While these existing airports, and other potential future airports, qualify as ports of entry under the CBP’s criteria through their association with the nearest land border crossing, they have not received this designation­—resulting in increased costs for these airports and travelers who fly in and out of these airports.

Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas National Guard are continuing to work together to secure the border; stop the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and people into Texas; and prevent, detect, and interdict transnational criminal behavior between ports of entry.

We can not continue to allow the Administration to expand this federal overreach and prolong the government’s reckless spending of taxpayer dollars, all in the name of COVID.

Attorney General Paxton has joined a multistate letter sent to Commissioner Califf of the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) after the FDA made radical changes to its policy regarding specific abortion drugs. Previously, the FDA had imposed restrictions on certain abortion-inducing drugs, including mifepristone.

The ordinarily fluent and unperturbed Justice Elena Kagan seemed, judging from the transcript, to be sputtering a bit in the oral argument of the Supreme Court's case challenging the racial quotas and preferences used in admissions by the University of North Carolina.

"We will pay our creditors and protect the good faith and credit of the United States. However, we will not let politicians bankrupt this country and destroy our children’s future. We cannot issue new credit cards until Democrats agree to spending constraints and fiscal reforms," said new House Budget Committee Chair and Lubbock Congressman Jodey Arrington. "I encourage my Democrat colleagues to move beyond the alarmist rhetoric."

“I was proud to work with John Cornyn and our bipartisan Federal Judicial Evaluation Committee to recommend Damien Diggs to serve as a U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas. Once confirmed, Damien will be the first African-American U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District, he's a skilled prosecutor and community leader, and his nomination sends a strong, positive message,” said Senator Ted Cruz.

“No one knows better how a child can flourish than their parents. Our job as leaders of Texas, is to provide the best education possible for our children,” said Governor Abbott. “Hundreds of thousands of people move to Texas every year because of the freedom and opportunity that Texas provides. Parents know that same freedom and opportunity should apply to their children’s education," said Abbott.

Recently an unarmed 29-year-old African American, Tyre Nichols, was brutally beaten to death by five Black Memphis police officers. They were all charged with murder. The Victimizers & Victim were Black, the Memphis Police Chief is Black, as is the Assistant Police Chief. The death could be attributed to many things, but no sooner was the death announced than accusations of "systemic racism" surfaced.

Governor Greg Abbott provided an update on the State of Texas' response to severe winter weather conditions impacting large portions of Texas this week following a briefing at the State Operations Center in Austin. Texans in the North, West, and Central regions of the state should prepare for continued freezing cold temperatures, wind-chills, freezing rain, sleet, and icing conditions today through Thursday.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) reintroduced the Energy Freedom Act, in order to make America energy secure again by accelerating federal permitting for energy projects and pipelines, mandating new onshore and offshore oil and gas lease sales, approving pending liquified natural gas (LNG) export licenses, and generally speeding up solar, wind, and geothermal development.

The Railroad Commission of Texas’ preparations for Winter Storm Mara began well ahead of time as we began tracking the approaching weather last week; activated the RRC Emergency Management Team on Sunday; and also issued a notice to operators on Sunday on the incoming impact to the state.  

In response to the number of opioid-related drug deaths stemming from prescription misuse over the course of the last 20 years, Texas and 13 other states filed a lawsuit against several pharmaceutical companies for their role in causing the opioid crisis. As a result, Texas will receive an anticipated $1.6 billion over the next 18 years from six different companies through settlement agreements.

Once again, the nation is traumatized by horrible video of police brutally beating to death a Black man. Need I note the victim was Black? Would we be less or more traumatized if the victim were white? But the rule seems to be the victims are Black. . . and in this case, the police officers were Black.

"As an award-winning Border Patrol Agent with decades of Federal Law Enforcement & Border Security experience, Mike Banks is the perfect choice to oversee Texas' fight against the surge of illegal immigration, lethal drugs, and deadly weapons flowing into our state and our nation," said Gov. Greg Abbott from a border wall construction site on the Texas border, announcing the new position of Texas Border Czar.

Like any true patriot, I believe this country is the home of the free because of the brave. We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to our Service Members & Veterans. As the only program of its kind in the U.S., the Texas Veterans Land Board stands as a model to the nation, providing low interest loans to our veterans who want to buy a house, buy land or renovate their home.

The fissure began in 2020 – when schools across the country closed at the beginning of the pandemic. Parents, often working in the same room where their children were being educated over Zoom, began to see just what their children were being taught, and how – and they didn't like what they saw. Attitudes changed almost overnight, and parents now overwhelmingly believe the system needs to be changed.

In the first Budget Bill filed by incoming Senate Finance Chair and Houston Senator Joan Huffman, homeowners could see a $70,000 Homestead Exemption for the taxable value on their homes, up from the current $40,000. Though just a first draft, "We have an obligation to the people of Texas to continue our state's incredible trajectory to keep Texas as the best place to live, work, and raise a family," said Huffman.