Friends,

I hope you and your loved ones are enjoying the early spring (and some sunshine) in the First District! It’s been quite the rainy week here in DC, and the gloom seems to have transferred over to President Biden’s State of the Union speech.

This week, President Biden addressed the nation in his State of the Union address, providing an overview of the current state of our country. While my fellow Republican members of Congress and I have been working hard to pass conservative priorities, I must express my disappointment with the Biden Administration’s lack of emphasis on enhancing our national security, especially on our Southern border.

The American people deserve transparency and accountability from the government at all levels. While I am disappointed, I am not surprised by President Biden’s unwillingness to admit that he has taken our nation down this path. And, I am not surprised that he is doubling down on that course.

Whether it be our porous southern border, the weaponization of government against everyday families, a lack of a steady and strong foreign policy, or out-of-control spending and growing national debt, the policies and practices of the Biden Administration have led to disastrous results. And, we need to reverse course immediately.

Watch my full response to President’s Biden State of the Union Address below.

This week brought with it some big wins for the First District. On Wednesday, the House passed six of twelve appropriations bills in our attempt to get back to regular order, bring down spending, and shift away from the policy objectives of the Biden Administration. These six bills included: Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration; Commerce, Justice, and Science; Energy and Water Development; Interior and Environment; Military Construction and Veterans Affairs; and Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development. Before March 22, we will take up the remaining six bills.

Although these appropriations bills did not achieve all of our objectives, they were filled with conservative policy wins that will make a major positive impact on East Texas. And, they began the trend of actually reducing spending!

This package achieves what House Republicans set out to do: strategically increase defense spending, make targeted cuts to wasteful non-defense and non-VA programs, and rein in Washington’s reckless spending. Plus, under Republican leadership, 1,115 amendments were brought forward during the appropriations process versus only 190 amendments that were allowed under Speaker Nancy Pelosi – allowing Republicans to voice their priorities and fight to get their initiatives included in this bill.

We pledged to change the trajectory of our country, without compromising our commitment to our veterans and our national security. Keeping that promise and delivering results for the American people, this bill is a testament to that commitment. For the first time in nearly a decade, Republicans have successfully agreed to make cuts to non-defense, non-veterans spending, building on House Republicans promise to rein in out-of-control government spending. Here are some of the most notable wins:

Reduced Spending: Comparing these six bills to the same ones last year, these bills reduce spending by $9 billion.

Department of Justice:

• Eliminates funding for the proposed new FBI headquarters by cutting their construction budget by 95%.
• Cuts funding the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) by 7% from FY23 levels.
• Eliminates 70 programs under the Department of Justice (DOJ)
• Prevents DOJ grant programs from focusing on progressive priorities.
• Provides a 6% budget cut to the FBI.
• Rejects Democrats’ push to mandate that the Department of Commerce and the Department of Justice have electric vehicles – saving taxpayers nearly $54 million.
• Prohibits the DOJ from targeting or investigating parents who exercise their right to free speech at local school board meetings, prohibits the DOJ from investigating or prosecuting churches on the basis of their religious beliefs.

Environmental Protection Agency:

• Cuts the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) funding by 9.6%.
• Protects funding for quality programs like the Rural Water technical Assistance program.
• Rejects policy provisions from the Biden administration that would have reduced domestic energy production, driven up oil and gas prices, and ultimately make the U.S. more dependent on foreign oil.

Veterans & Military:

• Fully funds veterans’ medical care and makes improvements to the VA.
• Invest in improving the quality of life for our brave service members and their families.
• Directs $113 million for the Red River Army Depot for the component rebuild shop, which supports our nation’s military and critical jobs for East Texans.

Agriculture:

• Improves the tracking system of foreign-owned land by requiring a review process of agricultural land transactions purchased from our nation’s greatest adversaries such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
• Rejects President Biden’s proposal to bloat the executive branch by 4,700 bureaucrats in Washington.
• Incentivizes the hiring of employees in rural counties across America to serve at United States Agriculture Department (USDA) county offices.

