Women's Sports: Meeting with Riley Gaines, protecting our communities from deadly fentanyl and legislation to protect Amateur Radioy
By Cong. August Pfluger
Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, the U.S. House passed my legislation, "The Protecting American Energy Production Act," to prevent any future President from banning hydraulic fracking. When President Biden took office over four years ago, his administration took a 'whole of government' approach to wage war on American energy production, pandering to woke environmental extremists and crippling the Permian Basin.
This legislation is a necessary first step in reversing Biden’s war on energy by preventing the federal government from banning hydraulic fracturing. Fracking is a safe, clean, and effective way to produce affordable energy and strengthen America's national security. This bill advances President Trump’s pro-energy agenda to restore America’s position as the world’s top oil and gas producer. I am blessed to represent America's most prolific oil and gas producing region and am committed to unleashing energy in the Permian Basin this Congress.
- You can watch my floor remarks supporting my legislation here.
On National Girls and Women in Sports Day, I was honored to host Riley Gaines at the Republican Study Committee's lunch this week.
Riley is an All-American swimmer who graduated from the University of Kentucky. In the 2022 NCAA Women's Swimming Championship, Riley was forced to compete against a biological male. Over the years, Riley has become a fierce advocate for women's and girls' sports, which have been attacked by radical gender ideology.
Shortly after our meeting, Riley joined President Trump at the White House for the signing of an executive order to uphold the promise of Title XI for every young girl and woman across the country. As a father of three young girls, I take this issue very personally and am thrilled that every girl across America who dreams of competing at the highest level can fairly do so again. Common sense is being restored in the White House, and this is yet another example of how President Trump is keeping the promises he made to the American people.
U.S. House Passes HALT Fentanyl Act
I was proud to join my colleagues in voting YES to pass the HALT Fentanyl Act to help end the devasting fentanyl crisis and crack down on traffickers bringing this lethal poison across our southern border. Fentanyl only takes a few milligrams to kill a person, and this deadly drug is now the number one cause of death among adults aged 18-49.
This must-pass piece of legislation is crucial to ensure that no family has to experience the heartbreak of losing a loved one to fentanyl poisoning. The HALT Fentanyl Act will give law enforcement the necessary tools and resources to tackle drug traffickers before they reach U.S. soil to save lives. It is time to end this crisis once and for all.
Advocating for a Strong and Robust Cybersecurity Workforce
As Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, I joined my colleagues in questioning key witnesses on the future of the American cybersecurity workforce.
Recently, our country has seen gaps in recruiting cybersecurity officials that must be addressed. I am proud to represent Angelo State University (ASU), which is designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense and will play a necessary part in filling these gaps.
During the hearing, I asked the witnesses how we can utilize places like ASU to recruit the next generation of young and inspiring minds to the cybersecurity workforce.
We cannot allow the cybersecurity workforce shortage to go unaddressed as our adversaries seek to dismantle American networks. My full line of questioning is available to watch at the link below.
Introducing The Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act
Amateur radio is essential for emergency preparedness, as other forms of communication can easily be disrupted in emergencies and natural disasters. However, current homeowner association rules prevent amateur radio operators from installing outdoor antennas on residential property, potentially hindering access to this critical communication.
I introduced The Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act to correct this issue by allowing amateur radio operators to install these necessary antennas. This legislation will enhance emergency response capabilities in the U.S. and safeguard our communities.
Texas-11 is home to dozens of amateur radio operators ready to volunteer in the event of an emergency, which is why I am proud to lead this legislation. Read more about it here.
