First Lady Cecilia Abbott today announced that the Governor's Response Against Child Exploitation (GRACE) initiative will host the fifth annual Week of Prayer to End Human Trafficking from January 6 through January 12, 2025. The statewide interfaith week of prayer coincides with Human Trafficking Prevention Month in the state of Texas and serves as a call to action to the faith-based community to unite in prayer.
This has been a year of rousing success for the Texas General Land Office (GLO). I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished in 2024, and I wanted to take a moment to provide you this year in review. The GLO has had an accomplished year of supporting public education, stewarding state land, coordinating the restoration of the Alamo, honoring our veterans, securing the border, protecting Texas's coast, and facilitating disaster recovery and mitigation.
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar last week said state sales tax revenue totaled $4.1 billion in December, 1 percent more than in December 2023. The majority of December sales tax revenue is based on sales made in November and remitted to the agency in December. Sales tax is the largest source of state funding for the state budget, accounting for 58 percent of all tax collections.
For more than a month the Railroad Commission of Texas has taken important steps to help ensure adequate natural gas supply for winter weather, including this week’s wintry conditions. Starting in the first week of December, RRC’s Critical Infrastructure Division (CID) began weatherization inspections of critical natural gas facilities in the state’s electricity supply chain.
I was watching MSNBC the other day – I know, but it is fun to look into a parallel universe where progressive ideals appeal to the vast majority of Americans, it makes me appreciate reality all the more – and I had to check my phone to make sure I had the right year. You wouldn’t know it was 2024 if you’d just gone by the rhetoric belching its way over the airwaves. Donald Trump is a Russian stooge – a tool of Putin – who is only interested in…well, you know the rest of that song. They learned nothing from the election.
It is one of my greatest honors to serve the people of Texas' 10th Congressional District, and 2024 was another successful year! My team and I have worked diligently to serve my constituents, and as we enter 2025, I want to highlight some of the things we have accomplished over the past 12 months. Over the past year, my team and I have conducted 576 meetings in my district — and hundreds more in D.C.
Last Friday, I took the oath of office to represent the incredible people of Texas’ 11th Congressional District. It is truly the honor of a lifetime to represent you in Congress and fight to protect our Texas way of life. Texas is the best place to live and raise a family, and it is truly humbling to serve this remarkable district. I was delighted to be joined by my wife Camille, our three girls, and other close family members during the swearing-in proceedings.
After learning that the Texas Medical Board has a Planned Parenthood employee as it’s Medical Director, today Rep. Brian Harrison sent the attached letter to Governor Abbott asking that the employee be removed and that all state agencies are directed to ensure there are no other Planned Parenthood officials employed by any state agency, including in advisory roles.
Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the National Collegiate Athletic Association (“NCAA”) for engaging in false, deceptive, and misleading practices by marketing sporting events as “women’s” competitions only to then provide consumers with mixed sex competitions where biological males compete against biological females. That only biological women will compete in the events is an important reason consumers choose to support women’s sports.
Beginning in the Middle Ages, and lasting beyond the Renaissance, the Doge was the chief magistrate serving as the highest appointed official of the Republic of Venice, one of the freest and most powerful republics in Europe for more than 1,000 years. This role symbolized the sovereignty of the Venetian republic and emphasized protecting freedoms and ensuring efficient governance. Today, the term takes on a new dimension as a framework for modern government reform.
At age 100, President Carter was the oldest former president in history, and he left a legacy of honorable military and public service. His decades-long dedication to building homes for those in need was truly remarkable. Our hearts and prayers are with the Carter family during this difficult time.
This year, I visited with business leaders and government officials in India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom to showcase the booming Texas economy and attract more businesses to invest in our great state. As Texas looks toward growing our economy even more in 2025, we will continue to provide leading businesses from across the nation and the world with the opportunities they need to thrive in Texas.”
Attorney General Ken Paxton secured a victory for President-elect Donald Trump’s border-security agenda during a hearing today before a federal judge. The hearing was called at Attorney General Paxton’s request to uncover potential legal violations committed by the Biden Administration after recent reports that segments of the border wall were auctioned off for pennies on the dollar.
McMahon is the former head of the Small Business Administration. What is particularly enjoyable about this is that academia has long had a disdain for business, especially small business. Plus, the fact that McMahon co-founded World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is quickly turning the academic smirking class into the crying class. The head of the WWE will be in charge of every academic elite across the country? Could this be more beautiful? As Elon Musk has often said, the most ironic outcome is the most likely.
The opioid epidemic remains a devastating crisis in the United States. In 2022 alone, over 80,000 Americans died from opioid overdoses, and nearly 10 million Americans misused opioids. Surprisingly, among the most vulnerable populations affected by this epidemic are seniors. The National Institutes of Health has reported a troubling surge in opioid use and abuse – among those aged 65 and older.
From everyone at the Texas Insider to you, our readers and loved ones, may this Christmas Season be filled with Blessings, Love, Joy, and Giving. May you cherish your time and memories together. We wish all a blessed Christmas, and may the Lord continue to bless us and bring us all a brighter, Happy New Year!
Here's my "Top 10" wish list for the incoming Trump Administration to make America healthy and prosperous and great again in 2025. These are admittedly bold aspirations for an economic transformation toward freedom and free enterprise – but the one person who can get it done is Trump.
Builders, tradespeople, homeowners, even DIYers across the country depend on access to various Building & Safety Codes to ensure their projects meet nationally standardized legal and safety standards. But under Democrat Sen. Chris Coons's bill, Standard Development Organizations (SDOs) would be able to copyright the nation's technical standards, meaning they could charge for or control access. The consequences would extend beyond mere inconvenience – and is simply irresponsible.
