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://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-cruz-another-great-year-of-fighting-and-winning-for-texans,Sen. Cruz: Another Great Year of Fighting and Winning for Texans,2023-12-31,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,TX,Ted Cruz,C001098,www.cruz.senate.gov,cruz,https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) led the fight in the Senate this year against the Biden administration’s woke agenda and delivered pro-growth, pro-jobs, and pro-freedom policies to promote jobs, freedom, and security for Texans. Reflecting on the past year, Sen. Cruz said, “As your senator for Texas, I have been proud to lead the fight to defend our values and promote jobs, freedom, and security. This year, I’ve had the privilege of leading my Republican colleagues as ranking member on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. We formed bipartisan coalitions around Biden nominees to stop inexperienced and radical ones while supporting qualified public servants, and we worked in a bipartisan manner to advance policies that will benefit the families and businesses in the Lone Star State. As we look ahead to 2024, I excited to keep fighting for the Lone Star State, and defending your freedoms, strengthening our economy, and creating more jobs for hardworking Texans and their families.” Sen. Cruz’s 2023 Highlights: Delivering for Texas SIGNED INTO LAW: After months of legislative efforts from a bipartisan coalition of Texas lawmakers led by Sen. Cruz, the annual defense authorization bill included language to streamline the presidential permitting process for building key bridges across the Rio Grande in Brownsville, Laredo, and Eagle Pass, Texas. Sen. Cruz also wrote a letter to the Biden administration in support of the Puerto Verde Global Trade Bridge (PVGTB)presidential permit application. SECURED BIPARTISAN, BICAMERAL SUPPORT: Sen. Cruz led the fight for U.S. diplomats and officials of the U.S. Section of the International Boundary Commission to have the necessary resources to ensure Mexico’s compliance with the 1944 Treaty on Utilization of Waters of the Colorado, Tijuana, and Rio Grande Rivers. A bipartisan majority of senators supported his efforts. PASSED THE U.S. SENATE: Sen. Cruz led efforts to formally name the Ports-to-Plains Corridor through Texas and New Mexico asInterstate 27, which will boost economic growth in Texas. Sen. Cruz participated in agriculture roundtables with industry leaders from the coast to the panhandle as he works to ensure our farmers and ranchers have the resources they need for Texas agriculture to thrive. Sen. Cruz sent a letter calling out FEMAfor rejecting the City of Corpus Christi’s appeal for additional funding for the Packery Channel Restoration Project to rebuild after damage caused by Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Sen. Cruz sent a letter to President Biden supporting Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s request for an emergency disaster declaration to provide federal assistance to Texans impacted by severe weather, including tornadoes and heavy rain, in Harris, Jefferson, Liberty, and Orange counties. Sen. Cruz sent a letter to the Biden administration supporting Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s request for an emergency disasterdeclaration to provide federal assistance to Texans impacted by Winter Storm Mara. Sen. Cruz introduced the Highway Formula Modernization Act, bipartisan legislation that would direct the Department of Transportation to reevaluate the funding formulas used to distribute federal highway dollars to ensure we invest properly in Texas highways and highways across the nation. Sen. Cruz introduced the Improving Access to Our Courts Act to provide an additional court – located in Alpine, Texas – to those served by the Pecos Division of the Western District of Texas. Following reports of mail theft in the Galveston area, Sen. Cruz introduced the Upholding a Secure Postal System (USPS) Act that would require the Comptroller General of the United States to submit a report to Congress on nationwide mail theft trends, and what the Postal Service is doing to combat theft. Boosting Jobs and the Economy Sen. Cruz was awarded the 2022 Club for Growth Defender of Economic Freedom Award for dedication to promoting economic growthand championing issues related to limited government. Sen. Cruz introduced the Cost Recovery and Expensing Acceleration to Transform the Economy and Jumpstart Opportunities for Businesses and Startups (CREATE JOBS) Act to generate much-needed investment in America’s workforce, create jobs, and provide relief for struggling Americans. Sen. Cruz introduced the Capital Gains Inflation Relief Act, and legislation to make permanent the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act’s middle-class tax cuts. Sen. Cruz introduced the Chemical Tax Repeal Act to eliminate the Superfund Tax imposed by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Sen. Cruz introduced an amendment to repeal a provision from the 2021 infrastructure package that created new reporting requirements for many cryptocurrency and blockchain companies. The amendment would remove harmful regulations on the cryptocurrency industry that stifle innovation, endanger the privacy of Americans, and would push key aspects of the industry overseas. Sen. Cruz introduced the Adopting Cryptocurrency in Congress as an Exchange of Payment for Transactions Resolution, also known as the ACCEPT Resolution. Sen. Cruz introduced legislation to prohibit the Federal Reserve from developing a direct-to-consumer central bank digital currency, which could be used as a financial surveillance tool by the federal government. Sen. Cruz introduced the Federal Permitting Modernization Act (FAST Act) and the 90-day Review Act aimed at streamlining and expediting federal permitting for major infrastructure projects by putting more stringent timetables on federal agencies and courts to review projects. Sen. Cruz introduced legislation that will prevent companies that manage investment funds held in federal employee retirement accounts from using those holdings to vote in corporate shareholder meetings to force leftist Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies onto private sector businesses. Sen. Cruz introduced legislation to eliminate the Office of Financial Research, a stark example of redundancy and unaccountability within the Treasury Department. Sen. Cruz introduced legislation to eliminate the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. Protecting Our Independent Judiciary and Combating the Weaponization of Government Sen. Cruz introduced a proposed constitutional amendment that would ensure only nine justices could serve on the U.S. Supreme Court at a time. Sen. Cruz led a Supreme Court amicus brief in the case Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo arguing that the doctrine of “Chevron deference” violates Articles I, II, and III of the Constitution. Sen. Cruz filed a Supreme Court amicus brief in the case Washington Alliance of Technology Workers v. Department of Homeland Security in support of a Petition for a Writ of Certiorari, seeking Supreme Court review of the unlawful issuance of student visas by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Sen. Cruz sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland confronting the Department of Justice for surveilling the personal communications of attorneys advising congressional oversight committees. Sen. Cruz filed an amicus brief in the case Estados Unidos Mexicanos v. Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. with the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit to support the Second Amendment and American sovereignty. Sen. Cruz sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland at the Department of Justice requesting an investigation into why radical environmental organizations have been able to accept foreign money without registering under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). Sen. Cruz introduced Eric’s Law, a bill that aims to deliver justice to victims and their families in federal death penalty cases. Sen. Cruz introduced a joint resolution pursuant to the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to fight a D.C. Council measure that would allow illegal aliens to vote in local D.C. elections. Sen. Cruz introduced a series of bills to stop the lingering authoritarian COVID-19 mandates and protect Americans fromunconstitutional federal mandates around the COVID-19 pandemic. Sen. Cruz led a coalition of Senate Republican committee ranking members in sounding the alarm over an attempt by the White House to hijack the rulemaking process to promote left-wing policy goals. Pushing Back on the Left’s Woke Agenda Sen. Cruz introduced bicameral legislation, the Safeguarding Free Speech Act, to prohibit federal agencies from forcing an employee or contractor to use personal pronouns that differ from an individual’s biological sex. Sen. Cruz introduced the Respect for Hispanic Americans Act, which would ban the use of the wholly-invented term “Latinx” in any official government communication by a federal agency or employee. Freeing American Energy and Dismantling Burdensome Environmental Regulations The International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) honored Sen. Cruz with the Legislator of the Year Award for championing policies and advocating and leading legislative efforts to promote U.S. energy. Sen. Cruz introduced the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales (CARS) Act to counter the Biden administration’s executive overreachbanning gasoline powered vehicles and establishing an electric vehicle mandate. Sen. Cruz introduced the Public Water Supply Invasive Species Compliance Act and the Saving America’s Vulnerable and Endangered Species Act (SAVES Act), which would remove regulatory burdens for ranchers and conservators engaged in captive breeding of exotic wildlife while promoting animal conservation in the United States. Sen. Cruz introduced a resolution pushing back on the implementation of a carbon tax. The resolution addresses the negative impacts of instituting a carbon tax. Sen. Cruz sent a letter to the Executive Director of the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (FPISC) against addingunnecessary bureaucratic barriers to the permitting process for domestic mining. Sen. Cruz introduced the Congressional Oversight of the Antiquities Act to reform the Antiquities Act of 1906 and require congressional approval for national monument designations. Sen. Cruz sent a letter calling on the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) to extend the public comment period for the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) financial assurance proposed rule. Sen. Cruz introduced legislation to amend the National Trails System Act and designate Route 66 as a National Historic Trail without harming Texas and American energy development projects in the areas around Route 66. Sen. Cruz sent a bipartisan letter to the Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer Granholm raising concern about a proposed rule by the DOE to change efficiency standards on distribution transformers—critical electric grid components. Sen. Cruz sent a letter to Secretary of the Department of the Treasury Janet Yellen condemning efforts by the Biden administration to use the U.S. tax code to penalize American energy production. Sen. Cruz introduced the Natural Gas Export Expansion Act, which would expedite the federal approval process for exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) and increase free trade. Sen. Cruz introduced the Energy Freedom Act, in order to make America energy secure again by accelerating federal permitting for energy projects and pipelines, mandating new onshore and offshore oil and gas lease sales, approving pending liquified natural gas (LNG) export licenses, and generally speeding up solar, wind, and geothermal development. Sen. Cruz introduced the Black Vulture Relief Act, which would alleviate burdensome government regulations and allow farmers to protect their newborn livestock from black vultures without a depredation permit whenever their livestock is threatened. Backing Law Enforcement PASSED THE SENATE: Sen. Cruz sponsored a resolution commemorating the bicentennial of the Texas Ranger Division of the Texas Department of Public Safety. Sen. Cruz introduced the Back the Blue Act, which would increase penalties for criminals who target law enforcement officers and provide new tools for officers to protect themselves. Sen. Cruz introduced legislation that would protect the brave men and women of law enforcement by criminalizing fleeing from agents or officers in a high-speed chase. The bill is named in honor of Border Patrol Agent Raul Gonzalez, Jr., who died in the line of duty while pursuing a group of illegal aliens near Mission, Texas. Combating the Drug Crisis and Increasing Healthcare Access SIGNED INTO LAW: Sen. Cruz’s Testing, Rapid Analysis, and Narcotic Quality (TRANQ) Research Act is now law. It will direct the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to take steps to enhance understanding of the dangerous animal tranquilizer xylazine, or tranq and other novel synthetic drugs, develop new tests for detection, and establish partnerships with front-line entities that are often the first points of contact with new street drugs. Sen. Cruz introduced bipartisan legislation to address the online sale of counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl. Sen. Cruz introduced the Reciprocity Ensures Streamlined Use of Lifesaving Treatments Act, to expand healthcare innovation and accessibility for Texans and all Americans by increasing access for all Americans to life-saving drugs, devices, and other medical therapies already approved in other trusted countries. Defending the Right to Life Sen. Cruz sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland demanding answers about allegations that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was secretly surveilling recent meetings of the pro-life group Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising (PAAU). Sen. Cruz led the effort to demand answers from Lonnie G. Bunch III, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institute, about the reported harassment of a pro-life Catholic school group at the National Air and Space Museum. Sen. Cruz sent a bicameral letter to the National Archives and Records Administration acting archivist Debra Steidel Wall urging a prompt response regarding the treatment of several pro-life Americans at the National Archives Museum on January 20, 2023. Championing Our Military and Veterans SIGNED INTO LAW: Sen. Cruz authored the bipartisan, bicameral bill that renamed a Texas post office after Spc. Vanessa Guillén, a 20-year-old soldier of the United States Army stationed at Fort Hood Army Base who was murdered by another soldier on base. SIGNED INTO LAW: Sen. Cruz’s Changing Age-Determined Eligibility to Student Incentive Payments (CADETS) Act expanded the age of eligibility for the Student Incentive Payment Program at the Maritime Administration, granting financial assistance to cadets who attend one of six state maritime academies, including Texas A&M Maritime Academy, and who commit to a post-graduation service obligation. SIGNED INTO LAW: Sen. Cruz spearheaded a bipartisan amendment to the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)prohibiting the sale of Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) crude oil to China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Sen. Cruz introduced an amendment to the FY24 NDAA that build on the NDAA of 2023, to support servicemembers who were wrongly discharged solely based on their COVID-19 vaccine status. Sen. Cruz introduced the Pay Our Coast Guard Act, bicameral, bipartisan legislation to ensure Coast Guardsmen are paid just like other military personnel in the event of a government shutdown. Sen. Cruz sent a bipartisan letter to the United States National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) requesting answers on the backlog of veterans’ service record requests impacting their access to critical government benefits and services. Sen. Cruz introduced legislation that creates an opt-in for military families to establish Military Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) to help fund their child’s education and expand access to personalized, high-quality educational experiences. SIGNED INTO LAW: Sen. Cruz introduced the Deterring Egregious State Infiltration of Schools’ Training (DESIST) Act, which would prohibit the Department of Defense from establishing or maintaining a Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) program at any private school operated or controlled by entities linked to the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Chinese Communist Party (CCP), or the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). This amendment was included in the FY24 NDAA. Advocating for Our Students Sen. Cruz introduced and fought for the immediate passage of his Securing Our Schools Act and the Protect Our Children’s Schools Act, which would improve school security and access to student mental health resources and allow schools to use unspent, previously appropriated federal COVID-19 education-related funding to improve school security. Sen. Cruz sent a letter to Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, urging the Biden administration to address the growing rates of antisemitism in K-12 schools following Hamas’s war against Israel. Standing Up to America’s Enemies and Adversaries, While Standing with Her Allies PASSED THE U.S. SENATE: Sen. Cruz spearheaded the passage of his bipartisan legislation to rename the street outside of the Cuban embassy in Washington, D.C. as “Oswaldo Payá Way” after the Cuban dissident leader who was assassinated by Cuba’s communist regime. Sen. Cruz introduced the Protecting America from Spies Act, legislation that would make individuals who have committed acts of espionage or intellectual property theft against the United States ineligible for visas, as well as the family members of such individuals, for a period of five years. Standing with Israel Sen. Cruz sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken calling on him to rescind discriminatory guidance issued by the State Department halting bilateral scientific and technological cooperation in certain Israeli-held territories. Sen. Cruz sent a letter to Harvard University President Claudine Gay demanding that the university condemn the antisemitic statementsmade by student organizations on campus. Sen. Cruz introduced the Hamas Sanctions Act, the first piece of legislation to comprehensively target Hamas. The legislation wouldimpose sanctions on Hamas, its members and affiliates, and countries that provide funding and territory for Hamas operations. Countering the Iranian regime Sen. Cruz introduced the Strengthening Entry Visa Enforcement and Restrictions Act, or SEVER Act, to block the Biden administrationfrom allowing Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and other sanctioned individuals linked to the Iranian regime to enter the United States. Sen. Cruz introduced legislation to prohibit the Biden administration from waiving Congressional sanctions that prohibit cooperation on Iran’s nuclear program. Countering Communist China PASSED THE U.S. SENATE: Sen. Cruz gained unanimous support for his resolution calling for the release of wrongfully detained Texan Mark Swidan, who is imprisoned in China. Sen. Cruz introduced the Protecting Military Installations and Ranges Act, to stop adversaries from acquiring land near military bases, and military areas, which puts our military and national security at risk. Sen. Cruz introduced the Stop Higher Education Espionage and Theft (SHEET) Act to counter Chinese espionage efforts in American universities. Supporting freedom and opposing oppression in Central and South America Sen. Cruz introduced a resolution supporting the Alliance for Development in Democracy (ADD), a multilateral initiative by American allies in Latin America including Panama, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, and Ecuador. Sen. Cruz sent a letter to President Biden calling on his administration to reverse political concessions and increase pressure on the Maduro regime in Venezuela, after the administration eased economic pressure as part of a deal related to the Venezuelan elections in 2024. Sen. Cruz introduced the Corruption in Argentina Stymied by Enforcing Sanctions Act of 2023, or CASES Act, which would require the President to investigate five Argentinian officials for corruption, including Argentina’s Vice President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. Fighting to Secure the Southern Border Sen. Cruz introduced the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act, which would allow local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration authorities and would pull taxpayer-funded grants going to sanctuary cities. Sen. Cruz introduced the FINISH IT Act, which would require the federal government to use previously purchased and unused border wall panels to extend the wall along the U.S.-Mexico border or to transfer them to state governments to be used for wall construction. Sen. Cruz sent a letter to President Biden urging the White House to reverse the administration’s decision to end Title 42. Sen. Cruz led Republican Senate colleagues on a trip to the U.S.-Mexico border to Brownsville, Texas on the eve of the end of Title 42 to meet with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, the Texas National Guard, and other law enforcement officials. Sen. Cruz introduced bicameral legislation to amend federal law and impose a mandatory minimum sentence of five years for any person who has multiple convictions, or a conviction for an aggravated felony, who enters the country illegally. Sen. Cruz traveled to Texas’ maritime border at South Padre Island to visit key Coast Guard stations and hear directly from the men and women of the Coast Guard about what resources they need to keep Texas’ maritime borders safe and secure. Sen. Cruz introduced the Schools Not Shelters Act, which passed the House with bipartisan support, to protect and prioritize students by prohibiting K-12 schools, colleges, and universities that receive federal funding from being used as shelters to house illegal aliens. Sen. Cruz introduced an amendment to add the Secure the Border Act to the continuing resolution to stop the Biden Border Crisis dead in its tracks and halt the invasion at our southern border. Sen. Cruz led Republican Senate colleagues on a trip to the U.S.-Mexico border to witness the impacts of the millions of illegal immigrants who have flooded through the southern border, the rising rates of drug smuggling, and the increasing national security threats due to President Biden’s open border policies. Sen. Cruz sent a letter to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas calling on the Biden administration to address a text message, discovered by El Paso Sector Intelligence, soliciting personal information of Border Patrol agents and their families. Sen. Cruz sent a letter to Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas demanding that the Biden administration immediately address the influx of “special interest aliens” who have been arrested at the southern border. Leading Republican Legislative Initiatives as the Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce Committee PASSED THE U.S. SENATE: Sen. Cruz advanced legislation that would streamline the CHIPS permitting reform process, removing burdensome hurdles to achieving environmental reviews and permits. The amendment, which passed the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support in July, would provide regulatory certainty and accelerate the construction of semiconductor manufacturing plants. Sen. Cruz introduced the bipartisan, bicameral AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act to require automakers to maintain AM broadcast radio in vehicles. In Texas, over 88,000 jobs are tied to radio. Sen. Cruz introduced bipartisan legislation that passed the Commerce Committee to require all event ticket sellers to display the total ticket price—including all required fees—in any advertisement or marketing materials. Sen. Cruz led bipartisan efforts to stop three Biden administration nominees over lack of experience or radical policy positions. Sen. Cruz introduced legislation to limit children’s access to social media at school by requiring schools receiving federal broadband funding to prohibit access on subsidized services, devices, and networks. Sen. Cruz unveiled a discussion draft of legislation aimed at addressing major issues in college athletics that have wrought a patchwork of pending litigation, inconsistent state laws, and labor complaints. Sen. Cruz and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va), Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, introduced the Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act, legislation that would block the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) from banning gas stoves. Sen. Cruz and Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, introduced the Informing Consumers about Smart Devices Act, legislation that would require the FTC to create reasonable disclosure guidelines for products that have audio or visual recording components, such as refrigerators, washers, dryers and dishwashers that are not clearly obvious. This legislation passed the Commerce Committee. Sen. Cruz sent a letter to Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) President and CEO Patricia de Stacy Harrison, expressing objections to a CPB mandate that radio and television stations must engage in affirmative action to qualify for grant funding. Sen. Cruz sent a letter to Eventbrite President and CEO Julia Hartz requesting details regarding the firm’s seemingly inconsistent enforcement of community guidelines targeting conservatives, which has resulted in the removal of events featuring comments from Riley Gaines, while permitting feature speakers espousing allegiance to Hamas. Sen. Cruz sent a letter to the U.S. Department of State, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and National Science Foundation (NSF) to turn over information regarding their role in helping facilitate the censorshipof Americans’ constitutionally protected speech online. Sen. Cruz led 27 of his colleagues in calling on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to rescind its draft order on “Digital Discrimination,” which would give the federal government control over nearly every aspect of the Internet while opening broadband providers to expansive, indeterminate, and crippling liability under a “disparate impact” standard. Sen. Cruz sent a letter to Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey demanding answers regarding the company’s decision to delete references to a donation the company made to the Black Lives Matter Global Network. Sen. Cruz asked the National Science Foundation (NSF) to turn over information regarding its taxpayer-funded censorship, including doling out tens of millions of dollars in grants to universities building online censorship tools and developing “trauma support” therapy for journalists. Sen. Cruz led more than 100 other lawmakers in calling on Congressional leaders to include Sens. Cruz and Kelly’s amendment to streamline the CHIPS permitting reform process in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Sen. Cruz led a bicameral coalition of federal lawmakers calling on the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to reverse its suspension of rules allowing liquefied natural gas (LNG) by rail. Sen. Cruz led Commerce Committee Republican members in sending a letter to companies X, Meta, TikTok, and Google seeking information on their content moderation policies during the Israel-Hamas war, and asking the companies to commit to fully preserving a documentary history of Hamas’s atrocities. Sen. Cruz led a group of senators in urging the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to withdraw a proposed rule designating more than 28,270 square miles of the Gulf of Mexico, an area larger than West Virginia, as a “critical habitat” for the newly discovered Rice’s whale—a clear attempt to shut down oil and gas operations in the area over a single sighting of a whale in 2017. Sen. Cruz sent a letter pressing Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg about the decision-making behind certain grants to the Amtrak NY-NJ Gateway Program and asked the Department of Transportation (DOT) to commit to giving fair consideration to the whole country for grants, rather than favoring the Northeast Corridor. Sen. Cruz sent a letter to the administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) demanding answers on whether the deployment of federal air marshals to assist along the southwest border is risking the safety of the flying public. Sen. Cruz sent a letter to the newly sworn-in Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner, Anna Gomez, urging her to oppose FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel’s plan to expand the E-rate program beyond school classrooms and libraries. The proposed expansion of funding, including to fund Wi-Fi hotspots on school buses, is not only unlawful (the statute only allows for connectivity spending for classrooms and libraries) but raises concerns about subsidizing children’s unsupervised internet access to social media sites like TikTok and Instagram on their bus rides to and from school. Sen. Cruz and House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) today sent a letter to the law firm Sher Edling LLP demanding information related to the firm’s barrage of lawsuits targeting energy companies, and the role the acting administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Ann Carlson, played in these lawsuits while serving as a professor at UCLA Law School. Sen. Cruz took to the Senate floor requesting unanimous consent to pass the Pay Our Coast Guard Act, bicameral, bipartisan legislation he introduced with Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.). The Pay Our Coast Guard Act would ensure Coast Guardsmen are paid just like other military personnel in the event of a government shutdown. Sen. Cruz led all Committee Republicans in sending a letter to President Biden, blasting the administration for violating the Vacancies Act by allowing Ann Carlson, who was effectively rejected by the Senate to be administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), to serve as acting head of the agency. Sen. Cruz joined Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) on an amicus brief in a case concerning the Biden administration’s decision to alter the terms of “Lease Sale 261,” an oil and gas lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico required by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Sen. Cruz released a fact-finding report on the single largest pot of federal money ever allocated for broadband—the $42.45 billion allocation for the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program. Sen. Cruz sent a letter to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairwoman Lina Khan seeking answers regarding her plans to regulate artificial intelligence for “disinformation” and “bias.” The letter explains that the FTC’s review of large language models used to train AI, which comes without any explicit statutory congressional authorization, may also infringe on constitutionally-protected speech. Sen. Cruz sent letters to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairwoman Lina Khan and the head of the European Union’s San Francisco office, demanding answers regarding the degree of coordination between the FTC and the EU to enforce the EU’s Digital Services Act (“DSA”) and Digital Markets Act (“DMA”) on U.S. soil. Sen. Cruz and Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Joe Manchin (D-W.Va), announced that they had secured a bipartisan amendment to prevent the Biden administration from banning gas stoves in households across America in the Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) funding bill. The amendment largely mirrors the bipartisan Gas Stoves Protection and Freedom Act that they had introduced together in February that would preclude CPSC from using federal funds to ban gas stoves or impose regulations that would substantially increase the costs of gas stoves to make them unaffordable for Americans. Sen. Cruz sent a letter to Vice Admiral Joanna Nunan, the superintendent of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), demanding answers about the safety of cadets in light of disturbing remarks by the school’s sexual assault prevention and response (SAPR) director. Sen. Cruz and Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) sent a bipartisan letter to seven automakers that either removed or planned to remove broadcast AM radio in their current and future vehicle models, including electric vehicles, urging the automakers to make a commitment to keep AM radio in their vehicles. Sen. Cruz sent a letter to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairwoman Lina Khan regarding the troubling drop in employee morale at the agency. Sen. Cruz led a coalition of Senate Republican committee ranking members in sounding the alarm over an attempt by the White House to hijack the rulemaking process to advance left-wing policy goals that have been rejected by Congress. Sen. Cruz published a 13-page memo to the beer industry’s self-regulatory body detailing how Bud Light’s sponsorship of Dylan Mulvaney violated industry standards that prohibit marketing to underage individuals. Sen. Cruz sent a letter to President Biden, urging him to immediately nominate a “serious and well-qualified person with substantial aviation experience” to serve as Federal Aviation Administration administrator. Sen. Cruz sent a letter to Meta Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg demanding answers about reporting from the Wall Street Journal describing how Instagram’s recommendation systems actively facilitated the production, purchase, and possession of child sexual abuse material. Sen. Cruz and Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) opened an investigation into and called on the beer industry’s self-regulatory body—the Beer Institute—to investigate whether Anheuser-Busch’s partnership with influencer Dylan Mulvaney violates the Beer Institute’s guidelines prohibiting marketing to underage individuals. The letter outlines evidence showing that Dylan Mulvaney’s audience skews younger than the legal drinking age and that Mulvaney’s social media content appeals to young viewers. Sen. Cruz sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission Acting Inspector General asking that she open an investigation into whether FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel’s unprecedented actions against the Standard General-TEGNA transaction, including the decision to have the FCC’s Media Bureau designate the transaction for an Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) hearing, were motivated by a biased desire to block the deal. Sen. Cruz and House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) sent bicameral letters to Consumer Reports, the Climate Imperative Foundation, and Stacey Abrams’ Rewiring America group. Sen. Cruz led his Senate Commerce Republican colleagues in sending a letter highlighting serious concerns regarding President Biden’s nominee to lead the National Highway Transportation Administration (NHTSA), Ann Carlson, and her past record of promoting green energy mandates for the automobile industry. Sen. Cruz and House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) sent a bicameral letter to Mary Daly, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco (“SF Fed”), regarding the SF Fed’s failure to properly ensure the safety and soundness of Silicon Valley Bank (“SVB”) and to comply with congressional oversight requests about SVB’s collapse. Sen. Cruz sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg requesting information related to the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) long-running inability to address congestion and air traffic controller shortages in the New York region. Sen. Cruz and Republican committee members sent a letter expressing concern that President Biden and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg are improperly favoring Northeastern states over the rest of the country with respect to Amtrak Board seats and a large taxpayer-funded rail grant program. Sen. Cruz sent letters to nine Big Tech firms seeking information about coordination with more than 40 government officials who were attempting to flag, censor, and investigate the content and accounts of Americans online. Sen. Cruz led a letter with more than a dozen Senate Republican colleagues to Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo urging the administration to strike a number of liberal social policy conditions that were attached to grants for domestic chip production. Few of the requirements on the $39 billion in money, such as requiring applicants to develop plans around mass transit use and affordable housing, were found in the CHIPS Act, a bill enacted last year meant to help re-shore semiconductor manufacturing. Sen. Cruz sent a series of letters to Biden regulators and left-wing environmental advocacy groups seeking information and preservation of documents regarding their role in the Biden administration’s recent efforts to ban gas stoves. Sen. Cruz and Rep. Jim Jordan opened a probe into the Federal Trade Commission’s investigation of Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover. Sen. Cruz called on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to rescind its costly, radical proposed rule to require government contractors to provide extensive information about greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Sen. Cruz sent a letter to the Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) seeking information about its lengthy delays in reaching decisions on applications for deepwater ports for exporting oil and natural gas. The letter also urged MARAD to meet its statutory deadlines to make decisions. Currently, four of the seven applications for licenses are for projects located off the coast of Texas. Sen. Cruz sent a letter to social media companies Meta, Google, Twitter, and TikTok launching an oversight investigation into these companies’ use of recommendation algorithms and their reported use of “blacklists,” “de-emphasizing,” and other means of “reduced distribution” of content from users, including many conservatives. Sen. Cruz, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) sent a letter to the CEOs of DirectTV and its controlling shareholders, AT&T and TPG, voicing deep concerns about DirecTV’s decision to drop conservative news network Newsmax. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://crenshaw.house.gov/2023/12/crenshaw-s-psychedelic-research-provision-signed-into-law,Crenshaw's Psychedelic Research Provision Signed into Law,2023-12-22,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Dan Crenshaw,C001120,crenshaw.house.gov,crenshaw,https://crenshaw.