Friends,

I hope that you and your family are safe and sound from the harsh weather that came through East Texas this past week, as high winds and heavy rainfall hit the district. These storms have caused severe damage to our communities and have left many without power. You can request assistance with food, housing, or mental health care during emergency weather conditions by dialing 2-1-1. You can also visit TexasReady.gov for access to weather safety information, or Texas Division of Emergency Management to check road conditions, report damage, and navigate severe weather and flooding resources.

Additionally, if you are a Texas resident that is without power and has functional needs, you are encouraged to register with the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR). STEAR is intended for people with access and functional needs that include:

• Limited mobility
• Sensory disabilities
• Additional medical assistance during and emergency event
• Transportation assistance
• Personal care assistance

I am optimistic that my legislation, the Rural Weather Monitoring Systems Act, will soon be considered by the Senate and subsequently signed into law. This critical legislation, as part of the Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2023, passed the House of Representatives on April 30 by a vote of 394-19. It is crucial that we review our rural weather monitoring systems so that rural Americans are not left behind and can track, prepare for, and protect themselves from extreme weather events.  

Please continue to stay safe and follow the guidance and warnings issued by state and local officials. My staff is here to help you get to the resources you need

Since the start of the 118^th Congress in January of 2023, Republicans in the House of Representatives have worked tirelessly to further conservative priorities. This week, I wanted to highlight a few important bills we have passed that would help millions of Americans, yet the Democratic Majority in the Senate remains complacent, ignoring priorities that would improve the lives of American families and businesses. These bills would cut taxes, boost American energy, secure our border, and provide essential oversight to parents with kids in school. Some of these bills include:

H.R. 1 – Lower Energy Costs Act

H.R. 1 would unleash American energy and reform our broken permitting processes. Importantly, it would prohibit the President from implementing a ban on fracking, halt a $27 billion Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) slush fund, reverse the hike in royalty rates, and rescind $6 billion in natural gas taxes put in place by President Biden.

Our country cannot depend on foreign adversaries to supply our country with energy sources – and neither can our allies. The Senate must take up this bill and get it to President Biden’s desk to be signed. If H.R. 1 is signed, we can unleash our American energy industry and provide immediate relief to Americans from the high costs of living and put America back on top as an Energy Superpower.

H.R. 1 passed the House on March 20, 2023, by a vote of 225-204.

To read more about H.R. 1 (Lower Energy Costs Act), click HERE.

H.R. 2 – Secure the Border Act

H.R. 2 is the strongest proposal in Congressional history for securing our borders. I was proud to serve as the only freshman cosponsor of this critical legislation that would secure our border by requiring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to resume building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, end catch and release of migrants, reinstitute President Trump’s successful “Remain in Mexico” policy, place limits on who qualifies for asylum eligibility, and strengthens and streamlines the asylum process to expeditiously review migrant’s claims. This legislation, if signed into law, would immediately alleviate the surge of illegal immigrants and deadly drugs pouring into our county and put a stop to the largest human trafficking operation in the Western Hemisphere.

As Texans, we live every day on the front lines of this Administration’s border crisis. The Senate and President must move swiftly if we are to prevent the cartels from further damaging our porous southern border.

H.R. 2 passed the House of Representatives on May 11, 2023, by a vote of 219-213. Additionally, my legislation, the Visa Overstays Penalties Act, passed as part of H.R. 2. This critical legislation would crack-down on those who enter our country on a traveler’s visa, but then purposefully overstay their travel and remain in the United States indefinitely. Up until the Biden Administration, visa overstays were the largest group of illegal immigrants in the country.

To read more about H.R. 2 (Secure the Border Act), click HERE.

H.R. 5 – Parents Bill of Rights Act

As a father of four children, I understand the fundamental role that parents play in their children’s educational journey. Parents should be at the center of their children’s education, and it is not the role of the federal government to indoctrinate our children. As the only Texan on the Committee on Education and the Workforce, I believe this legislation is critical because it would guarantee that parents are at the forefront of their child’s education. H.R. 5 provides parents with oversight of their child’s school by ensuring they are able to review school curriculum, books and reading materials in libraries, and the right to address their child’s school board. I am thankful that educators in East Texas recognize the importance of parental involvement and are already doing the things that H.R. 5 would ask of them (Thank you East Texas parents and educators!!!). Unfortunately, this is not true across the country and that is why the House passed this legislation with my support.

As a proud cosponsor of H.R. 5, I believe this legislation would empower parents and reign in the unchecked political agenda of those who exclude parents from their children’s educational journey.

To read more about H.R. 5 (Parents Bill of Rights Act), click HERE.

Congratulations to the UT Tyler women’s softball team on winning the Division II National Championship! This is their first national title in Division II athletics, and their second overall; having won their first championship in 2016 at the Division III level. Talons Up!

This week, my staff and I led various groups of East Texas students on tours of our nation’s Capitol building, including the Whitehouse Wildcat Band and the Lindale Eagles High school Band. The students were attentive and asked great questions about how our government works, and what it takes to become a public servant. It is an honor and privilege to be able to share our nation’s history throughout the Capitol building and I hope that students are inspired to be the best version of themselves and to get involved in public-service.

Click here to watch what I had to say about the verdict in President Trump’s NY court case.

On May 27, 1943, a B-24 carrying U.S. airman and former Olympic runner Louis Zamperini crashed into the Pacific Ocean. After surviving on a life-raft in shark-infested waters, Zamperini was eventually captured by the Japanese, where he survived two years in a brutal prison camp. After the war, he was inspired by evangelist Billy Graham to convert to Christianity. He went on to become a motivational speaker, forgave his captors, and published an autobiography, Devil at My Heels.

Dealing with federal agencies can be complicated, and my office is here to help. If you need help with Social Security, the IRS, passport renewals, the VA, or other federal agencies – please do not hesitate to reach out to my office by calling (903) 561-6349 or visiting my website by clicking HERE.

It is an honor to be your voice in Congress.

With gratitude,

P.S.

What is the state bird of Texas?

Northern Mockingbird

 What country was Luka Dončić born in?

Check next week’s newsletter for the answer to this week’s Texas Trivia question.