House Democrats Vote Against Supporting Tax Relief for Working Families
By Cong. August Pfluger
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Texas Insider Report) — During a House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee hearing with Energy Secretary Chris Wright this week, I was proud to highlight the cutting-edge molten salt research reactor at Abilene Christian University. Developed in partnership with Natura Resources, this project represents a next-generation approach to nuclear energy that can help scale affordable, dispatchable power – and also supports water desalination efforts in drought-prone regions like West Texas.
Secretary Wright pointed out what we already know in TX-11 – this project is an example of the innovation driving what he described as a sign of the coming American "nuclear renaissance." I was also grateful to commend the Secretary for his work at the DOE thus far, and discuss the importance of continued collaboration between Congress and the DOE to support projects like this, streamline the permitting process, and strengthen domestic energy production.We also discussed growing concerns about energy supply and reliability in coastal states, particularly California and parts of the Northeast, where restrictive policies have contributed to declining in-state production and refining capacity.
Fortunately, in Texas, we take a different approach. Supporting domestic production and refining allows us to provide reliable, affordable energy and help meet demand across the country.
- Watch my full exchange with the Secretary here.
Last week, I also participated in the House Armed Services Committee's Member Day hearing to sound the alarm and deliver a call to action for the Air Force to be a priority in this year's National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) — the annual legislative vehicle that funds and authorizes the policies, programs, and spending for the Department of War.
Currently, the U.S. Air Force is the oldest and smallest it has ever been, yet it is the most tasked department in the armed forces.
As the representative of Goodfellow Air Force Base and a combat-tested fighter pilot, I urged the committee to reject the "decades-old habit of incrementalism" and instead deliver a substantial funding increase for the Department of the Air Force. I also urged that all pass-through spending be placed in the defense-wide spending account. America's ability to deter adversaries and project strength globally depends on a fully resourced and mission-ready Air Force.
- Watch my full testimony here.
I am incredibly disappointed that over two hundred of my Democrat colleagues voted against a resolution expressing support for tax policies that support working families. House Republicans delivered historic relief through the "Working Families Tax Cuts" bill, helping Americans keep more of what they earn and have less of the federal government in their lives.
Last year, every single House Democrat also voted against the Working Families Tax Cuts – which was essentially a vote for raising your taxes.
House Republicans did not let this happen.
My Democrat colleagues had another chance this week – to stand with Americans, but they refused.
Congressman August Pfluger represents a total of 29 Counties in Texas’ 11th Congressional District – which includes the cities of San Angelo, Llano, Brownwood, Granbury, Midland, Odessa, and much of the top Oil & Gas Producing Region in America, West Texas' Permian Basin. He serves as Chairman of the House Republican Study Committee – the largest caucus of conservatives on Capitol Hill.