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC - Legislation led by Representative Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) to research the use of psychedelics to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) in active-duty servicemembers was signed into law as part of this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Originally introduced as H.R. 3684, this provision is focused on ending the suicide epidemic plaguing our active-duty and veteran populations. “I’ve led this two years in a row in the House, and now finally got it into the final bill with the Senate,” said Crenshaw. “I’m thrilled. This will save lives and potentially revolutionize the way we treat all types of PTSD.” “The inclusion of psychedelic research in the NDAA marks a pivotal turn in our journey to revolutionize mental health care for our military,” said Amber Capone, CEO and co-founder of Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions (VETS). “The unwavering support and dedication of our community, combined with the collaborative efforts of policymakers like Rep. Crenshaw, have been instrumental in achieving this milestone. This is more than a legislative success; it's a beacon of hope, promising innovative and effective treatments for those who have selflessly served our nation.” “This legislation is a historic accomplishment for our Country, our servicemembers, and for science. This achievement, coupled with the recent actions of the VA, have shown psychedelic-assisted therapies are moving from theoretical ideas to tangible therapeutic treatments,” said former Congresswoman Mimi Walters, chair of the patient advocacy group, Apollo Pact. “This will give our active-duty service men and women more options to heal. I commend Reps. Crenshaw & Luttrell on their leadership to bring innovative solutions to the forefront.” Background Retired U.S. Navy SEAL Representative Morgan Luttrell co-led the legislation and offered it as an amendment to this year’s NDAA. Under Crenshaw’s bill, the Secretary of Defense is directed to establish a clinical trial grant program for the use of psychedelic substances to treat PTSD and TBI in active-duty servicemembers. A recent FDA Phase 3 Trial of MDMA-Assisted Therapy for PTSD found that 71% of participants who received three MDMA-assisted therapy sessions no longer qualified for a PTSD diagnosis and 86% experienced a clinically meaningful reduction in symptoms, underscoring the significant impact psychedelic treatment can have on those suffering from trauma-related disorders. The bill has a broad, bipartisan coalition of co-sponsors: Reps. Luttrell, Bergman, Van Orden, Zinke, Gaetz, Ocasio-Cortez, Laurel Lee, Mace, Correa, Moskowitz, Khanna, Blumenauer, Trone, and Bill Johnson.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cruz-demands-answers-about-temporarily-shuttered-international-railway-crossings-in-texas-diverted-cbp-resources-to-process-illegal-aliens,"Cruz Demands Answers About Temporarily Shuttered International Railway Crossings in Texas, Diverted CBP Resources to Process Illegal Aliens",2023-12-22,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,TX,Ted Cruz,C001098,www.cruz.senate.gov,cruz,https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) sent a letter to Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Pete Buttigieg, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, and Tom Vilsack, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, demanding answers about U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s decision to temporarily close two international railway crossing bridges in Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas, and divert CBP resources to help process illegal aliens, who are unlawfully entering the U.S. in record numbers. Sen. Cruz asked for answers about who made these decisions, what led to the decisions, and how CBP plans to prevent this from happening again. Closing these international railway crossings delayed hundreds of thousands of tons of consumer and agriculture goods from traveling between the U.S. and Mexico. This is the second time since September that DHS has closed an international bridge in response to uncontrolled numbers of illegal aliens. In the letter, Sen. Cruz wrote,“…by shutting down legal border crossings to accommodate the surge of illegal aliens flooding the border at Eagle Pass, you have created a national security threat of the highest degree. You are also signaling to the world that the United States government—and certainly your Department—will put the interests of foreign citizens over the needs of American people and businesses. Furthermore, by ceding operational control of our southern border to criminal cartels that are ferrying terrorists, drugs, and dangerous criminals, you have effectively turned Border Patrol into a travel agency rather than a law enforcement organization. It goes without saying that this is an outrage and a total breakdown of law-and-order.” Read the full letter here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://gonzales.house.gov/2023/12/rep-tony-gonzales-to-congressional-leadership-failure-to-act-on-border-may-lead-to-a-point-of-no-return,Rep. Tony Gonzales to Congressional Leadership: Failure to Act on Border May Lead to a Point of No Return,2023-12-21,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Tony Gonzales,G000594,gonzales.house.gov,gonzales,https://gonzales.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"EAGLE PASS, TEXAS – Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) sent a letter to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (LA-04), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) urging the four corners of leadership in Congress to take emergency action to secure the border. “Our southern border is in the worst state it has ever been. As the U.S. Representative for the largest border district in Congress, I do not say that lightly. Today, I am calling on all lawmakers to take emergency action to secure our border. Failure to act may lead to a point of no return,” Congressman Tony Gonzales wrote. “In my district specifically, local communities have no further resources to continue sustaining migrants. Their limited budgets are being drained by this crisis, and they are not being reimbursed by the federal government. Local law enforcement has engaged in countless high-speed pursuits with human smugglers, some of which have led to innocent American bystanders losing their lives. We know what policies are needed to end this chaos, and we need to act on them now. There is no time to delay further on this issue.” The full letter can be found here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://luttrell.house.gov/media/press-releases/luttrell-introduces-ctpat-pilot-program-act,Luttrell Introduces CTPAT Pilot Program Act,2023-12-21,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Morgan Luttrell,L000603,luttrell.house.gov,luttrell,https://luttrell.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Morgan Luttrell (R-TX), along with Congresswomen Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), and Rob Menendez (D-NJ), introduced the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) Pilot Program Act. This legislation would pilot expanding CTPAT to include “freight forwarders” and warehouses, helping reduce disruption of international trade, strengthen border security, and reduce supply chain congestion. The Senate companion was introduced by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Tom Carper (D-DE) and passed with bipartisan support. “I’m proud to introduce legislation to support a much-needed pilot program that would assess the national security value of including additional trade partners in CTPAT,” said Congressman Luttrell. “This legislation would provide a path to more security at our borders, as well as enhance the security of the supply chain while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade. Strengthening our national security while boosting our supply chain is common sense legislation and I look forward to this bill passing in the House with bipartisan support.” Following 9/11, Congress created the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) program, a partnership between supply chain leaders and the federal government to expedite freight through the country safely and securely. However, the original legislation left out critical links in cross-border supply chains that play a key role in moving goods to the final customer.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-roy-and-sen-cruz-demand-answers-texas-college-firing-teacher-who-said,Rep. Roy and Sen. Cruz demand answers from Texas college for firing a teacher who said there are only two genders,2023-12-21,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Chip Roy,R000614,roy.house.gov,roy,https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC — On Wednesday, Representative Chip Roy (TX-21) and Senator Ted Cruz (TX) demanded answers from St. Philip’s College in San Antonio, Texas for allegedly terminating a professor, Dr. Johnson Varkey, for saying that there are only two genders. The lawmakers wrote in a letter,“It is our understanding that in January 2023, your institution terminated the employment of Dr. Johnson Varkey, a longtime adjunct professor, for teaching standard human biology and reproduction principles consistent with the school-approved curriculum that he had taught for consecutively for nearly twenty years.” Dr. Varkey had consistently received exemplary reviews throughout his tenure until November 28, 2022, when reports indicate four students walked out of his class after he articulated the scientific fact that sex is a fixed characteristic determined prior to birth by X and Y chromosomes. The legislators said,“Dr. Varkey received a Notice of Discipline and Termination of Employment and Contract letter from your administration alleging that the college ‘received numerous complaints’ about his ‘religious preaching, discriminatory comments about homosexuals and transgender individuals, anti-abortion rhetoric, and misogynistic banter’ and that Dr. Varkey’s teaching ‘pushed beyond the bounds of academic freedom with [his] personal opinions that were offensive to many individuals in the classroom.’” “Regrettably, this incident is not an isolated occurrence at St. Philip’s College and the broader Alamo Colleges District. Instead, recent history reveals a pattern of targeting and penalizing educators who refuse to capitulate to the prevailing progressive narrative… Given that St. Philip’s College receives federal funding, we hope that your administration can address this matter with both swiftness and clarity.” the Texas lawmakers wrote. The letter is also signed by Representative Michael Cloud (TX-27), Lance Gooden (TX-05), and Dan Crenshaw (TX-02). Read the full letter here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cruz-statement-on-americans-including-texans-freed-from-maduro-custody-in-venezuela,"Cruz Statement on Americans, Including Texans, Freed from Maduro Custody in Venezuela",2023-12-21,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,TX,Ted Cruz,C001098,www.cruz.senate.gov,cruz,https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following the announcement that ten Americans, including three Texans, have been freed from captivity in Venezuela, where they were held by the Maduro regime, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said, “I’m pleased these Americans, including Texans Luke Denman, Airan Berry, and Jerrel Kenemore, will finally be reunited with their loved ones here at home. I have long called on the Maduro regime to release them and for the United States to impose pressure on the regime until it did so, and it is heartening that their unjust ordeal is over. Nevertheless, I continue to be concerned that the Biden administration’s hostage diplomacy, in this case the release of criminal and terrorist financier Alex Saab, sends a message to terrorists and other American adversaries abroad that American hostages can be used as bargaining chips. “This news must also deepen our focus and commitment to bring back all Americans who are wrongfully detained overseas. Texan Mark Swidan remains unjustly imprisoned by the Chinese Communist Party, and the Biden administration must do everything it can to secure his release.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sens-cruz-britt-introduce-legislation-to-bar-non-citizens-from-voting-in-federal-elections,"Sens. Cruz, Britt Introduce Legislation to Bar Non-Citizens from Voting in Federal Elections",2023-12-21,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,TX,Ted Cruz,C001098,www.cruz.senate.gov,cruz,https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Katie Britt (R-Ala.), members on the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, joined together with their colleagues on the committee to introduce the Citizen Ballot Protection Act. This bill would ensure states have the authority to verify that only American citizens are voting in federal elections. The bill specifically amends Section 6 of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) of 1993, to explicitly allow states to put in place a proof of citizenship requirement for both the federal mail voter registration form, and any state mail voter registration forms they might develop. Upon introducing the bill, Sen. Cruz said, “Voting is a privilege and right reserved for American citizens to participate democratically in deciding the leadership of our country. Under Joe Biden’s watch, the integrity of our electoral process has been compromised. Democrat-run jurisdictions have violated our electoral process by granting an open invitation to any non-citizen or illegal alien to unconstitutionally participate in voting in local elections. This presents an unreasonable risk of cross-contamination of ballots and voting by non-citizens in federal elections. We must uphold the integrity of our electoral system by requiring voters to provide proof of citizenship before casting a vote at the ballot box.” Cosigners of the bill include Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Senate Rules Committee Ranking Member Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), and Sens. Shelly Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.). Read the full text of the bill here. Background: Sen. Cruz has spearheaded several efforts to block non-citizens from voting in elections including: Introducing legislation to prohibit the Washington D.C. city government from using federal funds to facilitate non-citizen voting in elections in our nation’s capital; Introducing a joint resolution pursuant to the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to fight a measure passed by the D.C. Council that would allow illegal aliens to vote in local D.C. elections. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sens-cruz-coons-colleagues-introduce-bipartisan-resolution-urging-steps-to-restore-deterrence-against-iran-proxies-attacking-us-troops,"Sens. Cruz, Coons, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Urging Steps to Restore Deterrence Against Iran Proxies Attacking U.S. Troops",2023-12-21,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,TX,Ted Cruz,C001098,www.cruz.senate.gov,cruz,https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), joined by 12 additional cosponsors, this week introduced a resolution urging the Biden administration to take all necessary steps to restore deterrence against Iran and Iranian proxies targeting Americans and American interests in the Middle East. American troops in the region have been targeted by Iran and Iranian proxies more than 115 times since mid-October. Iran provides financing, training, and other support to terrorist groups throughout the region, including the Houthis. Sen. Cruz said, “The Iranian regime is attacking Americans, our allies, and our interests across the Middle East. They are not only launching attacks and massacres against our Israeli and Arab allies, but their Houthi proxies are now trying to shut down freedom of navigation that is vital to the American and global economies. It is clear that they are not deterred, and it is long past time for the Biden administration to take all necessary steps to deter and counter these activities. Enough is enough.” Sen. Coons said, “Attacks on American troops are reprehensible, and Iranian support for these attacks has rightfully earned a swift and forceful response from the Biden administration. I join Senator Cruz in introducing this resolution to condemn these attacks, increase pressure on Iran to cease its support for violent militia groups, and support efforts to deter Iranian-backed militia attacks on U.S. troops and the international community. I also commend the resiliency and bravery of American service members across the Middle East and hope this resolution makes clear Congress’ support for U.S. Central Command’s mission of countering terrorism and maintaining stability across the region.” In addition to Sens. Coons and Cruz, the resolution is cosponsored by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.). The text of the full resolution is available here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://gonzales.house.gov/2023/12/rep-tony-gonzales-issues-statement-on-the-release-of-american-hostages-from-venezuela,Rep. Tony Gonzales Issues Statement on the Release of American Hostages in Venezuela,2023-12-20,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Tony Gonzales,G000594,gonzales.house.gov,gonzales,https://gonzales.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"EL PASO, TEXAS – Today, Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) released the below statement following the release of Americans Eyvin Hernandez, Jerrel Kenemore, and Joseph Cristella, who were wrongfully detained in Venezuela. “Today, Americans who were wrongfully detained in Venezuela were released, and have arrived safely back on U.S. soil. Among them were Eyvin Hernandez, Jerrel Kenemore, and Joseph Cristella, who had been wrongly imprisoned in Venezuela since last year by the Maduro regime,” said Congressman Tony Gonzales. “Last week, I sent a letter with bipartisan support alongside members of the For Country Caucus urging the Biden administration to secure their release as soon as possible. I am grateful Eyvin, Jerrel, Joseph, and the other American hostages who were detained have made it home safely.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://nehls.house.gov/media/press-releases/exclusive-rep-troy-nehls-biden-mayorkas-sheer-neglect-blame-international,"Exclusive — Rep. Troy Nehls: Biden, Mayorkas ‘Sheer Neglect’ to Blame for International Railway Crossing Closures",2023-12-20,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Troy E. Nehls,N000026,nehls.house.gov,nehls,https://nehls.house.gov/media,scraper,"Breitbart News By: Bradley Jaye Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) is criticizing Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for rail bridge closures in Texas in response to the border invasion. The Congressman from Texas sent a letter to Mayorkas blasting him for closures by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the international railway crossings at Eagle Pass and El Paso, accusing the Biden Administration of failing to understand how the border operates. Nehls says illegal aliens are not using the rail crossings in any significant numbers to enter the United States, and that while they often hitch rides to traverse the landscape in Mexico, they depart from the trains prior to entering the United States on foot. “The Biden Administration’s sheer neglect to secure our nation’s borders has resulted in not only a national security crisis, but a humanitarian crisis,” Nehls told Breitbart News. “Once again, rail traffic between the United States and Mexico has been disrupted, resulting in the strain of our nation’s supply chains, which will cause a ripple effect throughout our economy during the holiday season. “This is all because President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas have failed to secure our homeland. The consequences of the Biden Administration’s actions, or lack thereof, will be felt around the country.” Union Pacific and BNSF have been forced to halt their operations in Eagle Pass and El Paso, the second time in four months that the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (USCBP) has suspended rail operations at critical U.S.-Mexico international railway crossings. Nehls says these closures prevent legitimate trade, will supercharge inflation, and will cripple our nation’s agricultural producers. On October 5, Nehls sent a letter to Acting CBP Commissioner Troy Miller warning that unless immediate steps are taken to address this humanitarian crisis, it remains “very possible that CBP, or other relevant decision makers, will again close Eagle Pass rail gateway to freight traffic.” His warning appears to have fallen on deaf ears inside the Biden Administration. The border crisis has reached historic proportions under Biden and Mayorkas. Border Patrol agents assigned to the southwest U.S. border with Mexico apprehended approximately 121,000 migrants during the first 15 days of December, according to unofficial Border Patrol reports reviewed by Breitbart Texas. Another 11,000 migrants are listed as “got-aways.” Nehls is Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials and has also been a leader in Congress calling for tougher border security. Prior to serving in Congress, Chairman Nehls served in law enforcement for nearly 30 years and was the Sheriff of Fort Bend County, Texas.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://williams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-williams-condemns-bidens-veto-stands-firm-defense-main-street,"Rep. Williams Condemns Biden's Veto, Stands Firm in Defense of Main Street Against CFPB Overreach",2023-12-20,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Roger Williams,W000816,williams.house.gov,williams,https://williams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. –Congressman Roger Williams (TX-25) released the following statement on Wednesday following President Biden’sveto ofS.J. Res. 32, Senate companion forH.J. Res. 66, a Congressional Review Act disapproving of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) Dodd Frank Section 1071 Small Business Lending Data Collection Rule: “President Biden’s veto of S.J. Res. 32 has made it clear that he answers only to socialist unelected bureaucrats,""said Congressman Williams. “During a time when small businesses are facing historical inflation, backlogged supply chains, and increasing borrowing costs, the House and the Senate came together in a bipartisan fashion to protect Main Street from the CFPB’s overreaching and burdensome 1071 rule. American small businesses continue to pay the price of this Administration’s disastrous rule-making. I urge my colleagues in both chambers to come together to override Biden’s America-last veto and protect small businesses.” Background: S.J.Res.32 is a Congressional Review Act disapproving of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Dodd-Frank Section 1071 Small Business Lending Data Collection Rule. This legislation would bar the CFPB from enforcing the 1071 rule. Therule, published in the Federal Register on May 31, 2023, is more than 900 pages long and requires lenders to report 81 data fields, including race, sex, gender identity, and ethnicity of loan applicants. Section 1071 forces lenders to pass increased compliance costs onto small business owners through higher interest rates or fees and less credit availability. Among concerns on compliance costs, the February CFPB major data breach involving unauthorized use of sensitive personal and business data by a CFPB employee makes the risk of data leaks clear. Disapproval of the CFPB’s 1071 rule ensures that this burdensome rule does not take effect, unnecessary costs and harms to consumers are avoided, and that small businesses can maintain access to affordable credit, including from community banks, to support and grow our economy. S.J. Res. 32, which passed the Senate with bipartisan support, is the Senate companion toH.J. Res. 66, which was introduced by Congressman Williams in the House on May 31, 2023. Read Biden’sveto of this bipartisan legislation here. Read the bill texthere. ### Congressman Roger Williams is the Chairman of the House Small Business Committee and member of the House Financial Services Committee. He proudly represents the 25th Congressional District of Texas",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sens-cruz-marshall-rep-arrington-send-letter-calling-out-the-usdas-misguided-emergency-relief-program-requirements,"Sens. Cruz, Marshall, Rep. Arrington Blast USDA’s Discriminatory Emergency Relief Program Requirements",2023-12-20,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,TX,Ted Cruz,C001098,www.cruz.senate.gov,cruz,https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) along with Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) sent a letter to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) calling out the USDA’s discriminatory methodology for the Emergency Relief Program (ERP). Under the Biden administration’s 2022 ERP requirements, the purpose of the relief program is not to provide the greatest amount of relief to those farmers who’ve suffered the most from recent natural disasters, but instead to adjust payments based on a farmer or producer’s skin color and sex. Under the new requirements, farmers will receive a fraction of the amount they would previously have received, simply because of their color. This is blatantly discriminatory, and a shocking example of the Biden administration’s radical social agenda, pushed under thecover of “equity.” The USDA’s new methodology undermines the agriculture community and breaks a long-popular, highly praised, and well-functioning program. The new requirements will hurt Texas farmers and Texas agriculture. About the letter, Sen. Cruz said, “Texas and American farmers are vital to our thriving country. The cattle they raise and crops they grow are the very food on our table, and the USDA is actively attacking a huge swath of the Lone Star State’s ranchers and producers because they think people of one race need less help than people of another. This is taxpayer-funded racism, it is anti-American, and it will only increase the amount of foreign agricultural products that we consume. American farmers will suffer for it, and I was proud to call out this action with my colleagues in the House and Senate.” In the letter, the members wrote, “American producers have experienced significant losses, and the Administration has taken an approach that does not reflect Congressional intent. The current program does not provide needed assistance to full-time farm families that suffered the deepest losses, and in short, it misallocates limited but badly needed assistance.” Cosigners of the letter include, Sens. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Representatives Ronny Jackson (R-Texas) , August Pfluger (R-Texas), Frank Lucas (R-Okla.), Scott Franklin (R-Ga.), Jake LaTurner (R-Kan.), Jake Ellzey (R-Texas), Tracey Mann (R-Kan.), Mike Ezell (R-Miss.), Stephanie Bice (R-Okla.), Pete Sessions (R-Texas), Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), Nathaniel Moran (R-Texas), Michael Guest (R-Miss.), Lance Gooden (R-Texas), Dan Newhouse, (R-Wash.) Keith Self (R-Texas), Julia Letlow(R-La.), James Baird (R-Ind.), Troy Nehls (R-Texas), Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), John Rose (R-Tenn.), Adrian Smith (R-Neb.), Barry Moore (R-Ala.), Morgan Luttrell (R-Texas), Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), Brian Babin (R-Texas), Rick Allen (R-Ga.), Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.), Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Rick Crawford (R-Ark.), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Russell Fry (R-S.C.), Mike Flood (R-Neb.), Mark Alford (R-Mo.), Brad Finstad (R-Minn.), Kat Cammack (R-Fla.), Randy Weber (R-Texas), Michelle Fischbach (R-Minn.), John Moolenaar (R-Mich.), Wesley Hunt (R-Texas), Michael Cloud (R-Texas), John Carter (R-Texas), W. Gregory Steube (R-Fla.), Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), Ron Estes (R-Kan.), Kay Granger (R-Texas), Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), Michael Burgess (R-Texas), David Rouzer (R-N.C.), Roger Williams (R-Texas), Chip Roy (R-Texas), Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas), Pat Fallon (R-Texas), Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), Tony Gonzales (R-Texas), and Monica De La Cruz (R-Texas). Read the full text of the letter here or below. Dear Secretary Vilsack: We write to share our strong concerns regarding the methodology and implementation of the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Emergency Relief Program (ERP) 2022. As farm and ranch families across the country continue navigating challenges caused by various natural disasters, it is vital that proper assistance be delivered in an effective and timely manner. It is unacceptable that USDA’s announcement comes almost one year after Congress appropriated over $3 billion in funding to address natural disasters that occurred during the 2022 crop year through the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2023 (P.L. 117-328). This is especially true considering USDA had the framework of 2021 ERP Phase 1 available and Congress encouraged USDA to use such framework. American producers have experienced significant losses, and the Administration has taken an approach that does not reflect Congressional intent. The current program does not provide needed assistance to full-time farm families that suffered the deepest losses, and in short, it misallocates limited but badly needed assistance. Additionally, the methodology used for the 2022 ERP will negatively impact many farmers’ ability to receive financing from lenders and plan for the next crop year. Based on your regulation, farmers suffering losses who would have received assistance covering more than 75% of their calculated losses in 2020 or 2021 will now be capped at closer to 10%. For a mid-sized farm of 1,000 acres with calculated losses of $200 per acre ($200,000 in total losses), the vast difference between upward of $150,000 assistance in 2020 vs. $18,750 in 2022 could be the difference between survival and bankruptcy. Earlier this year, Members of Congress sent a bicameral letter to USDA pertaining to the ERP Phase II, requesting that USDA reconsider the fundamental changes under such an approach and utilize EPR Phase 1 framework for the 2022 crop year. Unfortunately, these concerns were not addressed, as evidenced by the two-track payment calculation system utilized in the current program. Furthermore, ERP for 2022 introduces a new payment limit, albeit under a novel name, the progressive payment factor. These factors have resulted in a system of winners and losers that punish the farm families hit hardest by disasters. Additionally, the 2020 and 2021 ERP payments were adjusted for premiums and administrative fees paid by all eligible producers whereas for 2022 payments this only benefits a limited number of producers. This change is also contrary to the statute. While this program is already unnecessarily delayed it is still imperative that USDA depart from its current path because of the major problems raised by producers and Congress. USDA needs to follow the law and Congressional intent to address the crop losses of our farm families without the pay limits and without preferences that are not authorized by the statute. We strongly request the USDA abandon this current program and implement the framework of 2021 ERP Phase 1 as quickly as possible. /x/ ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://nehls.house.gov/media/press-releases/joint-statement-ti-chair-sam-graves-and-railroads-subcommittee-chair-troy,Joint Statement of T&I Chair Sam Graves and Railroads Subcommittee Chair Troy Nehls on Freight Rail Border Closures,2023-12-19,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Troy E. Nehls,N000026,nehls.house.gov,nehls,https://nehls.house.gov/media,scraper,"Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) and Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee Chairman Troy Nehls (R-TX) joint statement on the U.S. Customs and Border Protections (CBP) closure of freight rail crossings at Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas: “The Biden Administration’s failed immigration policies and unwillingness to stem the flow of illegal migration are having a direct impact on transportation, international commerce, and the supply chain. This isn’t the first time this year that CBP was forced to close down freight rail crossings in order to deal with the challenges posed by the Biden border crisis, and the problems are getting worse. A prolonged shutdown of the tracks will have a disastrous impact on the supply chain and commerce, and this is just one of many reasons this administration needs to get this border crisis under control immediately.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sens-cruz-scott-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-crack-down-on-ccp-espionage,"Sens. Cruz, Scott, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Crack Down on CCP Espionage",2023-12-19,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,TX,Ted Cruz,C001098,www.cruz.senate.gov,cruz,https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) introduced legislation to require more stringent reporting requirements from diplomats of American adversaries. This bill also applies to foreign missions in the U.S. conducted by China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. This legislation requires a monthly report of the notification logs from the State Department to the President, Senate Homeland Security Committee, and Senate Foreign Relations Committee to ensure transparency around the business of foreign governments in the United States. The Countering Corrupt Political Influence Act (CCP Influence Act), builds upon the Trump administration policy that required the State Department to mandate that Chinese foreign missions, including its embassy and various consulates around the United States, notify the Department of State in advance of all official meetings with state officials, official meetings with local and municipal officials, official visits to educational institutions, and official visits to research institutions. Cosponsors include Sens. Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), and John Cornyn (R-Texas). Upon introduction, Senator Cruz said, “The Chinese Communist Party takes a whole of government and indeed often whole of nation approach to advancing its national security interests, including through global influence and espionage operations conducted from within diplomatic facilities. Other American adversaries utilize the same tactics and strategies. This legislation will ensure Congress and the president have a clear picture of what our adversaries are doing in the U.S.” Read the full text of the bill here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://crenshaw.house.gov/2023/12/crenshaw-introduces-bill-stripping-federal-funding-from-universities-that-require-dei-statements,Crenshaw Introduces Bill Stripping Federal Funding from Universities That Require DEI Statements,2023-12-18,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Dan Crenshaw,C001120,crenshaw.house.gov,crenshaw,https://crenshaw.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Congressman Crenshaw announced legislation to prevent universities across the country from receiving any federal funding if they compel students to write Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) statements. “We can see the utter moral bankruptcy in higher education with the spread of antisemitism on college campuses.” Crenshaw said “Make no mistake – the DEI bureaucracy is directly responsible for a toxic campus culture that separates everyone into oppressor vs oppressed. That’s why I am dropping legislation to protect free thought and prevent federal funding for universities that force students to write diversity, equity, and inclusion statements.” Background The State of Texas recently passed a law curtailing DEI at public universities across the state. Rep. Crenshaw’s legislation builds on this effort by blocking federal funds under the Higher Education Act for all universities that compel their students to write or endorse DEI statements against their will. It specifically includes provisions to also prevent these statements as a condition for employment or enrollment, while including a rule of construction that clarifies this does not infringe on classroom instruction or compliance with antidiscrimination law.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-cruz-calls-for-immediate-release-of-jimmy-lai-as-chinese-communist-party-begins-trial,Sen. Cruz Calls for Immediate Release of Jimmy Lai as Chinese Communist Party Begins Trial,2023-12-18,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,TX,Ted Cruz,C001098,www.cruz.senate.gov,cruz,https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today called for the release of Jimmy Lai, a dissident and the founder of the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, who is being unjustly detained by the Chinese Communist Party and subjected to an illegitimate trial without his choice of legal representation. Lai has spent over 1,000 days in solitary confinement in a maximum-security prison in Hong Kong. Lai’s trial began today under unprecedented security and coercive measures. Sen. Cruz said, “The Chinese Communist Party should immediately release Jimmy Lai. He should never have been detained and there is no excuse left to extend his time in prison. He should be released, returned to his family, and allowed to travel.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-cruz-condemns-biden-administration-closing-eagle-pass-bridge-for-second-time,Sen. Cruz Condemns Biden Administration Closing Eagle Pass Bridge for Second Time,2023-12-18,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,TX,Ted Cruz,C001098,www.cruz.senate.gov,cruz,https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) released the following statement after the Biden administration’s Customs and Border Protections (CBP) Office of Field Operations closed vehicle processing at Bridge 1 and the international railway crossing bridge in Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas in order to accommodate illegal aliens illegally crossing the Texas-Mexico border. This is the second time the bridge has been closed for this reason in 2023. “The Biden administration has announced CBP will issue yet another closure of two Texas-Mexico rail bridges, which will stop critical goods like farmers' grain and other consumer goods from flowing between our countries. President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas's failed immigration policies must not stand in the way of commerce. We frankly need to increase the flow of commercial traffic between the U.S. and Mexico, and I have been leading the fight in Congress to remove unnecessary barriers and build new international bridges. Instead, this administration is prioritizing the processing of illegal aliens and won't even staff the bridges we already have. We need legal commerce, not illegal immigration. Time to prioritize American families and keep the bridges open!""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://gonzales.house.gov/2023/12/rep-tony-gonzales-issues-statement-on-suspension-of-railway-operations-in-eagle-pass-el-paso,"Rep. Tony Gonzales Issues Statement on Suspension of Railway Operations in Eagle Pass, El Paso",2023-12-17,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Tony Gonzales,G000594,gonzales.house.gov,gonzales,https://gonzales.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) issued the following statement on Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) decision to suspend operations at the international railway crossing bridges in Eagle Pass and El Paso beginning at 8 AM local time tomorrow, December 18, 2023. “Our entire southern border is being dismantled by the cartels. While mass migrant caravans pull CBP personnel off the front lines, multiple Border Patrol checkpoints have been shut down--allowing contraband and criminals to flow in without resistance. Trade is slowly coming to a standstill, and our law enforcement officers are exhausted ahead of a demoralizing holiday season that will keep them working overtime. If there were ever a time to sound the alarm, this would be it. For the sake of our national security, Washington must put politics aside and deliver on policy solutions that fix this border crisis once and for all,” said Congressman Tony Gonzales.