statement on the TREAT Act can be viewed here. A summary of the bill can be found here. “I am proud to say that I represent a great number of these astronauts who call the Houston area home,” said Space Subcommittee Chairman Babin. “As a nation we have obligations to those we put in harm’s way. As a Congress, we have a responsibility to provide for the treatment of conditions caused by federal service. As a health care professional and as their representative, you could say it is my duty to make sure these folks are taken care of properly. This is why I have sponsored H.R. 6076, the “TREAT Astronauts Act,” a common sense, fiscally responsible, bipartisan bill that makes sure our brave men and woman that venture into space receive support for medical issues associated with their service.” The TREAT Astronauts Act authorizes NASA to provide former astronauts medical monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment of psychological and medical conditions associated with their space flight. It builds upon existing NASA research authorities and NASA’s Lifetime Surveillance of Astronaut Health program. “In an age when spaceflight has come to seem almost routine, it is easy to overlook how dangerous it is and how little we know about its long-term health effects. H.R. 6076, the “TREAT Astronauts Act,” ensures that our courageous men and women who venture into space receive support for medical issues associated with their service,” said House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX). “I thank Space Subcommittee Chairman Brian Babin for introducing this legislation and for his persistence in getting us to the point of passage.” Leaders in Space… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-08T21:09:43Z
https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/chairman-mccaul-releases-report-on-the-department-of-homeland-security-s Chairman McCaul Releases Report on the Department of Homeland Securitys Intelligence Enterprise 2016-12-13 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Michael McCaul M001157 mccaul.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. After nearly a year of intense work, House Homeland Security Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) today released a comprehensive review of the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) use of intelligence to counter terrorist threats. The report, entitled Reviewing the Department of Homeland Security's Intelligence Enterprise: Fighting Terrorism by Addressing Key Gaps, is an in-depth analysis of the Department's intelligence structure and functions, and provides over 30 recommendations with regard to streamlining and enhancing DHS intelligence efforts. Chairman McCaul: Although DHS has improved its ability to protect the homeland against terrorist threats over time, major gaps still remain. As the next Administration's transition efforts begin, I urge the Department to redouble its efforts to further integrate its intelligence organizations and systems. Best supporting state and local law enforcement efforts must also continue to be a top Departmental priority. Fifteen years after the attacks of 9/11, DHS has made significant strides in sharing terrorism-related intelligence, but more needs to be done. With the dangerous terror threat environment we face today, the acceptable margin of error is zero. Key Findings: DHS has made significant strides in improving the flow of terrorism information to all stakeholders since its creation. The DHS Intelligence Enterprise (IE) is an evolving structure, and the authority of the Chief Intelligence Officer (CINT) is not completely accepted throughout the IE. Some DHS IE members do not have clear, or even explicitly identified, missions. This vagueness causes overlapping efforts and inhibits the effective sharing of terrorism-related intelligence due to the fact that information flows are sometimes unclear. The DHS IE does not have a consolidated intelligence doctrine and the CINT does not have full awareness of all terrorism-related intelligence sharing agreements into which the various DHS Components have entered. The DHS IE employs a vast array of Infor… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://olson.house.gov/media-center/latest-news/important-announcement-for-pearlandbrazoria-county-residents IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FOR PEARLAND/BRAZORIA COUNTY RESIDENTS 2016-12-13 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Pete Olson O000168 olson.house.gov     legacy Pearland/Brazoria County residents, our current office on 6302 W. Broadway Street is moving to a new location. While we are in transition, if you need assistance with a federal agency, please call our Sugar Land office at 281-494-2690. I apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause you. We will provide updated office information as soon the details have been finalized. