“Lawmakers knew we had to be proactive this Session and deliver a significant investment to help Texas meet its future water needs – this legislation not only helps secure Texans’ access to water, it will support continued economic growth and job creation across our state,” said Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows earlier today as Gov. Greg Abbott signed a crucial Texas-sized legislative investment bill into law.
Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins launched an $8.5 million sterile New World screwworm (NWS) fly dispersal facility in South Texas and announced a sweeping five-pronged plan to enhance USDA’s already robust ability to detect, control, and eliminate this pest. Per the USDA, the facility in South Texas is expected to be ready within six months.
At today’s open meeting of the Railroad Commission of Texas, Commissioner Jim Wright was unanimously elected to serve as Chairman of the Commission. A conservative businessman with over 35 years of experience in the energy industry, Jim Wright was elected as the 51st Texas Railroad Commissioner in November 2020.
Governor Greg Abbott recently signed House Bill 2 into law and injected $8.5 billion into Texas public education. This much-needed funding is especially important for students and teachers because more than $4 billion is earmarked for teacher salary increases. It was notable that as Governor Abbott signed the law, JoMeka Gray, a Temple kindergarten teacher and Teach Plus Senior Policy Fellow, sat next to him representing teachers and students from across our great state.
"Most businesses in Texas are actually small businesses – and they employ about half of all employees around the state. So we wanted to make sure that we passed laws to would improve the process of doing business in Texas, and reduced barriers for small businesses and ordinary Texans. We took strategic steps to achieve just that," said Gov. Abbott of the bills – including one that increases Business Personal Property Tax Exemptions.
They say “five million people” took to the streets to protest “No Kings” last Saturday. Know how I know there are five million people? Because the public relations firm hired by organizers – fully funded by spoiled, entitled, white billionaires – put out a press release saying so. That’s how I know. Democrats simply declare something and no judgement is cast in their direction. Weird, right? Actually, no – it's not weird at all, it’s how media bias works now.
“When I became Governor, the homestead exemption was $15,000 – with Senate Bill 4, the homestead exemption is now $140,000, an almost 1,000% increase. And Seniors’ homestead exemption now goes all the way up to $200,000. This is truly unprecedented – no state in American history has devoted such a large percentage of their budget to tax relief,” said Governor Abbott.
"Just last week – for the first time in nearly two decades – Iran was formally declared to be in violation of its Nuclear Non-Proliferation Commitments by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Over 60 days ago, Iran was given a choice – and once again it has chosen to be an enemy of the free world. In response, Israel launched overnight military strikes, successfully eliminating some of Iran’s top military leaders," explains Cong. August Pfluger.
We are told that either today or tomorrow Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo will announce his draft plan for the Senate version of the "One Big Beautiful Bill." To make the bill more beautiful – it's time to go from good to great. Here's what we would suggest for improving the House-passed bill.
Frederick Douglass was the first Black reporter ever to be allowed into the Capitol Press Galleries. This afternoon, the U.S. House passed Cong. Byron Donalds' H.Res.137 – "The Bipartisan Frederick Douglass Press Gallery Renaming Resolution" by unanimous, bipartisan, voice vote to officially name the U.S. House of Representatives Press Gallery after the legendary writer and statesman.
After Israel took out at least two of Iran's top nuclear weapons scientists (and promised to kill more,) my High School Fight Song came to mind. After a touchdown, we sang, "Hit 'em hard and hit 'em again. Show 'em now we're gonna win." That's precisely what Israel's done over several days against its mortal enemy that's threatened to exterminate them for decades.
Israel took action to defend itself from a potential nuclear attack by striking Iranian nuclear sites and military leadership — including their top military official. Prime Minister Netanyahu was clear: The alternative to diplomacy would be strikes on Iran — a message he reiterated to me when I met with him earlier this month. Unfortunately, the Iranian Regime chose not to take the path of peace, instead prioritizing its nuclear ambitions over the well-being of its own people.
Last week I participated in a House Oversight Committee hearing to examine the growing concerns about Americans’ genetic data in light of 23-and-Me’s recent Bankruptcy Filing. As personal DNA Data becomes more accessible and commercially valuable, we must ensure it's not vulnerable to misuse, exploitation, or sale to foreign adversaries. The privacy of genetic information is a consumer protection AND National Security and Biomedical Research Issue.
Saturday, we celebrated 250 years of the United States Army — two and a half centuries of Courage, Sacrifice, and Unwavering Service to our great Nation. Serving in the U.S. Army was one of the greatest honors of my life. It gave me a deeper appreciation for this country, the men and women who wear the uniform, and the high calling to defend liberty. Every day, our soldiers stand ready to protect the freedoms we hold dear and uphold the values that make America exceptional.
I can’t ascribe a reason why these people – not just in America, but around the world – seem to be hype-men for the Mullahs of Iran, but my suspicion runs the gambit. Some, I’m sure, do it out of what they view as "principle," but what those principles are will forever remain a mystery. There has to be a serious price for that – but thanks to Democrats, they haven’t paid much of one. Don't forget, we have the biggest stick, and I’m not talking about nuclear.
Why are prices rising faster in blue states? Why is gas at the pump $1.50 a gallon more in California than the rest of the country? Blue-State America's got much higher inflation rates than Red States. The leftwing West Coast States and the Northeast New England States have the worst inflation – and meanwhile, the lowest rates in the nation by a relatively wide margin are in...
Governor Greg Abbott today signed House Joint Resolution 1, House Bill 9, House Bill 346, House Bill 2464, and House Bill 5195 into law to support Texas' small businesses while virtually attending the Houston Regional Business Coalition luncheon. Passed during the 89th Regular Legislative Session, these new laws will accelerate the process for starting a business in Texas and cut unnecessary government regulations on small businesses.