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://vanduyne.house.gov/2023/12/rep-van-duyne-issues-statement-on-fy2024-national-defense-authorization-act,Rep. Van Duyne Issues Statement on FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act,2023-12-16,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Beth Van Duyne,V000134,vanduyne.house.gov,vanduyne,https://vanduyne.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – ""With the United States facing numerous and escalating threats from around the world, along our borders, and increasingly within the confines of our homeland because of Joe Biden’s unprecedented destruction of U.S. border security, I cast my vote in favor of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). While the legislation was not perfect and contains elements I will continue to work to resolve, especially as they relate to the privacy of American citizens and abuse of surveillance by government agencies, the vast majority of the bill provides critical direction and funding from Congress to deal with a panoply of new and emerging dangers threatening our country and the safety of all Americans."" Key Republican provisions added in order to help protect our homeland and southern border We can all see how overwhelmed and overworked our Border Patrol agents are, this year’s NDAA fully funds deploying National Guard troops to support our Border Patrol. The NDAA also forces the Biden Administration to either build the border wall or transfer border wall materials to states like Texas, which is already working to build barriers. Funding for programs that will combat fentanyl trafficking and hold China responsible for collaborating with Mexican drug cartels to poison Americans. Investing in our troops, their training, well-being, and their families Servicemember Pay and Benefits - supports a 5.2% increase in Servicemember basic pay, the largest pay raise in over 20 years. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to pay junior enlisted members a monthly bonus to counteract the effects of Biden’s record-high inflation. Improves the Basic Allowance for Housing calculation to increase reimbursement for junior enlisted Servicemembers and counteract soaring rental rates. Expands Basic Needs Allowance to assist low-income Servicemembers supporting a family. Dealing with the rising threat from the Communist Chinese Republicans demanded and successfully added key provisions to increase military readiness, expand programs to deal with new Chinese threats in space and cyberspace, and move production of our weaponry and weapons systems away from the CCP. Extends the Pacific Deterrence Initiative to enhance U.S. deterrence and defense posture in the Indo-Pacific region. Funds the initiative at $14.7 billion, an increase of $5.6 billion over the budget request. Authorizes over $987 million in INDOPACOM Commander priorities left unfunded in the Biden budget. Increases funding and provides multi-year procurement authority for munitions critical to the fight, including advanced autonomous drones, precision missiles, and anti-ship capabilities. Increases funding for innovative new technologies needed to deter the CCP on future battlefields, including AI, autonomous systems, cyber, mobile micronuclear reactors, and high energy lasers. Requires the DoD to undertake efforts to expand the deployable capacity of U.S. nuclear forces to counter the CCP’s unprecedented nuclear buildup. Getting rid of the “woke” DEI infestation of our military As self-destructive Leftist ideology rampages across college campuses where students have been taught to hate America, so too have these garbage theories and victimology training been force fed into our military, weakening our military readiness and motivation of our fighting forces. Only because of Republican demands were we able to advance key reforms to start gutting DEI and it’s destructive practices from our military. Banning Critical Race Theory (CRT) - Prohibits funding for the teaching, training, or promotion of CRT in the military, including at service academies and DoD schools. Guts the Pentagon’s DEI bureaucracy by putting in place a DEI hiring freeze and cutting and capping the pay of DEI bureaucrats. Restoring Meritocracy - requires all military promotions and accessions to be based on individual merit and demonstrated performance. ""Taken together, these important provisions, and scores of others, made meaningful changes to reverse the hollowing out of our military readiness and lethality the Biden Administration had caused through ineptitude and extremist ideology. Just as I have always done, I will continue to work on behalf of the people of North Texas to ensure the security of our nation is put first and our military is able to project power, deal with all threats, and effectively eliminate those who seek to harm our nation or our future."" ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://nehls.house.gov/media/press-releases/exclusive-bipartisan-group-lawmakers-call-investigation-reported-ccp-attacks,EXCLUSIVE: Bipartisan Group Of Lawmakers Call For Investigation Into Reported CCP ‘Attacks’ On Vital US Infrastructure,2023-12-15,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Troy E. Nehls,N000026,nehls.house.gov,nehls,https://nehls.house.gov/media,scraper,"Daily Caller Henry Rodgers Chief National Correspondent A group of bipartisan House lawmakers sent a letter Friday to the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Jen Easterly, calling for an investigation into concerns regarding recent reporting that says hackers affiliated with a Chinese state-sponsored threat actor possibly infiltrated at least two dozen critical transportation infrastructure entities throughout 2023. The Daily Caller first obtained a copy of the letter, which was signed by Chairman Troy Nehls and Ranking Member Donald Payne, Jr. of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials along with Chairman Andrew Garbarino and Ranking Member Eric Swalwell of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection. In the letter, the lawmakers request an in-person bipartisan briefing to learn more about the national security issue that was reported by The Washington Post. The Post’s report states “hackers affiliated with China’s People’s Liberation Army have burrowed into the computer systems of about two dozen critical entities over the past year.” “This reporting builds on May 2023 findings from Microsoft and a Cybersecurity Advisory from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and others that found that Volt Typhoon had engaged in ‘stealthy and targeted malicious activity’ to gain and maintain persistent access to networks to enable the disruption of ‘critical communications infrastructure between the United States and Asia region during future crises.’ Given China’s ambitions related to Taiwan, we find the escalation of Volt Typhoon’s tactics extremely troubling,” the lawmakers wrote in the letter. “The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is one of our nation’s greatest foreign adversaries,” Nehls told the Caller before sending the letter. “Based on recent reporting, it has come to my attention that at least two dozen critical transportation and energy infrastructure entities may have been infiltrated by Chinese state-sponsored cyberattacks in the last year alone. The CCP is attempting to position itself to disrupt and destroy our nation’s supply chains, energy security, and national security. Plain and simple,” he continued. “I’m proud to lead a bipartisan letter to the Biden Administration’s Cyber and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to ensure that the administration is taking the appropriate measures to protect our country from these blatant attacks and protect our nation’s transportation systems and energy security,” Nehls added.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://sessions.house.gov/2023/12/congressman-pete-sessions-delivers-commencement-speech-at-stephen-f-austin-university-s-100th-anniversary,Congressman Pete Sessions Delivers Commencement Speech at Stephen F. Austin University's 100th Anniversary,2023-12-15,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Pete Sessions,S000250,sessions.house.gov,sessions,https://sessions.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Nacogdoches, TX – Congressman Pete Sessions addressed the graduating class of 2023 at Stephen F. Austin State University's 100th Anniversary Commencement Ceremony, held at the William R. Johnson Coliseum on December 15, 2023. In his commencement speech at Stephen F. Austin University, Congressman Pete Sessions reflected on the institution's historical significance and its integration into the University of Texas system. He urged the graduates to shape their future by embodying American values of capitalism, patriotism, and innovation. Drawing on his varied experiences from AT&T and Bell Labs to a 25-year congressional career, Sessions highlighted the importance of determination, excellence, and the power of persistent effort and practice. He also delved into the university's rich heritage and the enduring legacy of Stephen F. Austin, emphasizing virtues such as courage, character, and performance. Concluding his address, Sessions conveyed his optimism for the graduates' future and the ongoing narrative of American Exceptionalism. The full transcript of Congressman Sessions' speech is included below. A Century of Excellence: Embracing the Legacy & Future of Stephen F. Austin State University ""Good morning, Interim President Oglesbee, Provost Smith, distinguished current and former members of the Board of Regents, esteemed faculty and staff, proud alumni, devoted parents, and, most importantly, the Stephen F. Austin State University graduating class of 2023. It is a profound honor for me to stand here today, sharing words of encouragement on this momentous day in your lives. Let's reflect on the significance of today's ceremony. This institution, a beacon of higher learning and a source of pride for the State of Texas, is celebrating a century of educational excellence. Today, you are not just receiving your degrees; you are part of a historic moment. This commencement marks the transition of Stephen F. Austin from a stand-alone institution to becoming an integral part of the University of Texas system. This change is a testament to the legacy and enduring values of this university, an institution from which you should be proud to graduate. As we gather here, we're compelled to ask ourselves: What future roles will Stephen F. Austin State University and its graduates play? What remarkable achievements lie ahead for the next century? What works of art will you produce? What music will you write? How will you propel the fields of microbiology and science forward? What critical actions will you, graduates of Stephen F. Austin, take at key moments in history as we record the next century through 2123? These inquiries inspire us to gaze into the future with PRIDE, HOPE, AND DETERMINATION, setting ambitious objectives for America's destiny. I come before you today, drawing from my years of experience in various roles, from my time at AT&T and Bell Labs to serving Texas for 25 years in the United States Congress. These experiences have taught me about the intertwining of CAPITALISM, PATRIOTISM, AND INNOVATION. They have shown me how individuals can make significant impacts, much like the many pioneers who have shaped our nation's history. My personal journey has been marked by continual learning and adaptation, especially during my time as a Boy Scout working towards becoming an Eagle Scout. In those formative years, I mastered the art of map and compass navigation, acquiring skills that extended far beyond geographical orientation to guide me through life's myriad directions. Among the invaluable lessons learned was the concept of 'declination' – the difference between magnetic north and true north. This seemingly minor deviation, often just about four degrees, epitomizes a crucial life lesson: understanding exactly where you are is the first step to knowing where you're headed. As my father used to say, even a slight misalignment, like that four-degree difference, can be the deciding factor between achieving success and missing your mark entirely. This experience reinforced the significance of recognizing the subtle nuances and starting points that can ultimately define success or failure. Another experience that profoundly influenced me was America's ambitious and successful endeavor to land the first man on the moon. In my lifetime, the nation's aspirations were encapsulated in a single, inspiring challenge: ""Going to the Moon."" This goal became the benchmark for every child, graduate, adventurer, and entrepreneur. This generational drive is captured vividly in the book ""Rocket Boys,"" which tells the story of Homer Hickam, a young man from Coalwood, West Virginia. Hickam harbored a dream of space exploration, which he transformed into reality by mastering quantum physics and cultivating the necessary determination and grit to become a NASA rocket scientist. His story taught me the significance of determination and striving for excellence as the best benchmark of success. Although we have only ventured to the moon a little more than a handful of times, in the words of Buzz Lightyear, our new challenge takes us from here to ""infinity and beyond."" Our nation's story is filled with countless other examples of extraordinary ambition and achievement. From early visionaries like Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt to modern trailblazers like Henry Ford, Albert Einstein, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Gates, these figures embody the American Dream. But this dream isn't just about notable figures; those individuals built on the foundation provided by each of us. Standing on the shoulders, or tremendous efforts, of each of us cumulatively as a great nation– that is our mark on the world, our legacy. So, what does all of this mean to you? Forty years ago, in a paper in American Scientist, Herbert Simon and William Chase drew on one of the most famous conclusions in the study of expertise: it takes a lot of practice to be good at complex tasks. This concept was later expanded by Malcolm Gladwell in his book ""Outliers"" as the “ten-thousand-hour rule,” highlighting that in cognitively demanding fields, there are no naturals; talent must be complemented by extensive preparation to achieve high levels of success. Moreover, the psychologist John Hayes concluded that in almost every instance, an individual will produce their greatest works after at least ten years of experience, echoing this rule. As graduates of Stephen F. Austin State University, each of you is already on your way to fulfilling these ten thousand hours. Your time here has been a monumental step in the journey of learning and growth that extends beyond the walls of this institution. You have demonstrated dedication and effort in laying a strong academic foundation, which is critical in propelling you toward becoming experts in your chosen fields and achieving high levels of success. Remember, as Malcolm Gladwell emphasized, and as further elaborated by David Epstein in ""The Sports Gene,"" this rule is an average, with variations among individuals. Some may reach proficiency quicker, but the key takeaway is the importance of persistent effort and the efficient use of practice time. Your journey is emblematic of a grander story, one that embodies the essence of becoming a distinguished Texan and American, which is at the core of realizing the American Dream. This dream transcends mere success; it encompasses the odyssey toward it—the relentless effort, the unwavering commitment, and the resilience in the face of adversity. As you venture forth into a realm brimming with prospects and trials, bear in mind that your achievements will be forged not solely by your natural abilities but profoundly by your groundwork, your zeal for continual education, and your capacity to grasp opportunities for advancement. This lies at the very heart of the American Dream— a dream that is within your reach as you are poised to embrace it. Before entering Congress, I spent sixteen years in the telecommunications industry. During the mid-1980s, I worked for three years at Bell Labs in New Jersey, then the premier privately held research and development center in the nation. It was home to the invention of many technologies, including the transistor, the basic building block of the microchip, upon which all our smartphones and PCs operate. During my time, I witnessed my team dedicate themselves to their work and produce something new, a product called 'Integrated Digital Services Network' (ISDN), which is called Broadband, today. Looking back, our efforts at Labs built upon the successes of our predecessors, only after putting in their ten thousand hours. This is a testament to the principle that excellence in any field is achieved through dedication and perseverance. The same principle applies to every one of us. The American Dream is not just about the end result; it is also about the hard work, the incremental advances, and the dedication to a craft that each person brings to their field. Just as the inventors and engineers at Bell Labs put in their ten thousand hours to revolutionize the telecommunications industry, each of you will put in your hours to innovate and lead in your respective fields. And in doing so, you will be living embodiments of that dream – the dream where hard work and perseverance not only lead to personal success but drive progress and innovation that benefit us all. Congratulations on reaching your graduation milestones, and may you continue to grow, learn, and excel in all your future endeavors. As we look back at the history of this university, we see a rich tapestry of challenges and triumphs. This institution has withstood the tests of time, from economic hardships, like the Great Depression and Great Recession, to global conflicts, like World War II, The Cold War, and the War in Afghanistan, shaping resilient and innovative leaders. Each of you is a continuation of this legacy. A sentiment that also embodies the legacy of Texas' founder, Stephen F. Austin. During your time here, you have gained firsthand knowledge and a profound connection to the Father of Texas. His visionary contribution lay in shaping Texas into what it is today, a state that stands proud and strong, a testament to the spirit of those who journeyed to America and established what we now cherish as our great state. Furthermore, I offer you another brief anecdote about courage, from one of my favorite books “Year of the Rat.” 'On a wall in the basement of the United States Capitol in Washington, is a bas-relief depicting a Greek warrior engaged in mortal combat with a snake. The artist captures the moment when the man raises his sword to strike the death blow. Across the tableau is one word: COURAGE. Artistically, physical courage is easy to depict. Moral courage is another matter. Moral courage requires taking a cold, hard look at the world and then acting, accepting the consequences, and knowing that the greatest good will ultimately be served. Moral courage demands sacrifice—the subordination of self-interest to the interests of others. To be morally or intellectually courageous requires a basic sense of honesty and integrity coupled with the will to act decisively on those principles. Moral character is of great matter in a leader and will inevitably affect the substance of his performance. Courage, character, and performance can NOT be separated.' The stories of great leaders and the poignant imagery of the Greek warrior battling a snake remind us that true courage involves more than just bravado; it encompasses integrity, selflessness, and a steadfast commitment to doing what is right, regardless of the challenges. As graduates of Stephen F. Austin State University, you are embarking on a journey where your moral compass, shaped by the values of honesty and integrity, will guide you. Remember, the convergence of courage, character, and performance is not just idealistic but essential. It forms the bedrock of personal excellence and societal progress. Embrace this ethos, as it resonates with the very motto of SFA, and let it guide you in every endeavor, ensuring that your actions contribute positively to the world around you. My optimism for your future is boundless, as is my confidence in the continued journey of American Exceptionalism. Each stride you take builds upon the legacy of greatness that defines our nation. As you embark on this next phase of your lives, remember that the hours of dedication you invest in your passions and professions will shape not only your own destiny but also the fabric of our society. Good luck, and may your endeavors reflect the enduring spirit of excellence and innovation."" ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/blogs/e-newsletter-week-of-december-15th,e-Newsletter: Week of December 15th,2023-12-15,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,TX,Ted Cruz,C001098,www.cruz.senate.gov,cruz,https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Good Evening, This week, I voted in favor of final passage of the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes five bipartisan victories I was proud to spearhead. One measure reinforces our defense and national security interests by ensuring B-1 bombers at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas remain in service as long as necessary for our national defense. Another measure streamlines the presidential permitting process for building four bridges across the Rio Grande in Brownsville, Laredo, and Eagle Pass. A third victory counters the Chinese Communist Party’s efforts to influence our children in schools. A fourth measure addresses the Maduro regime’s seizure of Americans, including Texans, as hostages in Venezuela, and a fifth victory holds corrupt officials accountable for Vladimir Putin’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline. “Overall, this bill ensures our military is able to defend the United States at home and abroad, and it secures Texas as a pillar of America’s defense capabilities.” This year’s NDAA also provides funding for military construction projects in Texas, including: Read more about the five bipartisan measures I secured for Texas in the national defense bill: HERE On Tuesday, I joined Hannity on Fox News to discuss the ongoing horrific harassment of Jewish students on Harvard University’s campus. I also addressed the disgraceful testimony of Harvard’s President Claudine Gay before Congress. “[Harvard University President, Claudine Gay] is a radical leftist [and] a cultural Marxist. … This is Cultural Marxism: they define Jews as oppressors [and] they define Palestinians as victims. The cultural Marxists support the violent revolution of the victims against the ‘so-called’ oppressors. … They are cheering for the Hamas terrorists. It is disgraceful. And I gotta say at Harvard, you are seeing Jewish students being harassed. You're seeing Jewish students afraid to go to class, and these leftists are unwilling to stand up and defend their students. She should resign. And I gotta tell you, I think there are thousands upon thousands of Harvard alums who are horrified at the behavior of the institution right now.” On Wednesday, as the ranking member on the Senate Commerce Committee, I attended a hearing where we discussed the future of commercial space flight. “It’s not the value of our system to have asinine delays that accomplish nothing, and that put us at a disadvantage compared to our competitors. We are in a race for space. Understand I'm not advocating for a wholesale repeal of our environmental laws or NEPA. I'm just arguing for them not to be applied and in a way that slows down commercial space. Under the current status quo with agencies giving the opportunity for third party lawsuits to derail commercial space development—that is slowing down our effectiveness.” On Thursday, I addressed my colleagues on the Senate floor urging a vote on passage for a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorization bill extension to keep the flying public safe. “More than 7.5 million Americans will fly to see loved ones and celebrate the holidays. A record number. This is no easy feat. A seamless travel experience depends on airlines, on air traffic controllers, on airport managers, [and] on TSA screeners—all working together for the aviation system to run efficiently during times of extreme strain, like the holiday season. … There's one problem, the FAA’s authorities are set to expire at the end of the year. Without the FAA extension, air travel and air cargo … will be severely impacted. At the moment, we face a potential challenge of not extending the FAA’s authorities because of the objections of a Senate Democrats. This is irresponsible and frankly bad for the safety agency's ability to operate effectively.” Rest assured, I will continue to stop at nothing to fight for the priorities of Texans across the Lone Star State. God Bless! Keep Texas Strong, MORE FROM SEN. CRUZ: READ: Sen Ted Cruz calls out VP Kamala Harris for Palestinian sympathy push: 'Undermining Israel' ICYMI: Sen. Cruz Secures Five Bipartisan Measures, Victories for Texas in the National Defense Bill READ: Ted Cruz Says CPB Tying Grants To Diversity May Run Afoul Of Federal Law. ICYMI: Cruz Rips Durbin For Protecting Those Who Flew On Jeffrey Epstein’s Plane By Not Subpoenaing Flight Logs State Spotlight Texas Rangers Victory Celebration Hosted by Arizona Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly Commerce Corner Notre Dame University Athletic Director Verizon CEO",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1133,Chairman Arrington Statement on Passage of H.R. 2670 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024,2023-12-14,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Jodey C. Arrington,A000375,arrington.house.gov,arrington,https://arrington.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) issued the following statement on H.R. 2670, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024, as it passed the House and Senate. “At a time when the world is more dangerous and US military funding as a share of the federal budget is the lowest since World War II, the defense bill provides our troops with the resources they need to be safe and successful in the first and most important job of our government. In addition, this defense package saves billions of taxpayer dollars by cutting $37 billion in wasteful spending and rooting out woke programs by banning CRT, gutting DEI programs, removing the pride flag from military bases, and repealing radical climate mandates. This defense package limits the Biden administration’s efforts to reduce the number of Special Forces and prevents the divestment of key aircraft, including the F-22 and C-130; prohibits the DoD from reducing the number of missiles in our nuclear arsenal; and bolsters our lethality to counter adversaries like China, Russia, and Iran. I am proud we gave our troops the biggest pay raise in 20 years, and that we were able to fully fund Dyess Air Force Base, B-1 weapon modernization, and the next-generation B-21 bomber. America must project strength - this legislation shows our unwavering commitment to our troops, stewardship of taxpayer dollars, and rooting out woke ideology and unAmerican policies that have no place in our military.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://carter.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1722,Representative Carter's Statement on the National Defense Authorization Act,2023-12-14,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,John R. Carter,C001051,carter.house.gov,carter,https://carter.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"After voting against H.R. 2670, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Representative John Carter (R-TX-31) released the following statement. ""Earlier this year, the House passed a strong, responsible NDAA that focused on military readiness and deterrence. Unfortunately, today's NDAA was not that bill, and while it had some strengths to it, it ultimately included several poison pills that I could not support. ""The first is that there is absolutely no rhyme or reason why taxpayers' hard-earned dollars should subsidize drag shows and gender reassignment surgeries in our military. Not only is it a violation of our constituents' trust in us to protect their tax dollars, it is also a direct example of why military recruiting numbers are down. The woke nonsense occurring in America's military is damaging to our troop readiness and culture. If we want a strong military, we must quit following the left down the road to their woke army. ""Secondly, a clean FISA reauthorization should not have been coupled with the NDAA. FISA has been abused in violation of the Fourth Amendment. Any reauthorization should have had safeguards in place to protect Americans' privacy as guaranteed by the Constitution. ""My constituents sent me to Washington to stand up for Texas-style common sense, follow the Constitution, and protect their tax dollars. For that reason, I voted against today's negotiated NDAA.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://gonzales.house.gov/2023/12/rep-tony-gonzales-secures-wins-supports-passage-of-defense-authorization-package,"Rep. Tony Gonzales Secures Wins, Supports Passage of Defense Authorization Package",2023-12-14,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Tony Gonzales,G000594,gonzales.house.gov,gonzales,https://gonzales.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) voted for the final passage of the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Several of Congressman Gonzales’ priorities for TX-23 were included in the NDAA, which will be signed into law at a future date. Congressman Gonzales’ provision to grant Border Patrol Agents in TX-23 increases to their overtime pay was included in the robust national security package. Qualifying agents would be authorized to receive thousands of dollars in additional compensation. Additionally, Congressman Gonzales' provision to increase funding for the Family Separation Allowance (FSA) to $400 from $250 per month was included in the final passage of the bill. Congressman Gonzales also helped secure $158 million for Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (JBSA-Lackland) and $74 million for Fort Bliss in El Paso. “The FY24 NDAA strengthens our national security efforts, delivers for our servicemembers and their families, and enhances TX-23’s military installments. As a 20-year Navy veteran, taking care of the men and women in our military and those protecting our homeland is a top priority of mine. Border Patrol Agents have been working around the clock, and they deserve to be fairly compensated. I am proud that my provision to grant them additional overtime pay was included in this legislation,” said Congressman Tony Gonzales. “I am also proud to have delivered a funding increase for military families who cannot serve together—the Family Separation Allowance has not increased since 2004. With the passage of the NDAA, servicemembers eligible for FSA funding will feel much-needed relief soon.” The FSA is an additional compensation given to servicemembers whose family members cannot live with or near them at their permanent duty station. This benefit aids service members and their families with the added costs that stem from living in separate locations. Currently, the FSA is capped at $250 per month. Through Congressman Gonzales’ efforts, eligible servicemembers will receive a $150 increase per month totaling $400. TX-23 Provisions Secured by Congressman Gonzales in the FY24 NDAA: Increase in overtime pay for Border Patrol Agents Increases the FSA from $250 to $400 per month $74 million for the Fort Bliss rail yard $158 million for JBSA-Lackland $20 million to complete the construction of a Child Development Center $48 million for a new Cyber Operations Center $90 million for a new Chapel in San Antonio for America’s Airmen ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://keithself.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-keith-self-votes-against-ndaa-bill-funding-abortion-travel-and,Congressman Keith Self Votes Against NDAA Bill Funding Abortion-Travel and Reauthorizing Section 702 of FISA,2023-12-14,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Keith Self,S001224,keithself.house.gov,keithself,https://keithself.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congressman Keith Self voted against the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024. “While I fully supported the House Republican’s NDAA bill passed in July, I could not in good conscience vote for the Senate negotiated NDAA as it allows American taxpayer dollars to be used for abortion-travel for servicemembers and extends Section 702 of FISA without reform,” said Congressman Keith Self. “I staunchly stand with our men and women in uniform and am deeply disappointed in the politicization of this essential legislation to fund our military.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://keithself.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-keith-self-votes-support-impeachment-inquiry-president-biden,Congressman Keith Self Votes in Support of Impeachment Inquiry of President Biden,2023-12-14,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Keith Self,S001224,keithself.house.gov,keithself,https://keithself.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congressman Keith Self voted in support of House Resolution 918, formalizing the House of Representatives impeachment inquiry of President Joe Biden. “The American people deserve to know the truth about President Joe Biden’s shady foreign business dealings and disturbing pattern of corruption,” said Congressman Keith Self. “This Resolution, brought forth in light of the bombshell evidence uncovered by the House Committees on Oversight and Accountability, Judiciary, and Ways and Means, is a decisive step towards ensuring a thorough investigation backed by the strongest legal standing.” It is essential to determine with the utmost diligence whether sufficient grounds exist for the impeachment of President Joe Biden. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://luttrell.house.gov/media/press-releases/luttrell-secures-wins-applauds-final-passage-fy24-ndaa,"Luttrell Secures Wins, Applauds Final Passage of FY24 NDAA",2023-12-14,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Morgan Luttrell,L000603,luttrell.house.gov,luttrell,https://luttrell.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"December 14, 2023 WASHINGTON -- Congressman Morgan Luttrell (R-TX) scored several key wins in the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which was adopted in the House and Senate and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee and conferee to the NDAA Conference Committee, Rep. Luttrell was responsible for helping craft this legislation. “As a Navy combat veteran, I know how important a well-equipped military force is to protect our country. And as a member of the House Armed Services Committee and an NDAA conferee, I am proud of the work we did with the 2024 NDAA to boost defense spending to provide much-needed funding for our military and national security, as our nation faces unprecedented threats from around the globe. “I was honored to see several of my amendments and priorities accepted into the final version of the bill, including clinical trials on psychedelic therapy to treat PTSD, support for TBI research, and other key provisions that will ensure a safer, stronger United States. This legislation will ensure America can face security challenges with lethality and readiness,” said Congressman Luttrell. The 2024 NDAA: Supports a 5.2% pay raise for service members, the largest pay raise in over 20 years Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to pay junior enlisted members a monthly bonus to counteract the effect of President Biden’s record-high inflation Prohibits funding for Critical Race Theory (CRT) in the military Eliminates funding for the DoD’s Countering Extremism Working Group and puts in place a DEI hiring freeze Continues the prohibition on adverse action on any service member that refuses or refused the COVID vaccine while beginning a path back to service for those that were discharged Includes a Parents Bill of Rights to ensure parents of children in DoD schools have the right to review the curriculum, books, etc. Cuts wasteful programs at the DoD The 2024 NDAA also includes the following additional legislative provisions championed by Congressman Luttrell: Supports and provides funding for clinical studies on the benefits of breakthrough therapies for treating Traumatic Brains Injuries (TBI) and other combat-related conditions Fully funds deployment of National Guard troops in support of Border Patrol activities at the southwest border Supports counterdrug activities Includes multiple provisions supporting Special Forces’ ability to fight and win Bolsters cybersecurity capacity at DoD by reallocating responsibilities, creating requirements, and increasing preparedness across the Force Authorizes funding for hypersonic research and development Requires a study on service member nutrition across the military Authorizes funding for various programs that are manufactured in Texas Supports funding for Texas’ military installations Supports the study of TBIs among service members Includes $40 million for Special Operations Command counter drone capabilities",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/mccaul-votes-national-defense-authorization-act-support-troops,"McCaul Votes for National Defense Authorization Act to Support Troops, Strengthen U.S. Military Might",2023-12-14,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Michael T. McCaul,M001157,mccaul.house.gov,mccaul,https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) — chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee — released the following statement after voting for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024. “Our servicemembers and their families deserve the very best our nation can offer, and this year’s NDAA takes crucial steps to honor and provide for these heroes. It also works to keep liberal ideology from infiltrating our military, bolster our nuclear stockpiles, and secure our last line of defense — the southern border. I’m proud to support this bill to restore the American military might needed to defend our nation and the free world.” Rep. McCaul secured the inclusion of key bipartisan provisions in the FY24 NDAA that will streamline the presidential permitting process for building key gateway bridges between Texas and Mexico. “Three years into President Biden’s tenure, Americans continue to suffer under the weight of inflation and a struggling economy. This expansion of critical infrastructure will strengthen international commerce, lowering the cost of goods for American families. As a Texan and the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I’m proud to have secured this provision, which will bring economic growth in my home state and far beyond.” – Rep. McCaul Rep. McCaul was also pleased to see the inclusion of language that will strengthen the DoD’s partnerships with academic institutions like Texas A&M, in Rep. McCaul’s district, for hypersonic weapons research and development. “China and Russia's hypersonic capabilities have advanced to a stunning degree, posing an unacceptable risk to our national security. Thankfully, Texas A&M is a national leader in hypersonics, and I am confident the research conducted there will drive American leadership and help advance these critical capabilities.” – Rep. McCaul Rep. McCaul also supports many conservative victories within the FY24 NDAA, which: Authorizes a 5.2 percent pay increase for troops, the largest in more than 20 years; Includes a Parents’ Bill of Rights to ensure parents of children in DoD schools have the right to meet with teachers and review curriculum; Protects and reinstates servicemembers who were discharged due to refusal of the COVID-19 vaccine; Supports law enforcement operations at the border and tackles the fentanyl crisis through counterdrug activities; Defends Israel in her time of need; Works to track and prevent CCP espionage; and Bolsters U.S. military readiness by strengthening our defense industrial base. