The U.S. GDP shrank slightly in the 1st Quarter – which is fairly typical after the Christmas Holidays, but something we never like to see. Those results predate the last four weeks of the trade-or-tariff war trauma that President Trump only announced on April 1st. However, if Congressional Republicans can get the Tax Cuts Bill signed, sealed & delivered, that would provide immediate juice for the economy. Instead, if Congress dithers, they will get blamed for a possible recession.

​​​​​​​Women for Gun Rights, one of the fastest-growing voices in 2nd Amendment advocacy, is proud to announce that Alexis Wilkins is joining forces with the organization as Director of Strategic Communications. Known for her work at the intersection of culture, media, and American values, Wilkins will advise the group’s messaging and advocacy efforts, helping shape public conversation around the right to self-defense and the cultural significance of the 2nd Amendment.

"Make no mistake, the fentanyl crisis is not random — it’s an intentional act of war against the American people. Drug cartels have taken advantage of loopholes at our borders to peddle illicit drugs, and our communities are paying the price,” said Southwest Texas & Border Cong. Tony Gonzales, as he and Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) introduced legislation for fentanyl distributors who sell or give out fentanyl – and which results in a death – to be charged with Federal Felony Murder Charges.

“With the Texas Senate’s unanimous passage of Senate Bill 31 today – the 'Life of the Mother Act' – the Texas Senate has passed ALL of its Top 40 Priority Bills over to the Texas House of Representatives,“ said Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick earlier today, following the Senate’s passage of ALL its top 40 priority bills. "June 2nd's Sine Die (end of session) is only a few short weeks away, and Texans are watching the House with great interest. The Senate has done its work,” Patrick said.

Gov. Greg Abbott today thanked President Donald Trump for his appointment to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Review Council, a bipartisan group tasked with Reforming & Streamlining the nation’s emergency management and disaster response system. President Trump also appointed Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd. "This Council will ensure FEMA becomes more responsive, efficient, and supportive of state-led disaster efforts," said Abbott.

The Railroad Commission of Texas had the privilege to welcome Scott Mason, the EPA Region 6 Administrator to Austin on April 29. Mason met with commissioners during the RRC’s monthly open meeting at the Commission headquarters, reinforcing the two organizations’ long standing regulatory relationship. During the meeting they also signed an Underground Injection Control (UIC) program Memorandum of Agreement ensuring a strong partnership between state and EPA staff to effectively manage the UIC program.

Governor Greg Abbott celebrated Texas being ranked the Best State for Business for the 21st year in a row by Chief Executive magazine based on their annual survey of the nation's leading CEOs.  The Best State for Business ranking is determined in an annual survey conducted by Chief Executive magazine of CEOs' assessments of each state's business climate, workforce, and quality of life. Texas has topped the nation every year since Chief Executive began the ranking. 

Where do we start? Less than 10% of our 2.4 million Federal Workforce were working in the office full-time under Sleepy Joe Biden – so Trump ordered them to show up, or be fired. He's downsized the Federal Bureaucracy by over 280,000 employees & contractors, saving the taxpayers millions. Elon Musk's DOGE and the Trump Budget Team have already deleted $160 BILLION of waste, fraudulent and unspent funds – some would say outright theft. And we're just getting started!

“Mexico’s failures to uphold its water obligations have been devastating to Texas Farmers & Cities. Today’s achievement could not have been accomplished without President Trump’s holding Mexico accountable, or without the tireless work of Ag Secretary Rollins, Senator Cornyn, Congresswoman De La Cruz, and former IBWC Commissioner Giner," said Sen. Cruz following the Trump Administration’s announcement of a deal with Mexico to secure the water shipments.

“As a Texan raised on the coast, I take the care and protection of our wonderful Texas beaches as a personal responsibility," said Texas General Land Comm. Dawn Buckingham, announcing the GLO's incredible results of the just completed "Vessel Turn-In Program" (VTIP.) Since beginning in 2015, VTIP has hosted 45 Events in various Coastal Communities, where the program has removed 1,813 boats – as well as fuel, oil, and batteries while verifies ownership and clearing vessels for disposal.

