Howdy Texan –

I had a busy week back home in Texas, so I wanted to take this opportunity to update you on what’s happening in the U.S. House and Texas’ 31st district.

ON THE DOCKET:

TX-31 Small Business Champions
An Update from TXDOT
Recent Supreme Court Decisions
Congressional App Challenge

THE BRIEF:

Round Rock-Austin-Georgetown has been named the best place to work based on affordability, employment opportunity, and quality of life.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection released a migrant on the terrorist watchlist due to ineffective practices within the department, a report found.
The U.S. Justice Department filed first-ever charges against Chinese chemical manufacturing companies and individuals over allegations they illegally trafficked the chemicals used to make fentanyl.

TX-31 SMALL BUSINESS CHAMPIONS

Two TX-31 small business owners earned awards from the U.S. Small Business Administration recently. Rebecca Contreras (pictured left) earned the 2023 Small Business Person of the Year award and Dawn Cole earned the 2023 Woman in Business Champion of the Year award. To celebrate their incredible achievement, I invited Rebecca, CEO of AvantGarde, and Dawn, President of Kerberos, to my office to present them each with an American flag flown over the U.S. Capitol and a Certificate of Congressional Achievement for their success. Both women embody the entrepreneurial spirit and have excelled in building small businesses from the ground up. Congratulations, Rebecca and Dawn!

GETTING AN UPDATE FROM TXDOT

As our community continues to grow, traffic continues to increase. I met with leaders from the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) to receive updates on TX-31 transportation improvement projects. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I continue to advocate for investments in Central Texas infrastructure. Transportation improvement projects strengthen the surrounding economy, increase safety, and improve the quality of life for Central Texans.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? SUPREME COURT DECISIONS

The Supreme Court recently issued several decisions on key cases, and I wanted to get your opinion. Let me know what you think by taking this survey!

CONGRESSIONAL APP CHALLENGE

The Congressional App Challenge is officially open! All middle and high school students who reside or attend school in TX-31 are encouraged to participate. This challenge highlights the value of computer science and STEM education and encourages students to learn to code by creating their own app. The deadline for submissions is November 1, 2023.

Learn more.

As always, thank you for taking the time to stay updated on what's happening in Texas' 31st congressional district. Follow my Facebook and Twitter accounts for more updates.

It is an honor and privilege to represent you and Texas in the United States House.

Sincerely,