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://nehls.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-troy-e-nehls-statement-after-voting-against-ndaa-0,Rep. Troy E. Nehls’ Statement After Voting Against NDAA,2023-12-14,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Troy E. Nehls,N000026,nehls.house.gov,nehls,https://nehls.house.gov/media,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Troy E. Nehls (R-TX-22) issued the following statement after voting against the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA): “Today, I voted NO on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the Fiscal Year 2024,” said Congressman Nehls. “This legislation reauthorizes Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), with no reforms. Section 702 was intended to allow the federal government to conduct targeted surveillance of foreign nationals outside of the United States, and instead, it has been abused by the FBI to spy on innocent American citizens. We cannot continue to allow federal agencies to abuse the Fourth Amendment rights of the American people.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases/statement-national-defense-authorization-act-fiscal-year-2024,Statement on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024,2023-12-14,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Chip Roy,R000614,roy.house.gov,roy,https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Rep. Chip Roy (TX-21) issued the following statement Thursday after voting against H.R. 2670: Once again, House leadership teamed up with more Democrat than Republicans to pass a White House-endorsed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that greenlights nearly every one of President Biden’s radical policies at the Pentagon. From endorsing Biden’s illegal abortion tourism fund, taxpayer-funded gender transition surgeries, Chief Diversity Officers, and his climate hysteria agenda, 147 Republicans rubber stamped every single one of these priorities. To make it even worse, swamp leadership airdropped a 16-month extension of FISA into the NDAA that extends spying authorities that the FBI and intelligence community regularly use to violate the 4th Amendment Rights of Americans. I was proud to support the House Conference's strong NDAA passed out of the House earlier this year. However, I could not vote for a swamp deal that bargained away almost every policy win in that version of the bill. America, her military, and our men and women in uniform deserve better than the Washington status quo. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://sessions.house.gov/2023/12/congressman-sessions-introduces-legislation-to-protect-investor-autonomy-and-enhance-market-flexibility,Congressman Sessions Introduces Legislation to Protect Investor Autonomy and Enhance Market Flexibility,2023-12-14,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Pete Sessions,S000250,sessions.house.gov,sessions,https://sessions.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C.– Today, Congressman Pete Sessions (TX-17) introduced H.R. 6783, the Capital Markets Financing and Economic Growth Investments Act of 2023. As well, Congressman Vicente Gonzales (TX-34) co-introduced the pivotal piece of legislation. The act is set to bring significant enhancements to the financial regulatory framework, focusing on protecting investor choices and increasing flexibility within the U.S. capital markets. Key Features of the Proposed Legislation: Revamping Money Market Fund Regulations: The Act amends the Investment Company Act of 1940 to codify to opt for a stable share price by using the amortized cost method for portfolio valuation. This flexibility extends to all investor and fund types, thereby restoring the ability of all investors to use prime and municipal money market funds for cash management in addition to U.S. government funds. Enabling stable value prime and municipal money market funds will increase available credit to finance the private economy, potentially by Trillions, without inflation money printing by the Federal Reserve or deficit spending by Congress. Relief from Mandatory Liquidity Fee Requirements: A pivotal aspect of the proposed legislation is the exemption of money market funds, opting for these new pricing methods, from the existing mandatory liquidity fee requirements. This exemption aims to encourage more dynamic and responsive market practices. Restriction on Imposing Mandatory Pricing or Fees: The proposal seeks to protect registered open-end companies from mandatory pricing adjustments or transaction fee impositions by regulatory authorities. This measure is designed to ensure a more equitable and stable investment landscape. Encouragement of Voluntary Compliance: While the Act sets out these prohibitions, it also acknowledges the importance of flexibility by allowing registered open-end companies the freedom to adopt voluntary measures related to asset value adjustments and shareholder transaction fees.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://weber.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1855,Rep. Weber Statement on National Defense Authorization Act,2023-12-14,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,"Randy K. Weber, Sr.",W000814,weber.house.gov,weber,https://weber.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Weber (TX-14) released the following statement after voting against the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024: “In July, the House Republicans passed the most conservative NDAA in history: it ended Joe Biden’s taxpayer-funded travel abortions, stopped taxpayer-funded gender transition surgeries, and halted the Left’s radical climate agenda. I was proud to vote for this bill and knew compromise from the Senate was inevitable. Unfortunately, the NDAA we voted on today is wrong for America. We are the United States of America, the strongest military force in the world, and it is time we start acting like it instead of pushing Joe Biden’s radical priorities onto our military.” “Even worse, the NDAA has attached a completely unrelated “clean” reauthorization of FISA with zero reforms. It is imperative that we strengthen our Fourth Amendment and stop the corrupt upper echelon of the federal government from spying on everyday Americans. Unfortunately, today, Congress reauthorized the status quo.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-cruz-secures-five-bipartisan-measures-victories-for-texas-in-the-national-defense-bill,"Sen. Cruz Secures Five Bipartisan Measures, Victories for Texas in the National Defense Bill",2023-12-14,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,TX,Ted Cruz,C001098,www.cruz.senate.gov,cruz,https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) this week voted in favor of final passage of the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes five bipartisan victories he secured to protect Texas and the nation. Upon passage in the Senate, Sen. Cruz said, “This week, Congress came together to fund our military and protect our national security, and I'm proud it included several of my measures. We live in dangerous times. That’s why I fought to make sure this bill reinforces our defense and national security interests, including by ensuring that B-1 bombers at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas remain as long as necessary for our national defense. “This legislation also includes a provision of mine to streamline the presidential permitting process for building four bridges across the Rio Grande in Brownsville, Laredo, and Eagle Pass, Texas. These bridges will boost the Texas and U.S. economies by billions of dollars. I was proud to lead on this bipartisan effort, and I look forward to seeing these cross-border bridge projects through to completion. “Further, the bill includes language I authored to counter the Chinese Communist Party’s efforts to influence our children in schools with JROTC programs. “The NDAA also includes my measure to counter the efforts by the Maduro regime to seize Americans, including Texans, hostage. It requires the State Department to produce a detailed report on efforts by the government of Venezuela to detain American citizens. “Finally, I’m proud that my legislation to hold corrupt officials accountable for Vladimir Putin’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline was included in the final version of the NDAA. “Overall, this bill ensures our military is able to defend the United States at home and abroad, and it secures Texas as a pillar of America’s defense capabilities.” Background: This year’s NDAA also provides funding for military construction projects in Texas, including: $118 million for construction and land acquisition at Ft. Bliss in El Paso; $113 million for construction and land acquisition at Red River Army Depot in Texarkana; $20 million for barracks construction at Ft. Cavazos in Killeen; $18.25 million for developing a microgrid and backup power at Ft. Cavazos in Killeen; $90 million to build a chapel at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in San Antonio; $48 million to build a cyber operation center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in San Antonio; $20 million to build a child development center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in San Antonio; $16 million to build a warehouse at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth in Fort Worth; and $35 million to build an analytic gas laboratory at DOE’s Pantex plant in Amarillo. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1131,"House Passes H.R. 5378 Lower Costs, More Transparency Act Containing Chairman Arrington’s Better Deals and Lower Prices Act",2023-12-13,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Jodey C. Arrington,A000375,arrington.house.gov,arrington,https://arrington.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5378, the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act. This legislation, passed by an overwhelming bi-partisan majority, contained a provision from Chairman Arrington’s Better Deals and Lower Prices Act (H.R. 4846). Arrington’s provision was designed to arm employers with the information they need to make informed contracting decisions with PBMs and will lower the premiums of working-class families across the country. “While America leads in medical innovation and ingenuity, our health care delivery system has fundamental flaws that disadvantage patients and taxpayers alike. By increasing transparency on prescription drug prices, we empower consumers to make informed decisions, inject much-needed competition into the health care market; and ensure taxpayer dollars are being spent in the most cost-effective manner,” said Rep. Arrington. “I’m proud to introduce the Better Deals and Lower Prices Act to arm job creators with the information they need to get the best deal possible and lower prices for their employees, while driving down premiums, and reducing health care costs across the board.” Background: Many companies do not have the resources to negotiate back and forth with drug manufacturers on the cost and quantity of the drugs they require for their employees. Traditionally, PBMs filled this function, and while companies don't have to contract with a PBM to develop their drug benefit, virtually all of them do. Over time, and due largely to a lack of oversight and transparency, the 3 Largest PBMs have grown to control 90% of the market - while patients and employers face mounting barriers to understanding how PBMs negotiate for them, and whether the deal they're getting is as good as they think. This means two things: Companies can't act as rational consumers and compare PBM net price data across the market, or ""shop around,"" and Working Americans with employer sponsored insurance (roughly 160,000,000 of them) are paying higher premiums than they need to. The Better Deals and Lower Prices Act will address this by requiring PBMs to share net price data from all drugs regardless of class to employers that request it, allowing businesses small and large to access the same information and shop effectively. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1132,Chairman Arrington Statement on House Authorizing Impeachment Inquiry into President Biden,2023-12-13,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Jodey C. Arrington,A000375,arrington.house.gov,arrington,https://arrington.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) issued the following statement regarding the House of Representatives voting to authorize an impeachment inquiry into President Biden. “After months of extensive investigation by the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees,I voted to authorize a formal impeachment inquiry into President Biden. For years, members of the Biden family have engaged in a complex scheme of influence-peddling involving shady business practices with foreign adversaries, and there is evidence asserting that President Biden himself may have committed impeachable offenses relating to treason, bribery, or other crimes. Impeaching any president is a serious matter. The facts and fidelity to the Constitution should drive the process and determine the outcome – not politics. I have long maintained that an impeachment inquiry is justified and necessary to enforce congressional subpoenas, compel the White House to comply with our investigation, and uncover the facts to make a final decision.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://jackson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=848,Rep. Jackson Introduces Legislation to Improve Transparency in Export Controls,2023-12-13,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Ronny Jackson,J000304,jackson.house.gov,jackson,https://jackson.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC — Last week, Congressman Ronny Jackson (TX-13) introduced the Maintaining American Superiority by Improving Export Control Transparency Act to improve transparency and accountability with regards to export controls. This legislation would require information be provided to Congress about each export license application. This includes the name of the entity submitting the application, who they are exporting to, what the decision was, and how compliance with U.S. export controls is being monitored. Jackson said: ""Export controls are a critical tool for ensuring the national security of the United States. While America welcomes free trade with many countries around the world, it is not a one-size-fits-all policy. The dangerous practice of unrestricted export controls leaves the door open to America providing China with tools and resources they might use to undermine America as a global leader, both militarily and economically. If left unchecked, our export control policies could have disastrous consequences on the world stage. Therefore, Congress must do everything in its power to keep America first and protect our national security interests, this includes improving transparency and accountability for our export controls which my legislation seeks to do. I look forward to this legislation’s rapid consideration and hope to see it signed into law soon!” Bill text can be found here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/mccaul-votes-impeachment-inquiry-president-biden,McCaul Votes for Impeachment Inquiry Into President Biden,2023-12-13,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Michael T. McCaul,M001157,mccaul.house.gov,mccaul,https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) issued the following statement after voting to formalize House Republicans’ impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. ""Because the White House refused to work with House Republicans in good faith, they have forced House Republicans to open a formal impeachment inquiry to give Congress more authorities in the courts and help enforce Congressional subpoenas. That’s why — as a former federal prosecutor — I voted for the impeachment inquiry. If the White House refuses to be transparent, we will use our Article I authorities to get the answers the American people deserve."" ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://weber.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1856,Rep. Weber votes to launch Impeachment Inquiry into Joe Biden,2023-12-13,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,"Randy K. Weber, Sr.",W000814,weber.house.gov,weber,https://weber.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Weber (TX-14) voted in favor of H.Res. 918 to formalize ongoing investigations into President Biden being conducted by the House Committees on Oversight and Accountability, Ways and Means, and Judiciary into whether sufficient grounds exist for the House to impeach President Biden. The resolution establishes procedures for carrying out impeachment hearings in each committee. ""This is a step in the right direction to continue our fact-finding mission into the corruption of Joe Biden without the Biden Administration undermining the investigation,” said Rep. Weber. “The American people have a right to know if the criminal bribery scheme allegations are true and whether Biden was tangled up in his son's business dealings. We will continue to follow the very damning facts that have already been uncovered and continue to reveal the truth to the American people about President Biden's involvement in his family's foreign business dealings.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://delacruz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=509,"De La Cruz’s Bipartisan “Save Children from Trauma Act” Included in SUPPORT Act, Passed by U.S. House on Tuesday",2023-12-12,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Monica De La Cruz,D000594,delacruz.house.gov,delacruz,https://delacruz.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"The bipartisan “Save Children from Trauma Act” introduced by Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) in June passed the House today as part of the SUPPORT Act. The “Save Children from Trauma Act” provides resources for the National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative, which helps improve treatment and services for children, adolescents, and families who have experienced traumatic events. The bill reauthorizes the program at the last enacted appropriated level of $93,887,000 for fiscal years 2024-2028. The SUPPORT Act (Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act) addresses America’s opioid crisis. It was initially passed in 2018. ""The escalating fentanyl crisis and rising violence in the United States have far-reaching consequences, extending beyond just adults,"" emphasized De La Cruz. ""These challenges are also taking a toll on our nation's children, subjecting them to immediate trauma and potentially leaving lasting scars. I'm pleased by the inclusion of my bipartisan legislation designed to allocate essential resources for children to access the support they need to address and recover from adolescent trauma, ultimately enabling them to grow into thriving, productive adults.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-roy-issues-statement-hr-5378,Rep. Roy issues statement on H.R. 5378,2023-12-12,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Chip Roy,R000614,roy.house.gov,roy,https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Rep. Chip Roy (TX-21) issued the following statement Tuesday morning: Yesterday, I voted against H.R. 5378. Healthcare price transparency is a laudable goal but this legislation contains billions to extend federal health programs without making key reforms to ensure these dollars are not spent in a way that violates the American people’s conscience. While the bill is allegedly ""offset,"" it increases the deficit by nearly $10 billion in the first five years, fueling the inflation Americans are facing right now. And the bill’s single biggest ""pay-for"" is an egregious budget gimmick, made possible by last year’s $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill. Further, this legislation was moved under suspension of the rules, barring any ability to allow amendments, or a full debate of the House. This is not the way the People’s House should operate. The American healthcare system needs transformative changes to bring down costs and expand healthcare freedom. This bill contained some positive provisions, but unfortunately this bill is ultimately more of the same healthcare policy that has helped lead us to the unsustainable system we see today. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-roy-and-schweikert-fight-cut-slush-fund-created-debt-ceiling-deal,Reps. Roy and Schweikert fight to cut “slush fund” created by debt ceiling deal,2023-12-12,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Chip Roy,R000614,roy.house.gov,roy,https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC — Representatives Chip Roy (TX-21) and David Schweikert (AZ-01) are leading a group of lawmakers in fighting to eliminate a $22 billion “slush fund” created by the debt ceiling deal negotiated this summer that will be used to massively increase federal spending. Roy and Schweikert’s bill – The Eliminate Congressional Slush Funds Act – would rescind the $22 billion the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) allocated to the Department of Commerce Nonrecurring Expenses Fund, while ensuring the rescission does not enable additional funding beyond spending caps. During negotiations on the FRA, a side-deal was hatched to use budget gimmicks and rescissions to allow for $54 billion in additional spending above the discretionary spending caps established by the bill. A significant portion of that side deal depends on the existence of this slush fund. Representative Roy said, “Appropriators have long used sleight of hand to hide the actual level of spending included in massive appropriations bills. Unfortunately, that practice is alive and well. Indeed, negotiations on the Fiscal Responsibility Act included a well-known ‘side deal’ that would allow for an additional $54 billion in spending beyond the caps set by the bill, made - in part - possible by giving $22 billion to a fund at the Department of Commerce that will be reallocated during the appropriations process. House Republicans should reject this side deal and ensure we stick to the caps set by the FRA without the use of budget gimmicks. That's why I am proud to introduce this bill with my friend Representative David Schweikert to rescind the $22 billion and prevent it from being funneled behind the scenes.” Representative Schweikert said, “Every dime that Congress votes on now is on borrowed money. With our government currently borrowing over $80,000 every second, we must make it our moral obligation to solve our nation's debt crisis before it's too late. While the Fiscal Responsibility Act's passage marked the largest deficit reduction in American history, budget gimmicks allowed for billions in additional spending above the caps. The Eliminate Congressional Slush Funds Act ensures that this body cannot abuse unobligated COVID relief funding which was rightfully clawed back and deposited into Treasury. It's past time Washington kicks its spending addiction and starts taking our fiscal reality seriously.” Co-sponsors of the legislation include Representatives Jeff Duncan (SC-03), Scott Perry (PA-10), Ralph Norman (SC-05), Dan Bishop (NC-08), Andy Ogles (TN-05), Byron Donalds (FL-19), Tom Emmer (MN-06), and Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14). The legislation is also supported by Heritage Action for America. Read the full bill here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-cruz-introduces-comprehensive-border-security-amendment-to-the-national-security-supplemental,Sen. Cruz Introduces Comprehensive Border Security Amendment to the National Security Supplemental,2023-12-12,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,TX,Ted Cruz,C001098,www.cruz.senate.gov,cruz,https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced an amendment to the National Security Supplemental to secure our southern border. The amendment is based on a bill Sen. Cruz introduced earlier this year in the Senate, the Secure the Border Act, which includes a comprehensive plan to secure the U.S.-Mexico border by investing resources in both border and interior enforcement. It would provide physical and technological border improvements, manpower assistance to Border Patrol and ICE Enforcement Removal Operations, and protection to families seeking entry at the border as well as unaccompanied alien children. Additionally, Sen. Cruz’s amendment punishes visa overstays, reforms immigration parole, asylum, and the legal immigration workforce issues, and prevents uncontrolled alien flows into the United States. The companion bill, which passed the House of Representatives as H.R. 2, is the most comprehensive border security legislation in decades. The bill garnered a majority of Republican support in the House of Representatives and was voted out of the House with 219-2 Republican members voting in favor of its passage. Upon introducing the amendment Sen. Cruz said, “Under Joe Biden’s leadership, we’ve seen the largest illegal immigration crisis in our nation’s history. Every single day, thousands of illegal aliens pour over our southern border and strain our communities. Women are being raped, children brutalized, and over 100,000 Americans are dying every year from narcotics and fentanyl flooding into our country. We cannot turn a blind eye to the perilous invitation the Biden White House continues to freely give out to break our immigration laws. Right now, we are at the greater risk for a major terrorist attack in the United States than we have been at any time since September 11. If we are going to provide aid to secure our allies abroad, we also have an obligation to secure our own border for the safety of our country.” Chad Wolf, former Acting DHS Secretary and Executive Director of the America First Policy Institute said: “Addressing the Biden Administration’s self-inflicted border crisis demands strategic policy changes, not more spending to process illegal aliens into American communities. The administration’s intentional and ineffective border strategy has created chaos and lawlessness that makes America less safe. Congress must reject the White House supplemental and demand real policy changes that will secure the border. H.R. 2 is a good first step to fix the Biden border crisis, and I stand with Senator Cruz for introducing it in the upper chamber. Because the Biden Administration refuses to use the authority it already has, H.R. 2 is needed to restart the Migrant Protection Protocols, end asylum fraud, curb Mayorkas’s abuse of parole, and discontinue the cruel policies that fuel human trafficking of migrant children. The American people reject open borders and are tired of the administration enabling the drug and human traffickers. America must come first, always.” Dan Stein, President of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) said: “The Secure the Border Act is critical to regaining control of our southern border. Without real reforms to our asylum policy, detention and removal of illegal aliens, and an end to the Biden Administration’s wholesale abuse of parole, the chaos at our borders and in our cities, and threats to national security, will only grow more dire. Throwing more money at the border crisis won’t solve it. We need real policy reforms and H.R. 2 is the solution. Now is the time to act -- the American people can't afford to wait any longer.” Kris Ullman, President of Eagle Forum said: “For far too long, illegal immigrants have exploited loopholes in the American immigration system. The Biden administration has been instrumental in causing the havoc we all see at our southern border by allowing historic numbers of illegal immigrants to not only enter the US but to drain resources and overwhelm cities and towns across the country. Republicans in the House united to pass H.R. 2, legislation that provides real solutions to the crisis at hand. It is imperative to support Senator Ted Cruz’s amendment that will add H.R. 2 to the National Security Supplemental. Anything less than these strong provisions is unacceptable to grassroots Americans who are relying on Congress to provide real border security. Greg Sindelar, CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation said: “If senators are concerned with protecting innocent lives and communities from deadly terrorist activity, there’s no need to look thousands of miles away, across the Atlantic Ocean. From Laredo to Manhattan, this national security crisis threatens the lives of every American. H.R 2 will bring about the policies that are proven to be successful in keeping our homeland safe.” Ryan Walker, Executive Vice President of Heritage Action said: ""Heritage Action, along with our partners in the strongest border coalition ever assembled, has been clear with our Hill allies throughout this process: H.R. 2 is the only viable solution to the border crisis. This legislation is the floor, not the ceiling, for the policy changes needed to repair the damage caused by the Biden administration."" Read the full text of the amendment here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sens-cruz-rubio-colleagues-warn-dod-of-national-security-risks-for-installing-technology-produced-by-ccp-linked-companies-on-american-military-bases,"Sens. Cruz, Rubio, Colleagues Warn DOD of National Security Risks for Installing Technology Produced By CCP-Linked Companies on American Military Bases",2023-12-12,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,TX,Ted Cruz,C001098,www.cruz.senate.gov,cruz,https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee,sent a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin demanding accountability for the installation of Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL) batteries produced by companies under the influence and direction of the Chinese Communist Party at Camp Lejeune and other U.S. military installations. In the letter the senators wrote, “The presence of CATL in U.S. energy infrastructure raises alarms about the known security risks associated with Chinese technology produced by companies operating under the direction or influence of Beijing. CATL could introduce malware into large-scale power storage stations, threatening the U.S. energy grid. Further, the significant known cyber risks to Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) systems more broadly, such as security limitations that prevent regular updates and gaps in reviewing vulnerabilities, raise several concerns that a malicious actor, or government, could seek to exploit.” Other cosigners of the letter include, Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and Reps. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), Mike Waltz (R-Fla.), Rob Wittman (R-Va.), Jack Bergman (R-Mich.), Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), James Moylan (R-Guam), Brad Finstad (R-Minn.), Austin Scott (R-Ga.), Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), Gregory Murphy (R-N.C.), Cory Mills (R-Fla.), Mark Alford (R-Texas), Jen Kiggans (R-Va.), Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.), and Rich McCormick (R-Ga.). Read the full text of the letter here or below. Dear Secretary Austin: We write out of concern with regards to the installation of a battery and solar array by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-aligned Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL), at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina as part of a new Battery Energy Storage System(BESS). A CCP-funded and supported firm should have no role or presence on a U.S. military installation, especially one that trains U.S. Marines for a potential conflict with China. The presence of CATL’s system at Camp Lejeune also raises the question of whether CATL, or other CCP-affiliated companies, operate similar energy projects on other U.S. military installations. We urge the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to immediately reverse the decision to install CATL batteries at Camp Lejeune, as well as conduct a full assessment on all installations. CATL, the world’s largest manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries and a dominant actor in the global electric vehicle (EV) market, is closely linked to the highest levels of the CCP, including General Secretary Xi Jinping, who praised CATL’s growth this March 2023. CATL is an important component of the CCP’s military-civil fusion (MCF) strategy. Moreover, CCP industrial policies have steered business towards CATL, placing the company in a position to influence supply chains globally and increasingly in the United States, where CATL operates in several states. In turn, the CCP has benefitted from CATL’s record revenues and immense growth. The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) may soon power its conventional submarine fleet with lithium-ion batteries provided by CATL and other Chinese companies. The CCP is well aware of how China’s commercial EV industry, CATL included, benefits its military. Further, Beijing dropped a government safety test from its inspections after a CATL rival found that the test showed CATL battery cells exploding, demonstrating its insistence to bolster CATL as its battery champion. CATL has striking similarities to other Chinese firms that have been deemed serious national-security threats and banned from U.S. government use. A recent report by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) made clear that CATL’s “parallels to Huawei are not difficult to see.” Huawei, like CATL, was built as a champion for the CCP, and Beijing acted to support its success. Like Huawei, the presence of CATL in U.S. energy infrastructure raises alarms about the known security risks associated with Chinese technology produced by companies operating under the direction or influence of Beijing. CATL could introduce malware into large-scale power storage stations, threatening the U.S. energy grid. Further, the significant known cyber risks to BESS systems more broadly, such as security limitations that prevent regular updates and gaps in reviewing vulnerabilities, raise several concerns that a malicious actor, or government, could seek to exploit. The growing presence of CATL and other Chinese products in U.S. infrastructure is concerning, but it is inexcusable on U.S. military installations. On April 14, 2023, the U.S. Marine Corps held a ribbon cutting for its new BESS, featuring CATL batteries, at Camp Lejeune. Less than two weeks later, the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) held an exercise at Camp Lejeune to practice extracting noncombatants from conflict zones. Units such as the 26th MEU, which are trained to conduct amphibious operations in crisis response situation, will be vital in a potential conflict with China over Taiwan. Our military cannot afford to subsidize the PRC’s national champions by installing them on bases. The CCP’s pattern of espionage leaves little room for doubt that CATL products pose a threat to national security at any base where they are installed. We therefore implore you to address the national-security concerns with CATL’s presence at Camp Lejeune and potentially other U.S. military installations. We request a full accounting of CATL batteries and other products by CCP-aligned companies on U.S. military installations. In addition, we wish to know the following: 1. When did DoD become aware that Duke Energy would be purchasing batteries manufactured in China by CATL for installation on the grounds of Camp Lejeune? 2. At the time, were the contracting officers aware of CATL’s close ties with the CCP? 3. Did Duke Energy, or the DoD, consider utilizing batteries manufactured by an American company, or any allied or partner country of the United States, for this project? 4. Has DoD conducted an analysis of vulnerabilities in this system that the PRC could exploit, especially during time of war? 5. Will CATL employees perform maintenance on the batteries? Will maintenance require granting base access to CATL employees, who may be CCP members or Chinese nationals? 6. Will CATL systems installed in Camp Lejeune require any data connections to CATL-operated servers in the People’s Republic of China? 7. Have CATL systems been installed on or at any joint DoD-National Security Agency facilities or locations? We appreciate your prompt response and attention to this important matter. /x/ ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1130,Chairman Arrington Reacts to House Voting to Overturn Biden’s Latest Student Loan Bailout Scheme,2023-12-11,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Jodey C. Arrington,A000375,arrington.house.gov,arrington,https://arrington.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON D.C. - Today, House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-TX) released the following statement commending the House’s 210-189 passage of H.J.Res.88, a Congressional Review Act resolution to overturn the Biden administration’s newest student loan cancellation scheme, which experts say will cost taxpayers as much as $475 billion: “I applaud the House’s vote last week to short circuit President Biden’s latest attempt at a massive student loan bailout. Make no mistake: Biden is not “cancelling” student debt; he’s supercharging America’s entitlement culture and shifting the financial burden of loans away from upper income students onto middle- and working-class families. Biden’s student loan bailouts are regressive, inflationary, and totally unfair.” Background: In late June, the Supreme Court found President Biden’s initial $330 billion student loan “forgiveness” scheme to be unconstitutional. Hours after the decision was announced, the Biden Administration unveiled their next attempt to pin student loan debt on the American taxpayer: the so-called “Savings on a Valuable Education (SAVE)” plan. Biden’s so-called SAVE plan hijacks the originally targeted program to one in which 91 percent of new student debt would be eligible for reduced payments and eventual transfer to taxpayers. According to the Penn Wharton Budget Model, the plan stands to cost everyday Americans up to $475 billion over the next decade. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/mccaul-matsui-statement-key-milestone-chips-act-implementation,"McCaul, Matsui Statement on Key Milestone for CHIPS Act Implementation",2023-12-11,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Michael T. McCaul,M001157,mccaul.house.gov,mccaul,https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) and Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), co-authors of the Creating Helpful Incentives for the Production of Semiconductors (CHIPS) for America Act, issued the following statement after the first CHIPS Act Preliminary Memorandum of Terms was issued by the Department of Commerce. “We introduced the original CHIPS Act three and a half years ago to solve an urgent national security threat,” said the representatives. “Our military depends on a secure and predictable supply of semiconductors to build its most vital and sensitive equipment. Today’s announcement shows the CHIPS Act is working as intended – enhancing domestic manufacturing capacity and building a resilient, diversified supply chain; two national security imperatives. As co-authors of this groundbreaking legislation, we will continue working with urgency to implement the CHIPS Act quickly and reaffirm America’s global innovation leadership.” Background: At the recommendation of President Trump’s national security team, Rep. McCaul first introduced the CHIPS for America Act in 2020, alongside Representative Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) and Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Mark Warner (D-Va.). The bill was signed into law in August of 2022. The CHIPS Act is already spurring investments of hundreds of billions of private sector dollars in domestic chip manufacturing projects throughout Texas and the nation — bolstering the U.S. economy and reducing our reliance on foreign nations for this critical technology. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://babin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=11015,"Babin Unveils New Bill to End Birth Tourism, Combat Illegal Immigration",2023-12-08,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Brian Babin,B001291,babin.house.gov,babin,https://babin.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Congressman Brian Babin (TX-36) issued the following statement on his new bill, the Birthright Citizenship Act of 2023 (H.R. 6612). This legislation has 21 original cosponsors and will ensure America properly implements Section 1 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution – ending birth tourism. “For a period following its enactment, Section 1 of the 14th Amendment was properly applied as written and intended: to ensure all American citizens were afforded the sacred constitutional protections they deserve,” said Congressman Brian Babin, House Border Security Caucus Co-chair. “While these important protections remain, in recent decades, the misapplication of specific language in the amendment has led to the implementation of the practice of birthright citizenship by which children born to foreign nationals – from illegal migrants to tourists to refugees – are automatically granted United States citizenship. Birthright citizenship has long served as a powerful incentive for illegal immigration, and, over time, has become wrongly accepted as law, with supporters claiming it is guaranteed by our Constitution. Birthright citizenship is enabled by faulty legal application, and ending the practice by clarifying eligibility is a necessary step toward fixing our broken immigration system and stopping the continued exploitation of America’s generosity. We must act to put an end to this misguided policy that has fueled the worsening border crisis and weakened our national sovereignty for far too long. I appreciate my colleagues’ support of this important bill and hope to move it swiftly through the House of Representatives.” “We must protect the integrity of our legal immigration system and not permit loopholes to be exploited,” Congressman Bob Good (VA-05). “I thank Rep. Babin for his leadership in introducing the Birthright Citizenship Act, which prevents birth tourism and safeguards the 14th amendment of the Constitution.” “Every year, thousands of migrants enter the country illegally and give birth knowing their children will reap the benefits of their parents’ lawbreaking — the rights, privileges, and immunities of U.S. citizenship,” said Congressman Chip Roy (TX-21). “It’s time to end this unfair, extraconstitutional practice that incentivizes illegal border crossings. The Birthright Citizenship Act — which I am proud to cosponsor with my friend and fellow Texan, Brian Babin — ensures children born in the U.S. to illegal alien parents do not automatically receive American citizenship.” “The expressed distinction of United States citizenship is a gift that is too often taken for granted by the American people,” said Congressman Byron Donalds (FL-19). “As a result of Joe Biden’s disastrous mishandling of our nation’s borders, the United States has descended into an unprecedented humanitarian and national security crisis, in which illegal aliens are systematically exploiting our legal immigration system through the explosion of birth tourism. Simply put, birthright citizenship should only be reserved for United States citizens, legal permanent residents of the United States, and legal immigrants serving in the United States military.” “This bill closes the citizenship loophole that has incentivized millions of illegal migrants to flood our southern border,” said Congressman Bill Posey (FL-08). “The United States is one of the only countries in the world to allow an immigrant to enter the country illegally, including tourists, have a baby, and then deem that child an American citizen,” said Congressman Glenn Grothman (WI-06). ""At a time when our Southern border is overrun with over 200,000 illegal immigrants every month, this flawed interpretation of the 14th Amendment has been exploited to drive even more illegal immigrants to the country and take unfair advantage of essential services that are meant for legal citizens. It is time for the U.S. Congress to work together to strengthen and encourage legal migration rather than continuing to turn a blind eye to the lawlessness that is destroying America from within.” “The Fourteenth Amendment is a critical protection that is being abused by illegal immigrants,” said Congressman Buddy Carter (GA-01). “This bill preserves the intent of the constitution and ensures that those who want to be U.S. citizens go through the legal process.” “This legislation keeps our immigration law consistent with the Framers’ original intent by closing an outrageous loophole that incentivizes and rewards illegal immigration,” said Congressman Eli Crane (AZ-02). “This past year, illegal immigration cost American taxpayers $150 billion – an inexcusable burden that’s fueled, in part, by the current birthright citizenship scheme. I’m glad to see this bill introduced, which will fortify our immigration system and rectify a flawed interpretation of the 14th Amendment.” To read the bill text, please click here. To read the Daily Caller’s exclusive on the bill, please click here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://gonzales.house.gov/2023/12/reps-tony-gonzales-don-davis-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-provide-increased-support-for-rural-communities/8db01db0-b285-4ce0-a52b-e5b66ec873c0,"Reps. Tony Gonzales, Don Davis Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Provide Increased Support for Rural Communities",2023-12-08,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Tony Gonzales,G000594,gonzales.house.gov,gonzales,https://gonzales.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressmen Tony Gonzales (TX-23) and Don Davis (NC-01) introduced bipartisan legislation to provide increased technical assistance for rural communities. The Rural Uplift and Revitalization Assistance Act allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide technical assistance to strengthen local capacity and improve access to rural development programs for rural areas directly or through cooperative agreements. “Far too often, rural communities are left out of the picture when it comes to access to federal development programs and grants. One of my top priorities in Congress is to get funding out of Washington and back into South and West Texas communities,” said Congressman Tony Gonzales. “The Rural Uplift and Revitalization Assistance Act will provide technical assistance for applicants and improve access to rural development programs to help deliver funding back to Texas and rural communities across the country.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://sessions.house.gov/2023/12/congressman-sessions-leads-call-for-urgent-gao-update-on-surging-illegal-immigration-crime-statistics,Congressman Sessions Leads Call for Urgent GAO Update on Surging Illegal Immigration & Crime Statistics,2023-12-08,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Pete Sessions,S000250,sessions.house.gov,sessions,https://sessions.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington D.C. – On Friday, December 8, 2023, Congressman Pete Sessions led 22 fellow House Republicans in sending a letter to Gene Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States and head of the Government Accountability Office (GAO), requesting an updated version of a 2018 report on criminal alien statistics. This request comes amid escalating illegal immigration, rising violent crime, and drug overdose deaths across the United States since January 2021. Five years prior, the GAO released a report titled ""Criminal Alien Statistics: Information on Incarcerations, Arrests, Convictions, Costs, and Removals."" This comprehensive report detailed the number and nationalities of noncitizens in United States penitentiaries, including extensive data on arrests, convictions, types of offenses, and the estimated taxpayer costs of incarcerating each noncitizen. Additionally, it provided information on the removal process for noncitizens from the United States following their federal prison terms. The updated report, as requested by Congressman Sessions and his colleagues, aims to equip Congress and the public with crucial information regarding the current state of illegal immigration, its financial impact on taxpayers, and strategies for reducing the number of noncitizens in U.S.-based penitentiaries. “The crisis on our southern border is reverberating into cities and towns across the United States,” said Congressman Sessions. “Violent crime, drug trafficking, and human trafficking are now a daily reality in communities where such illicit activity was once rare. While we cannot directly attribute rising crime to illegal immigration, Congress needs data to fully understand the effect President Biden’s open border has in enabling illicit activity. This update to the 2018 Government Accountability Office report will provide this necessary information.” “Pete Sessions’ leadership, on this GAO study, regarding illegal migration, rising crime rates and incarceration is an important part of fixing our broken border using statistics and facts,” said Jonathan Thompson, CEO of the National Sheriffs Association. “We need to see the real costs associated with the Administrations open border policies.” Congressman Sessions was joined by Congresspersons Granger (TX-12), McCaul (TX-10), Rogers (AL-03), Biggs (AZ-05), Roy (TX-21), Crenshaw (TX-02), Ellzey (TX-06), Self (TX-03), Fallon (TX-04), Nehls (TX-22), Lamborn (CO-05), Higgins (LA-03), Tiffany (WI-07), Weber (TX-14), De La Cruz (TX-15), Gooden (TX-05), Ogles (TN-05), Brecheen (OK-02), Williams (TX-25), Cloud (TX-27), Rouzer (NC-07), and Moran (TX-01). Read the full letter to Gene Dodaro, U.S. Comptroller General, here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/blogs/e-newsletter-week-of-december-8th,e-Newsletter: Week of December 8th,2023-12-08,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,TX,Ted Cruz,C001098,www.cruz.senate.gov,cruz,https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Good Evening, Under Joe Biden’s watch, the Department of Justice has become the most partisan we’ve ever seen, acting as the political strong-arm of the DNC. I am appalled by the actions of this administration to weaponize the DOJ and strip the power away from the American people. As a result, the FBI has become the Democrat’s vigilant attack dog, promoting their political ambitions and silencing dissenters. I am regularly approached by FBI agents, honorable men and women who stand up for the rule of law, who are frustrated about the weakening of the integrity of this institution because it’s being used as a political weapon. This week, I confronted FBI Director Christopher Wray on his negligent and partisan decisions to cover up the Biden family’s ongoing corruption allegations from the American people. This is a disgusting abuse of power that must be thoroughly checked by Congress. “I think the Department of Justice [and the FBI] has been profoundly politicized. … In particular, the investigation into multiple allegations of corruption concerning Hunter Biden, and Joe Biden. … Now, Democrats and those in the media trying to defend the White House, repeatedly say there is no direct evidence of Joe Biden's involvement in his son's corruption. … Nobody answers these questions, and it's why people are furious with a cover up because you don't believe the FBI is accountable to Congress or to the American people.” On Tuesday, I also met with the Sameh Shoukry, Foreign Minister of Egypt and Motaz Zahran, Ambassador of Egypt to the United States to discuss the crisis unfolding in the Middle East. Later Tuesday evening, as the ranking member on the Senate Commerce Committee, I spoke on the Senate floor to stop big auto from killing life-saving AM radio. “AM radio is a haven for free speech. [It] is a haven for people to speak even if their views are disfavored by the political ruling class. Talk radio is an oasis for conservatives. … I believe these automakers stood up to remove AM radio as a part of a border pattern we see of censoring views that are disfavored by big business.” On Wednesday, I joined Sean Hannity on Fox News to discuss the severity of the political weaponization of the FBI and DOJ because they believe they are not held accountable to the American people. “This Department of Justice, this FBI, is the most political, the most partisan, [and] the most weaponized we have ever seen. … I asked Chris Wray, ‘Did the FBI try to determine if [Hunter and Joe Biden were engaged in] bribery shakedown?’ … It is the biggest lie. It is the biggest shell game. They claim it is an open investigation, but they aren’t investigating anything.” On Thursday morning, I joined Stuart Varney on Fox Business to address the condescending motives of Democrats to not do anything to secure our southern border. “Two days ago, we were having a classified briefing in the Capitol on Ukraine, all the senators were in the briefing, and it erupted into a screaming match. … The reason was, Chuck Schumer [had] prompted it all, because he sat there smugly [and] condescendingly saying, ‘We're going to do nothing on border security.’ They don't care about border security. They're not going to do it.” Rest assured, I will continue to defend the integrity of our democracy. God Bless! Keep Texas Strong, MORE FROM SEN. CRUZ: READ: Cruz, Cornyn join Senate Republicans in demanding border overhaul for Ukraine aid ICYMI: Sen. Cruz’s Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Name Ports-to-plains Corridor ""Interstate 27"" Passes House READ: Cruz: Biden admin funneled taxpayer cash to universities for ‘misinformation’ research to 'censor' Americans ICYMI: ‘A MAJOR WIN FOR ALL OF TEXAS’ - Cruz Provision Advancing New Texas-Mexico Bridges Set to Become Law State Spotlight Children's Hospital Association of Texas Commerce Corner City of Floresville",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://keithself.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-keith-self-sends-letter-secretary-blinken-urging-action-qatar,Congressman Keith Self Sends Letter to Secretary Blinken Urging Action on Qatar Harboring Hamas Terrorists,2023-12-07,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Keith Self,S001224,keithself.house.gov,keithself,https://keithself.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Congressman Keith Self sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken regarding Qatar’s provision of safe harbor to Hamas terrorists. Qatar is a Major Non-NATO Ally of the United States, yet it continues to permanently host senior Hamas leadership. After the October 7 terror attack against Israel that claimed the lives of approximately 1,200 innocent people, including over 30 Americans, this arrangement must end. Hamas’ ability to operate freely within Qatar—raising funds, liaising with Iranian regime officials, broadcasting propaganda, and planning its next terror attack—directly harms American interests. The Congressman’s letter asks the State Department to determine if Qatar meets the statutory definition of a “terrorist sanctuary.” “Hamas’ crimes were unconscionable. We cannot forget the mass murder, rape, burning, and kidnapping of innocents on 10/7,” said Congressman Self. “Hamas terrorists must be denied refuge. I urge Secretary Blinken to use all the tools at his disposal to pressure our ally to give up Hamas.” On October 13th, Secretary Blinken said, “There can be no more business as usual with Hamas.” Recent reporting indicates that Israel has already begun plans to hunt down senior Hamas leadership around the world. This moment calls for strategic and moral clarity: the U.S. must no longer tolerate Qatar’s hosting of Hamas. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-roy-and-sen-grassley-call-congressional-leadership-pass-improved-farm-bill,Rep. Roy and Sen. Grassley call on congressional leadership to pass an improved farm bill,2023-12-07,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Chip Roy,R000614,roy.house.gov,roy,https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC — Representative Chip Roy (R-TX-21) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) called on Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker Mike Johnson, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to pass a comprehensive and improved farm bill that makes conservative reforms, while maintaining a responsible safety net for our nation’s farmers and ranchers. The legislators wrote,“The Biden administration and its reckless spending have led us to this place of record inflation. By making conservative reforms to key programs we will be able to tame inflation while also keeping in place a responsible safety net for families and farmers.” The lawmakers outlined key areas of improvement including reducing spending in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to pre-pandemic levels, and stopping the abuse of the U.S. Department of Agriculture fund known as the Commodity Credit Corporation. The two also point out that protecting our food supply is critical to our national security, which means that the farm bill should prohibit our adversaries like China, Iran, Russia and North Korea from buying American farmland. “We implore you to recognize the urgent need to pass a farm bill that addresses the record inflation that our constituents have seen and foreign threats to our food supply. While there are other reforms we should consider, by passing these common-sense reforms, we can lower inflation, reduce our deficit, maintain a farm and family safety net, and promote our national security,”Representative Roy and Senator Grassley said. Read the full text of the letter here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-roy-rep-rogers-and-sen-lee-lead-fight-defund-united-nations,"Rep. Roy, Rep. Rogers, and Sen. Lee lead fight to defund the United Nations",2023-12-07,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Chip Roy,R000614,roy.house.gov,roy,https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC — On Wednesday, Representative Chip Roy (R-TX-21) alongside Representative Mike Rogers (R-AL-3) and Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Disengaging Entirely From the United Nations Debacle (DEFUND) Act of 2023. This legislation would defund the United Nations and remove the United States from its membership. Representative Roy said, “This year, the United Nations' corruption, and its despicable, brazen political agenda have been on full display. From UNRWA actively protecting Hamas and acting against our ally Israel, the delayed condemning of Hamas, to China being elected to the “Human Rights Council,"" to the propagation of climate hysteria, and covering for China's forced abortion and sterilization programs, the UN's decades-old, internal rot once again raises the questions of why the United States is even still a member or why we're wasting billions — indeed, $12.5 billion in 2021 — every year on it. The UN doesn’t deserve one single dime of American taxpayer money or one bit of our support; we should defund it and leave immediately. I am proud to lead this critical effort alongside Mike Lee and Mike Rogers,” Congressman Roy concluded. “No more blank checks for the United Nations. Americans' hard-earned dollars have been funneled into initiatives that fly in the face of our values –enabling tyrants, betraying allies, and spreading bigotry,"" said Senator Lee. ""With the DEFUND Act, we're stepping away from this debacle. If we engage with the UN in the future, it will be on our terms, with the full backing of the Senate and an iron-clad escape clause."" Representative Rogers said, “The United Nations routinely proves themselves to be an organization with the lone purpose of legitimizing the propaganda of terrorist organizations and the Chinese Communist Party. Their recent behavior following the October 7th terrorist attack on Israel is shameful and indicative of widespread antisemitism within the organization. For years, I have called on the United States to leave the UN, and I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing legislation that would ensure US taxpayer dollars no longer fund this sham establishment.” Read full text of the House bill here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://williams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-williams-gives-remarks-lab-grown-and-plant-based-meats,Rep. Williams Gives Remarks on Lab Grown and Plant-Based Meats,2023-12-07,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Roger Williams,W000816,williams.house.gov,williams,https://williams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. –Congressman Roger Williams (TX-25) gave remarks in front of the House Committee on Agriculture during the Committee’s Member Day Hearing on the need for fair labeling guidelines on cell-cultivated and plant – based imitation meats. See his remarks below as prepared for delivery: “Thank you, Chairman Thompson and Ranking Member Scott, for the opportunity to speak today, and thank you to all the members of the Committee on Agriculture for the work you do to support our farmers and ranchers. As the Representative for Texas’ 25th District, I am honored to represent many farms and ranches. Many of whom reach out to me regularly about the issues important to them. Today, I join you to discuss what we can all agree is an important problem facing not just the agriculture industry but the entire country. Members of this Committee and many Americans are likely familiar with plant-based imitation meats such as chicken, and ground beef, all of which appear impressively similar to traditional meat products but are made with ingredients like soy and wheat. While plant-based products have grown in popularity over the last decade, there has been a concerning lack of oversight on the labeling of such products, causing confusion among consumers. To add to this confusion, earlier this year the FDA and USDA approved the sale of cell-cultivated chicken, better known as “lab grown poultry”. While this process is still new and is time intensive and expensive, Congress should learn from its lack of oversight on plant-based imitation meat products and consider forward thinking protections for consumers from those who wish to manipulate them through misleading labeling. As Chairman of the House Committee on Small Business and owner and operator of a car dealership and calf cow operation in Texas for over 52 years, I understand the need to ensure that consumers are given all the information needed to make informed decisions while not interfering with the free market. We are a country of competition - of risk and reward - and the federal government should not be in the business of picking winners and losers. We must let competition drive innovation and allow individuals and businesses to choose the product that best suits their needs. There are extensive guidelines and regulations surrounding the labeling and marketing of traditional meat-based products by the FDA and USDA. Through the requirement of accurate and honest labeling of imitation and lab-grown products, we create a level playing field and support a free market in the agricultural industry. I am working diligently alongside your Committee member, Congressman Alford, who also serves on the House Committee on Small Business, to ensure that as the imitation and lab grown product industry grows, the American people and our ranching and farming communities are not taken advantage of. Chairman Thompson, Ranking Member Scott, and members of the esteemed Committee on Agriculture, thank you again for allowing me to join you today. I look forward to working with each of you to support our farmers and ranchers and tackling this important issue. In God we trust.” Background: Earlier this year, the Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the sale of cell-cultivated “Lab Grown” poultry products by two U.S. companies. Watch Congressman Williams’ remarks here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cruz-lummis-demand-end-to-bidens-electric-vehicle-mandate,"Cruz, Lummis Demand End to Biden’s Electric Vehicle Mandate",2023-12-07,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,TX,Ted Cruz,C001098,www.cruz.senate.gov,cruz,https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), along with several of their Senate Western Caucus colleagues, sent a letter to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) urging Congressional leadership to defund the Biden administration’s electric vehicle (EV) rule, which requires vehicles to be fully electric by 2032. This rule will affect more than two-thirds of vehicles sold in the U.S. Defunding the EV mandate would protect the freedom of Americans in Texas, the west, and across the country to choose the cars or trucks they drive and remove excessive costs. In the letter the senators wrote, “Not only would the EPA’s proposed regulation hurt America’s national security, but it would severely limit consumer choice for affordable vehicles that fit the needs of the average American. At a time of inflation, high interest rates, and rising costs, the last thing Americans need is to find both new and used vehicles unaffordable because of an EPA mandate.” Cosigners of the letter include Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), John Boozman (A-Ark.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) James Lankford (R-Kan.) and Mitt Romney (R-Utah). Read the full text of the letter here. BACKGROUND The EPA’s mandate would require 67.5% of vehicles sold to be an EV in less than nine years, which is a steep increase from 2022 where less than 6% of all vehicles sold were EVs. The mandate comes at a very high cost for hardworking people across the west: o The average cost of an EV is $53,469, just $663 less than the median American income which is $54,132 according to estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. o A study found the cost of charging an EV is equivalent to $17 a gallon for traditional internal combustion vehicles.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/icymi-a-major-win-for-all-of-texas,ICYMI: ‘A Major Win for All of Texas’,2023-12-07,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,TX,Ted Cruz,C001098,www.cruz.senate.gov,cruz,https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Texas and Mexico are one step closer to better transportation connections thanks to bipartisan legislation championed by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). Last night, House and Senate lawmakers announced an agreement on an annual defense authorization bill that includes language authored by Cruz, and pushed by a bipartisan and bicameral coalition of Texas legislators, to streamline a presidential permitting process for new and expanded bridges across the Rio Grande in Brownsville, Laredo, and Eagle Pass, Texas. This provision, which Cruz inserted into the Senate’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and battled to keep in the final bill, is an important victory that will help alleviate border crossing bottlenecks, expand trade, and create jobs. Sen. Cruz’s amendment gives the State Department 60 days to issue a recommendation to the president about whether the president should issue a permit to allow four international Texas bridge projects. The president would then have 60 days to grant or deny the permits. The amendment adheres to the practice used by the prior administration where presidential permits could be issued contingent on successful completion of environmental reviews. Upon the announcement, Sen. Cruz said, “This is a huge win for South Texas. For months, I've worked hand in hand with my Democrat and Republican colleagues to ensure that this critical provision for Texas was included in legislation that could pass Congress and be signed into law. Construction of these four new and expanded cross-border bridges are vital for our state's economy. These Rio Grande bridges will help farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, and small businesses throughout Texas. They will support international trade, fix supply chain bottlenecks, and support economic development and security for Texas border communities. And given the $800 billion in trade that Texas has with Mexico each year, shortening lengthy delays in crossings will help lower the cost of goods for American families, onshore manufacturing from China, enable economic growth in the Lone Star State, and create good jobs across Texas.” BACKGROUND: In July 2023, the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee adopted Sen. Cruz’s amendment to streamline the presidential permitting process for building key bridges across the Rio Grande. The amendment, which was included in a bill authorizing funding for the State Department, was ultimately passed by the entire Senate as part of the annual defense policy bill, or National Defense Authorization Act, on July 27, 2023. Sen. Cruz vowed to keep working to see that his amendment is part of the final defense bill that is signed into law. In June 2023, Sen. Cruz led the entire south Texas congressional delegation, both Democrats and Republicans, in sending a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging the Biden administration to resolve delays in providing permits for the four international Texas bridge projects. Joining Sen. Cruz in sending the letter were Sen. Cornyn, and U.S. Reps. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas), Monica De La Cruz (R-Texas), and Tony Gonzales (R-Texas). Read the full text of the letter here. In October, Sen. Cruz again led a letter, this time to President Biden, expressing frustration, “over the delayed issuance of presidential permits for key bridge projects between the United States and Mexico,” and urging the president to, “swiftly approve these four critical Texas-Mexico bridge projects that will create jobs, improve supply chain resiliency, and promote economic growth.” Joining Sen. Cruz in sending this letter were Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), and U.S. Representatives Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas), Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), and Monica De La Cruz (R-Texas). Sen. Cruz’s bipartisan effort to streamline the presidential permitting process for Texas-Mexico bridge projects are supported by a diverse group of stakeholders, including: Texas Association of Business U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Laredo Motor Carriers Association Border Trade Alliance American Trucking Associations Texas Trucking Association Texas International Produce Association ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1127,Chairman Arrington Statement on H.R. 4468 The CAR Act,2023-12-06,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Jodey C. Arrington,A000375,arrington.house.gov,arrington,https://arrington.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"“The Biden EPA’s emissions mandates on manufacturers are another example of this Administration’s whole-of-government assault on domestic oil and gas, and undermines economic freedom by forcing consumers to buy products they don’t need at prices they can’t afford.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1128,Chairman Arrington Statement on H.R. 5933 The DETERRENT Act,2023-12-06,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Jodey C. Arrington,A000375,arrington.house.gov,arrington,https://arrington.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"“For too long, we’ve let foreign adversaries infiltrate and adversely influence our country through our wide-open border, the purchase US farmland and property near military bases, and the flow of foreign money to American universities. Rep. Steel’s DETERRENT Act will significantly increase the level of scrutiny on foreign contributions to American universities, especially from nations of concern like North Korea, China, Russia, and Iran.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1129,Chairman Arrington Statement on Voting to Withdrawal the Biden Administration's Income-Driven Replacement (IDR) Rule,2023-12-06,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Jodey C. Arrington,A000375,arrington.house.gov,arrington,https://arrington.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"“President Biden has shown he has zero respect for the rule of law by thumbing his nose at the Supreme Court after they ruled his student loan bailout as unconstitutional and instead, is using an administrative end-run to do it anyway.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://crenshaw.house.gov/2023/12/crenshaw-letter-to-epa,Crenshaw Sends Letter to EPA Regarding TSCA Concerns,2023-12-06,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Dan Crenshaw,C001120,crenshaw.house.gov,crenshaw,https://crenshaw.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Congressman Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), joined by nearly 60 of his colleagues, sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) raising concerns about the worsening output of the New Chemicals Division, and the EPA’s unscientific risk evaluations of existing chemicals on the market. Currently, the EPA has a backlog of nearly 400 pre-manufacturing applications still awaiting a risk determination, with the vast majority of them well past the statutory deadline. These delays are having significant negative effects on the chemical industry’s ability to introduce innovative chemicals to the market that may be safer, cleaner, or more efficient. Additionally, the EPA is mismanaging its evaluations of existing chemicals by dramatically overestimating the risks associated with these chemicals, while ignoring the real world impacts of its determinations. This letter builds on concerns raised before the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials subcommittee held by Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers and subcommittee Chairman Bill Johnson. President and CEO, Chris Jahn, of The American Chemistry Council, a major trade association representing many chemical companies, voiced his support for the letter saying: “The American Chemistry Council is grateful to Rep. Crenshaw and the co-signers of the letter for their leadership and commitment to ensuring the regulatory process supports and strengthens American manufacturing and innovation. America’s chemistry industry appreciates the Members’ understanding of this issue's importance and willingness to conduct needed oversight while working with the Biden Administration to ensure effective chemical management policy.” The signers of the letter urgently call upon EPA Administrator Regan to address these concerns and questions in a timely manner.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://delacruz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=497,Bills to Fight Terrorism Introduced by Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz,2023-12-06,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Monica De La Cruz,D000594,delacruz.house.gov,delacruz,https://delacruz.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Bills that target the financing of terrorism were introduced by Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) on Tuesday, December 5th. The Prevent the Financing of Terrorism Through the Drug Trade Act requires the Secretary of the Treasury to submit a report to Congress within 180 days outlining the sources and scope of terrorist financing done by Hamas and Hezbollah in Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Further, it would also add Hamas as a primary threat on the Treasury’s National Terrorist Financing Risk Assessment report, which will provide critical additional data on this terrorist group. “As we have seen the terrorist activities of Hamas and Hezbollah increasing following the October 7th terrorist attacks in Israel, it is necessary to understand the sources and scope of their activities in Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean to best protect our National security and Southern Border,” De La Cruz said. The International Financial Institution Counter Terrorism Accountability Act requires the Secretary of the Treasury to submit a report to Congress within 180 days with countries supported by the World Bank and IMF; a list of the programs and activities provided by the World Bank and IMF to combat terrorist financing; how much is spent on these programs and how much US funding goes towards them; and an evaluation of the effectiveness of these programs and activities. “This bill aims to ensure international banking organizations, including the World Bank and IMF, are appropriately analyzing their anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism financial programs in the wake of the Hamas attack on Israel,” De La Cruz said. “To do so, my legislation requires a report to Congress evaluating the effectiveness of these programs and activities. After the submission of this report, Treasury is tasked with developing recommendations for the World Bank and IMF to improve their counter terrorist financing and anti-money laundering programs to ensure American tax dollars are being effectively used to hinder money laundering and terrorism activities in the global market. “The fight against terrorism doesn’t end because a war ends or one terrorist network is destroyed. It is an ongoing battle to prevent the rise of the next terrorist group and protect innocent men, women, and children around the world from the evil inflicted by these monsters. That is why I introduced these bills that target the financing of terror with the goal of stopping terrorism in its tracks.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://gonzales.house.gov/2023/12/congressional-latino-jewish-caucus-leaders-meet-with-families-of-remaining-hostages-held-by-hamas/a442d736-908c-48d8-98d4-1b7aa316fd59,Congressional Latino-Jewish Caucus Leaders Meet with Families of Remaining Hostages held by Hamas,2023-12-06,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Tony Gonzales,G000594,gonzales.house.gov,gonzales,https://gonzales.