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://olson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/olson-applauds-21st-century-cures-act-becoming-law Olson Applauds 21st Century Cures Act Becoming Law 2016-12-13 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Pete Olson O000168 olson.house.gov     legacy Rep. Pete Olson (TX-22) today applauded the president for acting to help deliver more cures, treatments, and therapies to patients and to bring our health care system into the 21st century. President Obama signed into law the 21st Century Cures Act, an important bipartisan initiative that will make needed reforms, and spur medical innovation that will make real differences in people’s lives. The bill was passed in the House by a bipartisan vote of 392-26 and the Senate by 94-5. “This law will lay the groundwork for making needed medical breakthroughs to provide hope for patients in dire need of new and effective treatments,” Rep. Pete Olson said. “I’m proud of the bipartisan effort to develop a bill that will spur innovation in our nation’s medical research industry, helping and giving hope to loved ones with debilitating or deadly diseases. This will give us the opportunity to invest in the research that will result in the technological advances that improve quality of life and deliver cures to patients and peace of mind for their families. I thank the president for signing this innovative bill into law.” ### Media Contact: Melissa Kelly 202-225-5954 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://olson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/olson-former-gov-perry-great-choice-for-secretary-of-energy Olson: Former Gov Perry Great Choice for Secretary of Energy 2016-12-13 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Pete Olson O000168 olson.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Pete Olson (TX-22) today issued the following statement in response to reports that former Texas Governor Rick Perry will be named Secretary of the US Department of Energy (DOE): “Rick Perry was an exceptional governor for the State of Texas. Representing an energy heavy state like Texas, including Houston, the global capital for energy production, gives him a unique level of expertise in dealing with issues that will come before the Department of Energy. Beyond traditional energy matters, I am confident of his ability to navigate nuclear and other national security matters that will come before DOE. It was a pleasure to work with him on Texas matters and it will be a pleasure to work with him at DOE.” Media Contact: Melissa Kelly  202-225-5951 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://sessions.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/sessions-applauds-president-elect-trump-s-secretary-state-nomination Sessions Applauds President-elect Trumps Secretary of State Nomination 2016-12-13 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Pete Sessions S000250 sessions.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions released the following statement in response to President-elect Donald J. Trump's nomination of Rex Tillerson for Secretary of State: “I wholeheartedly support President-elect Trump’s announcement to nominate one of Dallas’ favorite sons, Rex Tillerson, to serve as Secretary of State. I have known Rex for a number of years as a successful business professional, a dedicated Eagle Scout and proud supporter of the Boys Scouts of America, and a faithful patriot and friend. His extensive background in the world of energy development and geopolitical affairs makes him more than capable to excel in this post and to well and faithfully serve the people of the United States. “We are facing a pivotal time where America needs to take a stand on the global stage and reassert our efforts to advance freedom, democracy, and stability. I look forward to discussing Rex’s professional and personal capabilities with my colleagues in the House of Representatives and the Senate and extinguishing any doubts they may have about his intentions. His confirmation is paramount to the success and security of our great nation and I have no doubt that he will make America safe, strong, and great again.”   ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://williams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-williams-delivers-turkeys-to-burleson-and-cleburne-fire-departments Rep. Williams Delivers Turkeys to Burleson and Cleburne Fire Departments 2016-12-13 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Roger Williams W000816 williams.house.gov williams https://williams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases scraper CLEBURNE, TEXAS – Congressman Roger Williams (R – Austin) this morning delivered turkeys to the Burleson and Cleburne Fire Departments to thank the first responders for their hard work and to wish them a safe and enjoyable holiday season. ### 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-08T21:09:43Z
https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/cornyn-statement-announcement-rex-tillerson-be-secretary-state Cornyn Statement on Announcement of Rex Tillerson to be Secretary of State 2016-12-13 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX John Cornyn C001056 www.cornyn.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement on President-elect Trump’s announcement that he intends to nominate Rex Tillerson to be Secretary of State: “Rex Tillerson’s successful tenure leading a large multinational corporation reflects a keen ability to navigate complex geopolitical issues across the globe,” Sen. Cornyn said. “His experience will be critical as the next Secretary of State will face a broad array of diplomatic challenges that will define the security and success of our nation for generations. A lifelong Texan, I’ve long valued Rex’s insight and look forward to supporting his nomination.” 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/president-signs-cornyn-backed-mental-health-reforms-law President Signs Cornyn-Backed Mental Health Reforms into Law 2016-12-13 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX John Cornyn C001056 www.cornyn.