The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is proud to celebrate Texas veterans for their service and dedication, especially on Veteran’s Day. TWC provides veterans with the tools for success through employment, education, and training opportunities. TWC launched the 13th annual Hiring Red, White & You! statewide hiring event on Nov. 1. This event connects veterans and their families with employers across Texas.

As Veterans Day approaches on Monday, I’m filled with gratitude for the brave men and women who’ve proudly worn our nation’s uniform. As a Combat Veteran myself, I know the sacrifices made, the courage shown – and the dedication it takes to serve. For veterans like me, this day is not just about looking back on our service, but about honoring our brothers and sisters who made the ultimate sacrifice. That’s why I’m pushing innovative treatments, emerging therapies, and game changing programs to help them truly recover.

Which races will be audited? What polling locations will be audited? And when will the audits happen? “This year’s audit will be the largest conducted in the state, and underscore Texas' commitment to transparency," said Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson, announcing that the audits will check the results of "designated races through a hand-count process count" – and will be much larger and more expansive than previous efforts. They will also include multiple offices, and additional polling places for investigation. 

Governor Greg Abbott announced the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Task Force (SASTF) issued its third Biennial Report to the Texas Legislature. The report includes policy recommendations for the 89th Legislative Session and summarizes task force activities since the last report, including the launch of a Forensic Nursing Coaching Pilot Program with the Texas A&M Health Center of Excellence in Forensic Nursing, a quarterly SASTF Webinar Series, and new trauma-informed trainings for law enforcement and hospital emergency room staff.

During World War I, Texas General Land Office Commissioner J.T. Robison suggested that Veterans returning from war could be supported with land. His idea did not come to fruition however, until after World War II. History notes that 70 GLO employees left to serve in WWII, and two made the ultimate sacrifice. Commissioner J. Bascom Giles recognized these brave Veterans, and supported a Constitutional Amendment to create a fund to purchase land for resale to Veterans at very low interest rates, with generous repayment schedules.

"School choice is wanted by all demographic groups in Texas. Hispanics and African Americans across the state of Texas, they strongly support school choice – those parents want an option. They know their child better than any government employee does, and they want to put their child on the pathway toward success," said Gov. Greg Abbott earlier today, touting the growing support for parents to have school choice and the freedom to choose the best school for their children while in Tyler, Texas. 

"It's my honor to work on behalf of all Texans and bring solutions to the table to benefit our great state," said Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, announcing that the Red River Boundary Commission – with the help of the General Land Office’s (GLO) Surveying Team – has redrawn the Texas-Oklahoma Boundary under North Texas' Lake Texoma to ensure that the security and availability of around 30% of the drinking water supply for more than 2 million people in the area continues.

“Another family’s worst nightmare has come to pass, and it’s directly because of Biden & Harris’s reckless, open-border policies," said Cong. Michael Cloud, as he, Sen. Ted Cruz and Texas State Rep. Stan Gerdes condemned the White House after yet another Texan was killed by an illegal drunk driver. The suspect had previously been deported twice, once by the Obama administration, and again by the Trump administration – but was able to illegally re-enter the country under the Biden-Harris Administration.

Texas law does not permit federal “monitors” inside a polling place or central counting station. So after Att. Gen. Paxton said, “Texans run Texas elections, and we will not be bullied by the Department of Justice," the U.S. Dept. of Justice agreed to not to enter Texas Polling & Central Count Locations just hours after Paxton sued the DOJ over its announcement that it would send federal agents to "monitor" Texas elections. "The DOJ knows it has no authority to monitor Texas elections, and backed down when Texas stood up."

“Texas again leads all states with the Top Business Climate in America for the second year in a row,” said Governor Greg. Abbott. “As the 8th Largest Economy in the world, Texas is the No. 1 destination for businesses to come here, succeed here, and create more good-paying jobs here for hardworking Texans. Texas offers advantages no other state can claim: a business-friendly climate — with no corporate or personal income tax."

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced an initial award of about $18.5 million in grant funding benefiting 17 counties across the state as part of the Texas Broadband Pole Replacement Program. This initial funding will support the deployment of broadband to rural, unserved areas by partially reimbursing grant awardees who’ve replaced more than 11,000 poles that support retail broadband services. 

"My #1 priority in the U.S. Senate is jobs. There are 7,000 jobs and billions in investment in the Rio Grande Valley at stake. This decision and the current environmental process threaten the economic and energy security of Texas and America, and would cede America’s energy dominance to adversaries and rivals such as Russia, which advance their own interests through gas exports," said U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, as he and Cong. Dan Crenshaw co-led the effort to reverse an unprecedented decision that injects massive uncertainty into future energy investments.

Despite the challenges facing our nation, I thank God that Americans retain the fundamental right to vote. In far too many dictatorial regimes around the world, citizens are silenced and even tortured for voicing their beliefs. May we never take our voting rights and responsibilities for granted. The polls are closed to participate in early voting in Texas, but the polls will open back up on Tuesday – so please be sure to stop by your polling location and make your voice heard!

Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas National Guard continue to work together to secure the border; stop the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and people into Texas; and prevent, detect, and interdict transnational criminal activity between ports of entry. In the fight against the fentanyl crisis, Texas law enforcement has seized over 552 million lethal doses of fentanyl—

Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D., is proud to announce that restoration work on the historic Alamo Cenotaph will begin in January 2025.  This vital project will ensure the “Spirit of Sacrifice” is preserved in place and will be standing tall for future generations to remember and reflect on the significant sacrifices made on this sacred ground. The Alamo Cenotaph will not be moved during construction and all restoration work will remain on-site.

Congressman Luttrell and 45 other lawmakers sent a letter to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, expressing serious concerns about the DOE transparency and accountability regarding the Biden-Harris Administration’s management of LNG exports. They requested clarification about DOE studies on the economic and environmental impacts of LNG, which, according to reports, may have been withheld from the public because they highlighted the benefits of U.S. LNG in the global energy market.

The Festival of Trees is a beloved tradition that showcases beautifully decorated Christmas trees, each a unique masterpiece created by members of The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary, board members, and dedicated volunteers. These splendid trees will be auctioned off, with all proceeds benefiting families in need during the holiday season.

Tax neutrality means that the tax code should not be used to reward or punish any specific behaviors, but rather should be neutral toward household and business decisions. In other words, the tax code should not encourage or discourage individuals from buying a home, from going to college, from having children, from marrying, and it should not reward or punish businesses for whether they choose to purchase equipment or lease equipment, etc.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas-21) sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas demanding answers about the growing presence of the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Argua (TdA) in Texas and across America.

Governor Abbott touted the booming Texas economy while addressing a crowd of more than 200 entrepreneurs and workers, pointing to the state’s Best Business Climate ranking and reasonable regulations as primary factors for Fortune 500 companies flocking to the state and CEOs continuing to rank Texas as the Best State for Business for 20 years in a row. The Governor also praised Texas' young, diverse, growing, and highly skilled workforce as a major draw for employers from across the world to continue to do business in Texas.