Governor Greg Abbott hosted a roundtable discussion and press conference earlier today with Senator Brian Birdwell, State Representative Ryan Guillen, and Operation Lone Star officials in the far-South Texas City of Weslaco to survey and provide an update on the state’s ongoing border security efforts after last week designating border security an "Emergency Item" for immediate action this Legislative Session.
“As the 2023 Session kicks into high gear and legislators begin the crafting of a State Budget, the Tax Exemptions & Tax Incidence Report provides them with estimates to help navigate a complex range of revenue & spending issues,” said Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar. These graphic-filled reports help determine funding for nearly 5.4 million public school students and health insurance allocations for over 5 million low-income Texans.
The Texas Women’s Healthcare Coalition includes 88 healthcare, faith, and community-based organizations dedicated to improving the health and well-being of Texas women, babies and families by ensuring access to preventative healthcare for all Texas women. They'll be rallying at 1:00 p.m. on the South Steps of the Texas State Capitol Building Thursday for access to cancer screenings, birth control, and more.
“Oil and natural gas are an essential part of meeting the energy needs of both our state and nation,” said Texas State Senator Brian Birdwell, adding that “California style restrictions on engines or fuel sources that limit consumers and business owners from being able to access the energy sources they need have no place in Texas,” as he and State Rep. Brooks Landgraf introduced a bill that's gathering a lot of attention.
Governor Greg Abbott last night spotlighted the need for education freedom and parental rights in children's education at a Parent Empowerment Night with over 380 Texas parents, students and advocates at Central Texas Christian School in Temple.
“School safety is one of the most important issues we will work on this legislative session. Many of the constituents I serve are parents concerned with the safety of their children on school campuses, and I'm grateful Governor Abbott has declared school safety an emergency item,” said State Representative Carrie Isaac, filing her House Bill 2390, the "Texas Campus Protection Bill" to improve safety at public schools.
In 2015, a wealthy former member of China’s People’s Liberation Army purchased 130,000 acres in Val Verde County to develop a wind farm. The land purchased was directly adjacent to Laughlin Air Force Base, the U.S. Air Force’s largest training base. This legislation targets efforts by hostile actors from China – as well as Russia, Iran, and North Korea – to acquire U.S. land close to American military installations.
Texas' Attorney General Ken Paxton has joined a legal effort to support a Florida law designed to protect women’s sports by preventing biological males from competing against females. Florida is being sued over the law, and has filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. The coalition backing Florida's request argues that the desire to expand the definition of “woman” to include biological males is unreasonable and illegal.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott laid out his priorities for this year's 2023 Legislative Session in Austin during a 30-minute Thursday evening "State of the State" address, naming seven priorities for Legislators to fast track prior to the middle of March. Unlike other bills, these items designated by Abbott can be voted on ahead of the normal mid-March deadline. Here are Governor Abbott's remarks – and his "7 Priorities."
In addition to creating and supporting thousands of domestic jobs, this legislation would help to fortify our nation’s energy security, reduce emissions at home and abroad, and strengthen America’s strategic and economic relationship with our allies.
Inflation remains at the top of concerns for Americans and small business owners across the country – we are all being forced to decide things such as whether we can afford groceries, housing, or gas. The year-over-year inflation rate of 6.4% is a reminder of the economic headwinds and challenges facing Main Street and hardworking families daily. This can't be allowed to become the "new normal" or status quo.
As part of a full-day tour of South Texas' Border Region to examine aspects of Homeland Security and Border Operations near the City of Laredo, House Democrat Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Congressman Henry Cuellar will be holding a press availability following their "listening session" with area leaders about the increasing challenges and opportunities facing the region's Border Communities.
“The EPA’s overreaching rules and unrealistic timeline are yet another example of the Biden White House’s attempt to shut down the Oil & Gas Industry in Texas,” said Texas Railroad Commission Chairman Christi Craddick, as the Railroad Commission joined with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to fight against another proposed EPA Rule as prices at the pump and inflation sit at levels not seen in over 40 years.
Senator Ted Cruz raised concerns about new powers being given to the Federal Trade Commission in light of the abrupt and recent resignation announced by Commissioner Christine Wilson. Cruz says legislation regulating Pharmacy Benefit Managers, or PBMS, should be viewed with “extreme caution” given both the possibility the bill would raise drug prices, and the Commission's lacking a single minority commissioner.
“It’s never too early to start planning for a child’s college education,” said Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar, reminding Texas families that they can lock in today’s cost of undergraduate resident tuition and the required school fees at Texas' public colleges and universities by enrolling in the tax-advantaged "Texas Tuition Promise Fund" before the close of the current general enrollment period ending on Feb. 28th.
"Tradition's been for bill numbers 1 through 20 to indicate the Lt. Governor’s & Senate’s priorities. In 2017 I increased the low bill numbers to 30 – Senators like to get a low bill number because it shows their bill is a priority, but we'll pass over 600 bills this session,” said Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick earlier today, releasing his much-anticipated “Top 30 Priorities” list for the 2023 Legislative Session that’s already underway.
President Biden's failure to protect our U.S. Mainland from a Chinese spy balloon (and more) is another alarming example of how his foreign policy weaknesses and inability to deter aggression is endangering our National Security. It's imperative we regain American strength and end Chinese spying – whether in our airspace or on our children's phones. I joined Fox News's Neil Cavuto to discuss this, and you can watch it here.
"Social media companies rely on algorithms to not only moderate content, but to also personalize users' recommendations. Recommendation systems are separate and distinct from algorithms, and are increasingly ubiquitous in selecting content for individual consumption – promoting some content and downranking or filtering disfavored content and accounts,'" said Sen. Ted Cruz, launching an investigation into Google, Twitter, Meta & TikTok's reported use of “blacklists.”
“These arrests demonstrate the enormity of the opioid, oxycodone and hydrocodone crisis our country finds itself in,” said Texas Attorney General Paxton, after a joint investigation by Paxton’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA,) the FBI, U.S. Postal Service's Inspector General Office, and U.S. Postal Inspections arrested nine individuals in Houston for unlawful distribution of 1.5 million opioid pills and other controlled substances.
“Fentanyl's killing Americans at record levels, and poses a deadly risk to every single American. With President Biden failing to address this national security crisis to ensure criminals who traffic this deadly drug are met with severe penalties, we must stop this scourge on our communities,” said South Texas Cong. Tony Gonzales, as he and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) re-introduced their "Felony Murder for Deadly Fentanyl Distribution Act."