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after President Obama signed the 21st Century Cures Act, which includes reforms to the mental health and criminal justice system based on his Mental Health and Safe Communities Act: “Today is a monumental step forward towards reforming our mental health and criminal justice system in this country. With this law, we will strengthen our response to mental illness by helping these individuals receive the treatment they need and ensuring that our criminal justice system is focused on recovery for the mentally ill. This law will also increase resources and training to enable our law enforcement and first responders to identify those with mental illness, respond with treatment-based alternatives, and avert a potential crisis before it happens.” “I want to thank the many outspoken advocates and families whose passion and energy were essential to getting these reforms passed, and I look forward to continuing to work with them as well as my colleagues on both sides of the aisle as we build on this progress.”   Background on Mental Health and Safe Communities Act language included in the 21st Century Cures Act: Increases the Use of Treatment-Based Responses for Mentally-Ill Offenders during Incarceration and Post-Release Custody Allows state and local government to use existing funding to create pre-trial screening and assessment programs to identify mentally ill offenders, provide need-based treatment, and develop post-release supervision plans. Requires the Attorney General to direct federal judges to operate mental health court pilot programs, allowing incarcerated mentally-ill offenders to be diverted from prison to residential treatment facilities or other forms of treatment-based supervised release. Requires state and local governments to use drug court and mental health court funding to develop specialized programs for offenders who have co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders. Enables existing federal funding to be used … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2920 Sen. Cruz Statement on Rex Tillerson Being Named as President-Elect Trump's Choice for Secretary of State 2016-12-13 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Ted Cruz C001098 www.cruz.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today issued the following statement regarding President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson as his nominee for U.S. Secretary of State: “Rex Tillerson is a Texan who has had an incredible career building one of the world's largest businesses. With deep expertise in energy, he has negotiated business deals across the globe. I look forward to a full and fair confirmation hearing where Tillerson can describe his record in detail, and lay out his vision for supporting our allies, confronting our enemies, and advancing U.S. interests worldwide.”  ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cruz.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=2921 ICYMI: News Coverage of Cruz and DeSantis Push For Congressional Term Limits To 'Drain the Swamp' 2016-12-13 2016 2016-12 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. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) penned an op-ed for The Washington Post announcing that in the 115th Congress they will introduce a constitutional amendment establishing congressional term limits in order to put an end to cronyism in Washington:  “On Election Day, the American people made a resounding call to ‘drain the swamp’ that is modern Washington,” Cruz and DeSantis wrote. “Yet on Capitol Hill, we seem mired in the same cycle of complacency: The game hasn’t changed, and the players remain the same. Thankfully, there’s a solution available that, while stymied by the permanent political class, enjoys broad public support: congressional term limits. Following is a summary of news coverage: The Hill: Cruz, DeSantis to introduce constitutional amendment on term limits “Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) say they want to help President-elect Donald Trump “drain the swamp” by imposing congressional term limits. The two conservative lawmakers said in a Washington Post op-ed Friday they plan to introduce a constitutional amendment next month to limit members of Congress to three terms in the House and two in the Senate.” The Washington Examiner: Cruz to introduce constitutional amendment for term limits “Sen. Ted Cruz announced Friday that he will introduce a constitutional amendment to limit the number of terms members of the Senate and the House of Representatives can serve…Cruz and DeSantis argued that term limits would also "change the calculus" of those who serve in Congress, and said it would open more more roles in leadership and break up the "permanent political class" on Capitol Hill.” Tampa Bay Times: Ron DeSantis joins Ted Cruz in push for term limits “Florida Rep. Ron DeSantis is partnering with Sen. Ted Cruz in an attempt to enact term limits, trying to seize Donald Trump’s populist appeal to “drain the swamp…“As soon as the 115th Congress convenes, both of us will move to restore accountability among the entrenched Washing… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://hensarling.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/hensarling-reacts-to-boeing-sale-of-jets-to-iran Hensarling Reacts to Boeing Sale of Jets to Iran 2016-12-12 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Jeb Hensarling H001036 hensarling.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON – Congressman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, made the following comments upon news that Boeing has finalized an agreement to sell 80 commercial aircraft to Iran Air – the state owned national carrier of Iran. “Boeing’s actions to aid the world’s foremost state sponsor of terrorism through the sale of these jets are disappointing to say the least. This announcement reminds us just how dangerous President Obama's nuclear agreement is. The President wants us to sell planes not just to this dangerous regime, but to an airline that his own Treasury Department sanctioned in 2011. President Obama even wants U.S. banks to draw on American citizens' deposits to finance Iran, a regime that Treasury calls ‘a jurisdiction of primary money laundering concern.’ “No wonder voters have chosen a new direction. The House has already spoken, passing separate measures that prohibit both aircraft sales to the ayatollahs and U.S. financing for them. “If a U.S. financial institution attempts to bankroll Iran in the waning days of the Obama administration, it will have to answer to Congress.” 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://kaygranger.house.gov/press-release/granger-statement-delivery-israels-first-f-35i-adir-fighters Granger Statement on the Delivery of Israel's First F-35I Adir Fighters 2016-12-12 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Kay Granger G000377 kaygranger.house.gov     legacy Fort Worth, TX – Congresswoman Kay Granger released the following statement after Israel took delivery of its first pair of F-35I Adir fighters. “Israel is a critical ally and it is fitting that Israel will be the first country in the Middle East to operate the F-35,” Granger said. “This fifth-generation stealth fighter is what we need to keep our two countries safe in these dangerous times. I want to congratulate the Israeli Air Force and the talented workers of Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas, on this historic occasion. Today’s delivery is an important step in maintaining Israel’s qualitative military edge and air superiority in the Middle East and gives further proof of the strong, unbreakable bond our two countries share.” A leading advocate for Israel and strengthening the U.S. – Israel relationship, Granger was recognized for her role in helping get the 10-year, $38 billion memorandum of understanding (MOU) that was signed on September 14th completed. This agreement enables Israel to purchase key U.S. systems, including the F-35. Granger was also recently presented the Henry M. Scoop Jackson Distinguished Service Award by the Jewish Institute of National Security Affairs, and was invited to join the Presidential Delegation to Jerusalem for the funeral service of former President of Israel, Shimon Peres. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/3-takeaways-fitara-30-hearing 3 Takeaways From The FITARA 3.0 Hearing 2016-12-12 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Will Hurd H001073 hurd.house.gov     legacy It’s easy to focus on agency grades and lawmakers’ praise and/or outrage during the twice-a-year hearing as part of overseeing the Federal IT Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA). The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee held its biannual session Dec. 6, where we heard mostly good news with 12 agencies improving their grades and 11 agencies earning the same grade as last time. But what’s really great about these FITARA hearings is finding out what’s happening in agencies underneath the grades. The State and Homeland Security departments’ chief information officers offered a better understanding of their progress in reforming IT in their respective agencies. Here are my three takeaways from the FITARA 3.0 hearing: DHS congruence Lawmakers spent a large portion of the hearing rightly concerned about the reporting structure of agency chief information officers. The reason both DHS and State CIOs and CFOs testified before the committee was because neither agency’s most senior IT executive reports directly to the deputy secretary or secretary. One of the reasons the Clinger-Cohen Act — the predecessor to FITARA — fell short was many agencies never met the spirit or intent of the bill’s requirement to elevate the CIO position so it was a true partner at the decision-making table. Lawmakers honed in on this issue at the hearing and added a new grading section to the latest FITARA scorecard measuring agency CIO reporting structure. The reason for this focus is clear. As the Government Accountability Office’s David Powner, the director of IT management issues, explained the importance in simple terms: CIOs who report to their secretary or deputy secretary scored better than those who didn’t. DHS CIO Luke McCormack didn’t disagree with the committee or GAO’s opinion on the importance of reporting structure, but he offered an interesting alternative. “The number one thing in my opinion that makes us a success is what I call goal congruence and a governance structure. Every CXO in DHS has the authority to sort of ‘thro… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/gops-hurd-targets-russian-hack-democrats GOP's Hurd Targets Russian Hack of Democrats 2016-12-12 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Will Hurd H001073 hurd.house.gov     legacy U.S. Rep. Will Hurd has more reason than most to resent the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. The group just spent a boatload of money in an unsuccessful attempt to end his congressional career. However, the San Antonio Republican said, it should alarm everybody that the Central Intelligence Agency concluded that Russian operatives hacked into DCCC computers this summer with an eye toward helping Donald Trump get elected. “The DCCC spent $6 million against me,” Hurd said late Monday afternoon. “But an attack on them is an attack on all of us.” Hurd is particularly well qualified to speak about the firestorm over Russian involvement in the American presidential election. Before coming to Congress, he worked as an undercover agent in the CIA and he has a background