When Americans evaluate a presidency, we ask a simple question: “Am I better off now than I was before?” This question reflects on our personal finances, job security, safety, and confidence in our nation’s future. Just 100 days into President Donald Trump’s second term, the answer is resounding: Yes, we are better off. In November 2024, the American people delivered a clear directive for a secure border, a boost in the economy, less government, and a nation that commands respect on the world stage.

Last summer, Gov. Abbott launched the Texas "10 Most Wanted Criminal Illegal Immigrants List" to locate and arrest repeat offenders who've entered the country illegally and are wanted for dangerous crimes committed in Texas. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) recently captured a fugitive from that list – Carlos Venegas Ortiz, a Criminal Illegal Immigrant from Mexico wanted in Tarrant County & Ft. Worth since October 2024 for continuous sexual abuse of a young child.

Members of Congress who rush to El Salvador to retrieve an international gang-affiliated member – yet show zero urgency in meeting with Rachel Morin’s Family or addressing the Biden Border Crisis – have their priorities completely misaligned. This isn’t failed leadership – it’s a complete abandonment of their duty to protect American Citizens. Americans should not have their hard-earned tax dollars paying for trips intended to import Criminal Illegal Aliens back into our communities.

Meeting Jocelyn Nungaray’s family – especially her mother Alexis and her little brother Elias – I was honored to welcome them and Gov. Abbott, along with Dept. of the Interior Sect. Doug Burgum to our district to rename the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge to the Jocelyn Nungaray Wildlife Refuge, a change President Trump announced during his Joint Address to Congress. It was a deep reminder of the strength it takes to endure such an unimaginable loss. Jocelyn’s life was taken far too soon.

President Trump's spat with Harvard rolls on. He castigated Harvard as a "far left Institution" and a "liberal mess." Harvard's president has self-righteously accused Trump of violating the university's "free speech rights" by withholding $2 billion of Federal Funding Subsidies to the college. The obvious solution here is for Harvard to go the Hillsdale College route and turn down any further federal funding. Then they can say or do whatever they want.

During Sexual Assault Awareness Month, U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) and U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) are codifying key parts of President Trump’s zero-tolerance border crackdown by introducing legislation to deport illegal immigrants convicted of sex crimes. The "Better Enforcement of Grievous Offenses by unNaturalized Emigrants (BE GONE) Act" amends the Immigration & Nationality Act to include Sexual Assault & Aggravated Sexual Violence as "aggravated felonies.” 

On June 17, 2024, two Venezuelan illegal aliens assaulted and brutally murdered 12-year-old Houston resident Jocelyn Nungaray. Both suspects were enrolled President Joe Biden’s “Alternative to Detention” Program and were released into the United States, and one of the suspects was wearing an ICE GPS Monitor at the time of Jocelyn’s assault & murder. "May Jocelyn's family find peace in the tranquility of the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge,” said Gov. Abbott earlier today.

The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) today took a major step in ensuring the long-term energy reliability and economic vitality of the Lone Star State by announcing the buildout of the "Permian Basin Reliability Plan" using 765-kilovolt (kV) transmission lines — the highest-voltage transmission standard used in Texas. The plan will support the region’s strong and growing electricity demand, and unlock continued economic development across the Permian Basin.

Senate Bill 23, by Sen. Paul Bettencourt, increases the Homestead Exemption for Disabled Texans & Texans over 65 from $10,000 to $60,000. When combined with the across-the-board $140,000 Homestead Exemption passed in Senate Bill 4, and Senate Joint Resolution 2, Seniors & Disabled Texans would receive a $200,000 Homestead Exemption. The combined $200,000 exemption means School Property Taxes would be eliminated for the average over-65 Homeowner.

Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 14 into law – known as the Texas DOGE Bill – during a ceremony the Texas State Capitol. "This will slash regulations, put stricter standards on new regulations that could be costly to businesses, and puts a check on the growth of the administrative state," said Abbott, who joined at the signing by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, House Speaker Dustin Burrows, as well as by Sen. Phil King & Rep. Giovanni Capriglione who carried the bills in the House and the Senate.