Overall, this package represents a major step forward in securing policy wins that would not have been possible through yet another continuing resolution (CR), which would not allow for the implementation of new policies that are so important for our district.

On Monday, March 11th, join me for my first Tele-Townhall of 2024 and 12th overall at 7:00 PM CT! With the range of issues Congress needs to address this year, this is the perfect opportunity to voice your opinion and hear about what’s happening behind the scenes in Washington, D.C.

If you would like to participate, you can join by calling (888) 485-5170.

On Monday, I had the privilege of speaking to the bright students at Harvest Time Christian Academy and Harvest Time School of Ministry. We spoke about our nation’s history, the importance of civic engagement, and the power of serving others. The dedication of the educators and the curiosity of the students was inspiring.

In celebration of Dr. Suess Day and Read Across America Week, I read to students at Owens Elementary School. It was a delightful experience to see their excitement and enthusiasm for reading. Reading opens a world of imagination and knowledge. It was heartwarming to witness the joy on the students’ faces. While getting my MBA, I worked as a teaching assistant at Cavazos Junior High School in Lubbock in its reading department. Being back in these schools really takes me back. Thanks for letting me stop by and bring a little imagination with me.

I had an amazing time giving the students from Grace Community School a night tour of our nation’s Capitol Building. The kids were so excited and loved hearing about the history of our great nation. I love spending time with our students from the First District, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be a part of their trip to Washington, D.C.

Also, this week, I met with Baylor University President Dr. Linda Livingstone to discuss important work underway at Baylor and the impact it has across Texas, including their research and partnerships in East Texas. Thanks for making the trip and being a positive representative of Texas institutions. As the only Texan on the Committee on Education and the Workforce, it is a joy to meet with education leaders from Texas to learn how I can better support our Texas Universities. Sic ‘Em, Bears!

On Wednesday, I had the opportunity to meet with Eastman Credit Union and Texas Credit Union during their visit to Washington, D.C., and discuss the role credit unions play in our communities. We chatted about regulatory burdens and the need for fair competition in the financial industry. Credit unions provide vital financial services and support to individuals and small businesses, and it is crucial that we work together to ensure their continued success.

On Thursday, I met with KTBB’s Paul Gleiser, and KLTV’s Pat Stacey as representatives for the Texas Broadcasters Association to discuss the challenges they’re facing in today’s rapidly evolving media landscape. Texas Broadcasters play a crucial role in keeping our communities informed and connected. It was an insightful and productive conversation, where we discussed efforts to preserve AM radio emergency alert systems and promote local journalism in the age of big tech. Together, we can ensure that our communities stay well-informed and up-to-date.

Don't Kill the Geese Laying Golden Eggs of Entrepreneurship (Newsweek)

Recapping Smith County's Joint Primary Elections (Tyler Morning Telegraph)

East Texas politicians, experts look at what will be on the ballot in November (KETK)

On March 6th, 1836, after trading gunfire for two weeks, Mexican troops breached the north side of the Alamo and seized the compound, bringing the Battle of the Alamo to an end after 90 minutes of hand-to-hand combat. Alamo Co-Commanders James Bowie and William Travis, along with Davy Crockett were killed in battle. Meanwhile, Sam Houston was developing his army in Harris County, which used the rally cry, “Remember the Alamo!”

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.

Which icon of Texas music revealed in early 2022, that the road does not actually go on forever and the party does eventually come to an end, at least with regard to their own touring and live performances?

Robert Earl Keen. In January of 2022, the great Robert Earl Keen, best known for the memorable tunes “The Road Goes on Forever” and “Merry Christmas from the Family,” announced that as of September 2022 he would cease touring and performing publicly, though he would, thankfully, not dispense with music-making altogether.

Phil Collins was declared an honorary Texan by the state legislature in 2015 for donating his vast personal collection of artifacts related to what San Antonio landmark?

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