This past week, President Trump returned to the world stage to remind our allies and adversaries what strong American leadership looks like. From Malaysia and Japan to South Korea and China, he advanced America’s interests — brokering peace between Thailand and Cambodia, securing new trade and mineral deals that reduce our dependence on China, and expanding market access for U.S. agriculture and industry.

“This deal is a massive win for America’s farmers and ranchers. China has agreed to purchase 25 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans annually, which means Texas soybean growers and producers across the country can rest easier knowing their product will find a strong and stable market. I would like to thank President Trump for supporting American farmers in these negotiations and ensuring a more prosperous future for agriculture by striking these deals and standing firm."

Governor Greg Abbott today announced the fifth Texas Energy Fund (TxEF) loan agreement for a 1,350 megawatt (MW) natural gas power plant in Ward County. Competitive Power Ventures (CPV) Basin Ranch will build the plant, which is expected to begin generating power for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) power region in 2029. Once connected, the CPV project will become one of the largest sources of dispatchable generation capacity for the ERCOT grid.

The task force’s duties include reviewing product theft laws and regulations in other U.S. jurisdictions as well as international laws; analyzing the impact of theft on state tax collections and long-term economic impacts; making recommendations on law enforcement training to combat petroleum product theft and preparing a report to submit to the Governor and the Legislature.

The Math Carousel features both individual and team rounds designed to encourage problem-solving, teamwork, and a love of learning. Schools may register one team of four fifth-grade students. Each team must have a teacher or sponsor, and individual competitors must have a designated adult present. Registration is free through Jan. 16, 2026, or until 20 team spots are filled. There is an unlimited number of individual competitor spaces available.

The Texas Oil & Gas Association (TXOGA) commends the Railroad Commission of Texas on its recently issued permit that will allow Occidental to safely sequester CO2 from its STRATOS Direct Air Capture (DAC) facility - where DAC technology is used to capture anthropogenic CO2 and inject it for permanent storage deep underground. The permit is also an example of how Texas can lead in supporting technology that will help increase oil recovery and strengthen energy security. 

Texas’s economy has long been the envy of the nation. From oil and energy innovation to manufacturing, logistics, and technology, the Lone Star State has long been a model of growth, resilience, and opportunity. Now, another transformative development could soon join that list: a historic rail merger poised to supercharge Texas’s economic engine. The proposed merger between Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS) would form the nation’s first transcontinental rail network under a single carrier .

Governor Greg Abbott today announced four Jobs & Education for Texans (JET) grants totaling over $1.2 million have been awarded to four schools in West Texas by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). The JET grants will support career and technical education training programs by helping the schools purchase and install equipment to initially train over 330 students for high-demand occupations as nurses, welders, and industrial engineering technicians.

The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) will hold a series of remote Listening Sessions to provide the public with another opportunity to share their perspectives on the RRC’s role as the state’s oldest regulatory agency. Residents from across Texas are encouraged to participate, ask questions and express their opinions. The inaugural session is scheduled for Wednesday, November 12, 2025, from noon to 1:30 p.m. CST.

Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock today announced a freeze on the issuance of new and renewed Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) certifications for state procurement, pending further action to ensure the program’s administrative procedures and rules are constitutional. While new certifications are suspended, the Comptroller’s office will continue collecting business participation data and will undertake rulemaking and other actions to ensure the state procurement process uses only race- and sex-neutral standards.

Last week, I had the opportunity to visit Tyler County Hospital, which has been serving Tyler County and the surrounding area since 1950. Home to roughly 20,000 people, Tyler County saw nearly 10,000 emergency room visits last year alone — proof of just how vital this hospital is to our community. America’s roots run deep in small towns with good people, and rural hospitals are the best of them. Yet Democrats are trying to strip away their funding.

Hiring Red, White & You! is a statewide hiring event, hosted by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), that connects veterans, transitioning military members, and military spouses to employers across Texas. TWC and Texas Workforce Solutions will host more than 30 events across the state in partnership with the Texas Veterans Commission and the Texas Medical Center.

Sens. Cruz and Cornyn have established the Federal Judicial Evaluation Committee (FJEC), a bipartisan panel of leading attorneys in Texas, which reviews applications, interviews candidates, and makes recommendations to the Senators to help fill judicial vacancies. Sens. Cruz and Cornyn invite qualified candidates to seek appointment by submitting their resumes and completed questionnaires to both lawmakers’ offices.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and colleagues introduced the Natural Gas Export Expansion Act. The bill expedites the federal approval process for exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG).Sen. Cruz has long been a leader in pushing for American energy dominance and protecting America’s energy workers. 

It is incredibly disappointing that we are on day twenty-four of the Democrats' reckless government shutdown, and that Senate Democrats have officially voted twelve times to keep the government closed. While Democrats continue to hold the government hostage, I am still committed to serving you in Congress. This week, I held a town hall, attended the Permian Basin International Oil Show, and continued calling for Democrats to stop the nonsense and open the government.

Senate Democrats have now voted 'no' THIRTEEN times on Republicans' clean, non-partisan government funding bill. Meanwhile, hardworking Americans are suffering the consequences. In Texas alone, Democrats' shutdown is projected to cost $6.3 billion per month, wipe out 4,100 jobs, and force up to 218,000 federal workers to serve without pay. It's time for Senate Democrats to put Americans' well-being first and open our government — today.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller today issued a five-point plan to rebuild America’s cattle herd, lower grocery store beef prices, and protect U.S. cattle producers from failed Biden administration policies. These five actions will rebuild America’s cattle herd, stabilize beef supplies, lower consumer prices, and support our nation’s cattle producers. 

Today marks Day 24 of the federal government shutdown. The House has already passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government. Unfortunately, Senate Democrats have refused to act, choosing instead to hold up government funding in exchange for extending costly COVID-era Obamacare subsidies, a policy that should be debated separately, not tied to basic government operations.

Every Day 'Gets Better' for Democrats, Worse for America. For three weeks, hardworking Americans, from our troops and border agents to TSA workers and park rangers, have been caught in the crossfire of a completely avoidable government shutdown. This isn't about healthcare, protecting Americans, or fiscal responsibility. It's about politics, plain and simple. It's Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS).

According to the National Weather Service, a storm system will push through the state, bringing with it a threat of severe thunderstorms including large hail, damaging winds, possible tornadoes, heavy rainfall, and flash flooding. Excessive rainfall on very dry, drought-hardened ground may cause water to run off more quickly, therefore increasing the risk of localized flash flooding.