in cybersecurity. On Monday, he said that he hadn’t read the latest CIA assessment of the motives behind alleged Russian meddling in the election. But he said that it’s essential to conduct a thorough, evenhanded investigation. “We cannot politicize this,” said Hurd, whose district stretches to El Paso County's Lower Valley. Republican and Democratic leaders of the U.S. Senate on Monday said that chamber’s Intelligence Committee would conduct an investigation. There also were calls for a joint House-Senate committee to perform its own probe and release its findings to the public. It’s unclear whether Hurd would play a role. He’s chairman of Information and Technology Subcommittee of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. As the furor grows over possible Russian involvement in the election, Hurd said it’s important to keep a couple of points in mind. First of all, he said, people need to keep an open mind. “There’s a lot we don’t know about it at this point,” he said, explaining that he wants to know a lot more about why the CIA believes the Russians wanted to help Trump win. It’s also important to understand what the CIA didn’t accuse the Russians of, Hurd said. U.S. intelligence has not said that Russia changed actual vote count… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/mccaul-on-russian-interference-in-the-presidential-election McCaul on Russian Interference in the Presidential Election 2016-12-12 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Michael McCaul M001157 mccaul.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) issued the following statement regarding Russia's attempts to interfere in the U.S. presidential election. Chairman McCaul: Russia's recent hacks should be taken very seriously, and the United States must make it a top priority to investigate any outside interference aimed at undermining our democratic process. These types of intrusions, whether from a nation-state or cyber criminals, must be met with a response that is forceful, public, and decisive. I will work hand-in-hand with the incoming Administration and Congressional Leaders to enhance our nation's cyber defenses and continue to assist state and local officials in doing the same, while ensuring there is timely sharing of cyber-threat information to stop intrusions before they happen. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/mccaul-statement-on-selection-of-general-john-kelly-to-lead-dhs McCaul Statement on Selection of General John Kelly to Lead DHS 2016-12-12 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Michael McCaul M001157 mccaul.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. President-elect Donald Trump today announced his intent to nominate General John Kelly as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) issued the following statement on the heels of the announcement: Chairman McCaul: General John Kelly is a strong leader with in-depth knowledge about the most crucial homeland security issues facing the United States. I am confident he will serve our country well as the next Secretary of Homeland Security. At a time when we face grave danger from terrorists to cyber criminals, it is imperative we have a steady, decisive Secretary at the helm. I look forward to working hand-in hand with General Kelly as we implement President-Elect Trump's robust agenda to defend against jihadist threats, secure our borders, enforce our immigration laws, and protect the American homeland. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://olson.house.gov/media-center/op-eds/olson-us-energy-needs-fair-sensible-rules-and-less-red-tape-0 Olson: U.S. energy needs fair, sensible rules and less red tape 2016-12-12 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Pete Olson O000168 olson.house.gov     legacy As all Texans and many Americans know, thanks to innovative technologies, we are the No. 1 producer of oil and gas in the world. It wasn't too long ago that the world view saw negative, powerless words like "peak oil" or an "energy crisis." However, simply having vast resources does not immediately translate into benefits at home and abroad. To achieve that, policy changes must be made. Our focus, as always, is here at home. Our newly accessed reserves of oil and gas tend to be in the middle of the country. Texans are blessed to have little federal land, and we're graced with common-sense bureaucrats in Austin. So we have no problem getting oil to refineries or gas to local communities. However, parts of the country face unnecessarily high gas costs that threaten reliability and drain money from local economies. Permitting a pipeline, much like developing electricity power lines for some markets in the country, has become remarkably and illogically difficult. Federal regulators make the process lengthy and expensive. It is a system only a bureaucrat could love. The process also forces working families across America to pay more, as well as making it harder for engineers, welders and construction workers to find jobs. In the House, we are developing solutions that put one federal agency in charge to streamline the permitting nightmare when projects cross federal lands or international boundaries, and generally try to make the process faster and fairer. We will never steamroll local communities. But no one is well-served when bickering and bureaucratic backlogs halt progress. If we get this process right, all Americans can benefit from U.S. energy abundance. The market should dictate prices. But if the prices are artificially high simply because some Americans live where permitting problem areas exist, that is patently unfair. Thanks to our energy abundance, America