Dear Friends,

The end of the budget year is here, and—once again—Congress has been unable to pass a full year of appropriations. This week, I voted no on the ‘clean’ continuing resolution (CR) that ultimately passed the House to extend current appropriations levels through December 20th. Although I do not favor shutting down the government, this short-term spending bill did not reduce spending, and did not result in any substantial policy wins that we would not have otherwise gotten through regular order. And, it only provided funding through December 20th which only further complicates the post-election season. Congress must take fiscal responsibility seriously and return to a full-year appropriations process that results in 12 bills that are crafted, evaluated, and debated with thoughtful input from Members both in committee and on the House floor.

Last week, Speaker Mike Johnson proposed a compromise plan I supported that would have funded our government while also providing leverage to pass critical election integrity reform (Congressman Chip Roy’s SAVE Act) through the Democrat-run Senate. Unfortunately, that measure fell short, leading to Wednesday’s ‘clean’ CR. I commend Speaker Johnson’s work crafting legislation narrow enough to prevent Senate Democrats from packing it full of wasteful spending and pet projects, but I do not believe a vote for this spending bill would have accurately represented the values of East Texas. As such, I could not support it.

I had a touching meeting with Texas Gold Star families from Tyler, Dallas, and Amarillo during their time in Washington, D.C. this week. Founded in 1994, the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), was created to provide care, comfort, and support to the families of U.S Military members who were lost. We owe a great debt of thanks and honor to our Gold Star families, and it was a privilege to have the opportunity to meet and speak with the families of some of our fallen American heroes. TAPS now offers support services to anyone grieving with the death of someone who served in the U.S. armed forces, regardless of their relationship to the deceased. You can check out their website by clicking HERE.

It was an honor to be recognized this week by the Faith and Freedom Coalition as a recipient of the Friend of the Family Award. I am steadfast in my commitment to protecting conservative principles, religious liberty, traditional family values, and standing up against foreign terrorists across the world. Thank you to Chairman Ralph Reed and Executive Director Timothy Head for presenting this award.

Honoring our veterans is a vital part of American identity. We are forever grateful to those who sacrificed their lives for our freedoms. I had the honor of commemorating the late Elbert “Toughegg” Knox, a World War I veteran who served again in World War II as a Navy contractor. Captured by Japanese forces in 1941, he tragically died as a prisoner of war, a reminder of the cost of our freedoms. My team and I worked to ensure Mr. Knox received recognition for his sacrifices, and I’m pleased to share that he was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart and a Prisoner of War Medal earlier this month at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Fort Worth. Stories like his make our country special, and I was privileged to honor this American hero. To learn more about Elbert Knox’s story from the Dallas Morning News, click HERE.

I also had the pleasure of attending the 9th Annual Texas Veterans Military Show Parade! It was a tremendous way to honor our veterans and Medal of Honor recipients. My kiddos had a great time meeting veterans and getting to check out the vintage military equipment. Thanks to Cliff Todd and Ralph Todd for letting me ride in their vintage military vehicle. Be sure to plan for next year's TENTH Annual Texas Veterans Military Show Parade. You can read more from KLTV HERE.

As always, it’s my pleasure to serve our nation’s veterans. If you or a loved one need assistance navigating the VA, please visit my website at www.Moran.House.Gov for more information on how my office can help you access the resources you need.

I am so proud of the East Texas schools that received the National Blue Ribbon School Award this week. This prestigious award recognizes high-performing schools excelling in closing achievement gaps for students and highlights the incredible dedication of the faculty and staff of each school. Thank you for representing East Texas so well and congrats to Hudson Elementary School (Longview ISD), Caldwell Arts Academy (Tyler ISD), and Gus Winston Cain Elementary School (Whitehouse ISD)! Great things are happening in so many schools across East Texas. Thank you, educators.

Moran in the Media