U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) today introduced the Fog Observations and Geographic Forecasting Act (FOG Forecasting Act), bipartisan legislation to improve the National Weather Service’s (NWS) fog forecasting capabilities to enhance safety at America’s ports and help prevent costly shipping delays caused by dense fog. Better fog forecasts would reduce uncertainty, allowing ports to reopen sooner, get commerce moving, and reduce the economic costs of port closures.

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar today said his office has delivered about $254 million in financial assistance to rural law enforcement and prosecutor offices as part of a grant program providing supplemental salaries to sheriff’s departments, constable’s offices, and district and county attorney’s offices in eligible counties. The 88th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, enacted the Rural Law Enforcement Grant Program in Senate Bill 22, which appropriated $330 million for the 2024-25 biennium to fund the Comptroller-led program.

“Our Military Service Members and their families make tremendous sacrifices to preserve our safety, freedom and way of life. They deserve the freedom and flexibility to educate their children in alignment with their values and unique needs – they should never have to choose between serving our country and providing their children with a quality education. This will provide them the flexibility and options to support their way of life."

Governor Greg Abbott announced today that HHSC is awarding $6.25 million in grant funding to eligible rural community hospitals that serve . HHSC will award up to 25 Texas Rural Hospital Debt Reduction Grants, providing $250,000 for qualifying hospitals to improve their financial stability. HHSC provides grant funding and administers programs for rural hospitals in alignment with the Rural Hospital Services Strategic Plan, which helps rural Texans have access to hospital services.

An estimated 17 veterans die each day by suicide — and that is 17 too many. Our mission must be to eradicate suicide within the Veteran Community; anything less is unacceptable. These tragedies leave families devastated — mothers and fathers burying sons or daughters, spouses losing their partners, children growing up without parents, and a nation mourning. No one should have to endure such pain or carry that burden for the rest of their lives.

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar said today that State Sales Tax Revenue totaled $3.68 billion in March, 2.7% less than in March 2024. The majority of March sales tax revenue is based on sales made in February and remitted in March. Total sales tax revenue for the three months ending in March 2025 was up 2.8% compared with the same period a year ago. Sales tax is the largest source of state funding for the state budget, accounting for 58% of all tax collections.

Governor Greg Abbott today touted the strength of the expanding Texas economy as new data released by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis shows the Texas economy growing at a faster rate than the nation as a whole. The state’s Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew at an annual rate of 3.5% in the fourth quarter, well ahead of the U.S. average of 2.4%.  For the full 2024 year, the Texas economy grew to an estimated $2.7 trillion in size — up from $2.6 trillion in 2023.

In a growing disparity across the United States, Texas – despite being one of the fastest-growing states in Population & Economic Output – receives only 2-3% of national venture capital investment. To keep Texas on the cutting edge, we must adopt and boldly pursue new strategies that empower entrepreneurs, strengthens local economies, and ensures Texas remains a national leader in innovation. ​​​​Texas has the talent, vision, and potential – It's time to ensure the necessary resources follow.

Already this year, Tennessee, Idaho & Wyoming have passed Universal Education Freedom Programs. Texas, South Carolina, and New Hampshire are making a strong push as well. By the end of 2025, we may see six more states join this incredible movement to empower parents and ensure all American children can access the best learning environment for their needs... Dramatically shrinking the Dept. of Education will make us more responsive, efficient, and tailored to the needs of American Students.

The rule demands greater transparency for District and County Attorneys representing a county with a population of 400,000 or more and requires them to provide specific performance reports to the Office of the Attorney General (“OAG”). Further, the rule provides OAG access to detailed report information upon request, specifies a process to attain any overdue reports, and outlines consequences if a District or County Attorney intentionally seeks to violate the enhanced reporting requirements.

On Thursday morning, President Trump ​announced that U.S. Authorities apprehended a 24-year-old illegal immigrant, identified as one of the Top 3 Leaders of the MS-13 Gang in the United States. MS-13 is one of the most dangerous transnational gangs in the world – known for brutal tactics including murder, extortion, sexual violence, drug trafficking & more. American families can finally begin to breathe a sigh of relief knowing President Trump's Administration will stop at nothing to protect our communities.

The Republican Study Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives is taking on the critical issues facing our nation – major investments in modernizing our military, the importance of DOGE Savings, the fight against rogue judges who are undermining our President, and more. And in case you missed it, as Co-chair of the House Border Security Caucus I joined Fox Business to break it all down — including my "Birthright Citizenship Act." We're moving to take swift action and restore order to our nation.

Since the COVID-low point of September of 2020, the industry has added 48,400 Texas upstream jobs – averaging growth of 913 jobs per month. During the same time, months with upstream oil and gas employment increases have outnumbered those with decrease by 38 to 14. These jobs pay among the highest wages in Texas, with employers in oil and natural gas paying an average salary of approximately $128,000 in 2024.

This bill is endorsed by America First Policy Institute, American Bankers Association, Americans for Tax Reform, America’s Credit Unions, Bank Policy Institute, Blockchain Association, Center for a Free Economy, Center for Freedom and Prosperity, Club for Growth, Consumer Bankers Association, Heritage Action, Independent Community Bankers of America, Project for Privacy & Surveillance Accountability, Restore the Fourth, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council, Digital Chamber, Association of Mature American Citizens, and Crypto Council for Innovation.

“The death of Sergio Ivan Rodriguez should have never occurred. There should have been a railroad grade separation. No Texan should die at these dangerous crossings, especially near our schools," said ​​​​​​​Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick following the unanimous passage of Senate Bill 1555, TxDOT Grant Program for Railroad Grade Separation Projects by Sen. Robert Nichols, and Senate Concurrent Resolution 25 Honoring the Life of Sergio Ivan Rodriguez by Sen. Carol Alvarado.

​​​​​​​"While there is still more work to be done, today's collaboration is a testament to the public and private sectors’ ongoing commitment to enhancing workforce readiness – and unlocking economic potential for our communities." said Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar earlier today, joining local officials and representatives from the Human-I-T to provide Career Tracks, formerly the Smithville Workforce Training Center, with 100 refurbished laptops to distribute to job seekers in the Career Tracks program. 

Senate Bill 14, by Sen. Phil King, establishes the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office. If passed into law, the office would be created within the governor’s office, along with an advisory panel to oversee regulatory reform. The office would be tasked with identifying and eliminating unnecessary rules, improving the rulemaking process, and increasing public access to regulatory information.

The United States Senate voted 70-28 on final passage of a resolution authored by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) to overturn a Biden administration midnight rule imposing regulations on software developers of decentralized financial (DeFi) technology. The resolution had previously passed the House. The resolution has passed both chambers of Congress and now awaits the President’s signature to become law.

The RRC’s long history of common sense, science-based regulation of the oil and gas industry has safeguarded Texas communities and the environment while also fostering responsible production benefitting the state economy and America’s energy independence. ​​​​The Texas oil and gas industry continued a hot streak in 2024 with production volumes surpassing records that were set in 2023.  

“Writing the budget for Texas – which has the 8th largest economy in the world – is no small feat. Senate Finance Committee Chair Joan Huffman has done skillful work on this budget, and I thank her for her continued leadership in ensuring our state’s financial future is secure. Our state’s fiscal foundation has never been more solid," said Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick earlier today, after the unanimous passage of Senate Bill 1, the Senate’s Budget for Texas which was spear-headed by Sen. Joan Huffman (R-Houston.)