In the three months following the savage Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel on October 7th, there was a 360% increase in antisemitic attacks in the U.S. compared to the year prior. But with Antisemitism on the rise in the U.S. for years, "This reprehensible behavior has no place on American soil, and my colleagues and I refuse to tolerate it any longer – We will not stand idly by and watch our Jewish friends face relentless attacks on account of their faith." said Texas Cong. Randy Weber.
Enacted by Senate Bill 22 during the 88th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, the program provides for qualified counties (on behalf of sheriffs and constables) and prosecutor offices to apply for grants up to 30 days after the start of their fiscal year. But to jump-start the program in its 2024 inaugural year, the Comptroller’s office allowed all eligible counties to apply for grants from Jan. 1-31, regardless of their fiscal year start date.
Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas) discussed the recent Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse and expressed his strong view that efforts to rebuild this project shouldn’t be slowed by bureaucratic dithering or lengthy environmental reviews. Sen. Cruz also highlighted Chairwoman Homendy’s leadership overseeing investigations on several high-profile transportation incidents at the NTSB and discussed how Mr. Fuchs’s extensive knowledge of the rail network has served Americans well during his time with the STB.
Addressing a crowd of business and energy leaders, the Governor touted the critical role the two new peaker power stations will play in the Texas grid, adding a total of 380 megawatts of power and bringing over 300 good-paying jobs to Texans in the San Marcos area. The first of the two power plants is currently under construction and is expected to be operational in 2025. Governor Abbott also emphasized the need for more power sources across the state due to the record-breaking growth of the Texas economy.
“We commend the Committee for their leadership in convening this Monday’s hearing in Port Arthur, where witnesses described the negative impacts on local communities of the Biden Administration’s decision to halt approval of LNG projects as well as how the decision bolsters hostile nations and threatens U.S. and global security. "
“After tireless work by my office and many others, I’m thrilled we’re helping bring more jobs to Texas – and greater energy security to America and our allies – by securing this deepwater port license," said Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Ted Cruz, celebrating a major victory for Texas’s energy industry today after Joe Biden's Dept. of Maritime Administration finally granted a license to construct a deepwater port to Houston’s Enterprise Products’ Sea Port Oil Terminal.
Texas Land Commissioner, and Veterans Land Board (VLB) Chairwoman Dawn Buckingham, has introduced the next series installment highlighting the VLB's "Voices of Veterans" oral history program. In the latest episode, we hear the story of U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Rick Hatch. Rick “Gunny” Hatch joined the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve in 1962 directly after graduating high school. Even though he initially wanted to remain close to home, he quickly discovered his love for the Marine Corps and went on active duty in 1963.
The launch of "Operation Lone Star" – the multi-agency Texas effort to secure the border, stop the smuggling of drugs, weapons & people, and prevent, detect and interdict trans-national criminal gang & terrorist activities – has now led to over 506,500 Illegal Immigrant Apprehensions, and more than 41,200 Criminal Arrests that includes over 36,700 Felony Charges. In the fight against fentanyl, Texas Law Enforcement has now seized over 471 million lethal doses of fentanyl during this mission.
“As one of the state-designated Natural Resources Trustees, the Texas General Land Office will work with our partners to ensure this settlement money is used to implement natural resource restoration and recreational projects for the community affected by this destructive fire,” said Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, adding, “Taking care of Texans and our beautiful state is my top priority." The settlement is to recover damages caused by the March 2019 fire.
“Monthly state sales tax collections solidly exceeded collections from last March,” said Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar, announcing a 5.8% increase over March 2023. “Collections from sectors that have been increasing, compared with a year ago, continued to show strength, and receipts from some sectors that had been lagging saw gains," Hegar said. Sales tax is the largest source of state funding for the Texas State Budget, accounting for 57% of all tax collections.
