Governor Greg Abbott today announced that Texas has submitted the comprehensive documentation required to seek reimbursement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for costs incurred by the State of Texas to secure the border. Texas bore the largest share of border security expenses, more than $10 billion, and this submission to DHS puts the state in a position to recover taxpayer funds and return them back to hardworking Texans. Texas will apply for reimbursement from the DOJ in the near future.
U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), John Kennedy (R-La.), and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) introduced the Save Our Shrimpers Act. This bipartisan legislation prevents funds distributed through international financial institutions from being used to support foreign shrimp farming, processing, or export projects. This legislation is supported by the Texas Shrimp Association, Southern Shrimp Alliance, American Shrimp Processors Association, and Port Arthur Area Shrimper's Association.
Just a few weeks after UP released our blockbuster study on the enormous economics and health benefits of speeding up new drug approval process, the Trump administration has announced new rules to bring new life-saving drugs to market faster. If fully implemented, this is a momentous step in saving lives and reducing pain and suffering for potentially millions of Americans suffering from cancer, MS, Parkinson’s, diabetes, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, and other cruel disabling diseases.
Austin City Clerk Erika Brady today notified nonpartisan organization Save Austin Now PAC that her office certified the Outside Audit charter amendment as having at least 20,000 valid signed petitions from City of Austin residents. The city’s review found that 21,131 signatures were submitted and 20,051 were valid, a resulting validity rate of 94.89%. The charter amendment will now be placed on the November 2026 ballot.
Those of a certain age — meaning roughly 65 or older — will recall the "Bicentennial Minute." These were one-minute homages to the mostly good history of America that ran on CBS from 1974 through 1976 to mark America's 200th anniversary. Politicians, celebrities and average Americans of all political stripes appeared in the videos. It was a mostly unifying time following the divisive Vietnam War and the political scandal known as Watergate.
Texas has built its reputation on Freedom, Opportunity, Entrepreneurship – and Common Sense. And we are a state where people come to build businesses, raise families, create jobs, and take risks. But that promise is weakened when our Civil Justice System is treated less like a place to resolve real disputes, and more like a lottery ticket. Texas has confronted Lawsuit Abuse before, and we know reform works.
“The demand for a high-skilled workforce has never been greater,” said Gov. Greg Abbott earlier today, announcing a series of State Agency directives to strengthen workforce development and help more Texans access high-demand, high-paying jobs in the trades and other critical industries. State agencies will take immediate action to strengthen Texas’ workforce development system and ensure Texans are prepared to fill these high-demand fields.
Texas Land Commissioner & Veterans Land Board (VLB) Chairwoman Dawn Buckingham is pleased to announce that the VLB's license to teach continuing education courses to REALTORS has been renewed. The renewal allows the Agency to continue offering Texas Real Estate Commission-approved courses for the next two years. VLB Marketing & Outreach Coordinator Travis Willis explains more about the Continuing Education Courses.
Why are Democrats and their teachers’ union masters trying to shoot down parental choice in education – even when we now have so many examples of these programs working? When stores compete, customers win. This is also true for schools – but Democrats, acting as if its the Bubonic Plague, are trying to shoot down School Choice across the country. Amazingly, more than half the states with Democrat governors are passing up FREE money for parents in their states.
The new website serves as a central resource where Texans can access actionable and reliable multimedia information about NWS, including fact sheets, videos, and educational materials. Texans can access numerous resources and tools through the web portal, such as background information, how to spot NWS, sample collection procedures, Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) NWS zone maps, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) case dashboard, links to best practices for livestock and wildlife.
When seven countries in a single region swing politically to the right in the space of 18 months, we'd call that a Trump Trend. The latest conservative victories came this month when Peru (population 35 million) and Colombia (population 54 million) replaced left-wing presidents with conservative ones. In Peru, Keiko Fujimori, a 51-year-old conservative who campaigned on developing her nation's mineral rights and opening up the economy, has just won a narrow runoff victory by 41,000 votes.
The Texas Department of Public Safety is scrutinizing cannabis companies that are trying to gain valuable access to Texas’ medical cannabis program. Many of those companies have encountered financial, legal, and regulatory challenges that could give Texas officials pause. DPS operates the Compassionate Use Registry of Texas (CURT) – a secure online registry of qualified physicians who can prescribe low tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to patients with certain medical conditions through the Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP).
The Upper Texas Coast is one of our nation’s greatest treasures. It is home to world-class fishing, abundant wildlife, beautiful beaches, and thriving coastal communities. That’s why I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the Lone Star Coastal National Recreation Area Act. For generations to come, Texans and visitors alike should be able to enjoy everything our coast has to offer. This bill helps preserve that legacy while keeping local communities firmly in the driver's seat
Father’s Day has always been a tender day for me—one filled with gratitude, memory, and reflection. As the holiday approaches, I find myself thinking about the fathers who shape our lives, the men who guide us with strength and gentleness, and the father figures whose love becomes a foundation we stand on long after they are gone. For me, that person was my father, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein. He was not only a spiritual leader and visionary—he was a devoted father who taught me what it means to live with purpose, compassion, and faith.
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, delivered remarks as the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation advanced the Protect College Sports Act with overwhelming bipartisan support (19–9), sending the legislation to be considered by the full Senate. As of today, 24 collegiate athletic conferences, 267 colleges and universities across 49 states and Washington, D.C., including historically black colleges and universities and current student-athletes, have all publicly supported and praised the Protect College Sports Act.
Governor Greg Abbott today announced that a Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund (TSIF) grant of $3.9 million has been extended to Schunk Xycarb Technology Inc. (Xycarb) for an expansion of their production facility in Georgetown, which is expected to create 25 new jobs and represents more than $42 million in capital investment. Xycarb is expanding its operations facility to double their square footage, increase production and cleanroom space, and add further automation capabilities.
Texas reached a total of 14,419,200 nonfarm jobs after adding 17,800 positions in May. Over the year, the state added 98,000 jobs for an annual growth rate of 0.7 percent, outpacing the national growth rate by 0.4 percentage points. Texas’ civilian labor force registered at 15,901,600 after adding 6,800 people over the month. Over the year, Texas’ civilian labor force has added 43,500 people.
Attorney General Ken Paxton joined the Federal Trade Commission in filing a lawsuit against the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (“WPATH”), which is a radical organization that aggressively promotes harmful and irreversible gender “transition” procedures and treatments for children. Joining Texas in this action are the Attorneys General of Alaska, Iowa, and Nebraska.
