​​​​​​​“The Council took important action to provide hospital districts with additional resources to combat this crisis, as hospitals in many cases bear a significant burden and often administer the last line of life-saving health care to prevent overdose deaths. This is a key step in ensuring these facilities can continue, and expand their work saving the lives of Texans,” said Comptroller Glenn Hegar, announcing how state-dedicated funds to fight the opioid crisis will be allocated. 

Gov. Greg Abbott, the Texas Dept. of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas National Guard continue to work to secure the border, to stop the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and people into Texas, and prevent, detect & interdict transnational criminal activity in the Lone Star State. ​​​​​​​Every individual apprehended or arrested – and every ounce of drugs seized – would have otherwise made their way into communities across Texas and the nation due to President Biden’s open border policies.

"Unfortunately, the administration’s military & economic responses to Iran and its proxies have not only been disproportionate, they appear to be completely disjointed. We therefore request that your departments provide us with a classified assessment on the administration’s plan to deter Iranian aggression and prevent the escalation of conflict in the Middle East," said Senators Ted Cruz, Tim Scott, and others in a letter to Biden's Secretaries of State, Treasury, and Defense calling for clarification of the policy to grant Iran access to tens of billions of dollars via special waivers.

“Although nothing can replace a family’s loved one, our state seeks to honor the cherished memory and brave service of those who lost their lives in Operation Lone Star. We have the opportunity to honor their sacrifice by distributing this benefit through the Crime Victim Compensation Program,” said Attorney General Paxton,” said Attorney General Paxton, awarded four lump-sum death benefits for fallen soldiers in Texas’ Operation Lone Star pursuant to legislation enacted by the 88th Legislature for active-duty military members and national guardsmen.

"Birthright citizenship has long served as a powerful incentive for illegal immigration, and over time, has become wrongly accepted as law, with supporters claiming it is guaranteed by our Constitution," said Cong. Brian Babin (TX-36,) following the introduction of his new bill, the "Birthright Citizenship Act of 2023." This legislation has 21 original cosponsors, and would ensure America properly implements Section 1 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution – ending birth tourism.

“Opportunity knows no bounds in Texas – thanks to the hardworking men and women of this great state," said Governor Greg Abbott earlier today, celebrating Texas’ continuing economic momentum as new data released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis shows the Texas economy expanded faster than the nation as a whole for the 4th Quarter in a row. Second quarter 2023 real GDP — the value of all goods and services produced — grew in Texas at an annual rate of 4.9%, well ahead of the U.S. rate of 2.1%.

"Given the $800 billion in trade that Texas has with Mexico each year, shortening the lengthy delays in border bridge crossings will help lower the cost of goods for American families," said Sen. Ted Cruz, after House & Senate lawmakers announced agreement on the annual Defense Authorization Bill that included Cruz's effort– pushed by a bi-partisan & bi-cameral coalition of Texas Legislators – to streamline the Presidential Permitting Process for new & expanded bridges across the Rio Grande River in Brownsville, Laredo & Eagle Pass, Texas.

U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) issued the following statement after permitting reform language for cross-border bridges was included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year (FY) 2024. Working with Senator Ted Cruz, Cuellar secured provisions reforming the Presidential permitting process for the World Trade Bridge expansion project in Laredo.

The U.S. is a global leader in reducing emissions, not through regulation – but technological innovation. In fact, methane emissions in the U.S. are down about 66% and down 76% in Texas. Additionally, EPA regulated emissions are down 78% in the last 50 years, while the economy boomed by 286%, population increased by 61%, and energy use is up by 37%. 

The U.S House passed bipartisan legislation earlier today naming the interstate highway-designated segments of West Texas' Ports-to-Plains Corridor as “Interstate Route 27” after Congressmen Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28,) and Jodey Arrington (R-TX-19) successfully pushed companion bills through the House. The bill must now return to the Senate before heading to the President’s desk.

Gov. Greg Abbott, the Texas Dept. of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas National Guard are continuing to work together to secure the border, stop the smuggling of drugs, weapons and people into Texas, and preventing and interdicting trans-national criminal activity between the Official U.S. Ports of Entry. To date Texas has bused over 25,900 Illegal Immigrants to New York City, more than 21,000 to Chicago, and 12,500+ to Washington, D.C. since August 2022.

Veterans Land Board Chairwoman, and Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham announced the 2023 Holiday Wreath Laying Ceremony Locations for the Abilene, Corpus Christi, and Mission, Texas State Veterans Cemeteries on Saturday, December 16th. This year, the VLB is working with Wreaths Across America at three VLB Cemeteries to ensure all of our Veterans and their family members are honored and remembered.

It's well known that Iran is the largest state-sponsor of terrorism, and it was no accident that Hamas’ evil attack on Israel shortly followed President Biden’s decision to unfreeze $6 Billion in Iranian assets on September 11th. What's even more unacceptable, the Biden White House chose to unfreeze an additional $10 billion in assets for Iran after the attack. Last week, my amendment strengthening the "No Funds for Iranian Terrorism Act" passed the House of Representatives.

This past week, the House passed my "No Funds for Iranian Terrorism Act," blocking the $6 billion from going to Iran – the most consequential thing we can do to stop their financing of vile operations globally. President Biden and many Congressional Democrats want the world to believe this money can only be used for "humanitarian purposes" – however, Iran's president has stated otherwise, bragging his regime would spend it "wherever we need it."

Governor Greg Abbott today announced the next 2023 Governor’s Small Business Summit, honoring women small business owners, will be held in Houston on Thursday, December 7. 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.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued a statement after the passage of Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz’s (R-Texas) resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives highlighting that Texas farmers are experiencing acute water shortages and supporting diplomacy to ensure that Mexico fulfills its treaty obligations to provide annual deliveries of water.

According to the National Weather Service, severe thunderstorms moving across the state tomorrow could bring a slight to enhanced risk of tornadoes with additional threats – including damaging winds, large hail, heavy rainfall, and flash flooding to the eastern half of Texas. The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) has placed state emergency response resources on standby to support severe weather response operations if needed.

Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham is encouraging Texans to vote for the Alamo Exhibit at the Ralston Family Collections Center as the "Best New Attraction in America" in the USA TODAY 10 Best Readers' Choice Awards. The Alamo Exhibit has been nominated for this prestigious award, which not only recognizes incredible attractions and businesses, but also provides the locations as recommendations to readers for future experiences.

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced today he has completed the transfer of about $3.06 billion into the State Highway Fund (SHF) and $5.46 billion to the Economic Stabilization Fund (ESF; commonly known as the “Rainy Day Fund”). The Rainy Day Fund, which normally receives the same amount as the SHF, received $2.41 billion more because of the general revenue (GR) surplus at the end of fiscal 2023.

On Feb. 5th, 2021, Joe Biden lifted terrorism-related sanctions on the Iranian-controlled Houthis and three of their leaders. "Now the Houthis and other Iranian-controlled terrorists are openly and routinely attacking the United States and our allies – but the Biden White House refuses to reverse its decision," said Sen. Ted Cruz, reintroducing his legislation to impose terrorism-based sanctions as acts of violence continue to escalate in the Middle East.