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Co-Chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Latino-Jewish Caucus Representatives Tony Gonzales (R-TX), Debbie Wasserman Shultz (D-FL), Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), and Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) issued the following statement after meeting with families and friends of hostages who remain held captive by Hamas: “As co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Latino-Jewish Caucus, we had the solemn opportunity to meet with families and friends of hostages held in Gaza, many who are dual citizens from Argentina, Colombia, and other Latin American countries, and who are still being held by Hamas terrorists,"" said the Members. ""We were appalled by the horrific stories of October 7 that we heard from the group and the mistreatment suffered by those kidnapped. As Members of Congress, we stand in bipartisan and unwavering solidarity with the hostages and call for their immediate release. With the rise of antisemitism and hate crimes globally, terrorism, sexual violence against women, and over a hundred hostages still held in Gaza, the work to combat these evils is even more urgent. We remain resolved in our commitment to continue our collective efforts to work toward the return and reunification of the hostages with their families."" Below is the list of the hostages whose families and friends attended the meeting: Omri Miran (46), Israeli-Hungarian dual citizen Elkana Bohbot (34), Israeli-Colombian dual citizen Tal Shoham (30), Israeli-Austrian dual citizen Alexander (Sasha) Troponov (27), Israeli-Russian dual citizen Sagui Dekel-Chen (35), Israeli-American dual citizen Eitan Horan (37) and Yair Horan (45), Israeli Argentinian dual citizens",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://gonzales.house.gov/2023/12/l-deres-del-comit-parlamentario-latino-jud-o-del-congreso-se-re-nen-con-familias-de-los-rehenes-que-permanecen-en-custodia-de-hamas,Líderes del Comité Parlamentario Latino-Judío del Congreso se Reúnen con Familias de los Rehenes que Permanecen en Custodia de Hamas,2023-12-06,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Tony Gonzales,G000594,gonzales.house.gov,gonzales,https://gonzales.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.– Los Copresidentes del Comité Parlamentario Latino-Judío del Congreso Tony Gonzales (R-TX), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), y Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) emitieron la siguiente declaración después de reunirse con las familias y amigos de los rehenes que siguen siendo cautivos de Hamas: ""Como copresidentes del Caucus Latino-Judio de la Cámara de Representantes bipartidista, tuvimos la solemne oportunidad de reunirnos con familias y amigos de rehenes detenidos en Gaza, muchos de los cuales son ciudadanos duales de Argentina, Colombia, y otros países latinoamericanos, y que aún son retenidos por terroristas de Hamas"", dijeron los miembros. ""Nos horrorizaron las historias horrendas de 7 de octubre que escuchamos del grupo y el maltrato sufrido por quienes fueron secuestrados. Como miembros del Congreso, nos mantenemos en solidaridad bipartidista e inquebrantable con los rehenes y exigimos su liberación inmediata. Con el aumento del antisemitismo y los crímenes de odio a nivel mundial, el terrorismo, la violencia sexual contra las mujeres y más de cien rehenes aún detenidos en Gaza, el trabajo para combatir estos males es aún mas urgente. Permanecemos firmes en nuestro compromiso de continuar nuestro trabajo colectivo para lograr el retorno y la reunificación de los rehenes con sus familias."" A continuación se presenta la lista de los rehenes cuyas familias y amigos asistieron a la reunión: Omri Miran (46), ciudadano de doble ciudadania israelí-húngaro Elkana Bohbot (34), ciudadano de doble ciudadania israelí-colombiano Tal Shoham (30), ciudadano de doble ciudadania israelí-austriaco Alexander (Sasha) Troponov (27), ciudadano de doble ciudadania israelí-russo Sagui Dekel-Chen (35), ciudadano de doble ciudadania israelí-americano Eitan Horan (37) and Yair Horan (45), ciudadanos de doble ciudadania israelí-argentinos",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://jackson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=798,Rep. Jackson Sends Letter Demanding Answers from USDA on Failed Emergency Relief Program,2023-12-06,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Ronny Jackson,J000304,jackson.house.gov,jackson,https://jackson.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC — On Wednesday, Congressmen Ronny Jackson (TX-13), Jodey Arrington (TX-19), and August Pfluger (TX-11), along with Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS), led a letter to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack addressing his failure to properly administer much needed disaster assistance payments to agricultural producers for crop losses in the 2022 crop year. The letter follows the USDA announcing misguided changes to the Emergency Relief Program (ERP), a program meant to provide financial assistance to America’s farmers and ranchers for agriculture losses due to natural disasters. This announcement came less than one month after Congressman Jackson called on USDA to release information on their plan to distribute disaster assistance nearly a year after funds were appropriated. Jackson said: “When hard times fell on farmers and ranchers, Congress made a conscience decision to support the men and women who dedicate their lives to feed and clothe the world. Farmers have struggled to deal with the Biden administration's radical economic policies, causing a steep rise in input costs and major labor shortages, all on top of catastrophic natural disasters. Instead of distributing disaster relief assistance quickly and efficiently to mitigate weather challenges in 2022, the USDA has radically changed the Emergency Relief Program to prioritize DEI initiatives and make deeper payment cuts that punish full time farmers. I will not sit idly by as the agriculture community is dismantled by this administration. As a member of the House Committee on Agriculture and the Representative for one of the largest agricultural producing districts in the country, I will always be a leader in Congress to ensure our farmers and ranchers get the support they deserve.” Arrington said: “Disasters don’t discriminate against farmers based on their race or gender and neither should our government programs. The USDA's 2022 Emergency Relief Program (ERP) gives higher disaster payments to producers based on the color of their skin and biological sex - rather than targeting farmers with the greatest need. This is just another example of the Biden Administration using identity politics to drive public policy. These discriminatory and divisive practices have no place in America.” Marshall said: ""Joe Biden's war on American agriculture continues. It seems like every program put forward by this administration comes with arbitrary restrictions that hurt farmers and ranchers in an effort to advance their political agenda. The Emergency Relief Program was once workable and effective but has now fallen into total disrepair. There is no sound logic to scuttling a good program that received near-universal praise from Congress and farmers for a proposal this bad. I'm glad the department paused the program; however, as long as the ERP remains in this broken condition, there is little reason to support its further extension or to fine-tune this failure. Farmers need assistance now, and USDA needs to return to their old program to get these dollars out the door."" Pfluger said: ""As a representative for prolific farming and ranching communities, I am deeply concerned about the methodology being used in the implementation of the USDA's Emergency Relief Program for 2022. Especially amid economic turmoil, the Biden Administration must have our agriculture producers' backs by swiftly adopting a system that fulfills the intended purpose of assisting our farm families in need without unwarranted limitations."" The full letter can be found here. Co-signers include Majority Leader Steve Scalise (LA-01), Frank Lucas (OK-03), Rick Crawford (AR-01), David Rouzer (NC-07), Don Bacon (NE-02), Dusty Johnson (SD-at-Large), Jim Baird (IN-04), Tracey Mann (KS-01), Barry Moore (AL-02), Brad Finstad (MN-01), Monica De La Cruz (TX-15), Mark Alford (MO-04), Troy Nehls (TX-22), Mike Flood (NE-01), Scott Franklin (FL-18), Julia Letlow (LA-05), Keith Self (TX-03), Roger Williams (TX-25), Kay Granger (TX-12), Jake Ellzey (TX-06), Pete Sessions (TX-17), Byron Donalds (FL-19), Lauren Boebert (CO-03), Jake LaTurner (KS-02), Dan Crenshaw (TX-02), Lance Gooden (TX-05), Wesley Hunt (TX-38), Mike Ezell (MS-4), Ralph Norman (SC-5), Stephanie Bice (OK-05), Nathanial Moran (TX-01), Michael Guest (MS-03), Dan Newhouse (WA-04), John Rose (TN-06), Adrian Smith (NE-03), Morgan Luttrell (TX-08), Brian Babin (TX-36), Rick Allen (GA-12), Cliff Bentz (OR-02), Michael McCaul (TX-10), Russell Fry (SC-07), Kate Cammack (FL-03), Randy Weber (TX-14), Michelle Fischbach (MN-07), John Moolenaar (MI-02), Michael Cloud (TX-27), John Carter (TX-31), Greg Steube (FL-17), Mike Kelly (PA-16), Ron Estes (KS-04), Virginia Foxx (NC-05), Michael Burgess (TX-26), Chip Roy (TX-21), Beth Van Duyne (TX-24), Pat Fallon (TX-04), and Tony Gonzales (TX-23), and Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Deb Fischer (R-NE), James Lankford (R-OK), and Pete Ricketts (R-NE). ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://weber.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1849,Rep. Weber Preserves American’s Vehicle Choice,2023-12-06,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,"Randy K. Weber, Sr.",W000814,weber.house.gov,weber,https://weber.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Weber (TX-14) voted in favor of H.R. 4468, the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales (CARS) Act, which protects consumer choice by prohibiting Biden's Environmental Protection Agency from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing any proposed rule with regards to emissions from vehicles. Rep. Weber is an original co-sponsor of the CARS Act. ""The EPA's electric vehicles proposal serves as a de facto ban that will eliminate choice, distort the market, and restrict consumer choice while costing taxpayers more,” said Rep. Weber. “Not to mention, the push to make E.V.s the only choice for U.S. car buyers without first building out our domestic supply chains for critical minerals is a recipe for dependence on China and, by extension, defaulting to their filthy environmental practices. China is not our friend, and unlike China's treatment of its own citizens, we should not dictate to Americans what they can or cannot drive. In America, we let consumers choose the car they drive."" Rep. Weber spoke on the House floor in support of the CARS Act. Background:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-cruzs-bipartisan-bicameral-legislation-to-name-ports-to-plains-corridor-interstate-27-passes-house,"Sen. Cruz’s Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Name Ports-to-Plains Corridor ""Interstate 27"" Passes House",2023-12-06,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,TX,Ted Cruz,C001098,www.cruz.senate.gov,cruz,https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, John Cornyn (R-Texas), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and Ben Ray Luján (D- N.M.), along with U.S. Reps. Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) and Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) introduced legislation to rename the Ports-to-Plains corridor as “Interstate 27” that passed the House yesterday. The amended legislation will now head back to the Senate to be considered again. About the victory, Sen. Cruz said, “In Texas, we are leading the country in economic prosperity. The passage of this critical legislation to name the Ports-to-Plains corridor as Interstate 27 is an incredible step to greater economic growth in Texas. I am proud to have spearheaded the fight in the Senate, alongside Reps. Jodey Arrington and Henry Cuellar in the House, to advance the development of the I-27 corridor and create jobs across the Lone Star State.” Read the bill text here. Read the Ports-to-Plains legislation here and the press release here. BACKGROUND: The Ports-to-Plains Corridor aims to facilitate an additional key North-South route to bolster the transportation of goods and people. The Department of Transportation’s (DOT’s) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) has projected nationwide freight moved by trucks could increase by 44% from 2015 levels by 2045. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), in conjunction with the Ports-to-Plains Advisory Committee, conducted a comprehensive study of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor. The study found significant economic benefits to upgrading the Ports-to-Plains Corridor. For example, the study found that the upgrades would result in a 76% return on investment, $4.1 billion in annual travel cost savings, 22,110 new jobs, and a $2.8 billion annual increase in state GDP. The Ports-to-Plains Corridor was designated as a High Priority Corridor on the National Highway System. The Cruz-Lujan legislation was passed into law in late 2022. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1119,Arrington Leads Bicameral Letter Calling Out USDA Discriminatory Disaster Relief Payment Model,2023-12-05,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Jodey C. Arrington,A000375,arrington.house.gov,arrington,https://arrington.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) and U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), led 65 members of the United States House and Senate in sending a letter to the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Tom Vilsack, expressing their concerns about the implementation of new changes to Emergency Relief Program (ERP) payments for losses incurred in 2022. The letter urges the USDA to appropriately follow the law and immediately return the ERP back to 2021 guidelines that were aligned with Congressional intent. Chairman Arrington said, “Disasters don’t discriminate against farmers based on their race or gender and neither should our government programs. The USDA's 2022 Emergency Relief Program (ERP) gives higher disaster payments to producers based on the color of their skin and biological sex - rather than targeting farmers with the greatest need. This is just another example of the Biden Administration using identity politics to drive public policy. These discriminatory and divisive practices have no place in America.” ""Joe Biden's war on American agriculture continues. It seems like every program put forward by this administration comes with arbitrary restrictions that hurt farmers and ranchers in an effort to advance their political agenda,"" Senator Marshall said. ""The Emergency Relief Program was once workable and effective but has now fallen into total disrepair. There is no sound logic to scuttling a good program that received near-universal praise from Congress and farmers for a proposal this bad. I'm glad the department paused the program; however, as long as the ERP remains in this broken condition, there is little reason to support its further extension or to fine-tune this failure. Farmers need assistance now, and USDA needs to return to their old program to get these dollars out the door."" Rep. August Pfluger (TX-11) said, ""As a representative for prolific farming and ranching communities, I am deeply concerned about the methodology being used in the implementation of the USDA's Emergency Relief Program for 2022. Especially amid economic turmoil, the Biden Administration must have our agriculture producers' backs by swiftly adopting a system that fulfills the intended purpose of assisting our farm families in need without unwarranted limitations."" Rep. Ronny Jackson (TX-13) said, “When hard times fell on farmers and ranchers, Congress made a conscience decision to support the men and women who dedicate their lives to feed and clothe the world. Farmers have struggled to deal with the Biden administration's radical economic policies, causing a steep rise in input costs and major labor shortages, all on top of catastrophic natural disasters. Instead of distributing disaster relief assistance quickly and efficiently to mitigate weather challenges in 2022, the USDA has radically changed the Emergency Relief Program to prioritize DEI initiatives and make deeper payment cuts that punish full time farmers. As a member of the House Committee on Agriculture and the Representative for one of the largest agricultural producing districts in the country, I will always be a leader in Congress to ensure our farmers and ranchers get the support they deserve.” “Farm and ranch families have experienced drought and extreme weather events over the past few years making it extremely difficult to continue operating,” said Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening. “As they face these challenges, it is critical disaster assistance is delivered in a timely, equitable and effective manner. Sadly, the 2022 Emergency Relief Program (ERP) does just the opposite. After waiting for almost a year for assistance, the program simply picks winners and losers based on criteria outside of the farmer’s control. It is extremely important for USDA to reconsider the methodology used to deliver this assistance and for Congress to hold the agency accountable. TFB thanks Chairman Jodey Arrington for leading a letter to express our concerns to USDA. We also appreciate Sens. Cornyn and Cruz and other leaders of the Texas delegation for their support in this effort. TFB stands ready to work with USDA and Congressional leaders to address the inadequacies that exist in this program and deliver proper assistance to the farm and ranch families who need it most.” “We commend House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington for leading the charge in working to correct a fundamentally flawed disaster aid program that harms Texas farm and ranch families. In leading a bicameral letter to Secretary Vilsack with Senator Roger Marshall, Chairman Arrington made it clear that the Administration broke the law on a number of fronts in developing its regulations and this comes at the direct expense of Texas producers and farm and ranch families across the country. We thank Chairman Arrington for taking a major first step to rectify this matter so producers suffering losses due to drought and other natural disasters receive the help that Congress intended.” Jim Sugarek, President, Southwest Council of Agribusiness said. “Plains Cotton Growers Inc., strongly supports efforts led by the House, Senate and agriculture industry to rectify the recent disparities created by USDA in the implementation of the Emergency Relief Program for the 2022 crop year,” said Kody Bessent, CEO of Plains Cotton Growers Inc. “USDA is operating on their own accord and against congressional intent in the application of this program, specifically in the newly developed progressive payment factor used to prorate payments inequitably and the biased method used to incorporate producer-paid insurance premiums and fees. Cotton farmers across Texas and the U.S. have been vastly impacted by concurrent events in 2022 brought on by mother nature — this is especially true in the Texas High Plains region. A correctly implemented program by USDA as Congress intended will greatly help the agriculture industry in such times of financial strain and loss. We look forward to continuing the work with Congress to swiftly correct the disparities and inadequacies created by USDA in administrating the ERP for the 2022 crop year.” “Last year, natural disasters took an enormous toll on our nation’s farmers, many of whom are still struggling to make themselves whole. Yet, instead of meeting their needs, USDA developed an Emergency Relief Program for 2022 that unnecessarily deviates from past practice and will end up penalizing many of the hardest-hit farm families. The National Cotton Council applauds Representative Arrington, Senator Marshall, and the dozens of other Members of Congress who are urging Secretary Vilsack to go back to the drawing board.”National Cotton Council Chairman Shawn Holladay said. Background: The ERP announcement comes almost one year after Congress appropriated over $3 billion in funding to address natural disasters that occurred during the 2022 crop year. The new changes include a higher crop insurance premium reimbursement for “socially disadvantaged” farmers defined as female or of a certain ethnicity, and applied a progressive payment model that prevents farm families that suffered the deepest losses from receiving adequate assistance. Both changes usurp the Congressional intent of such disaster relief programs. Additionally, the new methodology will negatively impact many farmers’ ability to receive financing from lenders and plan for the next crop year. USDA needs to follow the law and Congressional intent to address the crop losses of our farm families without the pay limits and without preferences that are not authorized by law. Earlier this year, Rep. Arrington and Sen. Marshall sent a letter urging the USDA to reconsider ERP Phase II implementation and utilize the Phase I methodology for the crop year 2022 crop disaster assistance. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1136,Arrington Passes Bipartisan Bill to Name Ports-to-Plains Corridor “I-27”,2023-12-05,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Jodey C. Arrington,A000375,arrington.house.gov,arrington,https://arrington.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) and Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) celebrated the passage of their bipartisan legislation renaming the interstate-designated segments of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor to “I-27”. The passage of this bill marks an important step in the project that connects the ports of South Texas to the plains of West Texas and beyond, stimulating substantial economic growth and providing a competitive edge to producers and manufacturers throughout the region. Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced companion legislation in the Senate. Prior to the bill’s passage, Chairman Arrington delivered a speech on the floor of the United States House of Representatives in support of the measure. You can watch his speech HERE: “Transportation infrastructure is critical to the future prosperity of Rural America.” Chairman Arrington said. “Now that we’ve created a federal four-lane highway, we passed legislation to officially name it ‘I-27.’ The Ports to Plains Corridor is going to create thousands of jobs for West Texas and deliver a $50 billion economic impact over the next 20 years. I’m proud to have had my bipartisan bill passed out of the House, with the help of my friend Henry Cuellar. This project is a game-changer for West Texas and all Americans who rely on our nation’s energy independence and food security.” “I’d like to express my appreciation to Congressman Arrington for his continued support of the Ports-to-Plains initiatives including the I-27 Numbering Act of 2023 that passed unanimously in the House this week,” said John Osborne, chairman of the Ports-to-Plains Alliance. “It is through his leadership and shared vision for the development of the corridor that we are not only one step closer to fruition but continue to pave the way to a prosperous and transformative future.” “In Texas, we are leading the country in economic prosperity. The passage of this critical legislation to name the Ports-to-Plains corridor as Interstate 27 is an incredible step to greater economic growth in Texas. I am proud to have spearheaded the fight in the Senate, alongside Reps. Jodey Arrington and Henry Cuellar in the House, to advance the development of the I-27 corridor and create jobs across the Lone Star State.” Senator Ted Cruz said. “Last Congress, I secured language in the FY22 omnibus appropriations bill designating the Ports to Plains Corridor as a future federal interstate route, unlocking funding for an expansion project for a four-lane federal highway from Laredo to New Mexico. Today, the House officially designated the corridor as Interstate 27,” said Congressman Cuellar, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee. “The Ports to Plains Corridor will spur economic development and create good-paying jobs across multiple sectors of our state’s economy, including trade, energy, and agriculture. Thank you to Rep. Jodey Arrington, Sen. Ted Cruz, and Sen. John Cornyn for working with me across party lines to strengthen our state’s infrastructure, and I look forward to seeing this bill signed into law.” Background:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-justice-blind-and-we-must-follow-facts-wherever-they-may-take-us,ICYMI: “Justice is blind and we must follow the facts wherever they may take us.”,2023-12-05,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Chip Roy,R000614,roy.house.gov,roy,https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"December 5, 2023 WASHINGTON, DC — On Tuesday morning, Representative Chip Roy (TX-21) chaired the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government. Key quotes from the subcommittee are below. “Like all components of the Justice Department, the Civil Rights Division is expected to…equally enforce the law. Unfortunately, under the Biden administration, this has not always been the case.” “Civil Rights Division has fixated sight, for example, on those charged with protecting us – police departments. Often harassing these departments to the point that they cannot do their jobs.” “The division must return to the nonpartisan work of protecting the rights of all Americans.” “Mark Houck who was targeted, had a raid of his home, prosecuted under [the FACE Act] was acquitted by a jury. Have you apologized to him on behalf of the DOJ for that grave violation of his civil rights – having his family have to watch him being raided at his home?” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-roy-issues-statement-hr-542-and-hr-3848,Rep. Roy issues statement on H.R. 542 and H.R. 3848,2023-12-05,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Chip Roy,R000614,roy.house.gov,roy,https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC — Representative Chip Roy (TX-21) issued the following statement after voting on H.R. 542 and H.R. 3848: This week, I voted against H.R. 542 and H.R. 3848. Both these bills were ""paid for"" by effectively the exact same gimmick - raising the rate on VA home loan fees years into the future, instead of doing the hard but necessary work of finding the money to pay for each individual bill right now. With almost $34 trillion in debt and skyrocketing inflation, we as a country do not have the have the luxury of writing checks for even the most laudable programs — such as those to assist veterans — without first figuring out how to actually pay for them. How we do things matters just as much as what we do in this regard. This body, as a rule, has to stop kicking the can down the road with budget gimmicks. That's how this country got into our current fiscal disaster in the first place. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/house-passes-cruz-welch-bipartisan-bill-targeting-deadly-street-drug-tranq,House Passes Cruz-Welch Bipartisan Bill Targeting Deadly Street Drug Tranq,2023-12-05,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,TX,Ted Cruz,C001098,www.cruz.senate.gov,cruz,https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – A bipartisan bill combatting a deadly street drug from U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) is headed to the President’s desk. The senators praised yesterday’s House passage of the Testing, Rapid Analysis, and Narcotic Quality (TRANQ) Research Act. The Cruz-Welch legislation directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to take steps to enhance understanding of the dangerous animal tranquilizer xylazine, or tranq, and other novel synthetic drugs; develop new tests for detection; and establish partnerships with front-line entities that are often the first points of contact with new street drugs. This legislation previously passed the Senate with unanimous support in June. Following passage of the TRANQ Research Act, Sen. Cruz said: “Our common sense, bipartisan legislation will help law enforcement better detect a deadly drug that is destroying lives in my home state of Texas. I am grateful to Senator Welch for working with me to help give the frontlines of the Tranq drug crisis access to reliable data and research, and I look forward to our Cruz-Welch legislation being swiftly signed into law.” Sen. Welch added: “In my first week as Vermont’s new Senator, I came home to talk about the opioid and drug epidemic, and it couldn’t have been more clear: the drug supply in Vermont has changed and it’s making an already brutal overdose crisis even more challenging to combat. Our communities needed federal resources to deal with Xylazine, and they needed it now. So, we got to work–and we did it in a bipartisan way. I look forward to President Biden signing the TRANQ Research Act into law, and I thank Senator Cruz and Representatives Collins and Caraveo for their partnership. This bill is a step in the right direction, and it will help us get the resources where they’re needed most–to those on the frontlines and the folks who need testing and detection tools.” The Texas Municipal Police Association has previously said about the bill: “The drug epidemic is not just a Texas problem – it’s a national problem. As new drugs find their way onto the street, law enforcement must have the tools at their disposal to address the latest crisis. Senator Ted Cruz’s TRANQ Act would provide us with the resources we need to combat the distribution of tranq, and save the lives of vulnerable Texans.” Background: Xylazine, which has been nicknamed “tranq,” is a powerful sedative used by veterinarians. Although the tranquilizer is often combined with other drugs like fentanyl and Xanax, it is not an opioid, and so it cannot be reversed with Narcan. Its use has spread across the country, including in Texas and Vermont. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reports skyrocketing detections of xylazine, with growth between 2020 and 2021 of 198% in the South, 112% in the West, 61% in the Northeast, and 7% in the Midwest. According to the DEA, “the presence of xylazine in illicit drug combinations and its detection in fatal overdoses may be more widespread than reported as a number of jurisdictions across the country may not include xylazine in forensic laboratory or toxicology testing.” Tranq, also known as the “zombie drug” has gruesome side effects, causing large wounds that will not heal, and is resistant to standard opioid overdose treatments. Texas law enforcement officials have recently detected this drug in illicit fentanyl supplies, and it has led to several deaths in the state. Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) and Rep. Yadira Caraveo (D-Colo.) introduced the bipartisan companion legislation (H.R. 1734) to the TRANQ Research Act in the House of Representatives. On April 12, the Office of National Drug Control Policy declared fentanyl-adulterated or -associated xylazine an “emerging threat” to the country, the first time in history a substance formally received this declaration. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sens-cruz-cassidy-colleagues-send-letter-urging-the-biden-administration-to-address-antisemitism-in-k-12-schools,"Sens. Cruz, Cassidy, Colleagues Send Letter Urging the Biden Administration to Address Antisemitism in K-12 Schools",2023-12-05,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,TX,Ted Cruz,C001098,www.cruz.senate.gov,cruz,https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Bill Cassidy (R-L.A.), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, sent a letter along with several of their Senate Republican colleagues to Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, urging the Biden administration to address the growing rates of antisemitism in K-12 schools following Hamas’s war against Israel. The Senators urged the administration to use their Title VI enforcement power to ensure a safe learning environment for Jewish students. In the letter, the Senators write, “We are deeply concerned that the Department of Education is not ensuring American K-12 schools are fostering a safe learning environment for all students following the terrorist organization Hamas’ violent attack on civilians, including Americans and Israeli citizens.” Cosigners of the letter include U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), John Thune (R-S.D.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.). BACKGROUND: Since the Hamas-led massacre against Israel on October 7th, there has been a disturbing rise in antisemitic incidents, including targeted harassment, directed at Jewish children in K-12 schools. Shortly after the October 7th attacks, an 11-year-old in Manhattan Beach told four Jewish girls at his school that “all Israelis and Jews should be killed.” On October 9th, the Superintendent of Revere Public Schools in Massachusetts sent an email to school staff promoting resources that claimed, “Israeli terrorism has been significantly worse than that of the Palestinians.” On October 17th, a New York City middle school teacher and United Federation of Teachers’ (UFT) school representative sent an email to teachers’ union members deriding the UFT’s official statement denouncing the October 7th attack and calling on the unions’ retirement system to “divest from weapons and other companies that are complicit in violations of Palestinians’ civil and land rights.” On October 18th, students in San Francisco marched through the hallways of their high school chanting antisemitic slogans. According to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Department of Education has a duty to ensure that schools receiving federal funds maintain a safe learning environment for all children. Read the full text of the letter here or below. Dear Secretary Cardona: We are deeply concerned that the Department of Education (Department) is not ensuring American K-12 schools are fostering a safe learning environment for all students following the terrorist organization Hamas’ violent attack on civilians, including Americans and Israeli citizens. We write to urgently inquire what your Department is doing to enforce Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and to ensure students are not subjected to discrimination based on race, color, or national origin. On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists murdered over 1,200 civilians and took over 240 civilians hostage, including Americans. As children continue to grapple with the aftermath of this violence, incidents of antisemitic violence are picking up in our K-12 schools. Antisemitism in high schools is uniquely concerning as teenagers are particularly impressionable, deeply affected by the social dynamics of their peers and by the authority of their teachers.[1]Young students are still developing emotionally and are less equipped to handle and process incidents of antisemitism, making recent reports all the more concerning. On October 18, 2023, students in San Francisco marched through the hallways of their high school chanting antisemitic slogans.[2] Shortly after the October 7th attack, an 11-year-old in Manhattan Beach told four Jewish girls at his school that “all Israelis and Jews should be killed.”[3] Imagine a parent of a Jewish student learning of such incidents. Parents should feel confident that their children’s school will be safe and the focus will be on education. Instead, parents are beginning to fear that not only is school not safe for their students, but school officials are actively working to undermine the safety of their children. Parents cannot trust their students are safe if they fear school officials are key perpetrators in spreading antisemitic rhetoric. On October 9, 2023, the Superintendent of Revere Public Schools in Massachusetts sent an email to school staff promoting resources that claimed, “Israeli terrorism has been significantly worse than that of the Palestinians.”[4] On October 17, 2023, a New York City middle school teacher and a United Federation of Teachers’ (UFT) school representative sent an email to union members deriding the UFT’s official statement denouncing the October 7th attack and calling on the unions’ retirement system to ""divest from weapons and other companies that are complicit in violations of Palestinians' civil and land rights.""[5] The email also promoted the pro-Palestine protest in Washington Square Park later that day where protestors burned Israeli flags and chanted “Allahu Akbar.”[6] This type of harassment and intimidation is unacceptable and particularly troubling in K-12 schools. Younger students often have little choice in where they attend traditional public school, meaning there are ultimately fewer avenues for recourse. The difficult decision to switch schools due to an unsafe environment can be traumatic for a child and could involve moving to a different neighborhood or a lengthy battle with school district officials to be given a waiver to leave their assigned school. The process of switching schools is difficult for parents and could take years, all while their student could be in an unsafe environment. Unfortunately, these incidents are not a new phenomenon as antisemitic incidents have surged in K-12 schools long before the October 7th attack. In 2022, 494 incidents of antisemitism were reported in non-Jewish K-12 schools, a 49 percent increase compared to 2021.[7] In fact, the growing rate of antisemitic incidents in educational facilities outpaced that of such incidents in the country at large. The rise in antisemitic incidents is a symptom of growing antisemitism amongst our nation’s young people who are a product of our K-12 education system. Less than half of Gen Z and millennials believe the U.S. should publicly voice support of Israel compared with 63 percent of Gen X, 83 percent of baby boomers, and 86 percent of members of the Silent Generation.[8] Over half of voters under the age of 35 do not support sending weapons and military equipment to Israel in response to the Hamas terrorist attacked, compared with 77 percent of those 50 and over.[9] A Generation Lab poll of two- and four-year college students found that 48 percent of college students who say they are aware of the October 7 attack do not blame that attack on Hamas.[10] We must understand what role public K-12 schools are playing in furthering these sentiments. Since October 7, dozens of targeted attacks have occurred on college campuses, including reported vandalism, arson, and even professors taking discriminatory actions in their classroom based on a student’s status as a member of a protected class. While these polls focus on young people ages 18 and over, it is hard to believe these antisemitic tendencies began when they arrived at college. This prompts concerns that these tendencies might be taking root in K-12 schools. Examples are continuing to surface of K-12 teachers using materials that perpetuate antisemitism. There is a trend of school districts establishing courses under the guise of “ethnic studies” that are aimed to force a political agenda on students and that uniquely target Jews, alleging that all Jews are white or “white adjacent” and illegally occupy Israel.[11]The Zinn Education Project, whose history curriculum is used by 155,000 teachers, declared that the October 7th attack was “the direct result of decades of Israeli occupation.”[12] America’s K-12 schools must be a safe learning environment for all students. School officials are supposed to be the adults in the school building. They should be setting an example for our students and ensuring a safe learning environment rather than undermining it. As you are aware, any harassment or the creation of a hostile environment for students is unacceptable and invokes the responsibility of the Department to uphold Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VI states, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”[13] In May 2023, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine Lhamon wrote that “the protection offered by Title VI … extends to students who experience discrimination, including harassment, based on … (i) shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics; or (ii) citizenship or residency in a country with a dominant religion or distinct religious identity.”