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.
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) reintroduced two bills aimed at streamlining and expediting federal permitting for major infrastructure projects by putting more stringent timetables for federal agencies and courts to review projects.
"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.
Your House District 26 team has been hard at work at the Capitol, working on legislation and serving constituents. Since last week we have filed or Joint Authored 11 bills. The Legislature must continue to improve our State 's and the Nation's security, and ensure we protect all Texans while keeping Texas the best place to pursue the American Dream.
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.
Continuing to fill the gaps left by Joe Biden's refusal to secure the border, updated Operation Lone Star figures now show the multi-agency effort has led to over 345,000 illegal immigrant apprehensions, and more than 24,000 criminal arrests – including over 21,000 felony charges. DPS has seized an unbelievable 356+ million lethal doses of fentanyl during the mission, which would have otherwise made their way into communities across Texas.
Following a series of flooding, winter freezes and other natural disasters, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is alerting Texans to be cautious of scammers who try to take advantage of consumers in the wake of recent severe weather. The personal, emotional, and financial hardship of dealing with severe weather can be devastating, and can be compounded as Texans try to rebuild.
A lot of the politicians in Illinois, mainly Democratic politicians, don’t like this. So they have tried to change the Constitution. But they have been unable to do so.
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), who leads the weaponization panel, suggested the possibility of subpoenas after the House Judiciary send out several letters requesting interviews with potential witnesses as part of their investigations.
“The Strategic Petroleum Reserve was intended to ensure America had sufficient stockpiles of oil. Instead, Joe Biden sold oil to the Chinese Communist Party when it was stockpiling oil for its own strategic use," said Sen. Ted Cruz earlier today, introducing the "Protecting America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act" to prohibit the sale of the U.S.'s vital reserves to any company under CCP control, or exports from the SPR to China.
An estimated 5,000 taxpayer properties in Harris County can apply for a full or partial one year Improvement Exemption from property tax bills following the recent tornado damage. State Rep. Hugh Shine and State Senate sponsor Paul Bettencourt passed this post-Hurricane Harvey Property Tax Reform in 2019. Home and business owners should document property damage, and file with the Harris County Appraisal District. DETAILS DELOW.
“Governor Abbott's exactly right to call for the Texas Legislature to pass a 'Texas Title 42 Act.' Texas must use every tool available to save America from the crisis that's ravaging the border and threatening our national security with over 250,000 illegal crossings last month alone," said Rep. Brian Harrison, after Gov. Greg Abbott earlier today called for passage of Harrison's recently introduced HB 1491, called the "Texas Title 42 Act".
