"Birthright citizenship has long served as a powerful incentive for illegal immigration, and over time, has become wrongly accepted as law, with supporters claiming it is guaranteed by our Constitution," said Cong. Brian Babin (TX-36,) following the introduction of his new bill, the "Birthright Citizenship Act of 2023." This legislation has 21 original cosponsors, and would ensure America properly implements Section 1 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution – ending birth tourism.
I don’t understand why the supporters of the party of Hamas & Socialism are giving Donald Trump an in-kind campaign contribution in the form of their girlish, fussy cries of “He’s an authoritarian!” Democrats should be grateful if Trump wins the nomination and the election. Trump's an older guy who grew up in a different era, and still has that sliver of respect for our nation's institutions. But since when are we Americans against punishing wrongdoers? Trump may not be an angel, but he can still understand justice.
“Credit card balances experienced a large jump in the 3rd Quarter,” said a Federal Reserve Bank analyst, as a newly released report showed American's Credit Card Debt Balances spiked by $154 billion during the past year – the largest increase since 1999. With Americans already burdened by continued cost increases & price hikes of "Bidenomics" – particularly for Food, Gas & Housing – more cardholders are now carrying debt forward from month to month... or are falling behind on payments.
Congressman Tony Gonzales and Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick hosted a Town Hall Event to update Texans on the crisis at the nation's Southern Border earlier this week, and both agreed the current situation is “the worst we’ve ever seen.” As U.S. Customs & Border Patrol reported a single day record of 12,000 encounters along the Southern Border on Tuesday, Lt. Gov Patrick praised Rep. Gonzales's efforts to move the border crisis to the top of the priority list for must do items in Congress.
“Opportunity knows no bounds in Texas – thanks to the hardworking men and women of this great state," said Governor Greg Abbott earlier today, celebrating Texas’ continuing economic momentum as new data released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis shows the Texas economy expanded faster than the nation as a whole for the 4th Quarter in a row. Second quarter 2023 real GDP — the value of all goods and services produced — grew in Texas at an annual rate of 4.9%, well ahead of the U.S. rate of 2.1%.
"Given the $800 billion in trade that Texas has with Mexico each year, shortening the lengthy delays in border bridge crossings will help lower the cost of goods for American families," said Sen. Ted Cruz, after House & Senate lawmakers announced agreement on the annual Defense Authorization Bill that included Cruz's effort– pushed by a bi-partisan & bi-cameral coalition of Texas Legislators – to streamline the Presidential Permitting Process for new & expanded bridges across the Rio Grande River in Brownsville, Laredo & Eagle Pass, Texas.
U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) issued the following statement after permitting reform language for cross-border bridges was included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year (FY) 2024. Working with Senator Ted Cruz, Cuellar secured provisions reforming the Presidential permitting process for the World Trade Bridge expansion project in Laredo.
The U.S. is a global leader in reducing emissions, not through regulation – but technological innovation. In fact, methane emissions in the U.S. are down about 66% and down 76% in Texas. Additionally, EPA regulated emissions are down 78% in the last 50 years, while the economy boomed by 286%, population increased by 61%, and energy use is up by 37%.
Israeli Survivors & 1st Responders described the horror of rape as a weapon of war: "He didn't pick up his pants. He shot her while inside her." Another Israeli Medic witnessed "a naked woman with a sharp object stuck in the intimate area of her body." A morgue worker said, "We saw women with bloody underwear, with broken legs & broken pelvises." So where is the outrage from NOW, the National Organization of Women, or from Emily's List, or even Planned Parenthood? Where is the March by America's Liberal Women's Movement?
To date, 31 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives have announced they'll not be seeking re-election in 2024 – 20 Democrats and 11 Republicans. "Swing-seat Democrats are racing for the exits – making their party’s climb out of the minority even steeper,” said the Republican National Congressional Committee's Jack Pandol. “In 2022, Democrats massively outspent the Republicans running against them – it was a big reason they held onto their seats,” said The Cook Political Report's David Wasserman.
The U.S House passed bipartisan legislation earlier today naming the interstate highway-designated segments of West Texas' Ports-to-Plains Corridor as “Interstate Route 27” after Congressmen Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28,) and Jodey Arrington (R-TX-19) successfully pushed companion bills through the House. The bill must now return to the Senate before heading to the President’s desk.
Gov. Greg Abbott, the Texas Dept. 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 preventing and interdicting trans-national criminal activity between the Official U.S. Ports of Entry. To date Texas has bused over 25,900 Illegal Immigrants to New York City, more than 21,000 to Chicago, and 12,500+ to Washington, D.C. since August 2022.
Veterans Land Board Chairwoman, and Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham announced the 2023 Holiday Wreath Laying Ceremony Locations for the Abilene, Corpus Christi, and Mission, Texas State Veterans Cemeteries on Saturday, December 16th. This year, the VLB is working with Wreaths Across America at three VLB Cemeteries to ensure all of our Veterans and their family members are honored and remembered.
Green groups are supposed to be about keeping our rivers, lakes and streams clean. They are supposed to be about fighting litter and keeping toxic chemicals out of the air. Their job is to maintain the beauty of our national parks and save elephants and tigers. Not anymore. The New York Times recently reported in a disturbing headline: "Environmental Groups Cut Programs as Funding Shifts to Climate Change."
It's well known that Iran is the largest state-sponsor of terrorism, and it was no accident that Hamas’ evil attack on Israel shortly followed President Biden’s decision to unfreeze $6 Billion in Iranian assets on September 11th. What's even more unacceptable, the Biden White House chose to unfreeze an additional $10 billion in assets for Iran after the attack. Last week, my amendment strengthening the "No Funds for Iranian Terrorism Act" passed the House of Representatives.
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar today said state sales tax revenue totaled $4.1 billion in November, 3.7% more than in November 2022. And, total sales tax revenue for the three months ending in November 2023 was up 2.1% compared with the same period a year ago. Sales tax is the largest source of state funding for the state budget, accounting for 57% of all tax collections.
This past week, the House passed my "No Funds for Iranian Terrorism Act," blocking the $6 billion from going to Iran – the most consequential thing we can do to stop their financing of vile operations globally. President Biden and many Congressional Democrats want the world to believe this money can only be used for "humanitarian purposes" – however, Iran's president has stated otherwise, bragging his regime would spend it "wherever we need it."
Governor Greg Abbott today announced the next 2023 Governor’s Small Business Summit, honoring women small business owners, will be held in Houston on Thursday, December 7. The Governor’s Small Business Summits aim to help Texas small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs reach new heights by connecting them with the resources and information needed to start, strengthen, and grow a business.