[14] Additionally, on November 7, 2023, your office released a Dear Colleague letter in which you state, “The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) stands ready to support schools in fulfilling this promise and to ensure every student’s right to learn without discrimination.”[15] While we are pleased to see your renewed attention to this issue, listening sessions and working groups are not in alignment with the appropriate actions outlined in Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It is time to live up to those obligations. Some schools seem unwilling or unable to uphold their legal obligations under Title VI. Therefore, the Department should use its full resources to enforce the law. To assist us in our oversight and legislative duties, we request a briefing to be scheduled no later than December 14, 2023 to discuss: The Department’s plan to promptly move the Antisemitism Awareness Campaign forward in the face of increased, brazen antisemitism at educational institutions across the country; Technical assistance or guidance provided to states and school districts on how to maintain safe learning environments; Data about antisemitic-related or other subgroup complaints specifically at the K-12 school-level into the Office for Civil Rights (OCR); Whether OCR has begun any compliance reviews based on harassment or violence complaints in K-12 schools; and Whether OCR has undertaken any directed investigations based on news reports of harassment or violence in K-12 schools. We look forward to an update regarding your efforts on the Antisemitism Awareness Campaign and broader enforcement of Title VI to ensure the Department and K-12 schools receiving Federal funds protect Jewish students in the same capacity as other legally-protected classes. ### [1] Adam Milstein, What about antisemitism in our high schools?, The Jerusalem Post (September 13, 2022), https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-717053. [2] Julianna Frieman, Video Of San Francisco High Schoolers Chanting Antisemitic Slogan Goes Viral Amid Israel-Hamas Firestorm, Daily Caller (October 20, 2023), https://dailycaller.com/2023/10/20/san-francisco-high-schoolers-antisemitic-slogans/. [3] Hal Eisner, Mahattan Beach student allegedly told Jewish classmates ‘all Israelis and Jews should be killed’, Fox 11 (October 23, 2023), https://www.foxla.com/news/manhattan-beach-student-allegedly-told-jewish-classmates-all-israelis-and-jews-should-be-killed. [4] Incidents, Immediately after attack on Israel, Revere Public Schools superintendent sends email to staff promoting resource that claims “Israeli terrorism has been significantly worse than that of the Palestinians,”Parents Defending Education (October 11, 2023), https://defendinged.org/incidents/revere-public-schools-superintendent-sends-email-to-staff-promoting-resource-that-claims-israeli-terrorism-has-been-significantly-worse-than-that-of-the-palestinians/. [5] Gabe Kaminsky, Israel War: NYC School Union Head Justifies Hamas Attack in ‘Private’ Email to Teachers, Washington Examiner (October 25, 2023), https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/education/israel-war-nyc-school-union-email-judi-cheng. [6] Stephen M. Lepore, Pro-Palestine and Israel Protestors Clash in NYC’s Washington Square Park as Flags Are Lit on Fire and Chants of ‘Allahu Akbar’ Emerge, Daily Mail (October 17, 2023),https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12642847/NYC-Washington-Square-Park-protest-Israel-Palestine-Hamas-war-flags-fire-cops.html. [7] Press Release, U.S. Antisemitic Incidents Hit Highest Level Ever Recorded, ADL Audit Finds, ADL (March 23, 2023), https://www.adl.org/resources/press-release/us-antisemitic-incidents-hit-highest-level-ever-recorded-adl-audit-finds. [8] Domenico Montanaro, Americans Strongly Support Israel, but There Are Generational and Racial Divides, NPR (October 13, 2023), https://www.npr.org/2023/10/13/1205627092/american-support-israel-biden-middle-east-hamas-poll. [9] Poll Release, 85% Of Voters Concerned Israel - Hamas War Will Escalate into A Wider War in The Middle East, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Approval For Building Border Wall With Mexico Reaches Record High, Quinnipiac University (October 17, 2023), https://poll.qu.edu/poll-release?releaseid=3880. [10] Mark Murray, Poll of U.S. College Students Finds Most Blame Hamas for attack on Israel, NBC News (October 17, 2023), https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/meetthepressblog/poll-us-college-students-finds-blame-hamas-attack-israel-rcna120833. [11] Resources, 5 Things to Know About Ethnic Studies, Parents Defending Education (n.d.), https://defendinged.org/resources/5-things-to-know-about-ethnic-studies/. [12] Tweet Message, Zinn Education Project (October 10, 2023), https://twitter.com/ZinnEdProject/status/1711789447333745023. [13] 42 USC 2000d [14] Dear Colleague Letter from Assistant Sec’y for C.R., Catherine Lahmon (May 25, 2023), https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/antisemitism-dcl.pdf.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-27T22:34:08Z https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sens-cruz-mullin-introduce-legislation-to-protect-ranchers-from-federal-government-overreach,"Sens. Cruz, Mullin Introduce Legislation to Protect Ranchers from Federal Government Overreach",2023-12-05,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,TX,Ted Cruz,C001098,www.cruz.senate.gov,cruz,https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) joined Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) in introducing the Black Vulture Relief Act, which would alleviate burdensome government regulations allowing farmers to protect their newborn livestock from black vultures without a depredation permit whenever their livestock is threatened. Upon introducing the bill Sen. Cruz said, “Texas has long been a stronghold in American agriculture. Our ranchers already face headwinds like drought, high input costs, and inflation.The last thing they need is to get a permit from the federal government to protect their own livestock. Livestock producers must possess the autonomy and authority to defend their livelihood from black vultures that are killing nearly 2.1 million cattle each year. The federal government has no place to stand in their way.” Cosponsors of the bill include Sens. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.). Read the full text of the bill here. BACKGROUND: • Black vultures are known to attack livestock, especially calves. These attacks are gruesome, often lasting hours, and cost ranchers an average of $2,000 per calf killed. • The black vulture population has increased by 468% since 1990. • Despite being listed as a species of lowest conservation concern, black vultures are still protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, making it illegal to take one without a depredation permit from U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS). • FWS currently operates a pilot program that allows state entities to register for a master permit and disburse sub-permits to ranchers. However, these sub-permits limit ranchers to 3-5 black vulture takes per year, even though attacks normally involve 20+ black vultures at a time. • This bill maintains protections for the species by requiring annual reporting of takes to ensure FWS receives accurate data to monitor the population and prohibiting the use of poison as a method of take. • The legislation is endorsed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, U.S. Cattlemen’s Association, Texas Farm Bureau, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife & Conservation, 19 state cattlemen’s associations, and 5 additional state farm bureaus. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sens-cruz-scott-demand-answers-on-the-biden-administrations-latest-iran-sanctions-waiver,"Sens. Cruz, Scott Demand Answers on the Biden Administration’s Latest Iran Sanctions Waiver",2023-12-05,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,TX,Ted Cruz,C001098,www.cruz.senate.gov,cruz,https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Tim Scott (R-S.C), members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, as well as other colleagues sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin calling for the administration to clarify and re-evaluate its policy granting Iran access to tens of billions of dollars through sanctions waivers. In the letter, the senators said, “A strong signal of deterrence—utilizing military, economic, and diplomatic tools—is needed if we want to stop the attacks against U.S. personnel and prevent the war in Gaza from expanding into a protracted regional conflict. Unfortunately, the administration’s military and economic responses to Iran and its proxies have not only been disproportionate, they appear to be completely disjointed. We therefore request that your departments provide us with a classified assessment on the administration’s plan to deter Iranian aggression and prevent the escalation of conflict in the Middle East. This assessment should include an estimation of how Iran has already leveraged—and could in the future leverage—against U.S. persons and interests the tens of billions in assets it now has access to due to your administration’s use of U.S. sanctions waivers and is to be provided in a member or staff-level briefing no later than December 7, 2023.” Read the full letter here and below: Dear Secretaries Blinken, Yellen, and Austin: On August 18, 2023, we wrote to express our concern over the administration’s decision to release $6 billion worth of frozen Iranian assets in exchange for the return of American detainees. This decision reinforced an incredibly dangerous precedent of providing ransom payments to the world’s greatest state sponsor of terrorism and put a price on the life of every American overseas. Understanding the grave error of the unfreezing of Iranian assets and the danger this action poses to U.S. lives and interests, it is therefore alarming to hear that the administration is doubling down on its appeasement strategy by actively working to provide Iran with access to billions more in funding. On October 7, 2023, Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists attacked Israel, brutally killing an estimated 1,200 civilians and taking over 200 hostages. In response, the administration reached an agreement with Qatar on October 12 to temporarily prevent the unfrozen assets—now held at Qatari financial institutions—from being expended. Based on information from your administration, it is our belief that with the current lack of safeguards, Iran will soon access this $6 billion and use the funds to continue to expand its malign proxy activities. Since October 7, Hamas and fellow Iranian proxy, Hezbollah, have continued to launch attacks against Israel as it fights to defend its sovereignty and protect its people. As we continue to stand with our greatest ally in the Middle East, other Iranian proxies have increased their attacks against U.S. personnel in the region. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria have launched sixty-one attacks against U.S. personnel since October 7. United States forces have responded only three times. However, at the same time, your administration has inadvisably taken steps to unlock tens of billions of dollars for Iran to fund additional terrorist activities that directly threaten American lives. On November 13, 2023, the U.S. Department of State extended a sanctions waiver pursuant to Section 1245(d)(5) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 and Section 1244(i) and 1247(f) of the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act of 2012, finding that a sanctions waiver to allow Iraq to pay Iran for electricity was in the national security interest of the United States. Public reports have held that there is roughly $10 billion in Iraqi payments for Iranian electricity currently being held in escrow accounts in Iraq.[1] The decision to extend this waiver and allow Iran to convert Iraqi Dinars to Euros was signed the day after U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) carried out its latest strike against facilities used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and other Iranian proxy groups in Eastern Syria, in response to their attacks against U.S. personnel. Such timing signals to Iran that despite attacks on U.S. servicemembers and our allies, it is business as normal on the economic front. As we said in August, money is fungible. Combined with the $10 billion waiver extension, the administration has provided Iran with access to roughly $16 billion in assets over the past four months; assets that can be used—now or in the future—to offset the cost of the Iranian regime’s increase in destabilizing activities across the region. A strong signal of deterrence—utilizing military, economic, and diplomatic tools—is needed if we want to stop the attacks against U.S. personnel and prevent the war in Gaza from expanding into a protracted regional conflict. Unfortunately, the administration’s military and economic responses to Iran and its proxies have not only been disproportionate, they appear to be completely disjointed. We therefore request that your departments provide us with a classified assessment on the administration’s plan to deter Iranian aggression and prevent the escalation of conflict in the Middle East. This assessment should include an estimation of how Iran has already leveraged—and could in the future leverage—against U.S. persons and interests the tens of billions in assets it now has access to due to your administration’s use of U.S. sanctions waivers and is to be provided in a member or staff-level briefing no later than December 7, 2023. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://gonzales.house.gov/2023/12/rep-tony-gonzales-statement-on-rep-george-santos-expulsion-bote,Rep. Tony Gonzales Statement on Rep. George Santos Expulsion Vote,2023-12-01,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Tony Gonzales,G000594,gonzales.house.gov,gonzales,https://gonzales.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) released the following statement: “The people of New York’s 3rd Congressional District were deceived by Representative George Santos. Between the bipartisan House Ethics Committee report and the charges and allegations already brought forth against Rep. Santos, it’s clear that Rep. Santos is grossly unfit to continue serving in Congress. We have a duty as Members of Congress to put aside our political stripes and uphold the integrity of our institutions first. The U.S. House of Representatives made the right call to expel Rep. Santos today,” said Congressman Tony Gonzales. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-chip-roy-issues-statement-h-res-878,Rep. Chip Roy issues statement on H. Res. 878,2023-12-01,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Chip Roy,R000614,roy.house.gov,roy,https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC — Representative Chip Roy (TX-21) issued the following statement after voting against H. Res. 878 on Friday. Today, I voted against H. Res. 878 to expel George Santos from Congress. While the allegations — and evidence of those allegations — regarding Representative Santos are certainly concerning, his guilt has yet to be determined in a court of law. Jumping to our own conclusions, ahead of the branch of government to which this matter rightly belongs at this time, could have serious consequences. Indeed, the only two Members of the House that have been expelled for criminal activity were expelled only after they were convicted. The ascertainment of guilt or innocence is a serious and deliberative matter and should remain as such. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases/roy-and-salazar-reaffirm-monroe-doctrine,Roy and Salazar reaffirm the Monroe Doctrine,2023-12-01,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Chip Roy,R000614,roy.house.gov,roy,https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC — Representatives Chip Roy (TX-21) and Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27) introduced a resolution commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Monroe Doctrine. Representative Roy said, “Saturday marks the 200th anniversary of the Monroe Doctrine, in which the United States sent an unequivocal message to the rest of the world that we would not tolerate the meddling of foreign powers in the Western Hemisphere. Now, just as then, we must stand resolute against outside forces that undercut our partnerships with our allies on this side of the globe. President Monroe’s concern about foreign powers influencing the Americas now takes on new urgency as adversaries like China, Russia, Iran, and others seek to increase their footholds in the region and undermine our freedom, security, and way of life. I’m proud to cosponsor this resolution with my friend Representative Maria Salazar.” “The Monroe Doctrine’s promise of American independence in the Western Hemisphere has kept us safe for 200 years,” said Representative Salazar. “Today, threats to our security and liberty no longer come from England, France, or Spain, but from China, Russia, and Iran. By passing my resolution, Congress will send a clear message to the world that America is still in charge.” Read the full text of the resolution here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://williams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-williams-applauds-house-passage-resolution-disapproving-final-cfpb,Rep. Williams Applauds House Passage of Resolution Disapproving of Final CFPB 1071 Rule,2023-12-01,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,TX,Roger Williams,W000816,williams.house.gov,williams,https://williams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Roger Williams (TX-25) released the following statement on Friday following the passage of S.J. Res. 32, Senate companion for H.J. Res. 66, a Congressional Review Act disapproving of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) Dodd Frank Section 1071 Small Business Lending Data Collection Rule in the House by a vote count of 221 to 202: “I applaud the House for passing S.J. Res. 32 condemning the CFPB’s relentless attack on Main Street America,” said Congressman Williams. “Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy, and it is crucial that they can access affordable credit to support and grow our communities. During a time where small businesses are facing crushing inflation and increasing borrowing costs, it is important that we put an end to the CFPB’s broad, burdensome, and difficult to implement rulemaking. It is now Biden’s turn to listen to the American people and sign this bill into law instead of bowing down to out of touch unelected bureaucrats.” “By collecting and publishing personal demographic and other information, the CFPB is putting small business owners at risk of having their private financial affairs exposed to a watching world. Reporting these personal details is an invasion of privacy and a waste of resources in service of the CFPB’s woke agenda. This rule could hamstring lending to Main Street. The House is protecting Americans’ privacy and job creators by passing Congressman Williams’s crucial resolution, and I hope President Biden signs this legislation quickly,” said Kennedy. “House passage of S.J. Res. 32 today is a victory for America’s small business owners and, frankly, for common-sense. CFPB took three pages of Section 1071 legislation and turned into 888 pages of bureaucratic regulation that will only complicate small business lending. Congress authorized the collection of 13 data points under Section 1071, but CFPB grossly abused its power with 81 data points in the final rule. Chairman Roger Williams’ leadership has been indispensable in fighting this regulatory behemoth and assault on Main Street small business lending. At a time when it is difficult to pass anything through a divided Congress, we urge President Biden not to veto this important bipartisan legislation for the good of small businesses and the community banks that serve them,”said Chris Furlow, President and CEO of the Texas Bankers Association. Background: S.J.Res.32 is a Congressional Review Act disapproving of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Dodd Frank Section 1071 Small Business Lending Data Collection Rule. This legislation would bar the CFPB from enforcing the 1071 rule. The rule, published in the Federal Register on May 31, 2023, is more than 900 pages long and requires lenders to report 81 data fields, including race, sex, gender identity, and ethnicity of loan applicants. Section 1071 forces lenders to pass increased compliance costs onto small business owners through higher interest rates or fees and less credit availability. Among concerns on compliance costs, the February CFPB major data breach involving unauthorized use of sensitive personal and business data by a CFPB employee makes the risk of data leaks clear. Disapproval of the CFPB’s 1071 rule ensures that this burdensome rule does not take effect, unnecessary costs and harms to consumers are avoided, and that small businesses can maintain access to affordable credit, including from community banks, to support and grow our economy. S.J. Res. 32, which passed the Senate with bipartisan support, is the Senate companion to H.J. Res. 66, which was introduced by Congressman Williams in the House on May 31, 2023. Biden has stated that he plans to veto this bipartisan legislation. Read the bill text here. Williams’ comments during floor debate prior to passage here. Read Williams’ opening remarks as prepared from delivery here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/blogs/e-newsletter-week-of-december-1st,e-Newsletter: Week of December 1st,2023-12-01,2023,2023-12,Republican,Senate,TX,Ted Cruz,C001098,www.cruz.senate.gov,cruz,https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Good Evening, Two weeks ago, I joined several of my Republican colleagues in the Senate in pushing for a vote on the motion to proceed on a House-passed bill that would provide $14.3 billion in emergency aid to Israel. I am gravely disappointed that Senate Democrats voted party line on this issue, opposing critical aid to our Israeli allies and failing to protect American national security. This legislation should have passed 100-0. We must deliver this much-needed aid and support to Israel as they work to utterly eradicate Hamas, for as long as it takes. This week, I met with several American families of U.S. hostages facing the brutal terror of Hamas. I committed to standing with them, praying for the freedom of their loved ones, and working with colleagues to ensure that Israel has the support it needs to bring American hostages home. On Monday, I joined Chris Salcedo on Newsmax to discuss how the Biden administration is putting our national security at risk by prioritizing their woke agenda over enforcing the law for drug traffickers and human smugglers crossing our southern border. “Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), under Joe Biden, recently [put out] a memo to border patrol agents saying, ‘do not use pronouns to address illegal immigrants, human traffickers or drug traffickers as he, she, him or her.’ It is utterly asinine. Right now [our country is at] the greatest risk of a terrorist attack since 9/11. CBP also knows Hamas and Hezbollah are trying to send terrorists across our southern border except these woke ideologues … are now trying to figure out what's your gender identity and your sexual orientation. … If you break the law, we ought to enforce the law.” Monday evening, I also joined Sean Hannity on Fox News ahead of viewing nearly an hour’s worth of footage released by the Israeli government on the unspeakable evil that took place on October 7th at the hands of Hamas. ""[This week in] the Senate I'm doing something I'm really not looking forward to. … I'm going to watch about an hour of footage … of the atrocities these terrorists have committed. I'm gonna see tragically terrorists raping young women, raping children and murdering children. … This is evil and we've got to stop it.” On Tuesday, as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I attended a hearing to discuss the issue of gun control and the radical left’s soft-on-crime policies that would strip guns out of the hands of law-abiding citizens. “There are no moderate Democrats left in Congress. Today’s Democrats, when it comes to guns, their objective is to disarm law-abiding citizens [and] simultaneously embrace policies that release violent criminals from jail. They’re not interested in locking up murderers. … They’re not interested in locking up violent criminals. Instead, they systematically support policies that release violent criminals.” On Thursday, I attended a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on a Biden nominee to the federal bench who signed a letter calling for the release of ALL prisoners during the pandemic. I challenged my Democrat colleagues to consider the severe gravity of this nominee’s actions before voting party line on this judicial nominee. “A judge who calls for releasing every violent criminal in the state of Connecticut who's on pretrial containment shouldn't be a judge. You all know it. The choice you're facing is, ‘Well, if I vote no, the White House is gonna be really mad. If I vote no, Chuck Schumer's gonna be really mad.’ … You're United States Senators … you don't represent the White House. You don't represent Chuck Schumer. … You were elected to represent the citizens of your own states [and] I promise you the citizens of your state would find this a simple question.” Rest assured, I will not stand idly by and let the radical left continue to destroy our great nation. God Bless! Keep Texas Strong, MORE FROM SEN. CRUZ: ICYMI: Sen. Cruz Reintroduces Bill to Reimpose Terrorism Sanctions on Iran-controlled Houthis READ: Disney's 'stunning' financial statements show company has risked profits for woke politics: Ted Cruz ICYMI: Sen. Cruz Applauds Bipartisan House Vote in Support of Resolution to Secure Water for Texas Farmers State Spotlight Texas Bankers Association Commerce Corner SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Big Ten Commissioner Tony Pettiti, and Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://luttrell.house.gov/media/press-releases/luttrell-introduces-mark-our-place-act,Luttrell Introduces Mark Our Place Act,2023-11-30,2023,2023-11,Republican,House,TX,Morgan Luttrell,L000603,luttrell.house.gov,luttrell,https://luttrell.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Morgan Luttrell (R-TX) introduced H.R. 6507, the Mark Our Place Act, which amends current law to allow family members, Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs), or cemetery administrators to request the VA provide a headstone for Medal of Honor recipients, regardless of their date of death. Currently, this is only available to Medal of Honor recipients that served after 1917. Senators Braun, Brown, and Tester recently introduced this legislation, S. 3126, in the Senate. “We should not put a limited time frame on recognizing Medal of Honor recipients. The Mark Our Place Act will remove unnecessary red tape prohibiting the VA from providing headstones with Medal of Honor markers to veterans buried in private cemeteries,” said Congressman Luttrell. “These veterans have risked everything to protect our freedoms, and honoring their service and sacrifice should be timeless. I was proud to introduce this companion legislation in the House, as my colleagues in the Senate work to move this forward as well.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://luttrell.house.gov/media/press-releases/luttrell-leads-letter-addressing-antisemitism-within-department-veterans,Luttrell Leads Letter Addressing Antisemitism Within in the Department of Veterans Affairs,2023-11-30,2023,2023-11,Republican,House,TX,Morgan Luttrell,L000603,luttrell.house.gov,luttrell,https://luttrell.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Morgan Luttrell (R-TX) led 13 of his colleagues in a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Dennis McDonough following disturbing antisemitic comments posted online by Shakeba Morrad, a United States Attorney at the Office of General Counsel for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Specifically, lawmakers requested an immediate update on the investigation into Shakeba Morrad and any disciplinary actions taken. “Antisemitism has no place in America, especially within the Department of Veterans Affairs,” said Congressman Luttrell. “Vile comments, such as Ms. Morrad’s, will not be tolerated, and there must be accountability. I will continue to unequivocally condemn all forms of antisemitism and look forward to hearing from Secretary McDonough on the actions being taken to address this.” See the letter here and below. “We write to share our strong concerns regarding Shakeba Morrad, a United States Attorney at the Office of General Counsel for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs who shared a video in which she displayed antisemitic behavior. We are requesting an immediate update on the investigation and any disciplinary actions taken. “In the video posted November 12, 2023, Ms. Morrad actively mocked the Israeli hostages being held captive by Hamas. As you are aware, on October 7th of this year Hamas committed one of the vilest terrorist attacks in recent world history. During this attack the men, women, and children Hamas did not kill were taken back to Gaza to be held as hostages. Ms. Morrad’s mocking of these people and their families is unacceptable. “The core values of the Department of Veterans Affairs are Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence. It is clear to us that Ms. Morrad does not embody the values of the Department and therefore has no place within it. “Therefore, we require an update on the investigation into Ms. Morrad for her reprehensible behavior and a clear outline of any disciplinary actions already taken no later than December 6, 2023.” The letter was signed by Representatives Eli Crane (R-AZ), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Ralph Norman (R-SC), August Pfluger (R-TX), Michael Waltz (R-FL), Cory Mills (R-FL), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), Keith Self (R-TX), Randy Weber (R-TX0), Derrick Van Orden (R-WI), Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), Matt Rosendale (R-MT), and Mike Carey (R-OH).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-roy-issues-statement-protecting-american-voters-act-h-r-3162,Rep. Roy issues statement on the Protecting American Voters Act (H. R. 3162),2023-11-30,2023,2023-11,Republican,House,TX,Chip Roy,R000614,roy.house.gov,roy,https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC — Representative Chip Roy (TX-21) issued the following statement after his Protecting American Voters Act (H. R. 3162) passed out of the House Administration Committee on Thursday. “Public confidence in the electoral process is an unquestionable cornerstone of any representative government. We will not keep this Republic if we cannot provide our fellow citizens reason to believe their votes matter and our elections are secure. That's why I introduced the Protecting American Voters Act, which ensures that States have access to the data needed to ensure that only U.S. citizens are voting in our elections. I’m grateful for Chairman Bryan Steil and my colleagues for moving this bill through the House Administration Committee and look forward to its passage on the floor.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-cruz-applauds-bipartisan-house-vote-in-support-of-resolution-to-secure-water-for-texas-farmers,Sen. Cruz Applauds Bipartisan House Vote in Support of Resolution to Secure Water for Texas Farmers,2023-11-30,2023,2023-11,Republican,Senate,TX,Ted Cruz,C001098,www.cruz.senate.gov,cruz,https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued a statement after the passage of Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz’s (R-Texas) resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives highlighting that Texas farmers are experiencing acute water shortages and supporting diplomacy to ensure that Mexico fulfills its treaty obligations to provide annual deliveries of water. The resolution is a companion resolution to one that Sen. Cruz authored and introduced in the Senate in September. Last month, Sen. Cruz secured a vote in the Senate for a related amendment he authored, requiring the Secretary of State to utilize the full range of American diplomacy to secure Mexican compliance with its treaty obligations. The amendment secured majority bipartisan support, but failed to clear a filibuster. Upon passage of the House resolution Sen. Cruz said, “Farmers in Texas and across the Southwest deserve reliable and predictable water supplies, and Mexico’s failure to adhere to its treaty obligations badly undermines those goals. I’m proud to lead the fight in Congress with Rep. De La Cruz to secure those supplies and address the crisis farmers and ranchers are facing in the Lone Star State, and to have secured bipartisan majority support for language supporting U.S. officials and diplomats as they seek to secure Mexico’s compliance. This week’s vote in U.S. House of Representatives reaffirms that those officials and diplomats have the full support of the U.S. Congress as they advance their negotiations.” Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said, “South Texas farmers and ranchers rely on consistent releases of water to the Amistad and Falcon Reservoirs for their livelihood and to maintain a healthy standard of living. I applaud Congresswoman De La Cruz’s work on this issue in the House of Representatives, and I remain committed to ensuring Mexico fulfills its obligations to our border communities.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1118,Chairman Arrington Delivers Opening Statement at Hearing on Fiscal Commission Legislative Proposals,2023-11-29,2023,2023-11,Republican,House,TX,Jodey C. Arrington,A000375,arrington.house.gov,arrington,https://arrington.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-TX) delivered opening remarks at the House Budget Committee’s hearing to examine several legislative proposals to create a bipartisan fiscal commission. Watch the full hearing here. Chairman Arrington’s remarks as prepared for delivery: I want to thank the Members testifying today for their leadership on what I believe is the most significant challenge facing our nation in the 21st Century – our runaway deficit spending and unsustainable national debt that threatens not only our economy, but our national security, our way of life, and America’s leadership in the world. I think it’s worth repeating some of the startling statistics regarding the magnitude and explosive growth of our nation’s indebtedness. 120% debt to GDP – 200% 30-year outlook Annual deficits have doubled just over the last year, reaching a record $2 trillion (borrowing $6 billion per day) And CBO projects this number to double in this budget window – adding almost $20 trillion to our national debt – half of which is interest expenses! Interest payments are the fastest growing expenditure in the federal budget, reaching almost 3/4 of a trillion dollars last year and projected to be $1 trillion next year. No responsible leader can look at the rapid deterioration of our balance sheet, CBO’s projections of unsustainable debt and deficit spending, and our long-term unfunded liabilities and not feel compelled to intervene, change course, and prevent a sovereign debt crisis before it’s too late. As I said from the outset, this is the 21st century challenge for our nation. I believe this is our generation’s World War and the cost of losing this war will be catastrophic and irreparable. If we don’t have this sense of urgency, if we don’t have a plan, and if we don’t exercise the political courage to execute that plan – we will be the first generation of leaders to fail to leave this country better than we found it for our children. Let’s be clear: this isn’t a Republican problem or Democrat problem – it’s America’s problem, and it’s a mathematic reality that will require real leadership from both sides of the aisle before it’s too late. Unfortunately, over the years, too many Americans have become desensitized to trillions of dollars of accumulating debt, and too many lawmakers have been disengaged, with a false sense of security that we can continue down this treacherous fiscal path with no real consequence. However, the past two years have provided a wakeup call. Record spending resulting in our current cost-of-living crisis, along with a bleak economic outlook and looming recession have provided a rare, acute sensitivity for the American people regarding Washington’s reckless fiscal and monetary policy and its direct impact on their pocketbooks. As I’ve said before, while our fiscal trajectory is unsustainable, it’s not unfixable. But, both parties have to acknowledge they contributed in some way, and both parties need to come to the table to work on strategies to fix it. While a commission is not a panacea, it can offer a productive, depoliticized forum for educating the public and identifying consensus solutions for addressing our growing deficits and long-term unfunded liabilities. The purpose of today’s hearing is to evaluate: the various bipartisan proposals for a debt commission, various desired outcomes, structural designs, other provisions meant to address our deficits and long-term unfunded liabilities, and finally – identify common themes that can be woven together in a bipartisan, bicameral consensus commission framework that could pass both chambers, be signed by the President, and have a meaningful impact on our current debt trajectory and looming debt crisis.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://nehls.house.gov/media/in-the-news/social-media-policy,Social Media Policy,2023-11-29,2023,2023-11,Republican,House,TX,Troy E. Nehls,N000026,nehls.house.gov,nehls,https://nehls.house.gov/media,scraper,"The purpose of this page is for Congressman Troy E. Nehls to communicate with his constituents living in the 22nd Congressional District of Texas regarding his work in Washington, DC, and TX-22. We welcome your comments, but please note that this is a moderated online discussion site and not a public forum. Comments posted to this page will be monitored and must comply with the platform's policy and terms of use, or they may be hidden, removed, or blocked. Comments must not: Be unrelated to the purpose of this page or are not topically related to the specifics of the posting; Contain fighting words, graphic or gratuitous violence, vulgar language, profanity, nudity, obscene or indecent language or sexual content; Promote or incite illegal or fraudulent transactions or activities; Threaten, intimidate, harass, or defame any person or organization; Otherwise violate the platforms’ terms of use, such as hate speech; Constitute “spam,” such as content that appears to be from bots or repetitive, copy-past statements; Are commercial in nature, such as advertising, promotion, or endorsement of services or products; Contain personally identifiable information about another individual; Misrepresent the commenter’s identity or affiliation; Contain links to any other website; Commenters should be on notice that comments that violate this policy may subject them to reasonable sanctions that are narrowly tailored to achieve the compelling interests in operating Congressman Nehls’ official social media. Repeated violations of this policy may result in the inability of the author to comment on future posts.