Governor Greg Abbott today delivered the keynote address and presented awards to honor the service & sacrifice of Peace Officers, Firefighters, and 1st Responders at the 2025 Star Of Texas Awards in Austin. He honored and recognized the heroism of those who've sacrificed their lives to serve their fellow Americans on that fateful day.

Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock reminds families that it's not too late to save on enrollment in the Texas Tuition Promise Fund®, the state’s prepaid college tuition plan. The $25 application fee to enroll in the plan will be waived for September and October enrollments. (Enrollments by mail must be postmarked by Oct. 31, 2025.) Enrollment began Sept. 1 and runs through Feb. 28, 2026.

Gov. Abbott directed all State Government Buildings to lower the United States & Texas flags to half-staff, in accordance with President Trump's proclamation honoring the memory of Charlie Kirk. "Charlie was a close friend. We first met when he was just 18," said Sen. Ted Cruz. Texas is standing with the rest of the nation in mourning & honoring his enduring legacy, and flags can be returned to full-staff at sunset Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025.

Twenty-four years later, the images of brave first responders rushing toward danger, the strength of families who endured unimaginable loss, and the unity of a nation that stood tall in the face of evil remain etched in our minds. In Texas, we honor those who perished and pay tribute to the men and women who have served and sacrificed to keep our country safe in the years since. Their courage and devotion remind us that freedom is never free.

The ripples from Charlie Kirk will go on in our politics and culture for decades. His work helped bring Donald Trump back into the White House. Countless young people got into the movement through Turning Point USA, just like countless folks got their start in this movement through Andrew Breitbart. There’s going to be a Turning Point USA president somewhere down the road, someone who got his start at one of Charlie’s conventions, listening to a podcast, or attending a campus visit.

Sen. Cruz met with top Panamanian officials, including the Minister of Economy and Finance, Felipe Chapman; Minister of Public Security, Frank Abrego; and Panama Canal Authority Administrator, Ricaurte Vásquez Morales. During these meetings, Sen. Cruz reiterated the growing threats posed by China and other foreign actors seeking to exert influence over the region, threatening both American and Panamanian national and economic security. 

Governor Greg Abbott announced today that The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) has received federal approval to extend the deadline for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) applications relating to severe flooding that occurred over 4th of July Weekend. Individuals who may be eligible for DUA now have an additional 25 days — until September 29, 2025 — to apply for assistance.

​​​​​​​“Democrats abandoned Texas at the behest of financial backers who promised them money for fleeing the state, abdicating their responsibilities. Texas is not for sale, and Beto must face justice for his illegal bribery scheme,” said Attorney General Ken Paxton, securing the extension of restraining orders against Robert Francis O’Rourke and his "Powered by People" organization, preventing distribution of payoffs to Texas Democrats who broke quorum.

After four years of the Biden Administration hamstringing American energy, stifling our economy, and ceding national security ground to our adversaries, House Republicans and the Trump White House are getting the country back on track. Last week I joined my Republican colleagues to pass the 2026 Energy & Water Appropriations Act – which secures a decisive victory for Texans, AND for all Americans who want to see this nation prosper,

Last week, President Trump made a historic move to restore strength and clarity to our nation’s military. On Friday, he announced that the Department of Defense will return to its original name: the Department of War. For nearly 200 years, America operated proudly under the banner of the Department of War — an unapologetic reminder that our U.S. Armed Forces exist to win and defend this nation.

“This new LNG export facility supports thousands of jobs in the Rio Grande Valley, brings billions of dollars in investment to the region, and strengthens Texas’s energy leadership. Texas is the energy capital of the world, and I am proud to fight to ensure it stays that way. I'm proud to have led the fight to secure federal authorization for this Rio Grande LNG Project,” said Sen. Cruz.

Since the devastating July 4th floods swept through Central & West Texas, my office and I've been working closely with local leaders and officials to ensure that residents in Texas's 11th Congressional District have access to the resources and assistance they need.  FEMA has extended the deadline for residents impacted by the floods to apply for FEMA assistance. I strongly encourage homeowners, renters, and students who have not yet applied to do so before the new deadline on Sunday, September 28th.

Under the "no tax on tips" provision of H.R. 1 – "The One Big Beautiful Bill" various occupations are excluded from federal taxes on tipped income, and up to $25,000 can be deducted in tipped income annually from 2025–2028. The Trump administration has officially released the list of occupations that qualify for the "no tax on tips" provision of H.R. 1. See further Treasury Department sourcing.

Homeowners and renters whose homes sustained damage and aren't insured now have until Sunday, Sept. 28 to apply, according to the agency. Several counties, including Kerr, where more than 100 people from all across the state died when the Guadalupe River rose to historic levels the morning of July Fourth, were designated for assistance from FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration in the wake of the natural disaster.

Our good friend Nigel Farage, the leader of Britain's Reform Party, was in Washington, warning Congress against adopting a version of the United Kingdom's Online Safety Act. That law requires tech platforms to remove legal but "harmful" content if a bureaucrat declares it so. Apparently banned speech is like pornography - they know it when they see it. This poses a danger to commercial speech not only for the British but also for Americans who travel to or do business in the UK.

"We are shaping the Texas economy as the best state for business development, job opportunities, and exports," said Governor Greg Abbott, delivering remarks that touted the legislative victories of the 89th Legislature during the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce "State of the State" luncheon earlier today. “Together, we'll continue to remain the No. 1 state for doing business," said Abbott.

The National Strategy for School Security Act requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop a comprehensive, federal framework for school campuses across the nation to improve their security posture against threats of targeted violence. This national strategy must identify specific school security vulnerabilities and outline all existing recommendations, funding, and programs that are available to overcome these threats.

The VLB Veterans Land Loan Program is the only one of its kind in the nation, giving Texas Veterans and Military Members the opportunity to borrow up to $150,000 to purchase land at a competitive interest rate with a minimum five percent down payment for tracts of one acre or more. Through the Dual Spouse Land Loan Benefit, two Veterans who are spouses and are individually eligible to borrow up to $225,000.

The Democrats are going full “Dodgeball” by deciding – after their latest perverted, weirdo constituent went on a mass murder spree of little Christian kids – that they should take aim at the idea of prayer. Apparently the big problem in the aftermath of yet another Dem-aligned killer is that we Americans are turning to God – not our Elite Democrat betters. They think we should be on our knees before them, submitting.

We engage in an enormous amount of trade each year, about $800 billion in total. Nearly $300 billion of that is between the United States and Texas alone. Texas and Mexico have long had an intertwined history. We share culture, family, and significant economic ties. As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, I have been especially vigorous in leading the fight for more trade between the United States and Mexico, and in particular, advocating for building more bridges between South Texas and Mexico.