During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Small Business Administration (SBA) took on an outsized role in helping America’s businesses keep their doors open. However, the SBA Office of Inspector General now estimates that $200 billion ($200,000,000,000) of your taxpayer dollars were given out to bad actors – almost 20% of all pandemic lending. They must be brought to justice.

“As the manufacturing capital of the nation, ‘Made in Texas’ has never been a more powerful global brand – it's a symbol of the freedom, opportunity and innovation that can only be found in our great state," said Gov. Greg Abbott, noting that the Lone Star State accounts for 9% of total manufacturing production in the U.S., and has been the #1 exporter of high-tech goods for the last 10 consecutive years.

While Texas is working overtime to secure our border, sanctuary cities like New York City are making the crisis worse by actively encouraging illegal immigration. This week, I introduced the "No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act" with New York Cong. Nick LaLota to prohibit federal funding from going towards migrant food, shelter, and other services in Sanctuary Cities.

Comptroller Glenn Hegar said earlier today that Texas' State Sales Tax Revenues for September 2023 were 2.8% more than in September 2022. ​​​​​​​“Remittances from the oil & gas mining sector led all major sectors in growth, as has been the case nearly every month since the economy began to emerge from the pandemic. Other sectors driven by business spending were mixed."

“Border communities are ground zero for the worst Immigration Crisis ever. The problem is clear – most asylum seekers don't have legitimate cases, our courts are so backed up that even false claimants are given a court date way into the future, and meanwhile they're free to live here for years. It’s past time for Congress to close that loophole,” said Cong. Tony Gonzales.

Operation Lone Star has led to over 470,100 illegal immigrant apprehensions, 34,600+ Criminal Arrests, with more than 31,600 Felony Charges reported. In the fight against fentanyl, Texas Law Enforcement has seized over 431 million lethal doses of fentanyl. ​​​​​​​"Americans have had it. Texas is stepping up to do everything we can,” said Gov. Greg Abbott.

“I encourage everyone to visit ClaimItTexas.gov to see if the state is holding their unclaimed property,” said Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar, announcing the Comptroller’s record return of unclaimed property during the past year. “That's almost 200,000 claims paid to their rightful owners, and we've returned $2.6 billion since I became Comptroller."

Since January, House Republicans have secured bank records, suspicious activity reports, emails, texts, and witness testimony outlining how the Biden family used the President’s name as a “brand” to garner wealth globally and put their personal interests before the nation’s and his ethical obligations. On Thursday, I participated in the first House Impeachment Inquiry hearing into Mr. Biden's activities.

"Elon's brought more attention to the Southern Border with this one visit, than has our own President – and I'm confident his coverage will shed light on this issue for all Americans to see,” said Cong. Tony Gonzales after having given the Texas resident – and globally recognized businessman – an extensive tour of a Border Crossing in Eagle Pass, Texas, the epicenter of the Biden Border Crisis.

Governor Greg Abbott today announced the next 2023 Governor’s Small Business Summit will be held in Beaumont on Thursday, October 5. The Governor’s Small Business Summits aim to help Texas small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs reach new heights by connecting them with the resources and information needed to start, strengthen, and grow a business.

Texas Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian authored a letter to the Biden Administration’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) opposing their pending rule which would designate the Dune Sagebrush Lizard (DSL) as an endanger species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). With the DSL primarily residing in the Permian Basin region, this classification will specifically impact hydrocarbon exploration and production in West Texas.

“There are ways in which Texas is stopping people from illegally entering, but Joe Biden wants those people to come in. This is 'unsustainable' – those are the words of your Mayor, and of the Mayors of Chicago & Los Angeles. Those are also the words of the Governor of Texas," said Gov. Greg Abbott of the unprecedented crisis & chaos, while visiting New York City.

“South Texas farmers and producers have faced below-average rainfall and severe crop losses this year, and our border communities rely on consistent releases of water to the Amistad & Falcon Reservoirs to help fill that gap," said Sen. John Cornyn, as he and fellow Texas Sen. Ted Cruz introduced several legislative measures to ensure Mexico's compliance along the Colorado, Tijuana & Rio Grande Rivers.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that federal spending in 2023 will come in at a whopping 24% of GDP, up from an average of 21% between 1993 and 2022. So a good way to judge the various Republican & Democrat candidates for the president – if they were governors – is to examine their record on State Government Spending. There's two interesting conclusions.

On his Good for Texas Tour: Energy Edition, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar today visited the South Texas Project Nuclear Operating Company (STPNOC), which manages one of the newest and largest nuclear power facilities in the nation, providing energy to about 2 million Texas homes.

"While he’s in Arizona, I’m calling on him to visit the border to actually understand how our communities shoulder the burden of his failure to address this crisis," said Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, adding, "It’s well past time for President Biden to see the border crisis firsthand, and for the Administration to do its job – secure the border and keep Arizona safe.”

“This should not be a partisan issue. My message is clear – end Catch & Release, stop using asylum as a hall pass, and put our Border Patrol Agents back on the frontlines,” said Cong. Tony Gonzales as he led a Congressional Delegation on a tour of the border destruction surrounding the south Texas city of Eagle Pass, population 29,000, earlier today.

Sen. Ted Cruz today welcomed Intuit’s decision to no longer forbid lawful gun sellers and manufacturers from using certain QuickBooks services. Intuit’s recent policy reversal came after Cruz’s Committee Staff spent months probing how the financial services provider, along with JP Morgan and Bank of America, had restricted gun sellers & manufacturers from using Intuit’s payment and payroll processing services. 

"One of the freedoms we believe in, is the freedom of parents to choose what is right for their child – we want to make sure every parent in Texas has the power to choose the education that's best for their child," said Gov. Greg Abbott, championing education freedom for all Texas students while also performing the pre-game coin toss.

Established in 1994, the Heroes for Children Award celebrates citizens who go above and beyond to positively impact Texas public school students' lives through volunteer service. Each year, the 15-member Board recognizes one Hero from each district for their outstanding dedication and service to Texas public schools and communities.