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://nehls.house.gov/media/press-releases/chairman-nehls-statement-hearing-future-intercity-passenger-rail-america,Chairman Nehls Statement from Hearing on the Future of Intercity Passenger Rail in America,2023-11-29,2023,2023-11,Republican,House,TX,Troy E. Nehls,N000026,nehls.house.gov,nehls,https://nehls.house.gov/media,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. - Opening remarks, as prepared, of Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee Chairman Troy Nehls (R-TX) from today’s hearing, entitled “Getting on the Right Track: Navigating the Future of Intercity Passenger Rail in America”: Chairman Nehls: “Today’s hearing will discuss the state of intercity passenger rail with a focus on how to develop this mode in a way that is safe, efficient, cost effective, and that meets the demands of consumers. Investments and innovation in our rail infrastructure are essential to building a robust and competitive American transportation system. We must ensure that federal policies and spending are balanced with a realistic analysis of consumer demand for passenger rail and best use of taxpayer dollars. There is no better example of completely ignoring these important considerations than the disastrous California High-Speed Rail project originally proposed to run between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The venture, once estimated to cost $33 billion and be completed in 2020, is now projected to cost over $128 billion and counting, with an estimated completion date still over a decade away and no solid path forward. The project has been plagued by a failure to account for actual costs and work associated with obtaining land to build the track, eminent domain issues, environmental concerns, permitting red tape, and whether low consumer demand will require permanent and costly government subsidies to operate the line. While the California High-Speed Rail project shows the failures of poor planning and government incompetence, there are promising opportunities to promote intercity passenger rail responsibly. Encouraging competition, removing burdensome government obstacles, focusing on areas of high demand, and involving the private sector have proven effective ways of managing intercity passenger rail, and today we will hear from witnesses about those promising efforts. I look forward to discussing both the challenges and the opportunities for intercity passenger rail, as well as how Congress can provide robust oversight and safeguard taxpayer dollars that support these projects.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-chip-roy-leads-colleagues-congratulating-argentina-president-elect-milei,Rep. Chip Roy leads colleagues in congratulating Argentina President-elect Milei,2023-11-29,2023,2023-11,Republican,House,TX,Chip Roy,R000614,roy.house.gov,roy,https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC — On Wednesday, Representative Chip Roy (TX-21) led a group of his colleagues in congratulating President-elect Javier Milei on his victory in Argentina’s 2023 national election and expressing a desire to work with him to strengthen the Western Hemisphere. The legislators wrote, “Your message of freedom, liberty, and advancing economic prosperity through limited government and fiscal responsibility has united the Argentine people in a historic way. As Members of Congress, we look forward to partnering with you to advance these shared values for the remainder of the 118th Congress and beyond.” “As Argentina pursues liberty, economic freedom, and the rule of law, we hope our two nations can revitalize our historic robust relationship centered on our shared commitment to these principles,” the members of Congress said. “It is now more important than ever that we stand together to promote shared economic prosperity and counter the CCP or any other adversary that seeks to erode our values in the Western Hemisphere. We are eager to work together and welcome you back to the United States as the newly elected President of the Argentine Republic.” Co-signers of the letter include Representatives Salazar (FL-27), Lamborn (CO-5), Biggs (AZ-5), Palmer (AL-6), Fleischmann (TN-3), Clyde (GA-9), Ogles (TN-5), Davidson (OH-8), Gooden (TX-5), and Rosendale (MT-02). Read the full text of the letter here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-cruz-reintroduces-bill-to-reimpose-terrorism-sanctions-on-iran-controlled-houthis,Sen. Cruz Reintroduces Bill to Reimpose Terrorism Sanctions on Iran-Controlled Houthis,2023-11-29,2023,2023-11,Republican,Senate,TX,Ted Cruz,C001098,www.cruz.senate.gov,cruz,https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) reintroduced his legislation to impose terrorism sanctions on the Iran-controlled Houthis, as acts of terrorism continue to escalate in the Middle East. On February 5, 2021 the Biden State Department announced it would lift terrorism-related sanctions on the Houthis and three of their leaders: Abdul Malik al-Houthi, Abd al-Khaliq Badr al-Din al-Houthi, and Abdullah Yahya al-Hakim. Sen. Cruz repeatedly pushed language to reverse that decision, including filing this bill in 2022. Upon re-introducing the bill, Senator Cruz said, “The Biden administration made a day one politically-driven decision to dismantle terrorism sanctions against the Houthis and their leaders. That decision was an obvious and catastrophic mistake from the very beginning, and it has only become more obvious and more catastrophic as time has gone on. Now the Houthis and other Iranian-controlled terrorists are openly and routinely attacking the United States and our allies, but the Biden administration still refuses to reverse its decision, because they believe doing so would be politically costly. Politics should not be a consideration when American lives and national security interests are at stake. President Biden needs to put an end to enabling the Houthis and other Iran-backed terrorist groups through sanctions relief and sanctions non-enforcement. If he won’t then Congress should mandate that he does so.” The bill is co-sponsored by Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.). ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://delacruz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=487,House Passes Bipartisan Resolution Introduced by Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz Calling on Mexico to Honor Water Treaty,2023-11-28,2023,2023-11,Republican,House,TX,Monica De La Cruz,D000594,delacruz.house.gov,delacruz,https://delacruz.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz’s (TX-15) resolution, H.Res. 683, targeting the critical water scarcity issues in South Texas. This bipartisan measure, co-led by Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28), calls on Mexico to fulfill its obligations under the 1944 treaty with the United States, which governs the allocation of water from the Colorado, Tijuana, and Rio Grande Rivers. This is the second piece of legislation from Congresswoman De La Cruz that has successfully passed the U.S. House with robust support from both parties, underscoring her leadership as an effective advocate for Texans in the nation’s capital. The current water scarcity and drought conditions in South Texas are causing severe problems for farmers and residents across the Rio Grande Valley. The lack of consistent rainfall and water deliveries has led to devastating crop and cattle losses, and farmers are struggling to get the water they so desperately need. The treaty requires Mexico to provide the United States with an average of 350,000 acre-feet of water per year over a five-year cycle. However, Mexico has repeatedly waited until the end of the five-year cycle to fulfill its water contribution. “I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to my colleagues for joining me once again to support legislation that is critical to families in South Texas and across America,” said De La Cruz. ""I also wish to thank Chairman McCaul for his leadership and assistance on this important resolution. The ongoing water delivery issues severely affect our farmers, risking significant yield reductions, and pose a threat to our national food security. This situation also leads to higher costs for American families and increased reliance on imported produce. Moreover, the lack of water is causing harsh restrictions in our communities, impacting both families and businesses. It is vital that the Mexican government adheres to its treaty obligations. Our families, farmers, and ranchers shouldn't bear the consequences of Mexico's non-compliance.” This resolution does the following: Supports the diplomatic relations required to encourage the Government of Mexico to fulfill its water deliveries in a timely manner to the United States as outlined in the Treaty; Encourages Mexico to fulfill such commitments on an annual basis; Recognizes the hardship and water shortages farmers in South Texas are experiencing; Supports negotiations that will guarantee more predictable and reliable water deliveries to users in the United States; and Encourages new commitments to ensure that the United States receives annual deliveries of at least 350,000 acre-feet of water under such a Treaty.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://hunt.house.gov/media/press-releases/immediate-release-debbie-smith-act-passed-us-house-representatives,For Immediate Release: The Debbie Smith Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives,2023-11-28,2023,2023-11,Republican,House,TX,Wesley Hunt,H001095,hunt.house.gov,hunt,https://hunt.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Contact: Matthew Topolski Email: Matthew.topolski@mail.house.gov Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, the United States House of Representatives unanimously passed the Debbie Smith Act (2023). Congressman Wesley Hunt (TX-38) was an original Co-Lead on this bill. H.R. 1105, the Debbie Smith Act of 2023, would reauthorize the DNA Backlog Elimination Program from FY2024 through FY2029. This program provides support to law enforcement and crime labs in all 50 states to analyze untested rape and sexual assault kits, improve law enforcement’s timely collection of DNA evidence, and enhance prosecutors' capacity to bring this evidence to trial. Since it was first enacted in 2004, this program has directly supported the analysis of over 1.79 million DNA cases, resulting in more than 308,000 hits in the federal DNA criminal database—representing 56% of all DNA matches.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-republicans-must-meet-moment,ICYMI: “Republicans must meet the moment”,2023-11-28,2023,2023-11,Republican,House,TX,Chip Roy,R000614,roy.house.gov,roy,https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"November 28, 2023 WASHINGTON, DC — On Tuesday, Representative Chip Roy (TX-21) penned an op-ed on the Washington Examiner calling on Republicans to meet the moment and press in on spending accountability. The full text of the op-ed is available at the link here; some key quotes are below. “If we are to defeat the Democrats, both politically and legislatively, we must fight harder than they do. Democrats have successfully navigated razor-thin majorities to enact their agenda before. Republicans must be willing to do the same, and more, to save America.” “Senate Republicans have already tried to water down the strong policies in H.R. 2 in pursuit of a ‘deal’ on Ukraine. The speaker should make clear such a bad ‘deal’ will be dead on arrival in the House.” “Our message should be clear: House Republicans will combat inflation and the woke and weaponized federal bureaucracy by securing gimmick-free spending cuts and conservative policy riders through the passage of individual appropriations bills.” “To be certain, Republicans must oppose providing Ukraine another blank check, and if there is any spending, at all, it must be paid for.” “Democrats expect us to capitulate to these ‘[side] deals,’ as evidenced by a recent exchange I had with Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee. Given Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is not party to these side deals, nor are they required in the text of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, he can and should reject them and at least force Democrats to stick to the true spending caps.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://williams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/chairman-williams-bill-hold-fraudsters-accountable-passes-house,Chairman Williams’ Bill to Hold Fraudsters Accountable Passes the House,2023-11-28,2023,2023-11,Republican,House,TX,Roger Williams,W000816,williams.house.gov,williams,https://williams.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Roger Williams (R-TX), Chairman of the House Committee on Small Business, released the following statement after his bill, H.R. 5427, passed the House of Representatives. “I am extremely grateful for my colleagues’ support for my legislation to implement a common sense requirement to protect the integrity of SBA lending programs,” said Chairman Williams. “No one who has been convicted of defrauding the pandemic lending programs should ever be given the opportunity to access future financial assistance programs. There’s much more work to be done to correct the issues that allowed these unacceptable levels of fraud to occur in the first place, but this legislation is an important step in rebuilding confidence in the agency.” The text of the bill can be found here. ### Congressman Roger Williams is the Chairman of the House Small Business Committee and member of the House Financial Services Committee. He proudly represents the 25th Congressional District of Texas.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://weber.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1844,Rep. Weber Introduces Legislation to Reinstate “Remain in Mexico”,2023-11-21,2023,2023-11,Republican,House,TX,"Randy K. Weber, Sr.",W000814,weber.house.gov,weber,https://weber.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Weber (TX-14) introduced legislation to reinstate the Migrant Protection Protocols. This legislation will require those seeking asylum at the Southern border or without proper documentation to return to Mexico to wait for their immigration proceedings. It also sets a robust standard for asylum eligibility, ensuring that the process is reserved for those with genuine humanitarian needs and preventing its misuse for ulterior motives. “The asylum process should be reserved for those who genuinely need it and not be used as a hamfisted workaround that allows the Biden Administration to sidestep our nation's sovereignty,” said Rep. Weber. “President Biden, Secretary Mayorkas, and the rest of the Biden Administration have profoundly neglected their duty to secure our nation’s border. To put that in perspective, prior to Joe Biden taking office, the total estimated population of illegal aliens living in America was 10-12 million—meaning that we have almost doubled the illegal population in less than three years. Implementing this bill is necessary and a commonsense measure to mitigate and decrease illegal border crossings, enabling our great Border Patrol to patrol and secure our border."" Read the bill here. BACKGROUND In January 2019, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched the hugely successful Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), which ended the failed policies of catch and release and restored the orderly processing of illegal immigrants. Upon arriving at the border, migrants were given a Notice to Appear for an immigration court hearing at a later date and returned to Mexico. While migrants awaited their hearing, Mexico agreed to provide humanitarian aid under the U.S.-Mexico Joint Declaration and Supplementary Agreement. President Biden backtracked on these treaty obligations when he suspended the program on January 21, 2021. Biden's policy reversal quickly spiraled into the current border crisis.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://gonzales.house.gov/2023/11/rep-tony-gonzales-issues-statement-on-recent-illegal-crossings-in-eagle-pass,Rep. Tony Gonzales Issues Statement on Recent Illegal Crossings in Eagle Pass,2023-11-20,2023,2023-11,Republican,House,TX,Tony Gonzales,G000594,gonzales.house.gov,gonzales,https://gonzales.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) issued the below statement on the recent surge of illegal crossings in Eagle Pass. “Under Joe Biden, more than 8 million migrants have crossed illegally into the United States. Recently, hundreds more came in through Eagle Pass. The fact these caravans continue is an embarrassment to the rule of law and a reflection of Washington’s dysfunction. For the sake of our national security, Congress and the White House must put politics aside and secure our border. We know the solutions—close asylum loopholes and deport the vast majority of those who don’t qualify as refugees. Only then will our laws be taken seriously,” said Congressman Tony Gonzales.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://vanduyne.house.gov/2023/11/rep-van-duyne-introduces-bill-to-repeal-biden-s-15-billion-chemical-tax,Rep. Van Duyne Introduces Bill to Repeal Biden’s $15 Billion Chemical Tax,2023-11-17,2023,2023-11,Republican,House,TX,Beth Van Duyne,V000134,vanduyne.house.gov,vanduyne,https://vanduyne.house.gov/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne, a member of the House Committee on Ways and Means, introduced legislation to repeal the harmful Superfund tax imposed through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The 2021 infrastructure law doubled the Superfund Tax, targeting chemical manufacturers with approximately $15 billion in taxes on 42 different materials that are essential to produce ordinary household goods. ""I’m introducing the Chemical Tax Repeal Act to help America’s working families keep more of their hard-earned money and afford everyday goods like soap, lightbulbs, and electronics,” said Rep. Van Duyne. “President Biden’s misguided Chemical Tax not only increases the price of these household goods, it also makes it harder for our domestic manufacturers to compete globally. I remain focused on finding common-sense solutions to ease the pain of inflation for North Texas families and keep American manufacturing globally competitive, especially with adversaries like China.” Congresswoman Van Duyne was joined by her Ways and Means colleagues Representatives Mike Carey (OH-15) and Carol Miller (WV-01) in introducing the Chemical Tax Repeal Act. A similar bill was introduced in the Senate earlier this year. The bill is also supported by the American Chemistry Council, which issued the following statement of support: “As a result of these misguided taxes, U.S. manufacturing competitiveness is further threatened by countries like China. The taxes single out the chemical industry at a time when supply chain challenges and new proposed restrictions from the Biden administration pose significant challenges for the business of chemistry and our industry’s ability to create products that are important to national priorities.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/blogs/e-newsletter-week-of-november-17th,e-Newsletter: Week of November 17th,2023-11-17,2023,2023-11,Republican,Senate,TX,Ted Cruz,C001098,www.cruz.senate.gov,cruz,https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Good Evening, Since Joe Biden took office, this administration has gifted nearly $100 billion dollars to the Ayatollah of Iran, who chants death and destruction to America and our allies. Iran has been deploying these funds to bolster Hamas’s savage terrorist attacks on the Jewish people in Israel. The solution here is easy – don’t give money to terrorists who want to kill us. Unfortunately, the Democrat Party could care less. This past weekend, I joined Real Time with Bill Maher and did a deep dive into why Joe Biden is responsible for fueling the war in Israel. “Joe Biden is responsible for 100 billion dollars going to the Ayatollah – he made a decision to do that and Iran funds Hamas. The Wall Street Journal reported in September, [Iran] brought Hamas terrorists to Iran, and trained them in Iran to carry out the attack. … Don't give money to terrorists who want to kill us, and unfortunately the Democrat party is on the other side of that.” This past Sunday, I joined Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo on Fox News to discuss the elaborate money laundering scheme that Joe Biden and Hunter Biden appear to be involved in. “We do have evidence on Ukraine, and in particular that Joe Biden demanded the firing of the prosecutor in Ukraine that was investigating the corrupt oligarch who owns Burisma. [Biden] threatened to and in fact did withhold over a billion dollars in American loan guarantees until they fired that prosecutor. When it comes to bribery, the essence of bribery is quid pro quo – this for that. We know that occurred.” On Tuesday, it was deeply inspiring to stand alongside nearly 300,000 people, on the National Mall, expressing our unified and unshakeable support for our friend and ally Israel to utterly destroy Hamas, for as long as it takes. “It is inspiring, seeing … people from every state in the Union coming together [to say] America stands … unequivocally with Israel. We stand against the monster and the horror that is Hamas. We support Israel's right to defend itself. … Our prayers are with the people of Israel.” On Wednesday, I joined Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich on OutKick to discuss the explosion ofcrime in Washington, D.C. and across the nation due to the radical left’s policies. “One of the things we've seen over the last three years is crime rates skyrocketing across the country. … The reason we're seeing this rise in crime is very simple, there are radical leftist … elected officials [that] are letting violent criminals go.” Later on Wednesday, I spoke with members of the Texas Farm Credit Union about ways to promote the interest of our rural communities, our agricultural industry, and our farmers across the Lone Star State. Rest assured, I won’t back down in my efforts to stand up for our friend and ally Israel. God Bless! Keep Texas Strong, MORE FROM SEN. CRUZ: READ: Cruz and Ogles seek to block forced use of 'preferred pronouns' across federal agencies ICYMI: Sen. Cruz Statement on Continuing Resolution Vote READ: Cruz Slams Corporate Media For Promoting Hamas Propaganda: ‘Lying On Behalf OfTerrorists’ ICYMI: Sen. Cruz Statement on Senate Vote Over Support for Israel State Spotlight North Texas Commission Senator Cruz’s 2023 Service Academy Nominations Board Commerce Corner TrueNorth CyberSecurity Shell Deepwater Exploration",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-cruz-introduces-bill-blocking-the-federal-government-from-compelling-pronoun-use-that-contradicts-biology,Sen. Cruz Introduces Bill Blocking the Federal Government from Compelling Pronoun Use that Contradicts Biology,2023-11-17,2023,2023-11,Republican,Senate,TX,Ted Cruz,C001098,www.cruz.senate.gov,cruz,https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Congressman Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) have introduced bicameral legislation – the Safeguarding Free Speech Act. The legislation would prohibit federal agencies from forcing an employee or contractor to use personal pronouns that contradict with an individual’s biological sex. About the bill, Sen. Cruz said, “I am proud to join Rep. Andy Ogles in introducing the Safeguarding Honest Speech Act. Forcing anyone to use pronouns that don’t accord with a person’s biological sex is an unconstitutional violation of the First Amendment. As the Supreme Court held, ‘If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion.’ The government has no business compelling anyone to use pronouns that contradict biological reality.” Rep. Ogles stated, “Can you imagine getting reprimanded or fired from your job for not using an individual’s ‘preferred pronouns’? Unfortunately, that is exactly what the Biden regime has imposed in its latest guidance from the Department of Health and Human Services. The radical Left is actively coercing the speech of individuals – all in service of a delusional woke agenda. The American people shouldn’t be asked by their government to subsidize violations of the Constitution of the United States. I’m grateful for Senator Cruz’s efforts to lead the fight in the Senate, and look forward to considering this legislation in the 118th Congress.” Background: CatholicVote and Concerned Women for America support the Safeguarding Free Speech Act. On October 11th, 2023, the Department of Health and Human Services issued a new “Gender Identity Non-Discrimination and Inclusion Policy for Employees and Applicants.” Among many other harmful changes, this policy compelled speech by requiring employees and contractors with HHS to call other employees by their “preferred pronouns,” even if those pronouns do not align with biological reality. This speech mandate violates the First Amendment by compelling government employees and contracts to affirm the idea that a person’s “gender identity” can be separated from their biological sex. Aside from being a violation of the Free Speech Clause, it is also a violation of the Free Exercise Clause, as anybody who has religious convictions that differ from HHS’s view on human sexuality would be forced to publicly deny their faith. The Safeguarding Free Speech Act protects the First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and free exercise of religion by prohibiting federal agencies from forcing government employees or contractors to use another person’s preferred pronouns. The full text of the Safeguarding Free Speech Act is available here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sens-cruz-cornyn-send-letter-demanding-dhs-immediately-address-the-influx-of-special-interest-aliens,"Sens. Cruz, Cornyn Send Letter Demanding DHS Immediately Address the Influx of ‘Special Interest Aliens’",2023-11-17,2023,2023-11,Republican,Senate,TX,Ted Cruz,C001098,www.cruz.senate.gov,cruz,https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and John Cornyn (R-Texas), members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas demanding that the Biden administration immediately address the influx of “special interest aliens” who have been arrested at the southern border. Considering the Israel-Hamas conflict overseas and the increasing number of encounters with Hamas-inspired terrorism suspects, our nation has become more vulnerable to terrorism which has prevented the enforcement of other priorities, most importantly enforcing expired visas. The Biden administration’s failure to secure the southern border has jeopardized our national security, as terrorists from war-torn countries in the Middle East continue breach our southern border. In the letter, the senators said, “Despite the Israel-Hamas conflict taking place abroad, the unanticipated security breach of Israel’s border by a known terrorist organization raises important questions about the security of our own southern border. Specifically, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data indicates that thousands of “special interest aliens” from countries including those in the Middle East have been arrested at the southern border just over the past twenty-four months. … Furthermore, this data reveals that FY 2023 broke the record for encounters on the FBI terror watchlist with 169 individuals encountered between ports of entry at the southern border. Concerningly, this year’s figure alone is greater than the amount of FBI terror watchlist encounters over the previous six years combine. … And yet, our nation’s increasing vulnerability to terrorism is more than mere conjecture. It is a tangible reality that that can no longer be ignored.” Read the full text of the letter here. Dear Secretary Mayorkas, On October 19th of this year, Sohaib Abuayyash, a twenty-year-old Jordanian man unlawfully in the United States on an expired visa, was arrested in Houston, Texas for violating federal law by unlawfully possessing a firearm. Reports indicate that Mr. Abuayyash had been in direct contact with others who shared a radical mindset, and that he had trained with weapons in preparation for a possible attack. Further, a United States Magistrate Judge, in denying Mr. Abuayyash pretrial release, noted that Mr. Abuayyash “has viewed specific and detailed content posted by radical organizations on the internet including lessons on how to construct bombs or other explosive devices,” and that he supported the killing of individuals of particular religious faiths. The Magistrate Judge also described that “in his communications with another individual about martyrdom, Mr. Abuayyash referenced an event in Houston for members of a particular religious group.” While the specific target, time, and place for the gathering were not immediately clear in the court documents, a law enforcement source reported that this would-be offender was “plotting to attack a Jewish gathering,” after being inspired by the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict which claimed the lives of at least thirty-one innocent Americans, and an additional twenty American hostages who remain in captivity. Despite the Israel-Hamas conflict taking place abroad, the unanticipated security breach of Israel’s border by a known terrorist organization raises important questions about the security of our own southern border. Specifically, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data indicates that thousands of “special interest aliens” from countries including those in the Middle East have been arrested at the southern border just over the past twenty-four months. As you well know, “special interest aliens” are illegal aliens from countries identified by the Department of Homeland Security as having conditions that promote or protect terrorism or potentially pose some sort of national security threat to the U.S. Between October 2021 and October 2023, CBP encountered a total of 6,386 nationals from Afghanistan, 3,153 from Egypt, 659 from Iran, and 538 from Syria. Additionally, CBP encountered 13,624 individuals from Uzbekistan, 30,830 from Turkey, 1,613 from Pakistan, 164 from Lebanon, 185 from Jordan, 123 from Iraq, and 15,594 from Mauritania during the same period. Furthermore, this data reveals that FY 2023 broke the record for encounters on the FBI terror watchlist with 169 individuals encountered between ports of entry at the southern border. Concerningly, this year’s figure alone is greater than the amount of FBI terror watchlist encounters over the previous six years combined. Your agency, the Department of Homeland Security, even acknowledged the reality of this risk in a recently published threat assessment, warning that “terrorists and criminal actors may exploit the elevated flow and increasingly complex security environment to enter the United States.” The assessment even went as far as conceding that “[i]ndividuals with terrorism connections are interested in using established travel routes and permissive environments to facilitate access to the United States.” U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials in San Diego soon corroborated this assessment when they warned in an internal intelligence notice that militants associated with the Israel-Hamas war “may potentially be encountered at the southwest border… [and] individuals inspired by, or reacting to, the current Israel-Hamas conflict may attempt travel to or from the area of hostilities in the Middle East via circuitous transit across the Southwest border.” And yet, our nation’s increasing vulnerability to terrorism is more than mere conjecture. It is a tangible reality that that can no longer be ignored. Consider, for instance, that in September, Texas Border Patrol agents discovered a backpack containing what appeared to be improvised explosive devices (IEDs). This alarming discovery was not an isolated incident. In May, another makeshift explosive device was uncovered in Arizona, further underscoring the persistent threat at our borders. Equally unsettling is the recent apprehension of a terrorism suspect who managed to evade ICE apprehension in New York City for two weeks after illegally crossing the border in Arizona and subsequently being released into the U.S. Regrettably, it was not until a week after his release that federal authorities discovered his former association with “terroristic activities” in Senegal. Worse yet, 1.7 million “gotaways” have illegally entered the United States during the Biden administration. This figure demonstrates that cartels have learned that they can “flood” the border with illegal aliens and, while those aliens are processed by Border Patrol agents, cross into our country uninhibited. Further, because your Department essentially turned our border security system into a public turnstile, the only persons who would seek to evade border law enforcement are those with serious criminal records, those actively engaged in criminal activity (such as smuggling fentanyl), or terror agents seeking to surreptitiously enter the United States. Importantly, these 1.7 million “gotaways” are only those that the Border Patrol knows to have crossed our borders, and does not include the potentially millions more that have slipped into our country unnoticed while Border Patrol was occupied processing illegal aliens. As evidenced by the IEDs and the increasing frequency of encounters with special interest aliens at the border, the present situation is obviously untenable and represents a grave security risk to our nation. FBI Director Wray admitted as much when he stated, “the terrorism threat has been elevated throughout 2023, but the ongoing war in the Middle East has raised the threat of an attack against Americans in the United States to a whole other level.” In light of this unequivocal statement, IEDs found at the border, and increasing encounters with Hamas-inspired terrorism suspects, we ask that you reply to the following questions by December 7, 2023: How many of the 172 illegal aliens encountered in FY2023, and confirmed to be on the FBI terror watchlist, are known to be affiliated with Hamas, Hezbollah, or ISIS? How is DHS planning to address the concerning trend of “gotaways” at the southern border, and what measures are being put in place to enhance detection and apprehension of individuals who may have evaded Border Patrol agents? How many of the 1.7 million “gotaways” that entered the United States since President Biden took office are estimated to be terrorists? In light of the potential threat of terrorist “sleeper agents,” what measures are being taken to enhance the vetting process for illegal aliens seeking entry into the United States, especially those originating from regions of concern such as war-torn countries in the Middle East? What specific efforts are DHS making to identify and dismantle any existing sleeper cells currently residing on U.S. soil, and what proactive measures are being taken to prevent their establishment in the first place? What measures are DHS considering to enhance information-sharing and cooperation with foreign governments to obtain necessary background data and records for effective screening at the border? What steps are DHS taking to develop a more robust screening process that accounts for potential gaps in data, ensuring that individuals from special interest countries are thoroughly vetted before entering the United States? Given the limitations in identifying individuals from these countries through traditional fingerprint checks, are there any plans to implement alternative biometric verification methods to fingerprinting that could provide more accurate and reliable information about their identities and backgrounds? Your failure to secure the southern border undoubtedly makes our nation less safe. It is imperative that you reverse this reckless course and ramp up interior enforcement of federal immigration law. We urgently await your response. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/mccaul-joins-texas-delegation-bill-prohibit-remain-texas-policy,McCaul Joins Texas Delegation on Bill To Prohibit A “Remain In Texas” Policy,2023-11-16,2023,2023-11,Republican,House,TX,Michael T. McCaul,M001157,mccaul.house.gov,mccaul,https://mccaul.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – This week, U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (Texas-10) joined Representatives Ronny Jackson (Texas-13) and August Pfluger (Texas-11) in introducing legislation to prohibit a “Remain in Texas” policy for immigrants who cross the border illegally. The Biden administration is reportedly considering such a policy, which would require some immigrants to remain in Texas while awaiting asylum eligibility determinations. All House Republican members of the Texas delegation cosponsored the bill. Rep. McCaul said: ""President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas’ failed border policies have opened the floodgates to illegal immigration, human trafficking, and cartel crime. Now that even Democrats in sanctuary cities are calling out for help, the administration wants to dump the consequences of its actions onto Texas — the state already bearing the brunt of the crisis. With this bill, my Texan colleagues and I are making one thing clear: Our state is not responsible for this administration’s deliberate and fully preventable failures.” Rep. Jackson said: ""Democrat mayors that once relished in providing sanctuary cities for illegal aliens are now seeing the pain and destruction open border policies cause, pain Texas has felt for years. Our country is being invaded by invitation due to the open border policies of the Biden administration. Since taking office, Biden has welcomed over 3.8 million illegal immigrants into the United States, with at least 169 from the terrorist watchlist, that we know of, and millions more ""gotaways,"" and we have no idea who they are or where they are. Texas should not have to bear the burden of liberal border policies that hurt Americans and destroy our way of life. I will not stand for the hypocrisy of liberal politicians who advocated for sanctuary cities and now want to force illegal immigrants to stay in Texas. They now want someone else to deal with the consequences of their radical agenda and will do anything as long as it doesn't impose real border solutions. Enough is enough! This stops now."" Rep. Pfluger said: ""Texans will not stand for any Remain-in-Texas plan from the Biden Administration to force our state to bear the brunt of the President’s self-made border crisis. Liberal sanctuary cities like New York that openly obstruct federal immigration laws and have policies in place to shield criminals from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should not be immune to the crisis at our border. Biden’s Remain-in-Texas policy must remain in the trash can."" Greg Sindelar, Texas Public Policy Foundation CEO said: ""Biden is deliberately trying to shield sanctuary cities from having to live with the reality of their open-border lunacy. The President can't be bothered to fix this national security crisis, which is completely of his doing, but he's more than willing to throw a lifeline to supposedly ""pro migrant"" liberal cities as he tramples on state sovereignty in the process. Texas has been abandoned by the federal government and we must do whatever is necessary in our fight against this coordinated assault on our state and country."" Also cosponsoring the legislation are Reps. Jake Ellzey (Texas-6), Brian Babin (Texas-36), Pat Fallon (Texas-4), Morgan Luttrell (Texas-8), Dan Crenshaw (Texas-2), Randy Weber (Texas-14), Beth Van Duyne (Texas-24), Jodey Arrington (Texas-19), Lance Gooden (Texas-5), Troy Nehls (Texas-22), Keith Self (Texas-3), Pete Sessions (Texas-17), Michael Burgess (Texas-26), Roger Williams (Texas-25), Nathaniel Moran (Texas-1), Kay Granger (Texas-12), Tony Gonzales (Texas-23), Chip Roy (Texas-21), Michael Cloud (Texas-27), John Carter (Texas-31), Monica De La Cruz (Texas-15), Wesley Hunt (Texas-38), Andy Biggs (Ariz.-5), Jeff Duncan (S.C.-3), Ralph Norman (S.C.-5), and Michael Guest (Miss.-3). Full text of the bill can be found here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z