is well-positioned to export some of this energy on the global scale. Late last year, my colleagues and I ended an outdated law; as a result, widesprea… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://olson.house.gov/media-center/op-eds/working-through-gridlock-to-find-a-path-to-cures Working Through Gridlock to Find a Path to Cures 2016-12-12 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Pete Olson O000168 olson.house.gov     legacy Every American knows someone suffering from a terrible disease such as cancer, Alzheimer's, or heart disease. There are currently 10,000 known diseases (7,000 of which are rare) with treatments for only 500 of them. According to some estimates, the current process for developing a new treatment and getting it from the research lab to patients can take 15 years and cost more than $1 billion – a frustrating concept for the one in three Americans who suffer from a deadly or debilitating disease. Scientific advancements and breakthroughs are happening faster than ever, but we can do better. We need to invest in medical research so that the U.S. continues to lead the world in health care innovation and a regulatory system that harnesses advancements in science understanding. Almost three years ago, the House Energy and Commerce Committee launched the 21st Century Cures Initiative, to examine what is needed to accelerate the pace of medical innovation and deliver cures to patients who desperately need them. In consultation with medical researchers and scientific experts, we developed a real plan to encourage scientific collaboration, personalize medicine to develop the best, individualized treatments for patients and ensure America continues to lead the world in medical innovation. It was a worthy and ambitious goal, and the 21st Century Cures Act is the result of this initiative. After countless hours devoted to roundtables, whitepapers, hearings and drafts, today Cures has bipartisan support and endorsements from over 700 organizations representing the full spectrum of stakeholders, and the strong support of the Administration. It dedicates $6.3 billion in new investments to support priorities like the Cancer Moonshot and Precision Medicine Initiative within the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and to combat prescription drug abuse. It also provides money to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to advance the agency’s mission and implement the policies in the underlying bill. This influx of investment will be p… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://sessions.house.gov/media-center/weekly-newsletters/hill-report-week-december-5-9-2016 The Hill Report: Week of December 5 - 9, 2016 2016-12-12 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Pete Sessions S000250 sessions.house.gov     legacy As Members of Congress we are entrusted with the responsibility to effectively and responsibly fund our nation’s government. This week we passed a measure to fund the government into the new year and increases spending to ensure our men and women in uniform have the resources they need to protect our freedom both at home and abroad. While I do not believe that short term funding measures are an effective tool, I believe that as a unified government in the coming 115th Congress we have an opportunity to implement thoughtful and deliberate legislative solutions that will be considered under a Republican Administration. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress and our new friend in the White House to put forth common sense policies that get our country back on the right track and make our nation safer and stronger. In addition to the short term funding measure, the House also passed legislation to protect our water resources and strengthen critical infrastructure. Water in Texas is a precious resource that must be valued, appreciated, and most importantly protected. The WIIN Act cuts through unnecessary red tape that has hindered essential Army Corps of Engineers projects including expediting the permitting process for the Lower Bois D’arc Creek in Texas. I have fought long and hard alongside my North Texas colleagues and the North Texas Municipal Water District to cut through unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles and expedite construction on this necessary project. After a lot of hard work and persistence from everyone involved in this process, I am proud that we got this done to ensure North Texas families have access to a sustainable supply of drinking water. Resolution to Honor Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas  This week I joined Congressman Buddy Carter (GA-01) along with twelve of their colleagues, introduced a resolution in the House recognizing the historical importance of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, and calling on the National Museum of African American History and Culture to a… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://williams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-williams-to-attend-hill-college-ribbon-cutting Rep. Williams to Attend Hill College Ribbon Cutting 2016-12-12 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Roger Williams W000816 williams.house.gov williams https://williams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases scraper CLEBURNE, TEXAS – Congressman Roger Williams (R – Austin) today announced that on Tuesday he will attend the ribbon cutting at Hill College as it unites with Texas Tech University to offer new four year degree producing programs to constituents in the Johnson County and surrounding area. What: Congressman Williams to attend the ribbon cutting at Hill College as it unites with Texas Tech University Date: Tuesday, December 13, 2016 Time: 10:00 a.m. CT Location: 2112 Mayfield Pkwy, Cleburne, TX 76033 Open to Press: Yes # # # 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-08T21:09:43Z