A “rush to legislate” is almost always a bad idea – and we can see the evidence of such efforts in too many areas of everyday life. It’s better to let new innovations and technologies play out, and only then regulate or legislate if discrete problems have become obvious. Otherwise, we run the risk of letting precaution get in the way of innovation. Perhaps the best example of this today is the concerns and fears about Artificial Intelligence, or AI.
We recently saw our brave Texas National Guardsmen overrun at the border by invading illegals. A few weeks ago, U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) announced that 189,922 illegal immigrants were encountered at the Southern Border in February – the highest number ever during February. Joe Biden is allowing thugs, rapists, murderers, gang members, drug cartel & human traffickers to waltz into our communities. Here's a list of the most concerning that have come across the border in the last couple of weeks.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has opened an investigation into Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc., after reoccurring issues with certain airplane parts provided to Boeing. Spirit AeroSystems, “one of the world’s largest manufacturers of aerostructures for commercial airplanes,” according to the company, produces the fuselages for Boeing’s 737 jets. On certain models of the 737, apparent manufacturing defects have led to numerous concerning or dangerous incidents, some of which occurred in-air.
Hunter Biden and his legal team have yelled & bawled for months that he wanted a Public Hearing to "clear his name." But last week when the time came to appear at such a hearing, Hunter was nowhere to be found. Two of Hunter's former associates did testify though (one from prison!) and from their sworn testimony we learned: The Bidens didn't sell any legitimate Good or Service, just the Biden "Brand"; Hunter committed perjury during his deposition; and, Joe Biden was intimately involved.
Interstate I-27 will run from the South Texas border city of Laredo, all the way north through West Texas and the Panhandle, up through Colorado, Oklahoma & New Mexico, and ultimately all the way up to Canada. TXDOT conducted a comprehensive study of the "Ports-to-Plains Corridor," and found that upgrades to this highway will result in a 76% return on investment – as well as $3.4 billion in annual travel cost savings, 17,710 new jobs, and a $2.2 billion annual increase in Texas state GDP.
"The State of Texas stands with Israel and the Jewish Community, and we must escalate our efforts to protect against antisemitism at Texas colleges & universities all across our state. Antisemitism is never acceptable in Texas – and we will do everything we can to fight it," said Gov. Greg Abbott, signing an Executive Order that requires all higher education institutions in Texas to review their free speech policies, and establish and enforce appropriate punishments to address the acts.
“The Texas Legislature designed the the Jobs, Energy, Technology & Innovation Act (JETI) Program to encourage and unleash potential research, development, and manufacturing of high-tech equipment across the state – such as projects that strengthen the state's power grid and others – all while boosting statewide employment,” said Comptroller Glenn Hegar, announcing that JETI succeeds the Texas Economic Development Act, more commonly known as the Chapter 313 site selection and competitive tax-incentive program.
“Texas continues to dominate the nation in job creation because we've built a framework that allows free enterprise to flourish and hardworking Texans to succeed, That's why businesses are growing here, why jobs are growing here, and why the future is building here,” said Gov. Greg Abbott, celebrating another 49,800 jobs being created during February, and Texas setting records for total jobs, the number of Texans working, and the size of the Texas labor force.
“I’m so proud to have successfully worked with Community Leaders & Business Owners, and for all the bipartisan work we've accomplished to deliver the benefits that Interstate 27 will bring," said Sen. Ted Cruz, after his bipartisan effort naming the Ports-to-Plains Corridor between Laredo, Texas, and Raton, New Mexico was signed into law. The I-27 "Ports-to-Plains Corridor" will impact 26 West Texas counties and upgrade the region's critical highway system and roadways used by Texas farmers & ranchers.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. is known as "The Wall That Heals." However, since few Americans can travel to experience the black granite walls inscribed with the names of men & women who gave their lives or remain missing, Texas Land Commissioner & Veterans Land Board Chairwoman Dawn Buckingham is reminding Texans that The Traveling Vietnam Wall & Cost of Freedom Tribute will be on display in Amarillo from Wednesday, March 27th to Thursday, March 28th.