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July 21
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Robinson Town Hall
This past Saturday, I was delighted to conduct a town hall in Robinson, Texas where I had the opportunity to engage with constituents in a broad discussion about various ongoing affairs and challenges in Washington, D.C. Throughout our dialogue, I highlighted the grave repercussions of the permissive policies enacted by the Biden Administration on our southern border. Since Biden took office, over 2 million illegal immigrants have entered the United States, leading to an increase in crime rates and a record-breaking number of drug overdose deaths.
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 Alongside strengthening our southern border, I stressed the crucial need for the federal government to transition back to in-person work. The policies enacted during the COVID-era for remote work have led to a decline in the efficiency and efficacy of federal agencies. As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce, I have a duty to advocate for a return to in-person work, enhancing productivity in the post-COVID workforce. Engaging with people in Robinson and the surrounding areas, listening to their concerns, and understanding what matters most to them and their families, is something I always cherish. Coming home to Texas and listening to community members is always refreshing, and the experience is made all the more rewarding by events like last Saturday’s town hall. |
Fighting for Free Markets
On Tuesday morning I joined Chairwoman Wagner and the Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets to question the Director of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Division of Corporate Finance Director, Erik Gerding, on recent rulemakings which threaten the attractiveness and prosperity of public markets. Recent SEC decisions, like the implementation of Scope 3 – a 500-page mandatory climate disclosure rule – would force corporations, small businesses, and farmers to disclose emissions connected to their assets. Pursuing non-material environmental, social, and political issues should not be the focus of the SEC; which is an agency with a Congressional mandate to maintain fair, orderly, and efficient markets while facilitating capital formation and protecting investors. These politically motivated disclosure requirements fall heavily on small and mid-sized companies, impeding growth.
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 The SEC is misusing their delegated discretion to hinder an American economy that has long thrived on the principles of individualism and entrepreneurship. The United States needs strong, fair, and free markets. The House Financial Services Committee and I will continue to hold the SEC accountable. I stand for pro-growth policies and believe that the SEC should peel-back these requirements to foster a market system that is competitive, dynamic, and maximizes opportunities for success among budding and pre-existing businesses. Click here to watch my remarks during the hearing. |
Rural Health Care Access |
 This week I had a fruitful discussion with the Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals (TORCH). The largely rural composition of the Texas 17th district warrants legislative action to ensure these rural communities are equipped with sufficient access to health care resources. That is why I am a proud cosponsor of H.R. 4713 – the Rural Hospital Technical Assistance Program Act. This bill, introduced by Congressman Ronny Jackson (TX-13) codifies an existing United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) program to provide technical assistance to rural hospitals to prevent closures and strengthen essential healthcare services in rural communities. More than 400 rural hospitals are vulnerable to closures in the near future due to growing infrastructure needs, and preventative action must be taken to keep these essential health care services available in our communities. The program will enable rural hospitals to take steps to ensure financial and operational stability. I will stand for legislation to ensure that residents in rural communities within TX-17 have access to quality health care. |
IRS Whistleblower Hearing
The House Oversight and Accountability Committee held a hearing on Wednesday, July 19 with two IRS agents who presented revelatory testimony about the Hunter Biden investigation. The Oversight Committee uncovered serious irregularities and potential misconduct by the Biden family after analysis of verifiable financial records and informed by the courageous testimony of the two IRS whistleblowers,. The committee has found evidence of over 20 shell companies, many of which were established during Joe Biden's tenure as Vice President, and irregular financial transactions to the tune of $10 million from foreign sources.
Testimony from IRS Special Agent Joe Ziegler, a senior IRS investigator who was previously known as Mr. X in prior whistleblower testimony, and Supervisory Special Agent Gary Shapley revealed a disturbing trend of preferential treatment and obstruction in the federal investigation of Hunter Biden’s tax evasion and financial fraud. During the hearing, these brave whistleblowers described numerous instances of the IRS and DOJ preventing them from following leads and being sidelined by their superiors, in a clear deviation from regular procedures.
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 Moreover, they provided chilling accounts of how evidence, such as Hunter Biden's laptop, was concealed from investigators and how interviews were obstructed. It's clear that this is a two-tiered system of justice, where the well-connected have a different set of rules applied to their illegal behavior. This hearing raises many troubling questions about the politicization of our justice system.
Ziegler and Shapley have experienced retribution from the very agencies they dedicated their career to serve. This intimidation tactic against public servants striving to uphold the law is deeply concerning and demands immediate redress.
As a senior member of the House Oversight Committee, I am tirelessly working with my colleagues to uncover the truth. We must address the impartial application of law in our federal agencies. As Chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce, I will ensure action is taken to protect whistleblowers from retaliation when raising genuine concerns about the operations of our federal agencies. This isn't about partisan politics but about preserving the rule of law for the equal treatment of all American citizens. Click here to watch my remarks during the hearing. |
PACT Act Benefits Deadline
The PACT Act—which I proudly supported when it passed the House and was signed into law last August—expanded and extended eligibility for permanent VA health care and benefits for the millions of veterans, including an estimated 3.5 million post 9/11 veterans, who may have been exposed to burn pits and other toxins during military deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and surrounding areas. While this law represents the largest expansion of VA benefits in decades, millions of veterans have yet to file their claims.
Veterans and survivors must file their claim before August 9, 2023, to be eligible for retroactive compensation backdating to August 10, 2022, the date the bill was signed into law.
Post-9/11 combat veterans who were discharged over 10 years ago and are not enrolled in VA health care must enroll in VA health care by October 1, 2023, to take advantage of the open enrollment period. By filing a claim before the August 10, 2023 deadline, Veterans will be able to claim benefits that will be backdated to August 10, 2022 when the bill was signed into law. Under the PACT Act, veterans previously denied a toxic-exposure-related claim can file a new claim for the VA to review. Active-duty military personnel may also file a claim if they are within 180 days of discharge.
Veterans who are not experiencing symptoms should enroll in VA health care by the October deadline if they believe they could have been exposed to toxic substances during military service. Please let my office know if you have difficulty submitting your PACT Act claim – you may contact my casework team here.
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The Eagle: IRS whistleblowers airing claims to Congress about 'slow-walking' of the Hunter Biden case
GreenBiz: Missed the congressional ESG hearing? Here’s what you need to know
CNN: Whistleblowers Should Not Be Subject to Retaliation |
| Sincerely, |
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| Pete Sessions |
| Member of Congress |
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