https://williams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-williams-to-deliver-turkeys-to-cleburne-burleson-fire-departments Rep. Williams to Deliver Turkeys to Cleburne & Burleson Fire Departments 2016-12-12 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Roger Williams W000816 williams.house.gov williams https://williams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases scraper AUSTIN, TEXAS – Congressman Roger Williams (R – Austin) today announced that on Tuesday he will deliver turkeys to the Cleburne & Burleson Fire Departments as a thank you for their hard work and to wish them a safe and enjoyable holiday season. What: Congressman Williams to deliver turkeys to the Cleburne & Burleson Fire Departments Date: Tuesday, December 13, 2016 Time: 11:30am CT (Cleburne) and 1:00pm CT (Burleson) Locations: Cleburne Fire Department: 801 East Henderson St., Cleburne, Texas 76031 Burleson Fire Department: 828 SW Alsbury Blvd, Burleson, Texas 76028 Open to Press: Yes # # # 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-08T21:09:43Z
https://williams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-williams-to-deliver-turkeys-to-copperas-cove-fire-department Rep. Williams to Deliver Turkeys to Copperas Cove Fire Department 2016-12-12 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Roger Williams W000816 williams.house.gov williams https://williams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases scraper AUSTIN, TEXAS – Congressman Roger Williams (R – Austin) today announced that on Wednesday he will deliver turkeys to the Copperas Cove Fire Department to thank the first responders for their hard work and to wish them a safe and enjoyable holiday season. What: Congressman Williams to deliver turkeys to Copperas Cove Fire Department Date: Wednesday, December 14, 2016 Time: 11:15am CT Locations: 415 S Main St, Copperas Cove, TX 76522 Open to Press: Yes # # # 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-08T21:09:43Z
https://williams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-williams-to-deliver-turkeys-to-marble-falls-fire-department-friday Rep. Williams to Deliver Turkeys to Marble Falls Fire Department Friday 2016-12-12 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX Roger Williams W000816 williams.house.gov williams https://williams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases scraper AUSTIN, TEXAS – Congressman Roger Williams (R – Austin) today announced that on Friday he will deliver turkeys to the Marble Falls Fire Department to thank the first responders for their hard work and to wish them a safe and enjoyable holiday season. What: Congressman Williams to deliver turkeys to Marble Falls Fire Department Date: Friday, December 16, 2016 Time: 10:30am CT Locations: 700 Avenue N, Marble Falls, TX 78654 Open to Press: Yes # # # 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-08T21:09:43Z
https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/content/cornyn-cuellar-bill-encourage-public-private-partnerships-ports-entry-passes-congress-heads Cornyn, Cuellar Bill to Encourage Public-Private Partnerships at Ports of Entry Passes Congress, Heads to the President’s Desk 2016-12-12 2016 2016-12 Republican House TX John Cornyn C001056 www.cornyn.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) and U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar (TX-28) released the following statements after their Cross-Border Trade Enhancement Act, legislation promoting public-private partnerships (P3) to boost staffing and make infrastructure improvements at U.S. ports of entry without adding to the national deficit, passed both the House and the Senate: “In Texas, the overwhelming success of these pilot programs has proven that we can significantly reduce wait times and increase efficiency at our ports of entry,” said Sen. Cornyn.  “Increasing opportunities for air, land, and sea ports of entry in Texas and across the country to engage in these partnerships will improve commerce and foster a stronger economy locally and nationally. I thank Representative Cuellar for his work on behalf of this bill in the House, and I hope the President will sign it into law soon.” “I thank Sen. Cornyn for his bipartisan approach in working with me to pass this legislation,” Congressman Cuellar said. “My district includes the largest inland port in the country. Every day, billions of dollars’ worth of goods cross the Texas-Mexico border, including $284 billion in trade at the Laredo Customs District based in my home town of Laredo, Texas, and which extends to the Rio Grande Valley. South Texas is a world leader in trade, and with this bill we will be able to increase the efficiency and amount of trade passing through our ports of entry.” Developed with input from border community leaders and transportation industry stakeholders, the Cross-Border Trade Enhancement Act will give U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) the authority to enter into innovative partnerships with local governments and private sector entities. As federal resources remain scarce, port communities have sought alternate avenues to ensure essential needs are met in the face of continued federal inaction. This authority allows CBP to better leverage limited resources to speed up the flow of traffic at international ports of entry. … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z

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